This year was only my second Fireworks, and Chimpy's first. Last year I only managed Sunday, this year we did both Saturday and Sunday. We left home at 0645 on Saturday, and didn't get back until 0100 on Monday - top mumming there as Chimpy had school at 0830
The crush after the show each night to leave the lawns is still a bit much, but I'm guessing there's never going to be much more they can do to control that.
Saturday we arrived for park opening, did Nemesis and Curse then left the park for a pub lunch, so I've no real idea about how availability was. We walked through the woods to The Talbot Inn which is brilliant for food, and caters for vegans. I had the mushroom pie with proper fat chips, gravy and mushy peas, and Chimp had a burger almost as big as her head. It's a lovely place with loads of dogs visiting. With excellent navigation from Leigh, the walk was easy after the initial steep bit, and the White Hart was also nice for a drink before a wander back via the old train line and the Chained Oak. Once back on park we managed one last ride before making our way to the lawns for the show. I thought the show itself was extremely good - much better than I remember last year's being. Interestingly, it was scarily accurate to Defence events I've visited previously which were very macho with the loud rock music - although the similarity between the Phalanx hand symbol and a certain Makaton sign was cause for much hilarity. After the show we struggled through the crowds to Wickerman and got stuck there for quite a while. We failed to get food before the show, so ended up with pot noodles from the garage near our hotel which was the Premier Inn in Uttoxeter (not recommended as the rooms aren't quiet).
Sunday was good day for us, we stayed on park all day, and managed 11 rides, I thought the park seemed busy but not crazy. Queues weren't ridiculous, and down time didn't affect us particularly. We had lunch at Woodcutters, I had my usual, the vegan chickpea curry, and Chimpy had the BBQ Chicken Stack. Both were tasty, although the way the wine was presented left a little to be desired - I've never had a wine glass full to the brim before
Sunday evening we made sure we got some nachos from near Mutiny Bay before the show started, and we were not disappointed. I had the vegan nachos which were nice. They could have done with some vegan cheeze, but otherwise they were tasty. Chimp had the pulled port version and said it was very nice. Seeing the show again meant we noticed some bits we hadn't spotted the night before, and the atmosphere with our group was really good fun. Queing for Nemesis with a bunch of tipsy thoosies is a lot of fun, even if the others around us were puzzled
Something I noticed, which surprised me in a good way, was how clean the toilets were, despite the park being busy. I've been before and they've been horrific, not flushed, toilet paper all over the floor, pee all over the seats, and other grimness. This time, although I didn't see many extra cleaning staff, every time we went in they were clean and tidy.
All in all, a really fun weekend. My levels of cheer have been completely replenished, and Towers pretty much redeemed themselves my eyes. Goes to show they can do it, even Aramark were on form, here's hoping next season continues in a similar vein.
