Hi GUEST richie, Mysha is right. I have reflected and upon reflection I have changed my mind from last year.

I do love coming to Durham. I enjoy the dance teams and the singarounds and the ale (lots of good real ale) and the food and the people and the tranquility of the river and the sheer beauty and the atmosphere of Durham City itself. That is what draws me to it.

I did feel aggreived last year and considered that the morris teams were being used to finance the festival through camping fees and that they were indeed 'milch cows'.

But I overlooked and missed the point that this is no longer a 'Folk Festival'. It's format has changed completely from what it used to be and it is now a far smaller and therefore far more intimate 'Folk Party'.

As GUEST Suibhne Astray has said above; the emphasis now is purely on song and dance which is a strong tradition in the NE.

So, do you know what, I don't care if I am a milch cow, pull hard and milk me; I will enjoy the festival even more.

Chris