I get up when I want except on Saturdays when I'm usually travelling around the country. This time last year I put my trousers on, had a cup of tea and made my way to Manchester. I was staying with my then partner and her sister last year but she's cut me off and made out it never happened and that we were nothing. It's nothing less than I deserve because I woke up with her sister lying in my bed. This was a while later, things had changed by that point, sharing a bed with her sister was accepted in the early days but towards the end there were clowns to the left, jokers to the right and there I was getting stuck into both of them.
I hadn't made sleeping arrangements this year, instead I travelled to Heaton Park anticipating a chaotic weekend. Stepped off the train all alone at dawn, straight onto a coach for the next few hours. I arrived in Manchester around midday; feeling ready for what I believed to be the final stage of the journey. The tram didn't take me the distance, instead there were problems on the line and everyone bundled out onto the tracks. I quickly booked an Uber and asked some people close to the station whether they would be interested in a lift to the festival. This proved to be a great decision as the group were really friendly and we ended up spending the day together. We spent the early stages at the Warehouse Project stage and in the Resident Advisor tent. Later we tried to catch as many of the artists as possible and during Jamie XX's performance in the Now Wave tent I noticed my ex in the crowd. Maybe she recognised me but she treats me like a stranger and that feels so rough!
Our Saturday ended watching Richie Hawtin; afterwards there were further travel complications and instead of heading to an after party we went back to the girls apartment. The following morning I was alone again, unfortunately the group had work commitments and after saying goodbye I headed back into town. After having breakfast, I travelled back to Heaton Park to meet up with friends who were performing on the Africa Stage. They were in great spirits and I really enjoyed the energy during their performance. When they finished we occupied the bar before losing each other and then regrouping to listen to Hot Since 82. Heading towards the Kaluki tent I received a text message from my ex's sister who's also at the festival. A previous ex, who's sister even has the same name! She had lost her friends and once I found her we headed back towards Piccadilly. I made sure she got home before walking towards the coach station. I probably should have booked the following day as annual leave but too late for that now! The coach was packed and I ended up adopting some children and talking to two sisters from Clapham. There's definitely a pattern emerging here and once back in London I was invited back to their house. When I woke up for work I couldn't find a pen to write them a note to show my appreciation for letting me sleep on their sofa. I also wanted to apologies for waking up their housemates as I might have fallen down the stairs. Another great weekend in Manchester, proving that there's no rest for the wicked. Same again next year?
