Well, how exciting is this? It’s a midweek Miniatura in the middle of November!
I have now driven twice to the new venue, Cranmore Park to find out where it is and how to get there. Directions and full details are now on the Miniatura website together with the cast list.
The first thing to say is that the building is just as unmistakeable as it appears on the Miniatura website but smaller, I thought. It is nevertheless easy to pick out on the outskirts of a little industrial estate by virtue of the distinctive roofline. This is the saving grace, methinks, if you are approaching it from anywhere but central Birmingham, you won’t have to go through Birmingham. It is on the south side not far from the motorway. An absolute doddle for anyone with sat nav except me. I bought myself a sat nav and am in the process of learning to use it. I am also trying to remaster my driving skills, which were trashed by my other half. A lot of my life lately is about empowering myself. So I set off by B roads with the sat nav telling me what to do, but telling me in a much better way than my usual back seat driver. The first time we got as far as Stratford Road and the sat nav woman fell off the windscreen. She didn’t go ouch or sound stunned at all, she just continued speaking in a light pleasant manner while upside down in the footwell, which is more than most of us can manage. I sat in a layby to retrieve her, whereupon she suggested we go home again, so we did. The second time, despite having short arms, I managed to fix her to the windscreen properly and off we went. The only tricky bits were two big roundabouts at the far end of Stratford Road, and they both had traffic lights. Once I got on to the little industrial estate it was quiet as anything.
If you’ve looked at the information on the Miniatura website you’ll see the parking is free. This is such a blessing. Some shows you go to can cost £10 for parking. You’ll also have noticed the very modest entrance fee. There are adequate toilets and refreshments in the hall. The thing you cannot deduce from any online information is that this is a carpeted venue! Yes dear, carpet. I will not have to take my rug and we will all be able to feel our feet at the end of the day. I have asked Andy if he’s planning to circulate with champagne, apparently not but maybe next time if there’s sufficient demand.
What there is also, you may have spotted if you have scrutinised the cast list carefully is a very rare exhibitor. Her name is Muriel Hopwood and she will be there with her miniature ceramics. If you are any sort of collector I suggest you get some, her appearance may well be a one off and would never have happened if I’d let her give me her kiln which she tried to do some years ago during a garage clear out. Be glad I didn’t have room and grab them while you can. If you are a collector who loves provenance, firsts and rarity, I suggest you get her to sign the show brochure as well.
A good look down the rest of the list confirms that this is a true mini Miniatura, some of the absolute favourite exhibitors are there. So far the weather for November is looking good, there’s another pay day before present shopping and it’s only going to be a fiver for the entrance and the petrol to get there to enjoy a fantastic day out. Go on, treat yourself, I’ll see you there, it’s a super little pre Christmas extra for you and me, how lovely.
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JaneLaverick.com – excited.