Sunday in Daejeon

I went a bit absent as far as the blog was concerned - I think I left you yesterday at the UN-IAF workshop. Well that wrapped up with some quite important conclusions which will be taken forward to Plenary 5 on Wednesday.

We had a quite spectacular meal Saturday evening. 19 courses of delicious Korean food and - it must be admitted - no little amount of alcoholic lubrication. On our table was a university professor from Seoul who insisted we try everything there was to sample. Jetlag + hospitality = zzzzz.

Or it would have been a full night's sleep if a local Daejeon karaoke bar within singing distance of the hotel didn't treat Saturday as the highlight of the week.

Sunday dawned sunny again (the fifth day in a row now) and I headed off to the IAF Bureau meeting early on. I take the minutes for them.

It was quite sad to see the last Bureau meeting of the President of the IAA, Prof. Ed Stone. Dr Berndt Feuerbacher presented a gift on behalf of the Federation - it has been an absolutely pleasure working with Prof. Stone. G Madhavan Nair, chair of ISRO, was in attendance as the incoming IAA President and we wish him well in his new post.

After the Bureau meeting, the day was like every Sunday before the Congress I have spent with the folks from the IAF Secretariat - this is my fourth - very busy indeed. Lots of little crises. Lots of problems to solve and people to meet.

Attendees started to arrive, and the Daejeon Conference Centre is really starting to gear up.

I know I keep mentioning this and I have to say it again. The Local Organising Committee staff and helpers are amazing. There seemingly is not an issue they cannot solve and a situation they cannot rescue. I do not fail to be completely impressed.

Tomorrow is day numero uno of IAC 2009 - the opening ceremony, the opening of the exhibition, the Heads of Agency Plenary and the Youth Plenary. (I was lucky enough to see the Youth Plenary rehearsal. Quite an inspiring bunch of young people.)

I'll post tomorrow.