- walking in was like the scene at the end of Trading Places, the noise, the hubbub. "Lots of people!" I remarked to Bob Plumridge. "Yes, but they're all vendors!" he replied. True, but different later.

- First session went pretty well, good level of questions and feedback

- Most of day spent taking repeated bites of the Expo apple. Too many people I know to list. Symantec, Riverbed, Pillar, EMC, LSI, Emulex, Plasmon, Quest, 3Par, Copan, IBM. Lots of conversations, all good. Friendships remade, relationships rebuilt, business redone. Sorted.

- Podcast with Reed on future of storage. It has one. Cool.

- Quick review of second pres with Xerox- then more of the same

- Second presentation coincident with football kick-off England vs Russia. Disproportionate number of females in audience, which outnumber males- realise football is answer to rebalancing sexes in IT. Pres goes OK despite diminished numbers.

- Leave conf too late, arrive at pub after everyone has left, story of my life.

And tomorrow is another day.