CHESTER RUNNING AROUND ST HELENS

Today at the bus museum at St Helens a running day for Chester Buses, all municipal rather than Crosville etc. St Helens or the North West Museum of Road Transport ( what a mouthful) is a bright airy museum with clean facilities and a friendly staff. We had an obnoxious trader flogging models opposite us who was quite curt with Mandy this morning. There seems little camaraderie let alone attempt to allow for Mandy's disability. The running day was at times sunny then wet, about half a dozen buses in service through the day with the launch of a Tiger Cub and Leopard both nearing completion.

After a lot of assistance from the museum staff we did manage to unload ok but by the end of the afternoon Mandy's circulation had packed up and the main door were still locked, packing up as usual was hindered rather than helped. Trading was pitiful, many visitors rode buses all day and didn't even pay to enter the museum.

I doubt if Mandy would attend again even if I manned the stand. I do recommend the location and am sure the events will grow but getting wet, tired and pissed off is no longer my idea of fun on a Sunday. We are reconsidering all non summer events in view of Mandy's condition and the lack of concessions in setting up etc for the disabled at most venues.

On Ebay the usual tight fisted whiners, if I buy more do I get discount, blimey they are already £4 chepaer, plus no postage, say compared with buying from Ian Allan shops, I despair sometimes, if spring doesn't arrive soon we are emigrating.