PRESENT STATE OF PLAY On New Year's Eve I posted a message on this list about a possible QL2004 show in Eindhoven. The reaction to this has been disappointing - only two replies. Fortunately one of these was a reaction from QUANTA, which gives a lot more clarity to the state of play, but still leaves us with a very fluid situation.
As I understand it QUANTA has no definite plans for a QL2004, but this will be on the agenda for their next committee meeting. I shall probably be meeting the QUANTA committee directly before this meeting to discuss QL2004 and other matters. At this stage we can say that our discussions are amicable and we all want to find a constructive solution to the problems that have arisen over QL2004. To remind people of the situation there has been a debate whether QL2004 should be in the UK (possibly Portsmouth) or Eindhoven. A poll was conducted in QL Today that was inconclusive because it was split more or less 50:50 with no prizes for guessing the UKers were in favour of the UK and the continentals in favour of Eindhoven. The possibility of two separate events has been raised but this has some complications. Both would now have to be held in the Autumn which could give a date clash. Also it easy to think in terms of a UK show and a continental show, but the moment you add the word "international" to either you have the problem that they can become competing events. Obviously, whatever we do, some people are going to be disappointed, and I think it is worthwhile to reopen the discussion on QL2004 to look for possible solutions. This should not, however, be a question of reopening the UK v Eindhoven debate which would prove just as inconclusive as last time. Perhaps we should not think narrowly in terms of a traditional show. One possibility is some form of reunion to meet old ex-QL friends. SPECIFICALLY EINDHOVEN Jochen and I are prepared to continue to explore the possibility of a QL2004 in Eindhoven, but I apart from QUANTA and some scandinavian ex-QLers I have had no reactions to my email.Traders can, perhaps, be forgiven for this because I indicated I would email them separately, but did not do so as I was waiting to hear from QUANTA. I am sure no trader would want a UK QL2004/Eindhoven QL2004 clash. If Jochen and I do try to organise an Eindhoven event, it will be a slightly cut down version of the QL2004 I would ideally like, but we would try to re-create the atmosphere of the former Sin-QL-Air International Eindhoven shows. In their time these were world famous. The advantage of using Eindhoven is that it is a central location easily reached from the Netherlands, Belgium and North Germany. It is also not too distant from Southern Germany, Austria, Italy, France and the UK. Another advantage is that the Plein College St. Joris is an old show venue that will not cost us anything. We are in touch with Sin-QL-Air for their reaction, but do not necessarily expect an early answer, because we are asking a lot for which they need the time to think and discuss. Catering could be a small problem and would have to be self-financing. This will be a matter for discussion with Sin-QL-Air. There would also be no formal show dinner, although there is a long after-show tradition of a visit to a Chinese restaurant. (Much to Jochen's disgust, I have never been there.) There would also be no social program for spouses and others, but the Netherlands is full of historic cities that are a pleasure to visit at any time of the year, and which are in easy reach of Eindhoven. (But don't ask for directions to the Anne Frankplantsoen!) As I mentioned in my last email, Jochen and I, would want this to be a themed show. I gave a couple of suggestions last time and the Scandinavians have given me another idea of a nostalgia show, but with Jochen adds, a proof that we are still alive. How about inviting our old QL friends and having plenty of QPC2s and Q60s on display showing the new colour drivers? And by a strange co-incidence there could be a huge stock of emulator CDs going cheap! So reactions and ideas please, because these could be the last major international QL events, and on the reaction so far there is not enought support for it to go ahead. Geoff Wicks
