I find the fact that there are now so many feestivals locally (N and E Yorkshire)really heartening. Sure, with a limited season, some are going to clash, like Saltburn and Pickering, but I think that's inevitable.

We weren't going to do festivals this year as we were planning a big family holiday to Northern California, but having just got a bill from the gagage for £3K for a new engine in the car, that's out. So we're going to do some local festivals: just booked for Ryedale and, having seen the lineup, we'll most likely be going to Pickering - it's so easy for us, just off the A64 - not far to drag the old caravan and easy on my expensive new car engine. May not go to Beverley this year but will almost certainly be hanging around the fringe. Not sure about Whitby, yet. Looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

Will miss Cambridge a bit but not the crowds and the expense - and hanging on the phone for hours.