View from the Bay

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A remote missive for today's blog. Keith has left the green and pleasant pastures of Soho and landed in the welcoming embrace of the team at WNO and WMC. A last site visit before the conference circus rolls into town next week, meeting with people about dual language signs, whether to serve tea and welsh-cakes (yes), talking about the technical set-ups (yes we do need that many mics and which pit lifts are we using??) the security for the Senedd and the most important thing - what time the bar will close (worry not - if the WNO team have their way it probably won't ever close...)

As always with these things it is amazing just how many people it takes to put conference together and how many of those people are so incredibly accomodating. By its nature, Conference is a fluid and ever-changing beast and so it is very difficult to pin down exact numbers or times until the last possible minute. Everyone here takes it completely in their stride and they should be thanked and commended for the good grace with which they take the fact that I make's their life a misery. In particular the orchestral office at WNO should be given medals; Peter, Phil and most crucially Becky their marvellous assistant who actually makes the place run smoothly, have been great. Actually, after today I am smiling and looking forward to the whole thing. But then as the great saying goes, "If you can keep your head and smile whilst all about you are in chaos you clearly haven't grasped the gravity of the situation."

Meanwhile back in the office in London, deals are continuing to be struck with speakers about their presentations, sponsorship deals and the like are being followed up and the final emails are being drafted. The delegate badges are about to be produced and mail-merges are being tested to the full - along with Hester and Kirsten's patience no doubt.

And if Mark's Facebook status is anything to go by, it would still be very much ok to book your place if you haven't done so already...