Saturday 16th July

This afternoon we were invited to open Skeg Mini Fest.

Skeg Mini Fest is the chance for Mini owners from all over the country to come together for a weekend of fun here in Skegness. Despite the bad weather forecast for the weekend about 140 Mini owners have made the trip to Skegness. The event organisers have arranged a weekend of fun and games as well as booking half a dozen bands to play throughout the two days.

Mini Fest also has a more serious purpose and that is to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

When we arrived the rain had just stopped and people were beginning to start looking round at the 60 or so cars on display.  It took a while for the poor sound man to dry out the equipment so that I could do the official opening.

A job I think he will be performing several times during the weekend.

Before the heavens opened again we had chance to try our hand on a few stalls and also look at some of the vehicles.

Not sure what kind of duck this is. Is it a "now then" duck or an "aye up me ode" duck?

Yet again both Cath and I must say how very welcome we were made at this event.

Here’s to many more years of Mini Fest each one bigger than the last and to many thousands of pounds raised for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sunday 26th June

This morning I had the pleasure of leaping out of bed at 3.00 am fully refreshed from my 2 hours sleep to get ready to meet some bikers at 4.00am.

The bikers in question had ridden all the way from Wales to Skegness to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. They had left Anglesey at sunset and were due to arrive in Skegness at about 4.00 am.

When I arrived just before 4.00 am the sun was not yet up and there was no sign of any motorbikes.

All I could see were a few final stragglers left over from the night before and Brian and Heather O’Connor.

Every year Brian and Heather open up the Boardwalk at silly o’clock so that when the riders get there they can be greeted with a bacon butty and a cup of tea. Brian and Heather make no charge for this and I am sure it gives the riders a fantastic impression of Skegness.

At about 4.20 am they all arrived about 30 in total many having travelled a long way just to get to the start of the ride.

They anticipate that between them they will have raised about £3000.00 for Macmillan. Not bad for a nights work.

5.00 am back to bed, thanks to each of the riders for making such a huge effort for charity, and thanks to Brian and Heather for the bacon butty and mug of tea.

Night night everybody.