I’m off to Durham tomorrow to attend the patristics conference on Wednesday. So I’ve been going through the emails, printing off copies, printing out a map of what and where.
One thing that strikes me strongly is that the conference is not being organised very well. My experience has been quite negative.
For instance, when I booked I found that the online payments did not work. I booked anyway, but received no acknowledgement. I sent off a cheque, but was not informed when it was received, nor cashed. A provisional programme was sent out — but not to me. When I asked about it, I was told it was on the website — but I still never got to see the email. Emails were replied to late if at all. Questions about check-in time have not been replied to. If there is any question about my booking, when I arrive, with car in a restricted area, I have almost nothing in writing.
Staying away from home is a stressful experience. Leaving these sorts of things in doubt makes it worse. This is a great pity.
What I am going to do tomorrow — today is bank holiday so no-one will be around — is to telephone the college directly, and check what they have by way of a conference booking, car parking, etc. I wish I’d thought of this last week, and I offer the suggestion to others. Because I suspect the college will be better organized, and they, after all, do the hard work.
Still, the programme suggests it will be a good conference. And if it isn’t, I have my car and will just go home.