Sorry Lizzie...you are right. I wish I could react to viscious attacks the way you do instead of losing my temper.

I feel the same way about Sidmouth...as I'm sure you can tell! I met my husband (el_punkoid_nouveau) there 16 years ago (we celebrate our anniversary during the festival every year instead of our actual wedding anniversary) and my son has been every year except two since he was eight months old and my daughter every year except one since she was eleven months old. They both look forward to it as one of the highlights of their year and they, like us, have made some of the best friends of their lives at Sidmouth. Sidmouth festival has been a large part of my life for 23 years now and I intend to keep going whatever the changes, partly because however I may regret the passing of some aspects of the old festival, a lot of my best friends will also continue to go, and they are what make the festival for me, not the concerts and shows and big-name guests. You are right Lizzie...it is about love.....without these friends I've made over the years, there would be less love in my life and I love them (or at least some of them!) more than anything. And I love Sidmouth-the whole thing..the festival..the town..the ethos... I also look forward to making many more good friends at Sidmouth over the years to come. I am very much looking forward to meeting you Lizzie! And also Big Mal, Robbie, Don T, and lots of others who I've either missed meeting before or who are coming to Sidmouth for the first time this year.

Sorry about the length of this message, but I just wanted to show how much Sidmouth means to ME as an individuual, and to my family...and happily to so many of my friends.

Love Lynne