Well, I’m just back from our big two day Council meeting. It has felt like a full week! On Sunday I travelled to London to stay over the night before the meetings began. I dined alone in the Tavistock - not my idea of a great night out but even I am too inhibited to approach strange single male diners! On Monday morning (which dawned beautifully warm and sunny) I was interviewed by Elspeth Hyams for a piece that may later appear in CILIP Update. I hope I didn’t say anything too radical or self-damaging… apparently I talk very fast (she should meet my friends Kate and Rachel)… had to have photos taken too, ouch.
Monday afternoon we had our divisional reps’ meeting and the first instalment of full Council. Great turnout - the table full on all four sides, must have been around 25 of us? Great that people have travelled to London and come ready to represent their divisional committees and share best practice.
Monday night was my big night - the Presidential Reception at the British Library, Lovely location, fine weather, great turnout of group officers and past officers, past presidents from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and noughties, a few old colleagues, my director of service (all the way from Dundee!) Stayed off the wine till after the speech (wise decision). Was not booed and hecklers although present were not fully audible at the front. Yummy mozzarella and basil thingyboos. It was all rather fabulous and I got to dress up and do a lot of hugging, which I enjoy 
To be honest it was quite a lot like getting married (naturally I made a speech at my own wedding, I wasn’t one of those silent blushing brides… I spoke then about everything we need to know, we learned in kindergarten).
Tuesday it was down to the serious business of Council, hard to contain every different topic and decision in my head, great that many people joined in discussions. Somehow there never seems enough time. Another glass of wine with a couple of colleagues put the final seal on the meeting before I rushed off to get my train.
Train was random - no naps for me - sat next to a rather chatty guy who was an international baseball umpire. Random. And on my second connection from Edinburgh to home, I ended up next to a student from Abertay, where I work (never seen him before so he must have skipped my information literacy classes!
Day off today, much needed recovery. Still in dressing gown at midday (result). Cats attempting to disturb the peace by bringing in the first ratoncito of the year - ratoncito being our code word for any small creature brought into the house, alive or dead. This one had wings and may eventually have used them to get away, or else perhaps we will find it again under the sofa. All in a president’s day…
Photos are at http://www.flickr.com/groups/398516@N22/
