Most of you know how much I adore my annual traipse to Twinwood for a weekend of Vintage shenanigans.

This year I was especially looking forward to a relaxing jaunt with family and friends in what was promised to be amazing sunshine; unusual for a Bank Holiday weekend!

And we are off!

Why the reason for a relaxing version?

Well, 15 weeks ago I tore my ACL and a secondary ligament and am now waiting for a referral to see a surgeon. This meant no dancing for me at all.

Gutting really.

Our Box for the weekend

However, I knew I would have a fantastic time with friends and I could happily listen to music in any capacity.

Day One – First Look

Thinking ahead and knowing how uneven the ground is and with me already walking with a stick, I borrowed my mum’s electric scooter for the weekend.

Our view from the hill

This turned out  to be a godsend.

We arrived at the farm on Friday afternoon, unpacked and had a couple of beverages before getting to bed for a relatively early night.

Saturday morning I woke up in the early hours feeling a bit odd. Getting up for a wee, my legs started itching. Looking at them, I could see large red hives all over the backs of my legs.

Allergic reaction

I had some sort of allergic reaction, but I wasn’t sure what to! They definitely weren’t bites, but I didn’t know what they were!

Getting up the next morning, I had developed them on my arms and shoulder, but it didn’t seem too bad. One of our group Annette asked her lovely daughter Emily to pick up some Piriton on the way into the festival for me.

Cracking View

We headed up to the main arena and sat in our bank box; a private hut on the slopes of the arena which we had rented for the duration of the festival. Sitting there in the roasting heat listening to amazing bands, we were all in our element.

Heaving

Annette, Andy, Emily and her fiancee Jamie arrived and I took the Piriton. An hour later and literally before our eyes, these huge blister like lumps appeared all over my chest.

Literally Popping Up before your eyes

Bizarre!

I popped along to the first aid station and they checked it over and gave me another anti-histamine to take a couple of hours later. I did and within 30 minutes there was not a single bump left anywhere.

BONUS!

Good friends

Getting back to enjoying the festival, we sat singing along, having a few drinks and people watching. It was just great!

Little Chick with hair by Emily

Sadly, even with the scooter I couldn’t get around that easily due to the uneven ground and sheer volume of people made it tricky. I didn’t really get a chance to do any shopping, nor visit with many of my vintage pals, which I was really sad about.

My Sister

However it didn’t stop the party and it was great to go to The Colonial Club in the evening with everyone and see the inimitable Champagne Charlie before The Cockney Singalong.

Day One – Second Look

Each year I have managed to miss taking part in the full thing and this year I was determined to see it out.

Cockney Sing-along time

And what an event it was!

The stunning Jenny Tree

I also finally caught up with the wonderful Jenny and Dickie Tree and we had a right old singalong. Soon it was time to head home as it was gone 2am and we needed to rest for another full day ahead.

Dashing Dickie and friend

Sunday morning arrived and we were getting ready for a busy day full of lots of great music.

Then the tragedy happened.

I stepped down from some decking, landed on an uneven piece of ground and my ankle went right over. I twisted to protect my damaged knee and literally hit the ground full pelt.

All the family on the deck screamed and jumped up to help. I was just stunned into silence.

Eventually sitting up, I looked down at my ankle which was hurting like I never knew possible. Gordon went and got ice packs which he taped to my ankle. It had swollen to twice its size in seconds.

Ouch!

I sat on the ground for a while as I genuinely didn’t know if I would be able to get up. Of course, everyone suggested that I go to A&E to get it checked out.

Unstoppable

But I was not going to spend hours in A&E and miss the best day of the festival. I could wiggle my toes so I knew it probably wasn’t broken. It was very swollen and starting to bruise though. I knew there was first aid at the arena so thought I would get them to have a look first and then if they said it needed hospital then I would go.

Grinning and Bearing it.

We got to the arena and the Twinwood Philharmonic Orchestra was on stage. And what a performance. It was like a mini version of the Proms; I Vow to thee my Country, Rule Britannia, Pomp and Circumstance. It was moving, patriotic and had me in tears.

The Fabulous Beverley

I sat in the box for most of the day apart from visiting the first aid booth. They didn’t think I needed to go to the hospital so I sat with my leg propped up and enjoyed the day. And it really was an amazing day too.

A Dapper Gent

Sunday evening was to be the highlight of the Festival with Si Cranstoun and Roy G Hemmings as the last two performances. We sat in the box with gin, wine and cider and sang our heads off.

Teaching a Stroll

Gordon, Angela, Little Chick, Maxine and Gary went down to the arena to be closer to the stage. I was happy sat on the bank with Annette and Andy who were having a little dance together.

Enjoying Roy G, Hemmings

Eventually the last song was sung and the main arena started to clear out. We had already decided to head up to Moonshine Glade and Le Monde Electrique for some electro swing. Most of the gang had gone there on Saturday night and said it had a really great vibe and was really good fun.

Off we went and spent a couple of hours there. It was absolutely amazing and the vibe really was electric!

Eventually it was time for bed and to head into the last day.

Monday was even hotter than the previous two days and I was more than happy to just sit and listen to music from the main arena. My ankle was now twice its size and made any movement excruciatingly painful.

Last Day – First Look

We were planning on leaving later in the afternoon so as it was a little quieter, I decided to try and have a look around the stalls on my scooter, to at least say hello to some old friends.

Time to say goodbye

It was great to see the guys from Timebomb vintage and Shazam hair flowers and I had a good natter with them before going back to the main arena.

Or so I thought!

Family

The scooter ran out of battery half way back to the arena and I was stranded. I tried calling my family but they didn’t hear their phones going off due to the music. I literally didn’t know what else to do other than sit there and wait for someone to come looking for me.

Thankfully about 10 minutes later, my friendly first aider came along and saw me sitting there. Asking if there was anything he could help with, I told him that the scooter had died.

Not getting any better….

He offered to walk up to the bank box that he knew we had and let someone know of my predicament. A few minutes later our car came along to rescue me.

It was at that point that I decided to call it a day. I was in pain, hot, tired and wanted the comforts of home.

Don’t get me wrong I had loved every minute, but it wasn’t the Twinwood I had wanted.

The best of times

Well, there’s always next year!

Till next time,

SPSG xxx