Lot’s more people in suits than I imagined. It seems the days of sandals and beards may well have passed. That or the Marriott hotel has a policy of preventing beardy sandal wearers entering the building. It’s funny how many people look like Tories. If it wasn’t for the lanyards, I really wouldn’t have a clue.

My intern is returning to derby now, so I’m sat in a bar with Liberal Visioner Sara Scarlett, who’s every bit as feisty as you’d imagine, and sharp to boot and we’re watching out for people we recognise. Have had a long (and interesting) chat with fellow Lib Dem Blogger Mark Valladares, husband of the party’s president and altogether charming and friendly man – one of those people that seems to know absolutely everyone.

WARNING: THIS PICTURE HAS BEEN AIRBRUSHED

Armed with Wi-Fi and a laptop, I’m now trying to get a handle on everything’s going on. The next big event is the Richard Dawkins fringe – the War on Irrationality. I can’t wait for this one. I’ve heard a rumour that Richard’s been a Lib Dem voter for 25 years, something which fills me with a spazzy joy. Seriously, this actually makes me feel pretty good about being a Lib Dem. Wonder if I’ll get a chance to grab a few words with him?

In other news, Alex Massie of the Spectator has been mulling the prospect of voting for the Lib Dems… if there were a few more liberals of the classical variety kicking around. Is there some kind of effort to reclaim the word ‘liberal’ to something I’d recognise?

More on this later. There’s still a lot of work to do in helping other people who share my particular view of liberalism feel able to stand up and express their opinions and views without fear. That’s ‘step one’ I think. One thing that attending Lib Dem Conference is showing me is that this party is a lot cooler and more open minded than I realised. They’re mostly reasonable and can be persuaded by good argument. I mean, that’s probably why Richard Dawkins likes us.

There is hope, but it needs people to be willing to stnad up and make those interventions and argue properly, positively and openly. The party is what we make it, but the people who want to change it are sat in the pub drinking (and celeb spotting… was that Nick Clegg doing the classic, ‘walking up the prom saying something interesting’ scene?) instead of debating on the floor.