But, despite the appalling conditions, there was a fantastic spirit of helpfulness among the traders on Sunday as it became apparent that the day was going to be a virtual write-off.  Everyone mucked in, helped steady easy-ups and looked after each other.  Thanks for the coffees, Jude!

Thanks also to the customers who trudged through streams of water and across mud in the off chance that we would still be there to buy a Nomad.

So the weekend was definitely not lost.  In addition to the direct sales we gained two new resellers:  Navarac in Leicestershire (mobile caravan and motorhome servicing, call Nick on 07738 715861) and Direct Leisure Repairs in Newark www.directleisurerepairs.co.uk   We look forward to working with you, and see you soon!

Last year’s National Motorhome Show was the first we attended, and we were so impressed we’re back again this year.

It’s amazing what you can buy for the camping and outdoor life – and it’s all here!  We love having a wander around to look at the vast array of kit and gadgets available, and will try to find some time again this time.

Of course, the Nomad is a great piece of kit for this market.  You want to keep your motorhome clean on the outside?  Then the Nomad is spot on.  With the 20 foot hose (that’s attached to the tank and so hosepipe ban friendly) you can effectively set the Nomad on the ground and clean 20 feet in one direction, and 20 feet in the other. That’s 40 feet of cleaning without having to move your water supply.

Want to keep your motorhome clean on the inside?   Then use the Nomad to clean all your outdoor gear down before traipsing it inside your beautiful motorhome:  boots, dogs, sticks, for example.   Peterborough’s your chance to see one working – and to take advantage of our show offer.  So, come and say hello.  We are on stand number 200.

As another 17 more drought zones were yesterday officially added to those already declared, now ‘half of Britain’ is affected, and 1 in 3 households is currently affected by a hosepipe ban. So the serious side to the story is that restrictions such as hosepipe bans can save up to a tenth of the current usage.  Every little helps.

We have always been selling portable washers to water boards, but sales to them are now increasing.  One we asked directly stated that Nomads are totally legal to use in Hosepipe Ban Areas.  Buy with confidence from us.

But here at Nomad, we think households can do themselves a big favour by ditching the ‘jet wash’  altogether.  You know, the big heavy noisy things?  Enough power to knock you off your feet and half way down the road?

These big jet/pressure  washers  are fantastically effective for many things – cleaning down patios, for example, but a Nomad does many of the household tasks very effectively and efficiently without the home-made swamp and the hit on the water bill:

Wheelie bin?   Yep.  No one’s got arms that touch the bottom of a wheelie bin, so the Nomad is perfect.

Garden furniture ?  Child’s play.

Windows?  No need to carry buckets up ladders any longer.

Plus it’s portable and you can pack it in the back of your car and find a world of uses on the go.  It’s the perfect all round solution.  Remember, if you need a question about the Nomad answering, send  us an email or give us a call.  We’re very friendly.  And if you’re not happy with your Nomad, you  have our money-back guarantee (see terms and conditions).

Once again Belton International Horse trials was an excellent event.  The weather was mixed ranging from the very cold to glorious sunshine on the last day (and a beautiful frost on the ground as we awoke on Sunday morning).

Thanks to you all you Nomad owners who came over to say ‘hello’.  It’s always good to put faces to names and to help out when you forgot the battery for your Nomad portable washer.  You know who you are!  We’re glad to be of help even after you made a purchase.

Equally it’s great to remember faces from last season as you popped by to say how fantastic your Nomad is!

We had an excellent weekend and were delighted to provide a photo opportunity for Martine Holden.  She entered a prize draw competition in Horse & Hound – and won a Nomad 18 V cordless portable washer.  She was delighted with this as her grey horse  kept at the Strumpshaw Riding Centre, that is near Norwich in Norfolk, needs frequent bathing.  So the Nomad is the ideal bit of kit for the job. It was also a double celebration as she and her friend (pictured above) also won a competition courtesy of Bede Events to a free weekend at the trials, hotel and hospitality included. Plus the fantastic opportunity to be walked around the cross country course by Mark Phillips himself.

All in all, a great start to 2012.

With just a couple of days since Belton to restock and catch up on emails, tomorrow we head for the illustrious Burnham International Horse Trials in Norfolk.  It’s a great opportunity to witness riders such as Piggy French, and William Fox-Pitt, Zara Phillips in action to name a few, and obviously, to see some fantastic horses

Stop by our display and say ‘hi’. We’ll have plenty of stock of what one of our new customers described only last Sunday as ‘must-have’ equestrian kit.  Ditch the bucket and sponge, and welcome a Nomad portable washer to your yard, trailer or box.  And with water restrictions popping up around the country you’ll have found the perfect way to clean or cool your horse without using a hosepipe from a tap.

So, why not treat yourself this weekend?  Our online price is £189.99 and includes next day delivery to most parts of the UK. This weekend you can get £20.00 off at Burnham.  Just leave a little space in your car, trailer or lorry for your Nomad (about the size of a coolbox)!

