Monday 4 August 2014

Tatton Park VW Show 2014

Tatton Park Volkswagen Show is an annual event organised by Volkswagen Northwest. It is a 1-day show which takes place in August, and is generally really blessed with good sunshine. There's no overnight camping except for traders, but our friends Dave and Kate trade there with their business Campertronic - and it's this time of year that Dave's parents go on holiday, so we take their place setting up and packing away, occasionally selling things and helping with childcare.

I've been going to Tatton Park VW show for the last 12 years. It's the only show that I haven't missed, whatever else has happened in my life. Last year it was our first trip out when my partner was still very much recovering from Meningitis, this year it was our first overnight camp of the year - mainly because our teenagers haven't stood still long enough for us to do anything....



Because we were setting up the day before, we were some of the first on site, so the children were able to play and run about in as much space as they wanted - unable to completely escape! The weather was really hit and miss, with glorious sunshine one minute, and deep cloud the next....

The only time she was moving slowly enough to be in shot!
Some friends of ours arrived in traditional Volkswagen style....

Fortunately by the time the clouds began to get ominous we were all set up withour awning against our van, the huge stall tents ready and the stock all unpacked.


And then we had two 10 minute busts of rain that produced about 2 inches of rainfall...my mug was outside and it was half full.


The children didn't mind - they'd relaxed into the camping....


Rain gone and it was a barbeque for tea....


Timehop kindly supplied me with a very similar image from exactly 2 years ago - which is lovely to see, it really marks the changes - not least in my ability to take a photo! They don't look much bigger until you see how well they fill their chairs.



Sausages and ribs eaten - and time for bed...


It's the first time my son has slept in a cab bunk in this van - he loves it..

 

Sunday we were up the usual 'bright and early', and could watch the whole ground fill up with traders, concourse vehicles and club displays. By 10am (public opening time) we were already pretty busy.
 

Campertronic sell just about anything electrical for your Volkswagen and equipment for camping in a van, as well as offering key cutting and programming, so Dave spends most of his time out and about visiting other people's vehicles or cutting keys. Hence the need for someone to help with the children.


So we took the 4 children and all went for a walk round the show...


And the fair...which wasn't as cripplingly expensive as you'd imagine - they got £4 each. We're harsh, but not enough to cause complaint....
 

And the smiles are worth every penny....plus the fact it takes us back 8 or 9 years to when we used to have 4 little ones with only a 2 year age gap between them all. I got quite nostalgic...


We resisted the gorgeous cakes and bought everyone an ice cream instead...it turned out to be more messy, but don't worry, no photo's! 


There's a saying that 'if you put VW on anything people will buy it'. 
Some people make best use of this.....


And some people are just hilarious...


End of the day we packed up and said our 'goodbye's'. It was an absolutely brilliant weekend and if it has shown me anything it's that I've missed camping and we have to get our purple camper van back on the road!


Someone was too tired to smile.....

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27 comments:

  1. Looks like an amazing event! The books look like the had lots of fun too, fabulous photos!

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    1. Heheheh....they did! They had a great time. Next year we'll be camping loads, whatever the teenagers are up to - they'll mainly be adults by then and can look after themselves :)

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  2. So pleased to know that you and the children enjoyed our show! Did you visit the Kidzbus? Or the adventure playground?

    It's the first time we ever got feedback from a family point of view, thanks for sharing!

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    1. You're welcome! Thank you for putting on the event. We didn't visit the Kidzbus - and we really should have done! We were there 3 weeks ago for the Foodies Fest, and the children spent several hours on the adventure playground then, so we didn't actually go over and play there this time - but we simply didn't need to - the weather was so lovely. It is however an amazing play area and my boys adore it. I've mentioned it before in other posts. Tatton Park is a lovely location for family events :)
      I did post last year - but I was a bit less brave about sharing :D

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  3. Oh Jenny it looks great!! Maybe next year Ted and I will take the boys for a day out - I'm sure they would love looking at all the different vans :)

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    1. It's the place to go if you want to ogle vans - that's for sure! I've always liked Tatton Park VW Show. When I lived in Derby we'd set off at 6.30am and have breakfast at a mates house in Sale and then convoy over :D

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  4. What a great weekend. I love that picture of the cloud, really well taken.

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    1. Thanks Angela! It did look so stark compared to the sunshine below, and I think I lined it up just right. I'm really pleased with it, so it's lovely of you to say that :)

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  5. What a fun weekend - your boys certainly looked like they enjoyed themselves!

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    1. Hahaha....they did, bless em! All the kids had an excellent time :D

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  6. This looks like so much fun, even with the changeable weather! My kids love camping, we must do it more often. #WHWH

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    1. We really should do it more often. The pesky teenagers get in the way though because they don't want to come, and we don't want to leave them here! :D

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  7. Oh what a great event - we love VWs. Loving your shot of those rain clouds - glad they went away for you to have your bbq though.

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    1. Thank you! That's high praise coming from you and I'm very flattered - I'm really proud of it :)

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  8. What a fab event! And you did so well to resist those cakes! We've only been to Tatton Park once and it was pouring it down, so you've reminded me to return one day, with a little more sun!

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    1. I've been in the pouring rain too. It is nearly Manchester after all! :D
      We were lucky with the weather, it was gorgeous :)

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  9. Wow! What a great event!! Looks like there is so much to see...
    I love all the camper vans! I always wanted one of my own x

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    1. I never wanted one until I got one - and I love them. I'd hate to think we didn't have one :D x

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  10. My mum loves to go to this and it always looks so so much fun! It's great you got to go and camp and have the whole experience, love the photos of the VW's looks like a great event. #countrykids

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    1. We are lucky being able to camp - they made us work for it mind! :D

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  11. What a fun weekend - a great event with some delicious food on offer and plenty of space for the children to enjoy. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.

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    1. Thank you for hosting :)
      It was a lovely weekend, it's a really friendly event :)

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  12. wow Jenny what a fantastic event and what total fun! .. i love VW they are so iconic :-)

    thanks for linking up with #ActiveFamily

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    1. You're welcome and thank YOU for hosting! I really feel once you've had a VW you can't go back - it's an entire sub-culture :D

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  13. Everything looks so busy! And those VW are so cute as always! I would love to have one as we are keen in doing camping at the moment =) #countrykids

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    1. Do it! Everyone starts off camping, then moves on to campervans - and in our case then back to camping as we've too many kids for vans! :D

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