Before I go...

The day has come! It nearly started in disaster when I somehow couldn't find my key upon arrival at doorstep last night, and had to walk across town all the way to The Milk Place for a nice serving of hot dog and a sofa. Have since located my spare key and gotten in, so I will have to pack after all... Damn.

Before we dive into the madness full speed tomorrow, here's a little run-through of my views on the songs, in a nice little ranked order.

Starting with the worst... 

39: SPAIN

Utterly, utterly useless. The only thing keeping it from being as painfully bland as Estonia 2007 (:-[) or the likes is her horrendously annoying voice.

If forced to say something positive, I guess it *was* easily the best option in the Spanish final... Such an obvious bid for last place it's bound to beat something.

First post! And some photos

So. It will still be a few more days before I'll head down to the glitz and glamour (or lack of thereof) in Malmö. I'll be blogging and instagramming and godknowswhat, to keep you updated on what's happening in the current Eurovision city.

But before that, I'll start off this blog by showing a few pictures from inside the greenroom of previous contests. TV-viewers rarely get to see what's actually going on in the greenroom, but the greenrooms are actually quite a lot of fun. Wine being served, people from different delegations getting a chance to mingle, etc.

 Each table usually has their own TV-screen to follow the contest. This is sometimes hidding inside the table, or is placed so that it's got its back towards the TV-camreas, hence why you never see the screens on TV when they show bits from inside the greenroom.

 Free drinks and the relief of having performed, help create quite a... party atmosphere.

And it's not just fans who have their photo taken together with singers. The singers often do the same thing with each other.

Here we go, here we go...

...well, nearly. But close enough to justify my first post on this year's ESC Nation blog!

Shopping in central Lewisham on a Saturday afternoon has been survived with minimal damage to soul and body, and so the packing can begin. Super-early flight from Gatwick in the morning, so for once we're treating ourselves, insofar as a cheap 'n' cheerful airport hotel and a Wetherspoons dinner can be described as a treat! Beats getting up at 3 in the morning and hoping the taxi turns up, though...

Now that we know accreditation can be picked up from tomorrow already, most of the Nation team should be assembled and in place bright and early for Austria to kick off proceedings on Monday morning. The new setup, with no press centre until Friday and the first four days of rehearsals being broadcast to Euroclub instead, will be interesting to see in motion. (And since it's a club, I wonder if they'll have beer...)

Anyway, that's all for now - time to christen a brand new suitcase with some brand new clothes. Next stop Malmö (...via Gatwick. And Copenhagen. But you get the idea!).

Bags packed, targets set

It seems I'll be the first of our team to leave the house, but almost the last to arrive (thank you, Scottish ferry times...). Don't worry, one of us should be there in time to cover the exciting Austrian rehearsal.

Here are some targets I've set to myself for the following two weeks:

• Find evidence that Anouk actually made it to Malmö
• Shout "CHA CHA!" at every person holding a Belarussian flag
• Say no to Krista
• Introduce Eyþór to scissors
• Get at least one of (many) spectacled artists to lick-clean their glasses
• Ask the DJ at Euroclub for Milas Poli

Well, we'll see.

My Top 39

As originally posted on the Message Board, here's my Top 39 for this year, complete with comments, so you can berate me for my opinions and thoughts on the rehearsals of songs I was already predisposed to hate before even flying out to Malmö.

Starting with the crap that can just go away, as far as I'm concerned...