Being my first Download, I feel like a small kid. Walking through the gates and straight into the fun-fair, I barely notice the fact that my arms and shoulders are about to give out.
This does soon wear off when I realise that I've lost the other members of my group.

Reunited with the others, we find ourselves on a mission. On the lookout for enough space to pitch 5 tents (with a further 3 possibly yet to come), we scour every inch of the currently open camp site space.
Tired, frustrated, hot and sober we resign ourselves to the fact we're just going to have to start muscling in on other peoples space.
Through a stroke of luck, we happen to near a queue for immediately opening 'red' camp. There's just enough time to have a go on a 'beer bong' before the guard lets us all through.

Having secured the only tree that we've seen around the camp sites, we pitch up, drink up and head off for a wander.

Wander over and done with, it's time to start the serious business of drinking.
A big thank you to ASDA is deserved. 3 crates of 18 cans for £20. Our party consists of 4 cars, each carrying at least 6 crates.

Everything gets a bit too hazy around 10pm.

One eye opens.

Wish it hadn't. The other eye reluctantly follows this trend.

Realising the extent of my hangover, I clamber out of the tent in a hurried frenzy.
Perfect timing.

My gastro-pyrotechnics kick off Thursday with the upmost of enthusiasm.

Obviously, a hangover of this proportion doesn't wash very well with the Mrs - epsecially with it being her birthday and all....

Over to the 24 Hour Breakfast bar for a full-English and a cup of tea.
Having gone down a treat, another tea seems the way - it'd be rude not to really.

After a walk around the market stalls, a chill in the Shisha lounge and a few more teas, now seems as good a time as any to have a go on those fun fair rides.

After braving the rid labelled 'Eclipse', It's time to sit down for a bit and decide what to do with the day.
Back at the campsite, it's time to kick the hangover into submission and celebrate 'er birthday.

If there's one way to grab attention while surrounded by mettallers (and to a lesser extent, police) then it has to involve 10+ people on their knees belting out the Michael Jackson classic 'Heal the world'. They love it.