Little Rock - Day 7

August 24, 2004

One of those mornings. Find I have been sleeping on my sunglasses and cracked them cleanly in two. While getting out of the vehicle I leave behind half my trousers on the fire extinguisher. Its early and stumbling along the pavement I cannot help but notice two large bodies on top of the our vehicle. Two crewmembers have decided to sleep on top of the roof no doubt taking advantage of the early morning air.

With two colleagues I make my way down to the ABC channel seven television station.

…….. Before I realize it is over we are on our way back. We have breakfast at the Peabody Hotel while others sleep. The service is very laid back. The atmosphere is tranquil and understated, the music rather delicate almost angelic and surreal. We eat with a terrific rage almost as if it was our last. Returning to the vehicles we take in the view of the Old State House. Very colonial and well preserved, it presents a wonderful place to host the day's events.

1100 and the rain returns, heavy now. It's a frustrating day of delay. The crews have setup in two wings of the mansion and are organized, as far as they can be that is. The immediate vicinity around the Old State House is quite paralyzed with no movement. It appears to be a quiet part of town. I venture out onto the main road running parallel with the black iron railings, which mark the boundaries to the grounds. Few people are around and those I find are on their way to a conference. Twice now on my walks street people approach me. They are two men in their middle twenties and appear well educated.

'We are on our way to the food kitchen,' one proudly shouts.

'Well would you take time to give us your story', and continued to explained our cause.

They were excited and wanted to participate but did not want to miss the food. So they came back later with abundant enthusiasm although worn down for their early years. People appear from nowhere in particular and march up the sodden pathway to our venue. They head our way now with vigor. The local NBC news affiliate has arrived to interview me. People seem to wander into the Museum as if heaven sent. The timing could not be better. It is a slow day almost befitting the southern lifestyle. Our visitors are laid back and kind.

It rains on and off all day until late afternoon when blue skies intervene. The evening is soaked in warm sunshine. I treat the crew to an evening of festivities at a downtown restaurant near the open market. I am beginning to love these people. I hear on the grapevine that I am referred to as the mad Brit and hope that's a good sign. They are clever, creative, unpredictable and sometimes damn right impossible. But I love them and will miss them all when we have finally completed our mission at the end of the day. The future is in their hands.