To transport the layout to Llanfair comprises one transit style hire van, two motor caravans and seven crew.
Friday 1/9/00 - 13:30 - Collect the hire van, long wheel base high-top transit. Cor, they have got an X reg delivered today, but it's not ours-shame. Back to base, listening to the radio there has been a crash on the M6 at Haydock, motorway closed-both directions!! Oh well, lets load up the van, the crash may have cleared by the time we set off (as it turned out, the crash was very serious and the road was not cleared until after we arrived at 7pm). The van was loaded, and we set off at 3.30pm, not forgetting the sleeping bags for those of us who were going to be sleeping in the back of the hire van for two nights.
16:00 - Travel reports not good, motorway still closed and backed up for four miles. It looks as if we are going the scenic route along the A59 to Merseyside and via Runcorn.
17:00 - Runcorn rush hour- great. So far we have travelled 50 miles in 2 hours and the weather is another story. Oh great, thunder and lightning as well as torrential rain. We are so lucky?
18:00 - At last, the A483 to Welshpool, and it is quiet. We can make up some time at last.
19:05 - Arrived at last. Roy and Norma have been here a while and greet us with a welcome cup of tea. this is the advantage of having motor caravans. they were at Haydock when the accident happened and just got past before the motorway was closed.
19:30 - Unload the van and set up. It is as well that the layout is constructed of polystyrene, as we don't fancy carrying real bricks up the steps to the hall. As we have been attending exhibitions every two weeks since the beginning of August, we have only been able to carry out brief repairs with no time for preventative maintenance. Let's hope that it all works first time, although the layout is designed to be as simple as possible so that there is little to go wrong.
20:45 - We are up and running, the plants are watered, and it is barbecue time after which at 22:30 it is time for bed. Or those with motor-caravans go to bed, some of us are still blowing up air beds in the back of a transit, as the bare floor is not the best place to sleep.
Saturday 2/9/00 - 8:00 - Woken by a knock on the side of the transit and the wonderful aroma of cooking bacon. the caravaners, who have had a good night sleep, are up and preparing bacon and sausage barmcakes, which are most welcome.
10:00 - To the layout, and away we go. Time to meet the people and this is what it is all about. We exhibit because we enjoy it, well most of the time, and can demonstrate how good a railway can look in a garden setting. we meet many friends, old and new, and quietly laugh at the number of men who are told a firm "NO, you are not putting one in the garden!" Times are changing though and the number of wives who are saying "This would look nice in the garden" are increasing.
17:00 - Day One over, we have got some bargains and everything has performed well. Time for a snack and then down the hill to the Light Railway for a trip to Welshpool.
18:55 - After buying several Thomas the Tank items for the young member of the group, it is off to Welshpool and back by train. Quite an enjoyable journey, the sparks look like fireworks in the dark.
21:00 - Back to the leisure centre, and fortunately the chip shop is still open, so it is a fish supper after which the younger crew fall asleep dreaming of steam engines.
Sunday 3/9/00 - 8:30am - A lie in this morning, up again for more tea with bacon and sausage barmcakes. After breakfast and sorting out all the sleeping bags in the back of the hire van it is up to the show for the final day. A bit quieter today, but just as enjoyable as the day before.
17:00 - The show comes to an end, and it is time to pack up and set off home. The greatest challenge is to remember the order in which the van was packed-did we really fit ALL this in the van on Friday?
18:15 - After carefully loading the van and a few sandwiches we set off on the road home. Here's hoping the journey back is better than the one here. The younger crew members fall asleep within minutes of setting off-they aren't the only ones who could do with a sleep, but I am driving!
20:45 - The roads are a lot better than Friday, and so is the weather. After 2½ hours we arrive back in Blackpool. After a quick unload into the garage, we take a drive through Blackpool Illuminations which were switched on this weekend. Who says that we are not gluttons for punishment, but the front seats in a van are better than a car.
Monday 4/9/00 - 8:00 - The morning after the weekend before! After refuelling and returning the hire van, it is off to work for those of the crew who still work, leaving the retired members to find space to park the car in the garage. It all fits in - honest.
Whilst it might appear madness, exhibiting is enjoyable. It is certainly worth it when a visitor explains that seeing the display inspired them to build a garden railway themselves.
