Diary

Last year the Dutch participants arrived in a big hummer limousine. This year they are doing things differently as you can see in the picture. This car is parked outside our hotel. Yes, I am haunted by that song! And unfortunately it is getting to me as I now find myself singing a long to it.

I was impressed by the Icelandic reception. Once again they know how to throw a Eurovision party. I wasn't impressed by the fact that my friends have now started to sing shalalie constantly whenever I am around. They even went as far as to call me Shalalie-lotte. No, it doesn't suit me!

Yesterday, day 4, was equal to the last semi-finalists rehearsing for the first time. One of those were the Netherlands and though Sieneke do appear to be a sweet girl then the song is really not my cup of tea. Unfortunately there is somene here in the press centre who thinks otherwise!

The start of the third day with rehearsals was also the start of the second semifinalists. Yesterday everything that can wrong did go wrong for Chanée & N'evergreen who somehow has managed to convince the press that they are a couple, but one of those couples that just can't stand each other!

You won't believe it, but we actually had a nice sunny day weather wise yesterday. Unfortunately there are no indications of it continuing, but who knows what prayers can do. The weather was a nice bonus on a day that, to most people, had very few highlights.

Eurovision Song Contest 2010 kicked off yesterday with the first 8 countries to rehearse for the first time on this stage and to meet an hungry press. Euroclub opened last night and I learned to pronounce the name of a certain Icelandic volcano - in Icelandic.

Irish radio journalists blew me off in a very unprofessional way, but I am at least satisfied with the winning song of this year's Eurovision Song Contest - that is not at all common! I finally found time to do a bit of sighseeing and tomorrow we're flying back to Denmark.

I am very pleased that Denmark made it to the final, and that we now, once again, have all five Nordic countries in the final. I managed to get 10 out of 10 in guessing the qualifiers from the second semi-final, but will I also get the winner right?

Most people seem to think that Romania stole their spot for the final and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s statements are beginning to annoy me. In the meantime Iceland and Portugal appear to have stolen quite some hearts among the fans and the press – and Lys Assia is being abused.

A welcome reception that turned out to be a gigantic party with several winners performing, a first dress rehearsal with script mistakes, a fabulous Dutch party and lots of mosquito bites, that was basically my Sunday and Monday.