I stocked up on London Pride reserves last night. The packing is finished and the kitchen floor is drying. Then it’s off to Milan for an onward flight to Caracas airport which is followed by a relaxing three hour taxi ride to the hotel.

The last time I had a ticket to Caracas the middle classes tried to organise a counter revolution. This time the Americans are sending a big chunk of their navy. Are they that frightened of me?

I’ve got a couple of contacts lined up and plan to post interviews and impressions during my stay. The photos may have to wait because I’m taking neither my good digital camera nor my MP3 player. My solidarity with the world’s oppressed doesn’t extend to letting them nick those.