Day 16 and lots of visitors

There was a lot of sun too, enough to become uncomfortable by mid afternoon. It made it very tough for wrg, slogging in the sun, especially in the car park. The main car park was full by 11, and all of them by lunchtime. Cars had to be advised to park in the Town Hall car park and use the shuttle bus.

Despite this, I understand that there was a good gate, and there were certainly a lot of folk around everytime we went on site.

The last offical issue of the Shoveler was printed and published; just the unofficial spoof issue to go. This is the one that allows the newsletter team to have some fun at the expense of their co-workers and (possibly former) friends. It's only given to the three week workers and the wrgies, needless to say.

Just a few photos today:

Climbing Everest

 Staffs Fire and Rescue did a sponsored Everest climb up a ladder and down a pole for their own charity and local charities. 20 guys went up and down to climb a total of 8848 metres, the height of Everest.

Smallest entry

 This amazing scale model of an FMC josher has been going up and down the cut. It has an MP3 player inside producing the sound of a Bolinder, and is controlled by its constructor being towed behind it in a canoe. The power source is an electric engine of the type used in mobility scooters.

Speechifying

This is the pic that broke my resolve yesterday when Blogger was playing up; it shows the opening speeches on Friday lunchtime.

We're nearly there; see you tomorrow.

Third Saturday

Yesterday saw the Show open on time, despite the usual last minute panics. I haven’t got any figures for the first day’s entry, but the ground looked nicely full, given that it’s one of the larger show fields that we use.

In between going to the BW Q&A session and getting the Sunday edition ready for bed, there was time to wander round a bit, and to meet up with John and Nev Campbell at lunch time.

The final touches to Sunday were delayed by the need to get an account of the Opening Ceremony in, so it was ten to three, rather than half two, before the first copied emerged. Kevin used both printers, however, as the one normally kept for short jobs has much less demand on it when the Show is actually open.

We had less help with the folding at first, but later on, a team of experienced wrgies was recruited and things went faster. In addition, we’d agreed to insert a flyer about next year’s events, which slows things down considerably.

However, it was all done in the end, and by half five, all the copies were at their distribution centres. We’d printed and folded 1270 of them in a two and a half hours.

We’re starting to feel more relaxed about things now; just one more serious issue to get out, and that’s pretty well ready for press now.

This boat is for sale

The WRG bit of the IWA display

Eagle Owl on the Raptors stand

"Knights of the Crusade" base in the Arena

Thames Barge manoeuvring