Listen 'Ere!

What a queue for breakfast! 8,000 people had to file past four 'bar-code' checkin points to get to breakfast! It took quite some time, but the bacon and egg was worth it once we got there.

I joined 32 other people for the first of our briefings as 'Listening Ears'. The 32,000 participants who will be arriving tomorrow from the UK and the following day from the rest of the world are going to be divided into four sections, or hubs.

Each of those sections will have camping for 8,000, all of whom will be catering for themselves in their groups. Those groups will then have wonderful activities to do each day. There's a mountain hub, a tropical hub, an ocean hub and one other I cannot remember. Each 'hub' has its own mini 'big stage' (thinking of Greenbelt) where there will be concerts, parties and the like most evenings! They also have lots of activities, facilities ... and one tent where people can seek refuge! And that's the one that our team will be manning. Working in shifts from 10-00 to 10-00 we shall make sure that there's always someone in the tent ready to lend a 'listening ear'.

Today was spent doing some trainning for the work we'll be doing, and then helping to put finishing touches to 'the build'.

At the end of the day I met up with Felicity again for another long queue and another excellent meal. This time we were joined by Brian Sheen who is in charge of the astronomy section. What activities they have planned with telescopes to enjoy, moon rocks and meteorites arriving from the Natural History Museum, some of the biggest names in astronomy coming to speak (though not Patrick Moore!) and a live link up with the International Space Station. An hour and a half into the meal with wonderful conversation I noticed out of the corner of my eye a glazed look coming over Felicity who un-noticed had already slipped away for a while to have a chat with some friends from Gloucestershire.

I was in seventh heaven when our new found friend from Cornwall turned out to be as interested in Geology and plate tectonics as he was in astronomy. Felicity was of the view that it reall was time to move on!

Great fun being had by all.

Remember that you can reply to our blog by posting your own comment. We'll have a peep at it first and so long as it says nice things we'll put it up for everyone to see.

Be in touch again tomorrow, hopefully!

Every blessing,

Richard