Day 1: Monday 21 September, 2009

Arrived at terminal 1 after a turbulent flight. I think I prefer terminal 5; confirmed by the loss of my bag!
Waited an hour and just about to leave when a kind gentleman runs after me with the bag which he says was stuck in the rollers! Eh yes - I am sure!

Central London busy as usual. Fantastic exhibition in Hyde Park by Gustav Metzger: Decades 1959 - 2009 at Serpentine Gallery, Hyde Park, London. It’s one of London's finest galleries, with this end of summer exhibition which presents a major survey of work from six decades by the influential artist and activist Gustav Metzger.

Took a taxi to the Natural History Museum: lovely hot and sunny day. Looks beautiful in the sunlight. What a fantastic resource the museum is! Shows, talks and lots of 'hands on' activities, such a 'Crafty Nature' where artists help people of all ages create art with natural materials under the trained eye of artists.

An event featuring Charles Darwin and his ship the Voyager are displayed at the new Darwin Centre where over 70 million specimens are housed. The centre was opened last week by Prince William: an amazing architectural piece. They are an immense valuable resource: for example the 100 year old collection of sea birds is helping today’s researchers track the changing levels of mercury and cadmium in sea water. Out on the 25th September is the film 'Creation' the true story of Darwin, a 'must see' I have been told, featuring Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly.

The research carried out at the museum is amazing.. and to name but a few topics… they help to trace the origins of the solar system, explore how hosts and parasites work, help understand how vegetation changes in rain forest, help understand climate change and explore the deep sea and its role in environmental change to name but a few.

Braved the crowd in London in the rush hour and met my colleagues and then had a lovely meal of peanut butter and mutton with my co presenters and organisers … yum yum…

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