The Big Tees Sleepout aftermath *Edit* in OD

I know, I know, I owe you guys a massive general update, including the latest nonsense from work. And there has been a fair amount of that.

However, last night was the Big Tees Sleepout, and I want to write that up.

The event was scheduled to start at 8. So, about half seven, I got mu stuff together (backpack, sleeping bag, roll mat) and headed up to the college. I was advised to wear layers, so I wore a NIN long sleeved top under my blood donor t shirt, my Rammestein hoodie (which is the thickest one I have) over that and my coat. I also took a spare jumper, just in case, but it ended up being added to my coat in my sleeping bag cover to make a pillow.

On the way I listened to the new Bowie album (very, very fucking good BTW) and finally got there.

I followed everyone else to where it was actually happening and signed in. I then set up my bed for the night:

(Actually, we got moved from there as we were too out of the way to keep an eye on.)

There were all sorts of things there. People who brought the same as me, people with pillows, people with chairs, someone brought a large cardboard box to sleep under, a surprising number of people in onsies and someone even brought a tnt (which prompted discussion about if they were cheating)

I then settled down and, probably to the surprise of no-one, read the book I was almost finished. I also drank a surprising amount of tea as tea, coffee and hot chocolate had been provided. There were also cupcakes someone had made and Marks and Spencers supplied biscuits.

I stayed outside most of the night apart from when I was hiding. Someone, in their infinite wisdom, had decided we would do a Harlem Shake. I have no idea what one of them is and have no intention of ever finding out. The best way to void it was to hide. This turned out to have an ancillary benefit as I missed the rain.

I eventually went back outside and resumed reading, with regular hot drink and smoke breaks. Once I finished the book I was reading, I moved onto the next one:

You probably can’t see it properly, (the one problem I have with Sansumg phones is their absolute refusal to incluse a flash), so here it is before I packed it:

It just had to be done, really.

Then, about 12:30 a car pulled up. People were joking about finding out who ordered pizza.

Turns out, no-one did.

Mighty Bites, a pizza shop in the area, decided to donate pizza, garlic bread and chips to the event. This was much welcome.

Once the food had been consumed and the chatter and singing died down a bit, I bedded down for the night. It wasn’t the warmest, most comfortable nights sleep I’ve ever had, but it wasn’t exactly the worst either.

Woke up about 6:15 to this:

Which isn’t something I see every day.

There was a group photo (which I will post here when it’s online), breakfast from McDonalds, wrangling my sleeping bag back into it’s cover and then home.

Which is the point.

I got to go home. There are plenty of people out there who don’t get to do that.

There have been people making comments online about what the point of this was. That IS the point. I experienced it for one night and was greatful that I could go home. The services that help these people are running out of money and if I could help raise funds for them, if I could raise awareness of the real issue of homelessness and experience, even for a night, what it’s like, it was worth doing.

Speaking of…

The event may be over, but I’m still looking for donations. As things stand, I am £14 short of reaching £100. If I could break that, I’d be happy. If I could get more, even better. You can make a donation here

Aso, if you live in Aberdeen (I know a couple of my readers do), there is a Big Sleepout Aberdeen event taking place on Friday. More details here

Now to find a homeless charity to volunteer for.

Will

*Edit*

Group photo. Taken at 6:15am.

Will