I can't justify buying a week ticket because I do not attend things in Sidmouth which require tickets, and I might only be there for a day or two.

I sing in the various venues, play on the promenade, avoid the louder events because I can't stand the noise. I did go to arena events for many years but I found I needed to take ear defenders in order to take it down below my pain threashold, so I stopped going.

I have not been able to go for a whole week for the last 25 years, so I go where I do not need a ticket and find that I can fill my time quite easily.

I do take money with me to spend, but almost always come home with most of it. Since people have been burning their own cds I have managed to spend a bit more, and got some good music. I think the problem is that the things for sale are not what I want to buy - I always go and look around the stands and stalls in the area around the arena, but it is very rare that I see anything I want. I have asked for things like a particular type of capo or a replacement drum skin, but not found them.

Perhaps if there was something I could spend my money on and have it go towards the running of the festival it would not be in such difficulties - there might be many more people like me who carry money around ready to hand it over and find no reason to do so. The rest of my family are not interested in folk music, and I have to insist that I go, and justify what I spend.
Anne