The message is clear......

....... whatever the language!

First day of conference proper. So choices to be made! So many parallel sessions to choose from. Friends to support when they present their papers, "sensible" questions to ask, so that they can share additional information and reduce the odds of really "crappy" questions from other delegates in odd versions of English that they cannot understand.

The exhibition is small this year, but we have sussed out which stand has coffee and chocolate brownies to die for!!! We will be back tomorrow for more.
I managed to get a biscuit for the puppy I saw yesterday and left it under the hedge on the way past. An old man sorting out plastic bottles nearby said the puppy was still there. (Amazing how we have conversations with people who do not share a language!! but woof woof says it all)

We were invited out by one of the UK companies for dinner this evening to a Japanese restaurant. The best food we have had since leaving home!!! I have at last cracked the chopstick method of eating. I need a beer first, which massively improves my hand / eye coordination, my ability to locate my mouth and reduce the odds of sharing the food with all and sundry!! The chopsticks were balanced, no metal work on the end. I have eaten things this evening that are of unknown provenance!! If I saw it alive and moving I probably wouldn't want to know!!

Interesting discussions about education, healthcare, travel etc worldwide with people at dinner!!!

We have cracked it!!! A driver who was able to drop us off at our apartment block on the way back, so saving us a long walk!!

I have at last caught up and blipped the last 3 days. It is now 1am china time, and I will not be so perky at 8 in the morning when the alarm goes off!!!

I haven't had time to catch up with all the journals, but will do so later.