Saturday 12th June 2010
In January I started researching for an “epic” birthday present for Mike. The idea was a festival where Snow Patrol were playing as we both love this band!
However, as I soon found out, it was not really known yet at the time which bands would be playing where and most people just buy tickets regardless of who is playing. As I know Mike is a big wuss and wouldn’t like random bands plus a possible night in a tent with loads of drunk people shouting through the night, I knew this was not an option.
Glasgow Cathedral as seen from the cemetary - Taken by iPhone
Dashing Mike contemplating
I looked at Snow Patrol’s website but their only gig that was listed was in Northern Ireland, which after some research, turned out to be too difficult to get there and to be perfectly honest, Mike just wasn’t worth the expense 
Gutted, I initially gave up and started thinking of other options that would be nowhere near as good as this idea. My luck struck as a month later, on Valentine’s day to be precise, I hear of a new date of a Snow Patrol concert in Glasgow. Much more feasable and a fun weekend away, I excitedly look on the website and imediately book the tickets (on my iPhone – gotta love technology!!). I inform Mike that a surprise weekend is booked for the 12/13th of July and to keep it free, he will be told what would be happening on his birthday -27th of April.
Mike cannot retain his curiousity and starts to do ANYTHING to try and find out what his present will be, including checking the calendar in case I wrote it down, as if I’m THAT stupid!! I don’t budge and as said I gave him the tickets on his birthday. Luckily the present is received with great joy and I get the go ahead to book the flights and the hotel.
Yesterday it FINALLY was the big day and we set off at the crack of dawn on the flight to Glasgow. On the way to the hotel we search Google for the “Top 10 things to do in Glasgow”. It is worth noting that looking for “top 10″ things is Mike’s favourite past time which I usually roll my eyes to, but this time actually quite a good idea. However, we find nothing interesting in the top ten’s this time, so we go see the impressive Cathedral instead.
On arrival at my hotel of choice, the 5 star Crowne Plaza, Mike is loving it. We immediately find out where the pool is and go for a swim, jaccuzi, sauna and steam room before getting ready for the 4pm start of the concert.
Whilst getting ready I get the exciting news that my best friend Marije has given birth to a healthy son named Teun, which sets the good mood for the rest of the day nicely.
Once at Bellahouston Park, I am pleased to find out it is a mini festival with many food tents, a massive drinks bar, a huge field and two stages for six (!!) bands as supporting acts- so I got what I wanted in the end 
The first band, a local Glasgow band called ‘Frightened Rabbit’ was by far the best in our opinion! Many bands, beers and drunken Scots later, Snow Patrol kicks off at 9pm with obviously brilliant music, but also amazing stage displays and lighting. By this time we had moved twice to avoid run ins with “pissed up chavs” -as Mike puts it- and have the best view of the stage. Mike obviously has the better view being ridiculously tall at 6′6″ (198cm) and me being able to see all if tip toed. At my absolute all time favourite song “Run” I get to sit on his shoulders which was just awesome!
After the absolute epic concert is sadly finished we rush to the nearby sign saying “Gate B” thinking we can outsmart the legless Scots by being first out, only to find out this was not an exit.. and had to get to the other end of the park having to mingle with shouting drunks falling over their own two feet. We manage to get out without cigarette marks or having beer spilled on us and make our way back to hotel walking over a footbridge with the -almost mirage- sight of the Science Center and hotel in the near distance.
After room service that night and breakfast in the morning, we decide this is defenitaly an experience worthy of repeat – although preferably without the drunken chavs.
Now over to Mike’s version of events, who insisted he have his say:
–I’m afraid you will have to wait, as Mike is chilling after this exhausting weekend and you shall have to check back some other time, to read what he has to say–
no here’s the pictures, taken on Mike’s Canon EOS, mostly by Mike.
