Mixed thoughts as I look back at the 'In the Wild' event after a weekend's reflection. Thanks to Steve and the team for bringing together a great and inspiring bunch of people. It was one of those days that made you feel really good about the community in which you find yourself working - but also took you off in other new directions and meeting new people as all good conferences should.

On the downside - those chairs. First, they they looked so incongruous - gold, awards ceremony seating looking more at home in the Dorchester/Quaglino's ballroom that the funky foyer of oh so cool Channel 4. Familiarity did not bring enchantment, either, the longer one sat on them the more surreal/confined it seemed. One is torn between admiration for Steve's enterprise in getting so many interesting things, talks and people in one relatively small space, and the memory of claustrophobia that it entailed. It is great to get students to such an event - but it must have been even more challenging for them to sit and listen for such extended periods without authentic opportunities to contribute. And that was the other abiding thought - for a media company that prides itself on being challenging and 'out there' there was a very traditional and backward-looking format for the event. Though given the number of people and the space available I can understand the pressures! But am I glad I went... of course! And looking forward to the next opportunity too...Tony