Events
Problems with the van stops us arriving on time at the caravan and Motorhome show:
First show of the year the Southwest Caravan and Motorhome Show at the Westpoint Centre, Exeter and I have promised myself that I will be more organised this year by getting the van ready and packed with plenty of time to spare.
Well as Robert Burns’ wrote in his poem To a Mouse, “even the best laid plans of mice and men go array”. Time just gets the better of me and I end up packing everything that I can find just in case at the very last minute.
Once the van is stacked to the roof with everything including the dog I hitch on the caravan, connect the electrics and turn the key … nothing. At times like this your heart just drops. It’s 3 pm, you have a drive of at least three hours through drizzle and heavy mist, then at least 2 hours of unpacking and setting up … and you have no idea why your vehicle will not start.
“Why oh why did I not pack yesterday and leave this morning? I would at least have had time to sort out the problem.” I think as I search for a meter to check the battery. Maybe it is a fuse Jen suggests so after 10 minutes trying to find where the fuse box is and then how to open the bonnet we find these like the battery seem OK.
Time is marching on so all we can do is call the breakdown people.
“We can get someone to you in about an hour sir” the man on the other end explains “but in the meantime have you checked the battery?”
“Yes I have and it is fine but I will check again” I reply “but in the meantime please don’t cancel the call”.
By now it is around 4:30 and the chance of getting to Exeter in time to set up is now not an option so Jen decides to let the organisers know we will not be there today while I check the battery again. Much to my amazement this time the meter reads exactly zero volts which in a way is a relief as this is an easy thing to remedy although at a cost of nearly £100.00 for a replacement battery.
Friday 8th March eventually we set off to the Motorhome show.
The following morning we set of a little later than we intend (those mice and men again) but make a good journey time. By 11 o’clock we are pulling into the the Southwest Caravan and Motorhome show and by midday our stall is set up enough to start selling.
During the afternoon in-between titivating the stall we demonstrate the advantages of the Mr D’s energy saving Thermal Cooker to quite a number of potential customers.
“Thermal cooking can save up to 80% on fuel which is a real saving when a 6 kg refill of gas costs around £22.00″ I explain “for example if you take a 1.6 kg chicken, some small potatoes, carrots and stock and put them in the inner pot of the Mr D’s Thermal Cooker all you have to do is bring to the boil … then turn down to a simmer for 5 minutes before placing the inner pot into the outer energy saving insulated container where it can be left for up to 8 hours to cook without power.”
Saturday 9th March a good day selling thermal cookers.
After a good nights sleep in the caravan and a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs (from our chickens) we head over to our stall.
By 9:30 we are set up and waiting for the customers to arrive and it isn’t long before the first energy saving thermal cooker of the day is sold.
As usual there was a lot of interest also in our Indian Paramapara spice mixes which work so well in a thermal cooker. These sell steadily throughout the day but the main sales are for the Mr D’s Thermal Cooker.
By the end of the day we have had reasonable sales and go off for supper in our caravan, pleased.
Last day of the motorhome show and sales of energy saving thermal cookers are not too good:
We awake Sunday morning with the rain dripping on the caravan roof. I check my emails during breakfast to find a really nice one from someone who had bought a Mr D’s energy saving Thermal Cooker from us at the motorhome show the previous day.
“Hi there, we purchased your Thermal Cooker show offer at the Westpoint show yesterday & just wanted to say how pleased we are with our purchase. My wife, Linda, used it last night to cook our chicken curry tea in order to try it out & it worked perfectly, so many thanks.”
What a nice way to start the day I think as I walk over to the exhibition hall. Unfortunately the day starts very slowly as there are hardly any people coming through the show and by lunchtime we realised this is the way Sunday is going to be. Maybe it is not helped by being Mothers Day but who knows.
By 4 o’clock we have sold only one Mr D’s energy saving Thermal Egg cooker and one Mr D’s Thermal Cooker so we are keen to pack up and head for home.
Our next show the Bath Caravan and Motorhome Show is this coming weekend 15th, 16th and 17th at Bath Racecourse let’s hope that is better.
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PDFHere in Hampshire the weather does not look too good at the moment. Lets hope that when the rain comes it will be short lived, as today I am packing for the Western Motorhome Show at the Three Counties Showground in the Malvern Hills.
Following our success at the Ellingham & Ringwood Show last weekend where we sold out I will need to make sure that I take enough to Malvern.
Twice a day at Malvern I will be doing cooking demonstrations. I have not so far decided exactly what I will be cooking but there will be a vegetable curry and bread available to taste all day.
Every night I will be cooking the bread in my Mr D’s. It often amazes people that you can cook bread in a Mr D’s Thermal Cooker but it is very easy of you have the Mr D’s bread tin which will be available to buy on our stand.
If you are in the area please call in and see us.
The Western Motorhome Show is open to day visitors on Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August opening at 9.30am each day and closing at 5.00pm on Friday and Saturday, 4.30pm on Sunday. There is free parking and visitors will receive a free showguide on arrival.
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For the first year we will be a t the Crick Boat Show from the 2nd to 5th June. As soon as I have more details I will let you know.
Next weekend Dorset County Show so if you are in the area please come and see us at site B25. We will have Mr D’s Thermal Cooker along with our new carry sleeves. Twice a day I will be cooking bread using our new Mr D’s Bread mixes. These will be launched at the Southampton Boat Show by us where we will be on stand B038 opposite the Holiday Inn entrance.
