Conference!

As a team, I thing we managed the run up to the conference well: concerned enough to make sure everything was sorted as much as was possible beforehand, but never getting too stressed. 

This morning we all met at Treehouse at seven--thirty to set the room, the results of which you can see in my first extra. Again, everyone just went about their business without fuss and it was all done in good time. 

The only issue was with the AV. The company had come in to set up the night before (great!) but there was no one there in the morning, and no one answering the phone until 0845 (our doors opened at half-eight) to resolve a small but significant issue, a missing cable that we'd mentioned several times to them.

But this was just one of many times when the staff at Treehouse proved their worth and showed a determination that everything should run as smoothly as possible for us. Honestly, I couldn't recommend them more. 

As to the conference itself, it was absolutely fantastic. It started with coffees and pastries in the room that you can see in my second Extra, and got off to a flying started, especially with the Minx's craft activity where everyone made their on poster (third Extra). That really set the room buzzing.

Despite the fact I wasn't doing anything, I found the day alternately low-level stressful - waiting for something to go wrong - and incredibly moving: I welled up looking at all the posters, and at the sight of delegates having their photos taken in front of our large banner. 

Hats off, too, to our colleague Laura who leapt clear of her comfort zone to do a presentation (which was excellent).