The uplifting feeling of having been to a stadium concert and shared crowd song lasts. Fragments of song revisit and become earworms. Getting down off the top tier of the stand is less onerous than the ascent, although it takes a long time- waiting for row upon row to filter out to the steps so that we’re almost the last. Then walking back around and down the last flights.

I begin to realise I’m starving and it’s late. Outside the stadium there are, of course, food stands; ready and waiting for the stream of hungry gig-goers. There’s no option, at this time of night, other than to indulge in a fast-food binge- which we do, but there’s nowhere to sit and eat it so we’re obliged to eat walking along, which I hate. I’ve never been able to understand the desire to walk along with a coffee or food and I can only really enjoy anything comestible whilst sitting down- preferably at a table.

We reach a main street where a wobbly bench provides a perch and finish off the food. Then it’s back to the hotel for a last beer before bed.

Next day we retrace our steps- station- station and return to the van [hopefully]. En route I do experience some trepidation. What if it’s been robbed? Or vandalised? But no- there it is, squeezed into the little ‘Just Park’ space in the housing estate with no ill effects. And it’s cool, too, from having had the curtains drawn. Phew!

Since we’re here in Wales it seems rude not to spend a bit more time and we’re off towards Porth Cawl, where we’ve booked a site nearby on the outskirts of a village called Nottage. We need to negotiate some tiny, narrow lanes to get there but we find the site, yet another farm venue. It’s clearly a regulars’ holiday spot, with many of the units housing folks who know each other. They’re friendly to us, too- helping out when we have trouble with the hook-up. It’s a little cheeky of the site to charge electricity on top of their tariff, but there’s nothing to be done about it now.

Down the lane outside, under a railway bridge, turn right and up another hill and we are in Nottage, which has two pubs, both of which look lovely.

We get a beer in one of them and assess its possibility for a meal next day.

We can walk to Porth Cawl from our site, along a footpath, first to Nottage then across the road and past a quaint forge, though I’m disappointed not to see a horse in the process of getting shoes…

After a while, traipsing up and down and past houses then along some coast path, we get to the outskirts of Porth Cawl. First impressions are of a run down seaside town, down on its luck, but it’s not true of all of the town. Once there was a swanky pavilion, but it’s fenced off, hopefully to be renovated. Further along there’s a a marina. Most of the front is smart and landscaped, however there’s no sign of a public lavatory anywhere!

We choose a seafront cafe for tea and cake, timing it well as while we’re inside the heavens open and we emerge to wet pavements.

We walk along the High Street which boasts some sea-themed sculptures and a small market cross, but little else of interest. But we can get a bus back to Nottage- which is a result!

Novels by Jane Deans [Grace]: The Year of Familiar Strangers and The Conways at Earthsend. Visit my website: janedeans.com