It’s taken much longer than I’d planned, but I’ve now got a detailed set of notes for tomorrow’s presentation, so I should be able to get through it without looking a complete arse. It’s also got a bit of structure now, so hopefully it will not be a case of me rambling aimlessly for an hour.
I’ve just realised that I don’t have a clean shirt for tomorrow night’s wedding reception, so you can guess what I’ll be doing when I get home. I think a readymeal is called for tonight, so I’ll have time to prepare a shirt and get to the pub.
45 minutes, not out
On Saturday, I’m giving a presentation to the British Clematis Society entitled "Plant Breeders’ Rights for Beginners". This will be the first time that I’ve given this talk – I’m always a bit nervous about any subject that is new, as I’m always concerned that there will either be questions that I’m not able to answer, or, worse still, someone there who genuinely knows more about the subject than I do. Whilst my skills at flanneling are world famous, even I can get a bit flustered sometimes.
I’ve just been sent the directions for the venue, and it is being held at Essex County Cricket Club‘s County Ground in Chelmsford. I wonder if I should take an autograph book?
Busy day
Today, I’ve been at the Southern Growers Exhibition at Sandown Park Racecourse. This is a small regional event, a tiny fraction of the scale of Hortifair that I attended last week. But it is the regional event closest to home for me, so I usually make a point of attending it, partly to see what business opportunities it might present, but also as it is usually a good chance to catch up with a few long-time horticultural friends.
In fact, this year I managed to achieve both of those objectives, making handy new contacts for PFE, refreshing a few existing contacts, and also meeting up with a few friends for a coffee and to catch up with news and gossip. So, overall, a very worthwhile outing.
In other news, I’ve received an offer of help for Penn. If you are able to help, please mail me – you won’t be alone. Aside from Hels and me, my parents and one of PFE’s backers are helping to put together a parcel. If you don’t want to send actual "things" you might like to help by sending cash that we could use to buy things to send, or to pay the costs of shipping whatever we can muster to Nepal.