BTS Expo 2008

[Rich.Harrington]

Was my first time of what I intend to be many, managed to get everything I wanted all inside of budget (so no complaints there). If anything I got more than I aimed for, booked one communal setup to collect with the hope of finding a second one with P.regalis, before the day was out I had 3 setups all in the car.

Had a great time talking to folks, picking up a few tips here and ther, along with the general flood of information from the talk.

On the whole my only complaint can be one of myself, next year i'm heading over on the saturday and coming back on the sunda, friving all night long to arrive at 7am sunday morning wasn't my idea of fun.

[Louise~Nichols]

It was good seeing you there Rich! Look forward to seeing you at the next one too.

[Kim Pennell]

I enjoyed the fact that both Ray Hale and Andrew Smith took the time to visit the stalls and chat but regret not introducing myself to Mark P til the end, Kim looked rather perplexed at my Hi Bye greeting

Sorry Peter, you should of come up and said hello properly, then you would of known I was suffering with a very bad back all weekend and was in a lot of pain. But never mind it was still a very excellent weekend which made up for it.

Not only was Mark busy with the show, but as you all probably saw BBC Bristol were following him around (hard to miss really Richard with his 2½ foot camera on his shoulder) this is for our local TV station to be broadcast sometime during their Autumn schedule on a feature about him.

Nice to meet and great everybody old and new faces alike. Hope to see you all again soon even perhaps at the lectures in Feb 2009!!!!

Take care

Kim
x

[RUSS DEAN]

gutted...gutted...gutted

absolutly gutted......
just missed 2007 BTS show because i had only just joined, so i plan ahead and look forward to the 2008 show,and well guess what i missed it,
there's not many words to describe my feelings at the time but out of two cars me and my wife have both broke down, on sunday of all days,
so now i have to wait another year, not a happy bunny,
well with what everyone is saying it sounded like a great day, and was well worth the run down....
looks like i'm gonna have to settle for looking at the pics....again.
well i'll start counting down to the 2009 expo then..

very unhappy Russ

[Leon Lane]

as you all probably saw BBC Bristol were following him around (hard to miss really Richard with his 2½ foot camera on his shoulder) this is for our local TV station to be broadcast sometime during their Autumn schedule on a feature about him.

Aargh, so that's who was filming me trying to very gently persuade a £300 P metallica that

a) Didn't belong to me and
b) Had already been aggravated by Lee

into a new tub? Fantastic.

Fantastic to see everyone again, especially the likes of Michael Jacobi and Thomas Ezendam, it's been a while guys!
Always a good crack helping Lee on the Spidershop stall, I wish he'd stop flogging all this New World itchy rubbish I don't know anything about though, and my feet had definitely seen better days by the end of it all (Mr Copley that was MY chair you looked so comfortable in) - note to self, wear normal trainers next year.

Shame we didn't get to see everyone properly on the Saturday thanks to a little timekeeping blunder but big thanks to Ray Hale for making sure we didn't starve!

Must also say thankyou to big Ron Jeremy for the "Malthai", merci - and thank you for bringing the rain on Saturday at least!

Managed to keep my spending down to a tenner (about a tenth of what the weekend cost me in beer food and taxis!) but I've changed my mind about spiders and don't think they're rubbish any more.

Well done to all involved and here's to next time.

PS Gallon the pints are for drinking not flinging across a local pub for local people. Bare knuckle fighting next year!

[Tom Forman]

I just realized I must have seen you several times louise...

Bum.

Would have said hi if I'd realized. I reckognised whoever sold me my bohemi but not sure of his name.

Peter, nah, I was in a group of a scottish mate and my belgian friend sarah who was a bit unsure about taking pictures at first and kept asking the stand owners if she could take a picture, bless her.

Would have been cool to meet you, we will have to next year to discuss the outcome of our bet

If you haven't checked out the pictures yet, there are in the pix section. There are some brilliant pics on bugnation too.

[Mark Pennell]

All mine and Richard's images are on the gallery now, plenty of good crowd shots and some best forgotten

Just waiting for the comp winners pictures from Peter Kirk.
Regards
Mark

[Ray Hale]

Well guys I am now fully awake so I need to say a few things.

First up. What a show. On behalf of the BTS Commitee I would like to thank each and everyone of you for making the effort to attend. I know many of you travelled great distance. So thanks.

2007 was our first year at Coseley and it had to be said we had a few problems.... However we went away and looked at them. I took on board all the comment made and I hope we managed to erradicate them in 2008. We made the changes and we felt it went so much better. More room to see the stalls, better lecture conditions, an improved entrance and a quicker entry in to the show. We responded to the call and I personally think that this years show was the best for a very long time. I believe all traders had a good day and if you didnt then it was there own fault. Some prices were high but there were bargains to be had. Slings for a quid...c'mon guys what a deal.

The competition was well supported and Andrews lecture was a packed event.
The BTS Exhibition has become more than a show it has become the event of the year for many. From the Saturday night drinking session ( all welcome I might add) to the setting up on Sat morning and through out the day on Sunday everyone who is involved in any way has a wonderful time. This year I was much less stressed thanks to the support and hard work by the team and especially Lee Cole our Security guy. I actually got to look around the show and speak to a lot of folk and what a jolly nice lot you are too.

So 2009. I had sworn that if 2008 hand't been a success then I was out of here. I was going to hang up my badge and leave town to make way for some young gun. Ive done this for 15 yeas now and was beginning to think I was losing the edge. But thanks to you guys and the BTS Commitee I have had my faith restored so with Mike Conabeer and the teams help we will return next year. Bigger and better.

