How time flies, it only seems a short time since we last headed for the IOW, Most of the mob headed south on Tuesday / Wednesday 3rd & 4th September and stayed in Portsmouth whilst Alan Cavendish Tribe, his Son James, myself and Matt went for an early start on the Friday to meet with them prior to heading to the Ferry in convoy. Last year we had a heat wave but this year we had monsoon weather both on the A34 heading south and on the IOW as well, On the Saturday and post breakfast we all headed to Newport Quay, however when we arrived there was no room left at the quayside and we were directed to an emergency overflow car-park along with many others, the location was okay and a lot of the locals use the car-park route to get to the town centre. I felt very sorry for a couple in a Granada that arrived straight from the ferry and were refused entry and turned away. Weather wise there was sporadic rain in the morning with it deteriorating dreadfully by lunchtime. We had words with the organisers and were promised our usual sea front location at Ryde for the Sunday. We made the decision to drive from our hotel on the Ryde Seafront, park up and walk back to the hotel for breakfast at 08.00. Our spot was however long since taken but we did manage to park on the front but much further down the seafront. Once again the weather was intermittent rain with the odd huge downpour, in the afternoon about 3.30 we were suddenly blessed with blazing sun and even though the event officially closed at 4pm us, and the bulk of the exhibitors were still there enjoying the sun at gone 5pm.

All the Middlebridge cars ran spot-on with no issues and it was great to have James, Alan Cavendish Tribe's son join us in his Mustang on his first run in a car that he is still fettling but it sounded lovely. Matt also deserved a well done as he sourced the new hotel and it was perfect with the ideal promenade facing location and lovely rooms to boot.

The 'Lost on a small Island' theme simply won't go away and keeps rearing it's head much to everyone's amusement. It was Peter's turn to drop a clanger. We have been to the IOW several times with Peter taking the initiative and booking us in to our usual Indian Restaurant for an evening meal and drinks. On arrival, there was no booking, no food and no drinks, they were fully booked!! Apparently Peter had booked the meal with the local take away, we headed down the road to it. It made a transport cafe look posh! (I should know) No drinks licence, no soft drinks, not even a toilet, they did have seating on wooden benches with wooden tables, the tables were so sticky a fly wouldn't be able to take off from them and you certainly would not knock anything over! Nervously, the food was ordered, along with two trips up the hill to Sainsbury's for booze which we now thought a must! Well, we all had a great laugh and the food was actually awesome, we all agreed on that point. We later found out that all the locals use this restaurant because the food is so good. Personally, there was so much food I wish I had not had a starter as I could not possibly finish the meal and I wasn't the only one.