The traffic in Lyon mon aimee is not so good in the morning Lyon part 2

The traffic in Lyon mon aimee is not so good in the morning, it's a vast city and what should have been a twenty minute coach ride became an hour on route to the Bocuse d'Or competition. Upon arrival, armed with my very lovely press pass, we enter the building. 1 swipe and I'm in!

Now at this point I realise I have no idea where I should be, or indeed where I should be heading. Finding my way to the Press area of the Bocuse d'Or arena, I'm rejected because........ wait for it........ I don't have one of those plastic cases that protect the pass and hang around one neck's as if you've access to the F1 Pit lane with Bernie and his chums!! At this point I think to myself, should argue and stand my ground and face that shrugged shoulder rebuff , or simply go down the "˜does he know who I am line'!!!!!! On second thoughts probably not!.

So back to the press office I trot, with lots of hand signals, slow and loud talking I manage to get my point across. Armed with my little plastic case it's a rather dull moment, but that's it I'm now complete my Bocuse press pass now adorns my torso like some gold Bee Gees medallion. I am Bocuse pimped up ladies and gents!

Once in, I'm free to roam and mingle, camera and film crews hustle and bustle, the screens beam competitors from all angles. I meet with Nick Vadis, who has quite literately drawn the short straw and is judging on day one. This happened to Nick and the team in Geneva. Now this is a two edge sword. He can give Simon tips and comments on the other competitors as he sees them, (via text), but equally they lose a very valuable pair of hands.

Already the hall is buzzing with twelve teams and twelve sets of supporters all wanting to be louder and more colourful than the other sets of supporters. There is almost a separate supporter competition going on. The Japanese team have taken this one step further and have en mass, all dressed up as the Karate kid with their rising sun bandanas tied firmly around their heads.

The teams are

1 Indonesia

2 Argentina

3 Poland

4 Iceland

5 Belgium

6China

7Guatemala

8Netherlands

9Finland

10France

11 Australia

12 Japan

It's a real mind game here at the moment, as Team UK eye and jockey for a view of the other competing teams. The Finish team have brought so much equipment, the presentation platters have a dual level with the lower level being heated and although it takes four people to carry it, it of course should ensure the food that will be served after spending up to five minutes paraded around the room, photoed and then presented to the judges, will be hot, or at least hotter than the others. It does nothing other than to start the other teams minds' wondering and pondering, which at this stage is surely to late?

Early controversy surrounds the French team, and of course the home nation. The teams are allowed on the night before they compete the opportunity to assemble and set up the equipment in the live kitchen. This is exclusively equipment and the rules forbid any food items in the kitchen the night before, this must be brought in, in the morning. From what I understand today many of the teams are less than happy that France did this. So whilst the other eleven teams this morning fuelled with trepidation, fear and butterflies, team France were rather simply sucking on a Gaulliose.

Simon and Jordan are tucked away in the nearby Hilton and are beavering away with preparation and last minute items, before their photo shoot this evening at 5.00pm

More later, Salute!