It's been an absolutely crazy day, preparing for the conference I'm organising (for work). I'm still printing frantically at ten to six, when I need to stop and get ready to go out to the Chairman of Basildon Council's civic dinner.
There's trouble on the roads, so we head across country, arriving just after seven o'clock. I'm still not completely 'unwound' when we step out of the car at the Towngate theatre, and go upstairs for Pimms and a chat with fellow mayors and chairs.
We're welcomed by Basildon chairman Cllr Geoffrey Buckenham, and take our seats for dinner. We're seated with the chairman of Epping Forest and her husband, and one of the senior councillors from Basildon and his wife. The meal is cooked and served by students from the local college; the rather nervous first years are doing the serving, and the second and third years the cooking. The food is excellent, and all involved can be thoroughly proud of themselves.
After the meal, I wander round chatting to other guests, while a local duo (apparently called High & Dry) entertain with a range of popular music. It's their rendition of (Show Me The Way To) Amarillo that really breaks the ice, and assorted mayors, chairs and partners can be seen dancing between the tables in one of the more surreal moments of my year so far.
Geoffrey kindly presents all the ladies with an individually wrapped bloom on departure, and then it's home to yet more printing for tomorrow's conference, into the small hours of the morning.
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