No Womad No Cry

[Des]

Due to a horrible combination of cat politics and meteorology I have had to miss my fave weekend of the year for the first time in five years. If getting muddy, wet and smelly for 3 or 4 days is character-building then so is staying home when you really want to be there. Luckily my other interests have kept me occupied, but I have learned my lesson for next year - it's the dreaded cattery for Tom!

[Con Murphy]

Sorry to hear that Des. This is the first one I've missed completely in about eight years, and despite also being preoccupied I've spent the whole weekend knowing what it's like to feel broody. We'll enjoy it more than double the amount next year, I'm sure.

[Adam Blake]

Not if HM Gov't have anything to do with it. Musicians? FOREIGN Musicians? Coming HERE? To play MUSIC??? Good God! Throw them to the lions! Pulp their instruments! Oh, we can't do that? Oh well, tax them then, marginalise them, make them feel unwelcome, impound their wretched merchandise, keep them in holding bays, lose their paperwork, just make sure they don't try anything of the kind again! (see Visas thread)

[Des]

Con: Thanks for your words of comfort - much appreciated (a guy on the Womad forum was forced to sell both his Womad tickets to pay the vet to treat his cat which then sadly died - now that really is bad luck). Roll on 2010!

Adam - this is dreadful stuff. I will take it up with my TU (PCS - largest government/public sector union in UK) and suggest a campaign on the issue. Music seems to be under the cosh at the moment.