2021 - ME shows and all that

Is it to much to hope that the jabs we are being promised to protect us against the pestilence will allow things to start getting back to normal next year? It would be lovely to contemplate a visit to a ME show or steam rally after emerging from "the bunker".

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I’ll bet I'm not the only one

No, you are not the only dreamer....

We know "Ally Pally" is off but that is normally in January so too soon anyway. (I assume the snooker tournaments held in the adjoining hall over the same days will also be off or no-audience, and quite possibly the skating-rink and newly-restored theatre elsewhere in the Palace, will be closed, too.)

Doncaster? That's "only" 6 months or so away... Not long in pandemic terms as this year has shown; but if enough of us have had The Jab (or two as it may be) by then, it has a glimmer of hope.

We might also consider that even if that, and other exhibitions later in the year, go ahead, attendance may be very low by many people now fearing what we all know as usually closely-packed hordes. I am not sure how the catering could work either, at some venues - will the cafeterias be open or will it be take-away snack-bars only?

Rallies - I have heard of one traction-engine rally already cancelled, though I forget which and don't know when it would have been.

MSRVS Rally; and other ME Societies' own rallies and exhibitions, IMLEC and the rest? Well, as a member of the first, let's hope we can - the mid-Summer and outdoors ones at any rate.

Great Dorset Steam Fair? Yes, it is as late as the end of August, but of such magnitude, taking so much organising and work in advance, that although obviously I hope it will go ahead I would not surprised if it is cancelled or curtailed.

This is hitting the continual attractions too. Swanage Railway, for example, is having to make 8 redundancies among its paid staff in various departments. It wanted all-voluntary but, the Dorset Echo reported it explaining, only two volunteered.

' ' ' '

I even miss the monthly WI Coffee Mornings, in the hall a few doors along from me! The last of course was in March 2020. No, I have not been rebuilt... we mere males are admitted to the Coffee Mornings, and I can't resist home-made cake.

We at St Albans had to forego our September exhibition which is our major income since we don't have a public track. Next year? Maybe, but will our members want to spend 2 days meeting a thousand people at an indoors venue? Last year I spent the two days doing the car park supervision in the rain as nobody else wants that job but there might be a waiting list next time.
In early April we were still hopeful it would all be over by the late summer and were wondering what events we could attend beforehand with our portable track.

Heritage railways might have a way to still carry passengers - the original third class open waggons.