Cardiff, 8am

The weather was foul in Cardiff on Wednesday morning. The rain lashing the windows of our Phoenix was enough to give pause for though before crossing the street to the venue in search of the fresh coffee and bacon sandwich that beckoned from within. The procession of forty five foot trucks were moved in and out of the building two-by-two to be unloaded as I waited for the downpour to abate. This was not a glorious morning to be a truck driver but everyone seemed to be in surprisingly good spirits as they ventured upstairs in search of hot drinks while scores of hi-vizzed local crew were directed to unload the cargoes down in the auditorium.

The rain slackened off and I sallied forth onto the sodden streets in search of a change of scene as much as a breakfast butty.