Oct 13 2015

Bonsai Europa 2015 – The Beginning

Bonsai Europa for me started on Wednesday morning packing the car and making sure everything would fit. It did, but it was like bonsai Tetris!

On Thursday morning I caught the 7.30am boat to Scotland. Here’s the view pulling out of Belfast harbour and the sun rising over County Down. A good omen for the weekend perhaps.

I made it to Bury by 2.30pm and met up with Tony and a few of the early arrivers. A few beers to start and then we had some unloading of stands to do at the venue. Once done, I managed to catch the Northern Ireland Vs Greece match, and with the aid of alcohol, had a great night watching the Green White Army qualify for the Euros for the first time. After a sleepless night in Burrs, don’t ask, I made my way to the the venue on Friday morning along with the rest of the ‘Special Branch’ helpers for the weekend. These guys deserve every bit of credit for the work put in over the weekend. Many were Wirral and Akamatsu club members but some had come from other parts, including myself, just to make this event happen. Work commenced on the staging.

As the finishing touches were being made many of the exhibits had arrived and were being photographed by a professional photographer. I did a little last minute prep to my tree and the other two I had brought belonging to friends, and got in the queue for the snaps. Will ‘I’m Will Baddeley’ Baddeley was in front of me with the tree that went on to win the Sonderpris.

My trees turn

Then Josh’s Contorted Hazel

followed by Stephen’s Raft Maple

Three of the main guys shown here. All worked tirelessly for months to get this to this point. Tony Tickle the front man and Terry Foster and Dave Barlow working away in the background in more ways than one.

Finally the exhibits were installed, the trade stands completed and everyone retired to the local beer houses of choice in anticipation of what was looking like a stunning display of trees.

Next post I’ll cover a chunk of the trees on display.

Oct 12 2015

Back at Base

Back home and unpacked after a great time at Bonsai Europa. Many have already said their piece about how good it was, and I just want to echo that sentiment. Best exhibition I’ve been to, great team setting it up, good vibe about the show, loads of friends, old and new, trade stands from all over Europe, even Japan! If you live within 5 hours drive, love bonsai and missed it, you need your head read!

Well done Tony Tickle and Terry Foster who both did so much to make this happen. Both have probably been running around all day today getting everything squared away, the work no one sees. Thanks for driving this event for the last 2 years. Gold stars all round.

Already looking forward to 2017.

Tony the front man and Terry and Dave work away quietly in the background 🙂

Oct 11 2015

It’s Over

This is the work no one sees, 1 1/2 hours after the doors shut the Special Branch are still hard at work taking it all down.

Oct 10 2015

Bonsai Europa Ready to Rock

That famous movie quote, if you build it, they will come. Well, it’s built, now it’s up to you.

I have supported this from the start, why wouldn’t I! The UK has been crying out for a high end exhibition and now we have a truely International event in a great location. Politics need to be put aside and support given or we’ll slip back into the Dark Ages once more.

Tony Tickle has done a wonderful job of putting this together with PR evident everywhere. I don’t see anyone else stepping up to the plate to do this. ( See what I did there, another basesball reference 🙂 ) now is the time for the bonsai community in the UK to get its collective finger out.

Tony gave me the grand title of Ambassador for Ireland and an T Shirt with that on it to wear If I’m willing to walk around the exhibition all day today wearing it, you should be willing to jump in a car and drive up for a look. We have close to 20 people from Ireland over with 4 trees exhibited. That’s an expensive bit of water to cross, I only wish I was a car drive away.

I look forward to the day ahead, seeing the stunning exhibition trees, trade stands from all over Europe and most importantly the friends I’ve made and have yet to make in this wonderful world of wee trees.

You’d think that would be my rant over, but I want to finish with the most important people in this, the 30 guys who knocked their pan in yesterday to build the bloody thing, a job well done. You know who you all are.

Hope to see you there today, come and say hello, I’m not hard to spot, I’m the eejit wearing that bloody T-shirt.

Oct 9 2015

If You Build It They Will Come

Oct 8 2015

First impression of Bonsai Europa

Oct 8 2015

Beeline For Bury

Hello Bury, starting today the Irish are coming, by land, sea and air. #

Oct 7 2015

Esprit Bonsai #78

Another pleasant surprise this week was Esprit Bonsai Magazine #78 hitting the doormat. My pick of this issue would be the article on exhibiting Shohin, a great read as usual. Esprit Bonsai will be at Bonsai Europa this weekend, so you can buy a copy for yourself and see what you think.

Oct 6 2015

Capel manor bonsai show 2015

Andys shohin bonsai

It all starts early in the morning with the rest of the back drops going up.

By 10:00 it’s all up and judging takes place while we have a coffee. Then it’s back into the room to see if we agree with the judges. Well done to the worthy winners the beech (purple) that was best tree in show was an air layer.

Grandad Geoff on guard!

Here is the best display.

This was my favourite display by John A.

These are the other exhibits.

This was my 3 point display.

Next up will be club display’s

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Oct 6 2015

Judge For Yourself….

One of the best blog articles I’ve read in ages HERE from Eric Schrader looking back on the Artisan’s Cup and the Judging system that was used for the Awards.

I can think of few things harder than Judging bonsai and the pressure at this first Artisan’s Cup must have been immense. This post from Eric really got my interest, I’ll leave you to judge for yourself.