Wow – despite being nearly 30% smaller, the International Caravan & Motorhome Show was mad busy. My shoes are worn thin and I don’t think I’ve talked so much in all of my life! The show was more manageable for visitors, my Freedom pass paid dividends and over 78,000 of you enjoyed it too.

£45million-worth of touring caravans sold – that’s over 3000 units. With an equally impressive monetary amount of motorhomes purchased, that’s an awful lot of people needing insurance. What recession I ask?

Star of the show was the new Bailey Pegasus . Whatever you think of its looks this is a revelation in terms of construction and I’m sure Bailey will fine tune things to make it better still.

Good to see the Elddis name back in its own right too – I think I’m old enough to remember its last four incarnations. Getting back to what it does best is what the ‘new’ company is all about.

And what of the much heralded Stealth? “Destined to disappear under the radar” was heard from one commentator. Harsh perhaps but only time will tell.

On the motorhome front I liked most of what I saw from the Swift Group – especially their Autocruise van conversions, the style of the new Burstner models, the fantastic consistency of Dethleffs and the innovative and value for money Chausson Flash shown by my old pals at Lowdhams.

Didn’t get to see much in the way of accessories, and sadly their wasn’t much on display in the way of park and holiday homes – no here’s an industry that needs a decent showcase.

What I did like was the camping & Caravanning Club’s Worldwide showcase with seminars and info about going further afield on a motorhome holiday – perhaps to the USA or South Africa. I fancy leading one of the Escorted tours if my boss will give me a month off – anybody want to come with me?