This is a longer story. It all begins with Sheila at my work being unable to utilise 2 tickets to the gig (her husband was away unexpectedly). I only got them the day before, so had to franticly search for a companion to join me on this momentous adventure. I sadly came up short. After a heavy night out on the Friday (all in the name of searching for a taker of the 2nd ticket). I set off, on me lonesome, around midday on Saturday, little did I know the traffic would be quite as manic!

I now found myself at the front gate, with a spare ticket, so I duly took up position among the other ticket touters in an attempt to flog said ticket. After not much luck and only narrowly avoiding some old & borings from schooldays, I then had thrust into my hand a 2nd ticket by a young couple. So now with 2 tickets to sell, I stood patiently, refusing to buy any more from those surrounding me. Thankfully there were several printed sheets of paper reading "1 Ticket for sale" in big letters, lying on the floor. No sooner do I pick one up, £20 is thrust into my hand. Bonus.

I didn't get into the venue until around 4pm, having missed the first band completely and only catching 10 minutes of the 2nd band. No matter, as soon enough The Zutons appear, who were superb, with a very sexy/cute/petite/rockin sax playing chick. Uuuuuggghhh. The do an excellent lineup and onto the next band. Feeder appear after what seems like ages. They were pretty good, again. The lead singer really didn't come off as seeming too bright as he insisted everyone 'buy tickets to live 8', funny I thought you had to 'win' them??? Anyway, by this point you could tell the locals had been there all day, the beers began to fly, and fly they did. Most impressive was seeing a bottle of beer be thrown from somewhere down the front, about half way back, only to be caught in mid air by a punter. Well done my man, and he got an applause from about all the 5,000 people who saw it too! So by they end of their set, the night was beginning to draw in. No matter as after some time (enough time for me to queue for the bog, and get chips!), it was time for the real deal.

On my way from the local services (by which time I'd completely forgotten I'm on my own), I'm heading back to my 'spot', and as I reach my favoured location, who happens to be standing there?? (what you've not guessed??) 4 old mates from uni, who I've not seen for about 3 yrs. Another bonus. After 5 minutes of sensible 'what are you doing now' type banter, things descend into deep sarcasm, as only hairy twat unionites know how. You only truly appreciate Paper-Rock-Scissors if you are university educated.

And REM come on, for what seems like a lifetime, playing a massive selection of oldies, newies and classic REM. Ignoring their political aspirations and Michael Stipe stopping the gig twice to tell folk to piss off and stop throwing bottles, it was rather good. It's hard to describe it any more!

Hometime was interesting. The gig finally ended about 11pm, a long time to be standing around, too long for some, it would seem. Watching the more (?) intelligent of the crowd attempt to scale (and in some cases succeed) the big ass fence around the central arena was fun. We eventually escaped the black helicopter with spotlight, by slipping through a downed fence panel, some way from the main exit. Our get-away almost complete, it takes another hour+ for me to get to my car and onto the road, losing the others to a bus sometime beforehand.

It's now far too late to get back to Aberdeen, and since I'm meant to be competing the next day at 9am, I manage to get to Perth, before I need a snooze. Only to be woken up an hour and half later by a thunderstorm! Darn.

Rockin!