I am here, briefly.

The good news is that there is now a hotel shuttle from Sydney airport to the downtown hotels. It only cost me AU$24 for a return, which is about half what a single cab fare would have been. But it does mean I’ll have less time this morning as I have to fit with the shuttle’s schedule, not mine. I was hoping to get an hour or so in the QVB (that’s the Queen Victoria Building – Sydney’s splendid Victorian shopping mall), but I may not have time.

The Hilton here is very luxurious. Thank you again, reward points. As with Melbourne they have upgraded me to the executive floor. The Internet connection is fine (and indeed I could have had it for free in the executive lounge if I hadn’t needed to download all that email). I’d love to stay here for a few days and just relax, but I have a con to go to and the program officially starts this evening.

Sadly I’m missing the early-bird chocolate factory tours. I may have to mug Trudy Canavan when I get there to get some samples. I don’t appear to be listed on any program items as yet, so for the most part I expect you will find me in the bar with Sean Williams and Jonathan Strahan consuming those famous pink drinks and watching the Twenty20 World Cup. Thankfully England are only scheduled to lose two games while I am here, and neither of them to Australia.