So all it remains is to do the roll call of honour:

Thanks to:

Lee Cole ( G.A.Y Security)
Shelly Cole for allowing her husband to mix with us loonies.
Angela Hale ....just because she is there , thank God
The Pennells..........." Should you be lifting that table Mark?"
The BTS Commitee
Naython and his girlfriend.....sorry about the state he was in on Sat night
Oli Dodds.
Colin Wilson..........
Steve McKintyre and his lovley family
J M Verdex and Roberto.............holding up the French end
Michael and Alex fron the USA............next year we will explain the offside rule guys at the FA cup final.
The staff at the school....who work so hard for us.

if ive missed you out you know who you are...and finally ALL of YOU who make our Exhibition and hobby what they are.....SIMPLY THE BEST

Until 2009......

Ray and Angela

[Naython J]

Naython and his girlfriend.....sorry about the state he was in on Sat night

im starting to get the impression i was a lil wasted sat night cant really remeber lol!!!

[James Box]

Ray, Angela, Kim and Mark, thanks so much for a fantastic day

as always, it was seeing friends and meeting new people that was the best, but a very tempting array of creatures as well. i showed considerable restraint in the face of it

was great seeing Louise, Merly, Colin, Shane, Ray and Angela Hale, Ray G, Peter Lacey, Peter Roach, Oli, Matthew, Sylvi, Julie, Mary, Layla, Craig, Tony, Kevin, Andy, Dan, Wesley, Stuart, Em, Will, Martin, Toran (congrats on your awards, they are well-deserved!), Johanna, Dee and many more!
i can only hope i haven't forgotten anyone.

new acquisitions:

4 assorted fruit beetle grubs (thanks Colin!)
Hisser nymphs (thanks Louise!)
G areostriata (thanks again Louise! what a nice spider!)
B dubia roaches (thanks Mary!)
Aphonopelma sp (thanks Johanna!)
fantastic glass sling jars (thanks for keeping them for me Matthew! hope to make it to an Invicta meeting soon)

Orange Huntsman spider (Thelecopticus modestica, apparently...and mated, though not holding breath)
Brachypelma albiceps
Scorpio maurus palmatus
2 Goliath beetle grubs, apparently (species to follow when i remember it)

i had a great time, and this may be my favourite year so far. Helps that i was able to stay the whole day and attend the lecture, but everything seemed smoother and less horribly crowded, though well-attended!
the lecture was great too

anyone that didn't go this year, you really missed out, and you must try for next!
the only flaw is that it's not a week-long event

[Peter Lacey]

LOL Tom, I do remember a girl with an accent asking if she could take pix and then pushing her camera right up close to the spids. If they're on BugNation I'm sure I'll recognise them, was your mate the guy from Aberdeen with all the tattoos?
Shame I didn't spot you, I think I'd have paid my bet off with a little versicolor sling, I have roaches myself now so I'm keen on making sure there are no escapes too LOL.

Sorry to hear about your back Kim. In truth I had exchanged pleasantries earlier but in the morning you looked so busy organising. Later on the BTS table I was offered a tanked up OBT, unfortunately I'd already purchased one. Next time I'll introduce myself to you and Angela in a less manic way and give the ladies behind the scenes the thanks they deserve.

Mary, I couldn't believe you purchased that irminia, the guy had some great prices and sold out very early. He had 2 irminia but I couldn't decide which one to buy so I purchased the OBT and decided to think about which to go for. Before I knew it Peter Roach took one and you took the other! bah!!!! I'll have to grab a sling off you in the future.

To Ray and all the team, you did an excellent job of arranging a marvellous event, well attended, well organised, spacious but with a great buzz. You keeping doing them and we'll keep coming.

[Mark Pennell]

The Pennells..........." Should you be lifting that table Mark?"

Ray
Well no! with a cracked rib on the mend and a killing back... (Kim's fault as me to swing of the chandelier) and a trip to the far reaches of the Bornean jungle only few weeks away. I should have not lifted bugger all!

But I did anyway, its hard not to when you see others doing there bit.


Here's to 2009! or and the BTS leccy's plu - plug -plug..

Well done Ray and Ange!

Cheers
Mark

[Oli Dodds]

Thanks to:

Lee Cole ( G.A.Y Security)
Shelly Cole for allowing her husband to mix with us loonies.
Angela Hale ....just because she is there , thank God
The Pennells..........." Should you be lifting that table Mark?"
The BTS Commitee
Naython and his girlfriend.....sorry about the state he was in on Sat night
Oli Dodds.
Colin Wilson..........
Steve McKintyre and his lovley family
J M Verdex and Roberto.............holding up the French end
Michael and Alex fron the USA............next year we will explain the offside rule guys at the FA cup final.
The staff at the school....who work so hard for us.

No problem Ray, was a pleasure to meet you and Mark at last, and a pleasure to help out, will definatly come help at 2009, just gimme a call

Mary, I couldn't believe you purchased that irminia, the guy had some great prices and sold out very early. He had 2 irminia but I couldn't decide which one to buy so I purchased the OBT and decided to think about which to go for. Before I knew it Peter Roach took one and you took the other! bah!!!! I'll have to grab a sling off you in the future.

You can blame me for that Peter, I asked Mary what she was after, she said adult irminia, and i grabbed her and took her straight there, sorry LOL
PS Where were you and Peter hiding, Colin told me you were at the end in the first room, i came to say hi and couldnt find you? Ah well, always the next show

[Peter Lacey]

PS Where were you and Peter hiding, Colin told me you were at the end in the first room, i came to say hi and couldnt find you? Ah well, always the next show

Right next to the table that Mary bought that irminia from. I took a quick visit to check out some slings and met Mary in the corridor who exclaimed "oooh I got myself another irminia Peter!" now if that didnt add insult to injury!!!!

[Oli Dodds]

LOL unlucky Peter
Well im a member on a few forums, and i always check the for sale sections, if i see an irminia i'll pm ya