Home again - A Whitby Right up
Got home a few hours ago. Still to look at the web, Thought I would write this first.
The journey up was a decent one. Did get stuck behind several different idiots at least one of which probably should not have been behind the wheel of a car.

Stopped over night at Amy's dad's on the way up and discovered that I seem to have a knack for drumming on Rock Band.

Got to Whitby nice and early. Got changed and headed out to go see people. People were seen and new friends were made. Also found a nice flyer detailing many of the events of the weekend and ALL the Markets (Which was a first) Dinner was some excellent fish and chips at the Silver Street Fisheries. Then it was off to the Leisure centre to set up the Stall before heading back to the Elsinor for a little bit more socialising.

Friday was mostly spent trading. Tea was provided at one point by felishumanus and was most welcome. Trade was Slow as it normally is on an April Friday. Then began the drama (Although we would not know it was drama until the next day). Sam came round to give us the booking forms for November's Market. He told us that He had Broken up with Jo his wife for the last four years who started the first Whitby Goth weekend and has been running it ever since. He told us that she would be running the events part of the weekend and he would be running the Markets. He gave the distinct impression (and I although I don't recall his exact words may have said directly) that this was by agreement between him and Jo. He told us we could hand the form in via John who has been doing all the actual organisation for the Leisure centre for the past couple of years (Before his intervention the word organisation could never actually be applied to the leisure centre market).
The evening was very pleasurable. We went to the comedy night and were joined by Wesley, Fury and Pru. We got to see four acts three of which I found incredibly amusing and the other had his moments. Surprisingly the one I was only slightly amused by was not the one who started by going on about how all kinds of "Crazy" things happen to her Which is normally a hint that I'm about to find somebody perfoundly irritating, but it turned out that she was actually funny. Anyway The biggest round of applause had to go to Silky The evenings compare who was totally hilarious. If he's coming to a club near you I recommend you make the effort to go see him.

Saturday was a decent trading day which was very welcome. Towards the end of the day however the Lama walked in to town big time. A letter was circulated by Jo telling us that She had in no way agreed to hand the market parts of the goth weekend over to Sam and indeed required the profit from the Markets to prop up the loss making (certainly this April) Spa night. Further more since Sam had already jumped in and booked the leisure centre for Halloween weekend and the Leisure centre would not cancel his booking and hand it over to her she was going to move the WGW to the week after and that there would be a meeting after close of trade that evening. Joe turned up and spoke. Frankly the crowd were never going to give her an easy ride because WGW has never put any effort in the the Leisure Centre Market before now, Indeed I think it's the first time most of us have ever seen Jo. They saw this mess as partly Jo's fault for not being able to talk it out with Sam and Although Sam had obviously started by miss Leading us and trying to play us there was no trust for Jo either. At the end of the day all of that was probably immaterial. All the Traders wanted was to know that the would be turning up on the same week as their customers and it was the general opinion of the Traders that Joe moving the Spa event would perhaps lessen numbers for the Halloween weekend but that The bulk of people would turn up on Halloween weekend. I was admittedly not so certain at the time but would no agree for the most part. but that partly comes down to Later conversations. The up shot was that Jo at that point relented and decided to move the weekend back to the Halloween weekend but asked us to sign a pertision for the market to be handed over to her. she also promised to send us an official statement as to what the date of the next Spa event would be. I left it at that and was telling anyone unsure about the date of the next Whitby to come to the leisure centre next morning because jo had promised us an official Statement.
This all meant it was way to late to get dinner and make it to the Acoustic gig that I was keen to see (How did Manuskript do at acoustic? was it at all recorded?). To make up for the lack of gig fate provided Amy and I with the best dinner company one could ask for in the form of Ara Giola and Corrin(sp). It was a wonderful meal at the Hatless Heron (I recommend this place) and The conversation and company made it a most enjoyable evening and far better than the gig could ever have been. So I guess I at least have to thank Sam and Jo for inadvertently steering me towards the best possible Saturday night.

Sunday morning saw the Traders Gathering for a meeting this time with Sam. A decision really had to be made and it was. What ever Date Jo chooses for the Spa We will be there for Halloween. The Traders also agreed to put their Trust not in Sam or Jo but in John. John will keep hold of depossits until such time as a leagly binding agreement over who runs the Leisure centre event is signed. At this point he will hand over the Money. He will represent us in the mean time. Releasing Money only as and when the payment comes due on the centre. Further more if no agreement is reached he will spend the money on advertising. It turns out the Leaflet that everyone thought was the official Goth weekend leaflet was infact produced for free between John and The Creator of Fetish Man (Who's name I think is Gary). I may well be putting in for some advertising in the leaflet for Halloween. Now some important side facts and possible facts on the who debacle.
Fact: The Met are now running the Met Market themselves
Fact: The Spa Market was neither full of traders or customers this time round.
Fact: Jo is banned from the Met, They will not deal with her.
Fact: Sexy Sunday and Manic Monday have declared for Halloween
Fact: The organisation of the comedy night is down to people who trade at the leisure centre.
Fact: Jo is in a long standing fude with the organisers of "The Alternative".
Fact: Non of the performers for the dark Cabaret thing got Paid, Only their accommodation was covered.
Fact: At least one of the performers is a member of Equity. He has currently stated to me his intention to ask Equity to sue Jo for the Money. This would probably result in Joe Being Equity Black Listed. This would mean a problem with getting everything from performers to sound engineers.
Fact: at least one other member of staff has told me he has not been paid and it's one that has stuck up for the weekend through various happenings over the years.
Fact: We never did get an official statement as to which weekend jo is doing the spa event on.
Personal opinion. There is only really one night who may possibly move to the same night as the spa even that I believe would make much difference and that is the 80's night. I hope Jo does not swing for the weekend after because it will split the whole event and screw up trading for everyone, but if she dose I think Sexbat declaring for Halloween at this point would make all the difference and probably save the Weekend even if it lead to the death of the spa event (To be later resurrected by another organisation)

Any way Enough of that. Sunday night continued with the best 80's night ever. The only problem I had was that The B-movie sound system completely failed to play any duff tracks. As a result I had to stop for a drink twice during songs I wanted to be dancing too. Apart from the two bttles of J2O I danced the whole night Non-stop.

Monday was about recovering enough to get to Amy's dad's and get a good nights sleep.

Today I got home. I am only semi-concious. My finger feel numb. I need tea. I also need to say that Whitby is made the wonderful thing it is by my friends who are numerous and very special people in a good way. Truly I am a lucky person to have you as freinds and I really hope you all know who you are. Huggs

I need tea now