A petal on cobbles.

OK – so it’s not the greatest shot in the world ever but it’s a good one for today for me. (But then my judgement is flawed, in the semi-inebriated state I am.)

I have been in a meeting all afternoon, in a dark room and despite an invitation to ‘talk’ what actually happened was that we were talked at. Then a short (half-hour) break before a whole evening of…. er well, dodgy food (why can’t people see that you SLEEP in hotels and EAT in restaurants?) For some reason, best known to conference organisers, we always end up eating hotels. Me, I say go with what they do best – in other words, eat in the place that’s got people who are experts in cooking and sleep in places where they are good at providing beds!

But there are two ‘good bits’ to my day – the first was a morning ‘off’ so I sat in the garden of the hotel, with a blackbird at my feet, foraging in the grass for food and geckos running across the path. I read several chapters of my book (a complete revelation by a woman whose work I’ve not come across before and I will certainly seek her out again – Elinor Lipman), while watching the people go by!

The other ‘good bit’ was in the bar after the formal bit of the evening was complete when I spent a happy couple of hours whiling away the time, gossiping and drinking with my mates. This is what I love about coming to conference. Getting all the scandal and hoping I contribute every once in a while to some myself…..NO, DM, I don’t mean THAT sort of scandal, I’m one of the people about whom you could NOT find salacious gossip. I mean the larking about and playing the fool sort.

Anyway, I learned about all sorts of good stuff (most unrepeatable in a public forum) and spent my time shrieking with laughter at the antics of my colleagues who will remain nameless. Hee hee.

I kinda like this shot even though it’s not so hot really – it’s a symbol of a few ‘roses’ who fell by the wayside at various parties and conferences, still beautiful and smooth but falling on the hard cobbles of the pavement! Conferences can be quite good fun.

A mad hatter's tea party was going on in my world last year.