DAY 1
FRIDAY 8th

The day has finally arrived, the conference is here, I set off for the NEC in Birmingham where the conference is to be held. Its 7.30am and the trraffic is pretty good, clear skies and I have my music playing. I arrived in good time but have no idea where to go. I see two lasses from Australia also lost and then we see a tall guy in a blue shirt wearing an offical badge. His name is Jay and his first words are, "your lost, that's good because so am I" then says "walk this way" and proceeded to walk with a funny walk. I can see this weekend is gonna be so much fun. Jay showed us to the meeting room and already a few people are here and by the time everyone has arrived I see I only know a small handful of people.

The team introduce themselves one by one and Jay is a great bloke, full of fun and enthusiasm standing over 6ft tall and broad his cheeky school kid personality soon oozes out. We play the name game and second time we get it, not bad with about 60 of us (Including some of the team). Alison who we saw on our intro pack leads the way and after names are read out I am pleased to find that I am on the Savvy Club stand. Next up Alison takes us to the main arena, wow what a difference, it seems so surreal to be standing there knowing that this time tomorrow the now empty seats will be full and the buzzing adrenaline will be flowing.
There is a huge crane which seems is being used to set up the lights etc, and there are big cables hanging down. The sales area is deserted with only the computers sitting there with empty shelves and even with the bustle of activity already going on there seems an eerie silence.
Our first task is to set up the Savvy Both, at the moment it is just a white plastic frame, we set the connecting frame parts that hold the shelving and then set up the top frame and canopy and put it all together. Everything is washed down and then we add four tables and drape a big black cover over the top. Within what seems nano seconds the Savvy Booth is up and we fill the shelves with everything that is needed from pens to forms and welcome packs.
With our stand set up we go and help put packs together and any other jobs that need doing.

The stables are right next to us but we don't go and bother the horses, they need time to relax and settle as they arrive and the last thing they need is 52 people constantly wanting to stroke them and say hello. You can't help but glance over to them though each time you pass.

After lunch with most tasks done we go the the entry doors and help with the arm bands that everyone gets for free when they arrive. There are so many of them and we have to take each one out of the plastic bag they are in and arrange them al nicely on the table.

The day ends and I set off to find the Travel Lodge and meet up with the lasses.