So, after booking tickets to this wonderful festival in 2019 we eventually made it there in 2021.
The global pandemic meant that no gatherings took place until a vaccine had come about.
When I had my vaccines a large reason for my happiness, you know apart from the health and contributing to the recovery of the world after the pandemic, was the hope that live music can return to my life!
In 2021 it was announced that Beautiful Days would take place in August 🙂
After taking the journey to Devon, going past the prehistoric monument Stone Henge, we made it to Escot Park, Exeter.
Due to my Multiple Sclerosis, we were situated in the Accessible Campsite. This site is much closer to the main arena and had metal walkways suitable for wheelchairs. It’s a nice friendly camping area and easy to walk around.
On the Thursday evening we went into the main arena to check out the food and shopping stalls. There was no music going on yet but it was great to be back in this atmosphere after 18 months of the world being a no live music events situation.
Over the next few day’s we immersed ourselves in the festival lifestyle of eating camping food, wearing dresses and wellies, watching some amazing music and feeling away from normal life pressures.
The girls emersed themselves the children’s activities at the festival. Crafting. Dressing up and acting, playing musical instruments and learning circus skills.
They loved trying new things and meeting new friends. The group leaders were so passionate about the activities and were amazing at making sure each child was included and having lots of fun.
For myself I do feel that this was the first festival that my disability had caused problems. I’m sure with dryer weather things would have been more positive – mud never helps with mobility problems!
I was concerned before the festival that my children would find the sensory aspects of Beautiful Days (the toilets, the crowds, and the loud music) quite challenging. The girls surprised me with how comfortable they were with most of the festival. However once tiredness set in their tolerance of crowds did lower so we didn’t actually see any of the bigger acts.
Despite enjoying all of the Children Tents Rosie found a lot of the festival not to her taste and despised the toilets! The toilets were pretty awful that year!
Molly loved the freedom of the festival and enjoyed how grown up she felt there.
It wasn’t the usual set up for the grown ups and, as lovely as it was to introduce our children to festival life, perhaps it was a little naive of me to expect that would be.
Beautiful Days 2021 was very different to me from previous years, but it was a weekend that will live in my children’s memories.
The Kids, Me and MS 