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Beautiful Days - Grateful Heart

A group of festival-goers at Beautiful Days festival standing at the barrier in front of the main stage. The group includes a man with glasses and a vibrant purple beard, and several women wearing colorful festival costumes including mermaid-themed outfits with iridescent fabrics, face paint, and decorative accessories. Behind them, a crowded festival audience extends back under colorful stage lighting. The scene captures the joyful, inclusive atmosphere of the festival with friends celebrating together at the front of the crowd.
Festival Friends at the barrier at Beautiful Days

My bones are still tired from Beautiful Days, and after 4 hours of disturbed sleep last night, this journal entry will be brief, but my heart is full.

I want to share my gratitude to Beautiful Days Festival, Dan and Thom for making it possible for me to attend this year - the accessibility support was phenomenal.

My festival angels: Most of all, I want to express my love for Paul, who I couldn't live without, and for Olivia, Richard, Carmen, and Victoria, who looked out for me and made my weekend simply awesome. To the strangers who became new friends - Tawny, Steve, to name a few - who also helped protect me at the barrier and shield me from the moshiest mosh pit during the Sex Pistols (who blew me away!), The Levellers (of course!), and Shed Seven.

You've all made me realise that all is not lost. This new version of me can still do the things I love. It's not all gone, and I got to be a mermaid for just one day!

A woman in a wheelchair at Beautiful Days festival wearing an elaborate mermaid costume with iridescent silver and blue scales, flowing fabric tail, and face paint with decorative elements in her hair. She's sitting in a three-wheeled Trekinetic powered wheelchair with distinctive large wheels, surrounded by other festival-goers also in colorful costumes. The scene is on dusty festival ground, capturing a joyful moment of festival accessibility and inclusion, showing that wheelchair users can fully participate in the festival experience and creative costume culture.

Festival heroes: A big hat tip and thanks to the awesome security team, who were phenomenal - super helpful and kind. Honestly, the best festival crew around. They made being at the barrier in my chair not just possible, but joyful.

A crowded festival scene at Beautiful Days with festival-goers packed together at the barrier in front of the main stage under vibrant purple and pink stage lighting. The crowd includes people of various ages celebrating with hands raised in the air, dancing and singing along. In the foreground, a group including a man with a distinctive purple beard and glasses can be seen among the enthusiastic crowd. The atmosphere captures the energy and joy of a live music performance with decorative banners and festival infrastructure visible in the background.

Festival treasures: I'd never been 'pegged' before and came home with a fabulous collection - thank you if any of these are yours! (Modestly modelled by Glinda the mannequin head.)

A half-mannequin torso with a white lampshade featuring a fish scale pattern in place of a head, displayed against purple-lit stone walls. The mannequin is covered with numerous colorful festival badges, pins, lanyards, and commemorative items collected from various music festivals and events. The items include wristbands, small decorative pins, festival passes, and other memorabilia attached to the mannequin's arms and torso, creating a vibrant display of festival culture and collecting traditions.

Home sweet home: Finally, big thanks to my cat sitter, plant waterer, house-sitter, and cleaning son, Connor, who made coming home lovely. We love you, kiddo.

Overwhelming gratitude: I truly feel loved by the circle of friends and family I have supporting me from near and far. Your kind words and kind deeds are the things that keep me going when I'm in my dark places, and I am and always will be eternally grateful for your help, love, and friendship through Beautiful Days, good days, and bad days alike.

BIG LOVES AND VIRTUAL CWTCHES to you all.

Love, Sha x

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