In the past I have always found it difficult to spend money at Sidmouth - really.

I try to spend as much time there as possible, some years I have only had the weekend, some years the weekend and last Friday, or Thursday and Friday. A few years I could stay for the whole week.

As I don't have time for dancing and prefer to perform rather than listen I go to the pavillion cafe bar, the sea front - last year I could sing in the Middle Bar thanks to it being almost smoke free. Being there all week I took my drum to the motley morris.

I do go and look at things in the Arena - but I like to play rock and roll cds, mostly, I have all the musical instruments I need, and I don't even like the food on sale there.

I might like to have gone to some of the workshops - but by the time I knew what there was all the books of tickets were sold, and the information was that without a season ticket or workshop ticket there was no entrance. I did find out that they had changed the rules but too late for all but one workshop and that at the very last minute.

If I buy a season ticket I am denying one to someone who will actually use it for dances and concerts, but I do have money to spend - most years I have spent scarcely 1/3rd of the amount I had available.

I do hope that the new management will have better information for people 'on the fringe' and maybe even provide a good reason to spend a bit more money at Sidmouth.

Anne