Yesterday's marathon session (not watching Nadal) offered many unexpected pleasures:

a) Everyone coped infinitely more capably than I'd dreaded with the new space. I think it might end up looking rather nice

b) It didn't rain as much as I would have liked (except when we were indoors during which time the boat dripped copiously) but no-one slid off the edge of the deck when we were outside

c) Powerful gusty wind oddly didn't seem to interfere terribly with audibility, even quayside to boat interior. And Matt, Cari and John coped admirably with the onslaught

d) Linsday turned up after a brief docklands detour and played the melodica marvellously

e) Neil and Tommy sound just superb. Should we usurp Jacques to make way for Neil for the end of act one solo..?

f) And Matt can sing. Not just sing but sing remarkably nicely. Not that I would have expected anything other though, to be honest. But a relief nonetheless. Never sung the song ever before, he quips, and then launches into a near perfect rendition. This is the kind of 'not singing' I favour.

All in all, an excellent day's work. Thanks, guys.

Oh and we've now sold 20% of tickets. I've sent out a handful of optimistic press releases. Rather fabulous flyer courtesy of GC is off to the printer. So we can sit back and wait for the rest of the tickets to sell while barely lifting a finger.

I'm off to watch Schindler's List to celebrate.