Perception 1992

This was the second pay party we, (John & Steve), went to. It seemed to be that we went to one each year, a pay party.. Faffed around loads while we got it together, got two MDMA clear caps from Hana the Spanner each, good and clean, the way we liked them. We set off while it was still light though. With us we took the usual, gum, sweats and camera, see photos. The party itself was held in Longleat and we got the tickets a few weeks before in Bath, with Steve. The shop has since closed down. All geared up we set off and another adventure. The party was held on a Friday night and had to blag heavily to get Saturday off from work. We met up with a huge convoy and waited for ages in the tail backs, on the route there were signs placed by the RAC or AA that brought smiles to our faces. On the local news also they talked about the rave and the drug problems.. When we got to the gates there was a small police presents, we drove through and hung a left so that we could stash our gear down a slip road. It was hard to find a place as everyone was doing the same thing. With gear stashed we drove for ages through the woods and small lanes to the car parks, mega huge, so many cars, some with the flyers stuck in the windows.

We made sure everything was safe, and with us we took gum, mints, Vicks, cameras, the lot. We queued for eternity in the freezing cold air, the clouds were coming down causing it to get misty, we could hear the music from where we were. Security was everywhere along the fence, and at the "check point" they threw away all our goodies, mints, Vicks the lot! Cunts. Still, the nice stuff was safe. We made our way through and into the dance field. The first thing we noticed was the lack of the fair, well, there was about one ride, a "super trooper" wizzy thing. We walked around the site, the chill out tent had no sound system which it should have, but they were serving hot drinks. This was at the back end of the field, we walked down the left hand side where they had a few stalls and a gyroscope. They had this "acid" tent, a trippy experience.

It was not packed out yet and we made our way to the right and speaker stack. The surround sound system had a time delay as you would expect, but there was a delay quite noticeably. The big speaker tower was behind another fence where more security were, some seemed to be recording the event with walkmans placed next to the speakers. I don't know why we stood where we did because we could not see the D.J. and stage, and all we got was blasted with sound. I popped my pill and started to come up as we moved off, arse. Again we walked around a bit, and the others dropped their Clear Caps. To come up on them we went on the Super trooper. Amazing rush feeling, totally amazing, nothing could feel as good as this ever. We got off, wobbled about for a bit, then went down to the rave.

The big speaker stack which we stood next to was distorting badly, the bass was making it flap. But we were off our faces and didn't care too much, as long as we could dance. The only problem was that I took my bum-bag with me to keep the camera and things in, this bounced around and hurt allot. John found an old friend and the poppers was passed around making us come up even more. I can't remember who was playing, Seduction, Grooverider, etc, but the music was very jingliest all night, some classic tracks were being played, but very little in the way of stomping hardcore. After some time, and beginning to come down some we went to the chill out tent and sat down. There was meant to be a sound system in that one too, but there was nothing but loads of bodies. They were serving tea and we all grabbed some as it was a cold night. Went back to the rave but went down the left hand side and partied a bit by those speakers. We mooched off, past the stage, got some more photo's and ended up back where we were before with the flapping speakers. While the others popped their remaining pill, I tool just half, saving it for another time.

The party went on for some time, but as I had worked that morning, I needed some sleep and I also had to drive back, so I went to sleep in the car. It was freezing cold, misty, damp, and noisy. I don't think I managed to get any sleep at all before the others came back. After trying to sort ourselves out, taking all the flyers off the car which had been put there, I drove off. The car park was half full as it was when we arrived, gaps in the hundreds of rows of cars. People skinning up, chilling out and just doing their own thing. Through the lanes to get out more flyers were being given to us, we just wanted to get home. Everyone was wasted, there were cars and people doing some odd things! Finally out of Longleat we headed home, but ended up getting lost and ending up in Bristol, which added another hour to the journey, I had work the next day, Sunday. Got back to the barn eventually and crashed out. Put on some of the tracks we heard at the party such as Phantasy, Loop da loop era, D.J. Trace, Sax in the Jungle and the likes. The beginning of another day, the sun was out and our eyes hurt.

(multimap) Longleat, somewhere

Pictures of party