Well, where to start?!

After my first European conference and a week of being JCI Barnsley's Deputy President I don't really know where to start.

Tuesday saw the election of our new council team and I just want to say big congratulations to the new team and I'm looking forward to working with you all. I know that together we are going to make sure we finish the year in the fantastic way we stared. 

With the formal council meetings over Gemma, Piggers and I got up at 2am on Wednesday morning and headed off to Germany. Not long after getting to the airport the "Gemma travel effect" hit and we found out we were on connecting flights from Munch to Hannover 50 minutes apart. I put Gemma and JCI Sheffield on their plane and sat down waiting for mine only to find out there was a 2 1/2 hour delay due to a hole in the plane. To cut a long story short I got to the opening ceremony an hour late after getting a VIP car and running around the town! After the opening ceremony we went straight into the German Welcome Party and I have never seen anything quite like it in my life. Bars and bars full of free drinks an indoor market full of free food! We ate and drank our way through the night (sorry but that's all the information your getting other than a lot of champagne was involved!).

The next few days were a round of Gemma and I dragging each other out of bed in time for the bus, training, sightseeing and then rushing back in time to change for the nights activities. I have to say that everyday seemed to get stranger than the last, if I told you all the reasons why I would have an 8 page blog! All I can say is from GA to the party in the tram shed, I didn't just enjoy every first second, I loved them and I'm counting down the days to Monte Carlo! 

Here are a few things I have learnt and a few tips I picked up along the way to help you get though a conference:

• Water is a must, drink as much as you can at all times. 
• If you can't eat breakfast pack it for later. 
• If you find tea in your bag it's probably Gemma's.
• Your badge and book need to go everywhere with you. 
• Don't try and drink with Scotland it's a bad idea. 
• Don't tell Stan (JCI Aberdeen) your leaving. 
• Gemma gets overly protective of the pig after pink champagne.
• Two of our Senators are just big party animals.
• And lastly no matter how much you don't want conference to end there is no way it can continue! 

I had a fantastic time and made some brilliant memories with brilliant new friends, here's to many more to come and I will see you all again at every chance I get, but I'm not drinking with Stan!