Comment – there’s no business like show business

Like the rest of the machinery business, this week, on a piece of invisible thread, I was drawn to LAMMA at the NEC.

I reckon that old argument about “let’s all go back to Peterborough/Newark/Lincoln (and save a few quid)” has been well and truly dealt with now. Wasn’t it lovely to wander around the exhibition halls almost in shirt sleeves, knowing that it was somewhere between freezing and minus 5 outside?

Given that the halls were full, or at least there were no quiet or partitioned off areas, unlike previous events, the organisers can be congratulated on drawing the exhibitors in. Likewise on the subject of an attendance, I heard tell of a record first day attendance, and it still felt busy during day 2.

However, there are some prominent manufacturers for whom LAMMA does not feature in their plans, and may not. Have we seen ‘Peak LAMMA’? I’m not sure, but something tells me that successful events take long term work, its important to take all customers (trade exhibitors and the farming public alike) with you, and keep changing with the times. I am sure the organisers are well aware of this.

It was great to meet up with friends and colleagues in the industry, and I hope you like the picture of the mid restoration 4955 I snapped in the halls. It was like time travel!!

In other news, I filled the trusty Skoda at £1.48 a litre for diesel yesterday and couldn’t help but wonder why the price of fuel isn’t ticking up yet? With the worlds shipping diverting around Africa and not up the Suez Canal, plus several unexplained explosions in oil export depots in Russia, I just wonder when the supply side will actually tighten and start squeezing up the price further. Answers on a postcard please.

Keep dry and have a good week.

Andy