OK, OK I know, most folks would give their right arm to spend a few days in January in Nice. I’d still rather be at home with my family.

BUT now I’m here, I’m fine. The hotel is pretty nice for a business hotel – it’s got opening windows so I can actually get some fresh air and a balcony that looks over the Mediterranean and the old part of the city. This shot is taken on my balcony, looking out across the square and behind the big wheel is the sea.

So even though I had to cancel my precious weekend in Cornwall to be here, I still get to see the sea and the temperature is rather higher here than at home.

The conference – so far, so good! My hatred of being away isn’t because I don’t like my colleagues, it’s solely about being in a strange, faraway place without my loved ones. In fact, I really enjoy spending time with them all.

This evening’s session was a short talk about our strategy from ‘the boss’, followed by a ‘getting to know you’ session, where we all picked someone from another country and who we’ve not met before to ‘interview’ about their life then we reported back to a team of ten people what we’ve learned. I ‘interviewed’ a French colleague, whom I’ve not met before and she told me about her life. She was very nervous about her English but I think she did a remarkable job considering she almost never needs to use the language.

My ‘team’ consisted of two French, three German, three Americans and two English people and we were definitely the ‘rowdy’ ones with gales of laughter and hilarity as we introduced our new friends. I think there was something in the fact that we discovered that we are all ‘creative’ – there is a painter, a novelist, a playwright and a singer in the team. Cool!

My dear friend Patti is here and I have the great pleasure of spending all week with her as she is coming back to the UK to stay with DM and me after the conference. David – don’t expect ANY sense from us if today is anything to go by!!!

Last year I was causing embarrassment and amusement!