The last three 'Guests' be they three seperate individuals or just one person:

I'm sitting here typing this whilst watching Bob Geldof on Live 8. They've just finished showing the film from 20 years ago, of all the children starving to death, dying in their mothers' arms. The film ended with a child seemingly taking her last breath. It was awful, truly awful!

Then Bob Geldof came on and said that 20 years ago that child had just a few hours left to live but somehow they managed to save her. She has just completed her University Degree and then he brought her on stage.

A staggeringly beautiful, dignified young lady walked on! Her beauty and her presence took your breath away! That was it for me. That young girl says everything about Live 8 and Bod Geldof. She proves what CAN be done if people don't give up!! It was the most moving piece of television I've seen in many a year. The crowd went absolutely WILD with joy!

So.....I pass that joy on to you all.

This Folk Week is nothing to do with Live 8. It is insignificant in proportion to what I have just seen, obviously. However, Sidmouth Folk Week is also proof of what can be done if determined people come forward to work their socks off to make something happen.

They are giving you a Folk Week that was never even going to exist this time last year. They and they alone will be responsible for old friends meeting up again in a place they love, sharing the music they love, with the people they love...perhaps even new people falling in love, not only with the music, dance and atmosphere but with each other too...all brought together by a small group of people who just never gave up!

I suggest you try and get some of that love and joy to rub off on yourselves.

Meanwhile, here is something brilliant to do with your money, instead of using up precious electricity to come in here and write negative things about people who care deeply:

http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com/

So...go out there and buy a goat...or a teacher....or some trees....or even just a few text books for the children to learn from.....enable others to be able to feed their children or support themselves....but on this 'Day Of All Days'....DO SOMETHING POSITIVE and spread some LOVE around!

And I leave you with the message that Madonna is now singing to hundreds of thousands of people, all moving and acting as One.... "Music Makes The People Come Together"

Lizzie