Jacqui Hellyer, Sydney Olympics

Jacqui Hellyer is manager of environmental communications for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG).

So ends another week. Twenty-three more to go until the start of the Olympic Games. So little time, so much to do. Can we even get the Environment Pavilion built in such a short space of time? And today's drama was that we are supposed to go to tender, yet there is absolutely no way we have time to go through that process. Let's hope we can sort that one out.

You readers won't get to hear the end of this ongoing saga, but for those of you planning to come to Sydney to see the Games, look out for the Pavilion (I'm convinced it will go ahead, even with the constant obstacles to be overcome), ask for me, and we can have a drink together. I'll probably need the drink -- the Games are going to be fairly hectic. But then I'll take a nice long holiday. And then I'll have to find another job. This is just a none-too-subtle plug for myself: If any of you dear readers will be needing someone with the rare combination of a science background and excellent communication skills, I'm available from the first of November!

I had rather a long lunch today (well, it is Friday). SOCOG's Environment Program had lunch with the Olympic Co-ordination Authority's (OCA) Environment Branch. I've explained before that the OCA is responsible for "building the stage," so to speak, because they oversee the construction of new venues and the remediation of Homebush Bay, where the main Olympic site is located. SOCOG "puts on the show," i.e., runs the events. So it's good to socialise occasionally, rather than just seeing each other at meetings.

Lunch was in the newly opened Ibis and Novotel Homebush Bay Hotel out at Sydney Olympic Park. It's a marvellous example of the environmentally sound buildings associated with the Games. It has the largest solar hot waste system in the Southern Hemisphere on its roof, it purchases 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, it has an environment manager (my good friend Gabrielle, one of the founding EcoChicks, which I mentioned yesterday), it gives $1 per room night to WWF, its windows open, and it doesn't have lots of little shampoo bottles in the rooms -- plus many other features. You can also get a great view of the whole site from the observation level at the top of the hotel, and there is an excellent display about the environmental features of the hotel and its involvement with WWF.

After the pleasant trip out there and back, it was time to get a dreaded flu vaccination. With winter approaching, and a lot more work to be done, we don't want half the staff to come down with the flu, so it was free vaccinations for all today. Also blood pressure, cholesterol, and other health advice was available. We are constantly being exhorted to look after ourselves and not burn out before the Games begin.

Tonight I have the rather daunting task of entertaining the manager of one of Australia's most exclusive catering companies -- and I'm cooking! Aargh! Just a wee bit intimidating. He's a new friend of my husband's and he heard that I do Japanese home-style cooking (having lived there for four years), so the dinner was arranged. I think I'll be drinking a bit of sake to get my courage up. I just hope he's as pleasant a chap as my husband claims -- because I can't claim to be a great cook.

So I bid you all a fond farewell as I head home to whip up a storm in the kitchen. Wish me luck with the Environment Pavilion, and do look me up if you are here during the Games.