Thought I would add my two-penn’orth of praise for D.E.M.U. Show-case 2023 with some photos of my favourite layout there, @sf315 ‘s ‘Hillport Goods’.  All the models were to an enviably high standard I thought, but this one beat the others by a whisker (and a few of my resulting pictures are presentable), having the liveries I like best and capturing an ‘atmosphere’ I find so evocative.  Thank you to the operators for letting me distract them with my photographing: I was trying to reproduce the feel of ‘peering over the wall’ one got from certain viewpoints.  I hope others agreed it worth a prolonged viewing.

I rather liked Bakewell Street as well, and caught the cameo of the covert photographer:

I managed to arrive as the doors opened at 10.00, and did not leave till 16.15 there was so much to see and do and try to resist buying.  Too shy to harangue the manufacturers’ stands – they will have heard it all before anyway - but was told Bachmann’s Bitumen tanker’s C.A.D. files are in China and the rep. had no idea when they would be for sale.  Sigh.

Paid my respects to the ‘Wagon God’ Mr David Larkin, and thought of a question:

“Can one modify a model of a BDA to a ‘Trestle’ XVA?”
“No”.  The latter has an open frame beneath the trestle.  Bother.

I am looking forward (August?) to his first volume of four on Speedlink wagons with lots of photographs, and, if I understood correctly, there will be three more to follow on Wagon-load trucks.

Prompted to explore the town for luncheon, I was delighted to find my way, past many attractive buildings, to the 1970’s ‘The Parade’ where a Saturday Market was being held, including… Indian Street Food.  Hurrah!  Gorged myself on veggie samosas and pakoras, and bought a jar of 'Hibiscus' mixed-peppers and jalapeno chutney (can not find a web-site, and not tried yet).  With cheery Sikhs pressing bottled water on passers-by, the day could not get much better.

I will book a week’s Annual Leave after in 2024, so the energy and enthusiasm are not dissipated like this year into lethargy and ennui at work.  And now I know where to get lunch.  Thanks again to all concerned for a wonderful day.