I'm sorry to start yet another thread, but the negative title below really sickens me! ('Why are you not going to Sidmouth?')

It is beyond my comprehension, in the present circumstances, how SOME people can continue to be so spiteful and unsupportive! I am not talking to the kind people who have put their thoughts down and those who have supported, very rightly, Steve Heap. But to me it's no longer a 'joking' matter! EVERYTHING has changed and we all need to change with it!

You ARE aware of what has been happening in the world lately I presume?

Do you know that the Editor of The Sidmouth Herald only escaped certain death because she chose to NOT take a boat trip from Penang, on the day of the Tsunami, but went on an inland visit to a Temple instead? She was on her honeymoon. Luckily she and her husband, whose brother owns the Sidmouth Garden Centre, survived. I would imagine that for her, this year's festival and very many other things, will be joyful in a way she never thought possible!

How lucky we all are! How lucky I am to live by the sea in a place where I am safe! How fitting that the Arena is now not taking place and the concerts will be down on The Ham, so close to the sea, where we can all go and sit, play, dance in freedom and safety, with our children and grandchildren around us! Maybe it's because I live by the sea that I feel like this, I don't know! But I'll make sure to enjoy this year's festival, whatever it turns out to be, large or small.


I'm just so mad and upset that the previously mentioned 'Why are you not going to Sidmouth?' thread has even been STARTED! How heartless can you be cowardly 'guest' who set it rolling? It is SURELY time to put things into perspective!

A few weeks ago I was jumping up and down trying to think of ways to raise money for Sidmouth, well, that's all changed. I hope that Knowle Park where the Arena normally is, will be filled with people singing and dancing. There is a large concrete area there, which is normally covered by the stage. It would be perfect for dancing and perfoming on. And I would imagine if everything is spontaneous very little rules and regulations would come into it! Can you actually stop people gathering to enjoy themselves or having 'picnics in the park'....and maybe we could all raise a lot of money for the Tsunami Victims and a little for Sidmouth too.

There are already collections going on all over my town, as I'm sure there are in yours. It would be nice to add to those. Change your priorities! Change your views! Sidmouth is still vitally important, just as ALL our Festivals are, but we are extremely lucky to still have it, and to have people who are prepared to travel from all over the country to make 2005 happen and hopefully 2006 too! We are also EXTREMELY lucky to have the OPTION of whether or not we choose to come to it or not!

Just sit down and imagine Sidmouth Festival without ANY CHILDREN in it........All washed away!

If you can still find it in your heart to make fun or criticise Sidmouth with that in mind then, please, don't come! Honest criticism is different, but stirring and meddling is, in my view, now totally unacceptable.

Please come and be joyful and grateful for what we DO have!
It could so easily have been you or I, or OUR children, family or friends. Fight for everything that is precious to you. Life is short!

Lizzie