Adamo does Palermo

So I got here safely... my second home. It feels really great to be back! And its hot... 27 degrees, compared to the 10 that I left in Newcastle! Later we're going to trapetto to see Vito's parents which is always nice.

Working, as usual... but when you have a view of the sea and th warmth of this place, its more than ok.

Mark Thomas and the Killer Coke

I forgot... I went to see Mark Thomas on Monday, and he was AMAZING... too funny.

As I said, he's got more to him than a sense of humour, and he's converted me to boycotting Coca Cola and all of their products. Check out www.killercoke.org to find out why. This is one sick company.

Off on my travels again...

So tomorrow I fly off to Sicily again, my dear Sicily, where so many of my great friends will be. I can't wait, only 32 hours! But before that I have crazy work to do... and drinks to be had with some new found contacts that we met yesterday.

I was asked last week if Youth Voice would present to a group coming from the British Youth Council, which I agreed to reluctantly as we have so much going on, however I am so glad I did! I hadn't really prepared anything other than a rough schedule but then its quite easy to present on Youth Voice as we have a ton of video that explains a lot so I thought I'd just show that. I expected a young audience, but I was suprised when I met the guys and they were all in their 30's and 40's!! I was even more suprised when I was introducing myself and they were saying "I'm so and so from the British Council Indonesia/Saudi Arabia/Pakistan etc."... They weren't actually from the BYC at all they were from the British Council!!!

I actually find presenting to adults easier than to young people, I am usually more relaxed... and this was surely proof. It was great. I showed the classic e2000 video from Paul's trip around the world and they were right away engaged. I then went on to just talk, answer questions etc for over an hour, and these guys really seemed to like what they heard.

Anyway, near the end we were talking away with them, they were really interested, and then they invited us to join them for drinks tonight as its their last night at the conference they are attending. So Paul and I are off on a social networking event that will top many... British Council representatives from all over the world all of whom are interested in forming new partnerships. I'll be sure to take a big pile of business cards!! Whether I'll sleep much before catching my plane at 8:15am tomorrow is another questions....

Cultural progression...

So where do I start?! Things are manic, but great. Paul is back which is better than I had imagined... already he has managed to speak with the director of the Culture 2000 programme in the UK which we will be applying for this month, and this week we have meetings with some very important people which will only see things progress further and further.

I am feeling like things can only get better and better. I have toooo much work, way too much but its all so good and I don't mind one bit, I just have to make sure I keep on top of it. Yesterday I watched "Lost in Translation" which I have been meaning to watch for sooo long. And it was better than my expectations, you should see it if you get the chance. Directed by Sophia Coppolla whose debut was "Virgin Suicides" another fantastic movie. Also there was a making of video on there which was amazing. The film was on a really low budget and filmed entirely on location in Japan... but they all just seemed to have fun, and bill murray was just great. Reminded me of our projects and the ethics behind them, people doing things because they enjoy them, not because they get paid a load of cash.

I'm going to Mark Thomas tommorrow night, again I think he will be an inspiration, I can't wait!! Anyway, more updates soon.