GA Conference - Day 1 proper

OK sleep - up for cooked hotel breakfast - always a pleasure - then over to the venue to help set up and get organised. Went via the Crucible Theatre where these snooker ball and player topiary was being unloaded ahead of the tournament starting on Saturday. Went to the welcome session, and started what was to become several hundred conversations and catch-ups with friends old and new. A bookclub session followed which went very well, and then lunch. Trustee sessions followed, and other meetings and then headed for the conference dinner. This was held at the Kelham Island Museum - good chats, food and wine and then ended up in the pub at midnight having met up with other friends coming over from France and elsewhere. Some very dodgy characters in the pub but all part of the occasion. Conference starts properly tomorrow.