Calendar Time

 

History is interesting, but best viewed in hindsight. For years I've been writing a post just after the review of the year, about filling in my calendar with shows, but looking back at the last couple of years examples, the gist has been that shows are dead and I wonder if we will ever get out again. 

Happily, my 2022 post was proved wrong in many ways. Stafford show did go ahead, but in the autumn rather than in the snow. Other events also happened. Despite my doom-laden 2021 post, we go to events pretty much normally (I'll not be subscribing to The Lancet then!) 

So, the calendar is out and I'm busy filling in dates for all the major garden railway shows and the three Warners events, as I (hope) expect to attend all of them in some capacity. There are a few other must-visits such as York and Warley to go on. 

Then there will be smaller trips out such as local steam-ups. I don't expect to go to many of these, but if they are on the calendar, I can see if I can make a few. As you'll have read in recent posts, I'm really getting in to village hall size events. Small, freindly and often with excellent cake on offer, they are low-pressure days out where I'm not trying to talk to all the trade, or find layouts to photograph. 

I'm also going to plan on another trip to the Isle of Man for the enthusiasts week. Getting back to the island would be fantastic. More cake eating at the end of the Groudle Glen Railway!

Apart from this, I was reminded recently that I've never seen the Battle of Peasholm, so a trip to Scarborough is on my mind. And I have half an idea that a tour of Germany to take in Miniature Wonderland, Wolfsburg and Wuppertall would be a really nice idea, even if a bit of a challenge to organise. 

My feeling is that we should see big shows back this year. And tiny little ones. What we'll miss is the mid-sized events that will struggle to attract the trade. After years of working online, my guess (and it is a guess) is that trade stands will want to see 4-5000 people in front of them over a weekend to make it worth packing a van and booking a hotel. Specialist events will fare differently as they should have a higher percentage willing to spend money, but perhaps not as many as people believe. 

I'd also like to do a few events that I've not been to before. Blackpool Model Boat show appeals, but if anyone has other suggestions, I'm all ears. Where do you plan to visit this year?