For one night only...

...I'm back at home and I feel battered. Worked 'til 22:30 on Thursday night. Then back in at 07:30 Friday morning to be run ragged by the Artists liaison team making sure everything was looking good for the backstage area. Grabbed some dinner about 13:30, but had to eat and run. Messed around some more and finally had chance to stop properly for a break around 16:30 when we went on standby. Broke at 18:00, but catering didn't open for tea until 18:30.

As we weren't working the weekend at Download, my work colleague & bunkabin mate headed home as soon as possible to his Girlfriend and 'The Babby'*. This left me to mooch about, having a shower, putting some half decent clothes on, rather than work clothes and returning the buggy to production.

I then walked out to check the festival. Bumped into another pal who was working the Festival, just as 'Faith No More' came on stage. As I was watching from an oblique angle off Stage Right**. I could hear fine, but couldn't really see the stage properly, but I could see the video screens. As it looked like they'd got some good lights I said I was going to watch properly from the front. All I'd meant was moving round so I was more front on to the stage, but my pal said we could watch from the FOH*** position if I had the right pass. I had a better pass than her**** Mwahahaha.

The show looked and sounded great, but I find it difficult to watch a whole set and I wanted to have a look at 'Motley Crue' (I don't know how to add the superfluous Umlauts). They were terrible. So I headed over to the Jagermeister VIP viewing platform. As I'd bumped into an old mate earlier in the day and found out that he was working there. So I got to watch the end of 'Faith No More' drinking free Jagermeister and standing on a platform above the Hoi Palloi. I felt like some sort of Roman Emperor.

The main stage finished and I was thinking about heading to the VIP guest area, knowing it would be more disappointing than it sounds. As I'd been working 'site' I knew the best way to get there (because of the crowds at the entrance from the Arena) would be to go through the 'Tuborg Stage', which just happened to be the stage that the rest of our Company were working on and our friendly neighbourhood PA company were doing the sound on. They'd just finished, so I bimbled back to the ranch with them. For a few tasty beverages on their bus.

A bit later, the guys from our company finished on their stage and texted to say they were up for a drink, so it was over to their Van for a couple more.

I didn't have anything to do early, so I was up for another drink, but was aware they had to go to work, so left not long afterwards. Back to Bunkabin world and kip.

It was great not having to set an alarm.

I woke about 12:00 and felt really really bad. Worse than I should've felt from the amount I had to drink. I think the 12 hour days had caught up with me. By the time I'd dropped off the key for the bunkabin to the lads who were going to use it whilst I was away for the night it was 16:30.

I thought I was going to read some of my book on the shuttle bus to Derby***** and then the train back to Wolves. I couldn't summon up the mental energy to concentrate though. So just enjoyed the view. It was a great day and the journey from Derby to Birmingham goes through some superb looking countryside, until it gets near Birmingham.

Arrived back in Wolves and headed to work to dump my bags and make sure the club night was fired up. Then off to MuckDonalds as it's nearer than my favourite filthy kebab shop. Swift libation in a Pub, then into the clubnight until 03:00 in the morning.

I'm heading back to site tomorrow, well later today now. I'll hook up with a pal who's attending the festival, but they'll be no Rock and Roll excess. I've got to be firing on all cylinders at 08:00 Monday morning to start taking the nonsense out. We should be off site for Wednesday.

*A Wolverhampton term for small child.
**That's the Left of the Stage as you look at it. Stage directions are always given from the point of view of the person on the stage looking out at the audience.
***FOH = Front Of House. The mixing and lighting desk position.
****Remind me to explain why one pass can be better than another one some time.
*****The chippy opposite the Train Station in Derby is great. The greasy spoon next door to it is also good, though it was shut, but I've used it before.