See you there.

Cross Country warm-up banter and a little canter

After sponsoring last year’s series of Bede managed events we’re back for this season’s first big event.

Belton 2011 Zara Phillips on High Kingdom

Last year our portable washers cleaned hundreds of event horses and won over many riders who were unfamiliar with them , concerned that they might spook their horses or simply not be effective enough.

Nomad 18 V cordless Horse washer at Work...

However, the Nomad 18 V proved highly versatile: in the heat at the end of the cross-country stage, with a good quantity of ice in the tank the Nomad was extremely effective at cooling horses and getting their heart rate down in the required time.  In the opposite conditions, the Nomad did the job allowing owners to clean down their mounts very quickly before taking them back to the box – sometimes quite a way from the end of the course.  This saved them time and effort later.

FOR COOL, CLEAN, CALM HORSES

So to buy this indispensable piece of equine kit, come and say hello.  We’d be happy to take you through its assembly, use and packing it up – showing what a handy thing it is to have in the back of your truck, and usable anywhere you want to www.bede-events.com

Nomad the prize winning go-to brand for horse washers

ALL the Goodies...

Who’d have thought road bikes need much cleaning?  Well, at the Wiggle No Excuses Sportive organised by UK Cycling Events last Sunday, despite the conditions only feeling a bit ‘damp’ and the event being on the roads, hundreds of riders passed through the bike wash sponsored by Nomad.

Even Laughing Boy was there to help!

Carbon, steel, aluminium.  It didn’t matter.  Our fleet of Nomad 18 V cordless pressure washers hummed away as rider after rider recognised the time saved of cleaning their pride and joy before taking them home. Users were left impressed by the effectiveness of the Nomad. Simply point and squirt and in no time their bikes were clean.

The five Nomad 18 V cordless washers were kept very busy....

Lets FACE IT, with a bike looking like new a girl has to look good too!

Next time you’re at UK Cycling Event be sure to give the Nomad a go.  You’ll be converted.  Just like these people.  Next event is the Hot Chillee Sportive at Pixham End, Dorking. More here www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk

With a packed calendar with another 32 events these Nomads are going to be busy!  If you are attending these events you will have a leaflet in your goodie bag offering a discount on on-line purchases, plus at a select number of events we will have our trade stand there.

The next event is Wiggle No Excuses Sportive 2012  Near Huntingdon Cambridgeshire on Sunday 18th March 2012.  We will be there to help out and answer any questions the riders may have.  For details on how to wash a bike effectivily and safey see our other blog.  To see how the guys are charging the Nomad batteries at the events see other blog.

Visit the UK Cycling Events website.

Keep Pedalling……. oh and keep washing, your bike that is…

Fears are growing that parts of Britain may face the worst drought since 1976 – and that was bad for those of us who remember it. Parts of south-east England, East Anglia and the east Midlands are among the worst affected areas with the Environment Agency planning for the worst case scenario, according to the BBC.

This means that water restrictions, including hosepipe bans, before April are a serious consideration. A hosepipe ban in Cambridgeshire is looking ‘increasingly likely’ as water companies and the Government look at how to cope with the drought in East Anglia and the south east, according to Cambridge First.

Of course the use of Nomad is one solution.  Using a hosepipe to wash your car uses approximately 280 litres of water, whereas using a Nomad we estimate will use only around 28 litres (two tanks, and less if you’re very frugal), a saving of 90%! What’s more it’s versatility makes it ideal for many other cleaning chores around the home, for example, cleaning windows, watering the garden.  The 18 V is fully portable and also lets you use water from a rain butt as the filter in the neck of the tank stops any dirt and debris entering the tank. Nomad 18 V Cordless washer

We’re very pleased to confirm that we will be sponsoring up and coming equestrian talent Sara Horrell in the 2012 season.

Sara has enjoyed success in both British Dressage (BD) and British Eventing (BE) and has demonstrated a particular talent with young horses, taking these to success with wins at BD and BE. She has been a BD Talent Spotters National Finalist, has qualified a number of horses for BD Regional Championships and is the winner of a BYRDS U21s Championship.

At BE, she was the highest scoring member of the BE Eastern Region JRN squad (9th) at the National Finals, Weston Park International, 2010 and repeated this success in her first season of Young Riders finishing 9th at the Weston Park International CICYR** Championships. She has enjoyed a number of wins and high placings from BE90 to BE Intermediate – again, mostly with horses she has produced herself ‘from scratch’.

Of the Nomad, Sara said: “I believe my Nomad will be fundamental in my recovery procedure for my horses. I believe it will enable me to have a prolonged cooling period on any part of the horse’s body which I feel most needs it after strenuous work. This will aid my horse’s recovery especially at three day events. And I think my mum will be particularly grateful as it is so easy to carry (and the distance between the end of the cross country and the lorry park is often a fair hike!).

Thank you, Sara!

Visit Sarah’s site to find out more about her, her career, and if you want to get involved in sponsoring her.  www.sarahorrell.com