As we get towards mid may it is now getting closer too the annual visit to Friedrichshafen and the Ham Radio show at the Messe. To say I am looking forward to this one is an understatement. For some reason I think this year will be bigger and better than previous years, and I am going to be meeting friends in the beer garden for afternoon drinks – something I have missed over the past couple of years.
It is not just the show that I am looking forward to, it is spending time with old friends, making new ones, and generally enjoying the beautiful town on the lakes of Lake Constance. Everything 
from the start of the journey on the Tuesday when Charles (M0OX) calls at my home to take me to the airport, then call at Ady’s (G6AD) for him to travel to Heathrow the day before our flight. Chilling out in the Premier Inn on Bath Road, Hounslow before an early start on the Wednesday to get our flight from Heathrow. Hopefully at that time in June we get god weather and can sit in the garden and watch the aircraft come in to land, where it feels you could reach out and touch them they are that close. A meal and early night ready for the alarm at 3:00am.
Get to the airport, check in, go through security, and have breakfast. Or just sit with a coffee ready for the flight at 06:35. Arrive in Zurich at 09:20 (local) – as long as no delays and the flight is on time – to get our luggage and head into the “Circle” for the train to Romanshorn and a ferry across Lake Constance. Hopefully arriving in Friedrichshafen in time for lunch in one of the many bars and cafes the town has to offer. A time to chill, relax and have a look around the town. Probably an early night with the long day and travelling taking it out of us.
Last year, 2024, on the Thursday we paid a visit to the Zeppelin Museum in the town, and we were joined by Grant (VK5GW), a friend from Australia who we met face to face for the first time. A quick trip in the afternoon to the Messe to check out the IOTA stand and start setting up, meeting more old friends who were there setting their stands up ready for Friday morning. Dinner and a few beers in the evening and meeting even more friends from the UK, Europe, and far flung countries of the world in the hotel bar. 
Friday is show day number one, getting to the Messe to be greeted by Markus (DL1AN) on the German DX Foundation (GDXF) stand, usually with a coffee. The Mediterraneo DX Club (MDXC) will 
be there with Antony and his wife. Frank, Franco, and others will be at the Clipperton DX Club and across from them the Chiltern DX Club (both CDXC – one French and one from UK) with the British contingent. And as the day goes on more friends and visitors will say hello and speak to the team about the IOTA Awards. As I mentioned earlier a trip out into the gardens to see more friends with a beer at lunchtime, then a look around the halls full of used equipment and antique radios before looking at the new shiny equipment in the main hall again.
In the evening a meal in one of the restaurants down by the lake, before a walk back up into town and the bar Pier 41 to see the guys from Northern Ireland. A few more beers and laughs before back t the hotel for a night cap and chat with our Norwegian friends who will be passing by. A very good social scene as can be seen.
Saturday and we have to do it again. Breakfast in the hotel, a taxi and back in the hall for a coffee with MDXC or GDXF again. A few jokes and a look around before the crowds arrive. And we start again. More friends come and say hello, all DXers and expeditioners. Lunch in the beer garden, and yes a couple of beers will be involved. End of the day and it will be a meal in Tiffany’s steak house – do visit if you go to FHN as it is the best steak meal I have ever tasted. Back into town and a walk down to the lakeside to meet more friends and have a couple more beers before back to the hotel and Pier 41.
Sunday is the last day and the return journey. Maybe a short visit to the Messe to pack away the stand and say our farewells before we get the ferry
to Romanshorn and train to Zurich. Our flights are at 19:40 local time so we have time to get a meal when back at Zurich, and relax in the airport departures before our flight home. Usually there will be a few more of the British contingent around, or one or two of our friends who are also flying at the same time. Duty free bought – sorry I am a sucker for the Orange flavoured Toblerone that are for sale over there – and gifts for family we board the flight back to Heathrow and our bed in the Premier Inn again. Charles will drop us off home on the Monday ready to get back into the routine on the Tuesday at work.
Maybe this is why I am looking forward to Ham Radio 2025 so much, to see old friends, make new ones and relax in a beautiful city in Germany.
