In last week's leader I complained that my daughter, despite having achieved an excellent degree, cannot find a job - and as John and I were unable to attend Ecobuild this year since it clashed with the three-day Cleaning Show in Birmingham (for which we produce the 'Official Daily' on behalf of the organisers) John suggested that Chervana attend Ecobuild on our behalf.

When Chervana and I met up again last night to discuss our experiences and argue over whose feet ached the most (she's saying she's never going to wear heels ever again!) I asked whether she'd managed to find her way around easily and she said, "No - and I wasn't the only one!"

Long time readers of KBZine might remember my rant after last year's Ecobuild about how the organisers had set the stands diagonally in diamond-shaped groupings, rather than in the easy to follow square grid format used by all the other multitude of shows I've attended over the years. It was so confusing that I didn't get to find some of the stands I'd wanted to visit (and from frustrated discussions with other visitors I wasn't alone!) and the organisers had employed lots of staff to help direct those who were lost to where they wanted to be - although this didn't always work either!

I had hoped that with the move to London's ExCel, the more normal grid format would be used, but Chervana tells me that this was not the case. She said that there were booths "all over the place" where lost visitors could seek directions.

I suppose it creates jobs though, doesn't it - and with over 50,000 visitors expected over the three days - perhaps the organisers don't feel the need to make things easy for everyone!

I could be cheeky and say that perhaps this confusing stand layout is why renowned environmentalist Professor David Bellamy was up at the Cleaning Show rather than at Ecobuild (where he was chatting to me about how proud he is of British innovation) but cleaning and the environment go hand in hand and as David is President  of the British Insitute of Cleaning Science his rightful place was at the NEC.

Our conversation made me wonder: do any of you who are involved in the design of products for the KBB industry seriously take into account ease of cleaning when it comes to designing new products? I'd really be interested in finding out so do please get in touch.

Chervana really enjoyed Ecobuild and said the industry made her very welcome - thank you! Below is her report...

Yours,