Well what a fascinating and busy few days. I never though I'd be opening the Panda exhibit and feature on TV and Radio.

My partner and I travelled up to Edinburgh on Thursday evening, both of us with colds. The hotel was next door to the zoo, still we got up early to have breakfast and to make sure we arrived in plenty of time for our 9:15 showing. It was going to be the first public viewing of the Giant Pandas Tian Tian NameTian Tian Chinese Names甜甜 Stud Number569 Date of Birth2003-Aug-24 SexFemale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atBeijing Zoological Gardens MotherNu Nu - #421 FatherYing Ying - #369 and Yang Guang NameYang Guang Other NamesYang Guang Stud Number564 Date of Birth2003-Aug-14 SexMale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atWOLONG MotherQuan Quan - #414 Father .

Everybody was really excited and were rushing to get to the exhibit in time as the zoo doors didn't open till 9am. After firstly going the wrong entrance we were guided to correct entrance were we waited to be let in. Whilst we were queuing my name was called, I was told that I was the very first person to book a ticket on-line and would I like to cut the ribbon to open the panda exhibit, "Yes" was my answer without even having to think about it.

I was taken to one side, where I met with Hugh Roberts, the CEO of Edinburgh Zoo, we had a brief chat then we went in to the arch where the traditional red ribbon was waiting for me to cut. Hugh greeting the waiting TV cameras and Newspaper reporters and introduced me. He then handed me a large pair of scissors and I cut the ribbon to the sound of 50 cameras whirling. I then shook Hugh's hand and handed back the scissors then walked through the arch.

Once through I was surrounded by lots of reporters, who asked me lots of questions about myself and the pandas. In the end one of the Panda's helpers had to rescue me so I could actually go and visit Yang Guang NameYang Guang Other NamesYang Guang Stud Number564 Date of Birth2003-Aug-14 SexMale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atWOLONG MotherQuan Quan - #414 Father who was in his inside enclosure. When I finally got inside, Yang Guang NameYang Guang Other NamesYang Guang Stud Number564 Date of Birth2003-Aug-14 SexMale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atWOLONG MotherQuan Quan - #414 Father was happily munching on his breakfast bamboo.

It wasn't long until the group had to move on, I ducked to the end of the queue so I could spend just a few more seconds with Yang Guang NameYang Guang Other NamesYang Guang Stud Number564 Date of Birth2003-Aug-14 SexMale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atWOLONG MotherQuan Quan - #414 Father . Another of the Panda's Helpers said as I was late arriving I'd be able to stay for a few more minutes. So my partner (Jim) and myself got a private viewing of Yang Guang NameYang Guang Other NamesYang Guang Stud Number564 Date of Birth2003-Aug-14 SexMale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atWOLONG MotherQuan Quan - #414 Father .

He is absolutely beautiful, a very fine example of a Panda. I tried to get as many photos of him as I could but a lot didn't turn out due to the glass being so reflective.

We then went to visit Tian Tian NameTian Tian Chinese Names甜甜 Stud Number569 Date of Birth2003-Aug-24 SexFemale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atBeijing Zoological Gardens MotherNu Nu - #421 FatherYing Ying - #369 , she was in her outside enclosure. Pacing around. Once again she's a beautiful panda. She was moving so fast it was difficult to catch a photo of her. The group was told it was time to leave, as I was making my way out, I was asked if I would do an interview to camera. I can't remember who that was for, but I did an Interview live on BBC news, which I was captioned as a 'Pandaholic'. I also did one for ITV and lots of newspaper journalists.

When I was finally able to leave, we went for a cup of hot chocolate at the zoo's grasslands cafe. Then went to see the Edinburgh Zoo's Penguins. If you visit you must go and see them as well.

We then had to leave as we needed to checkout of our hotel room, whilst Jim finished packing I nipped back to the Zoo's information desk and handed in the usual box of chocolates for the panda keepers from PandaNews.org Readers. The lady on reception gave me a funny confused look, don't think they're used to being asked to give keepers gifts.

On the drive back to Warrington, I was phoned by BBC Radio 5 Live and asked if I would give an interview on the radio. I said I would it was originally going to be at 4:20 but I wasn't going to be home by that time, the time was re-arranged a couple of times and finally I went live just before 6pm.

So now I've had my 15 minutes of fame. What have a learnt? Always have a shave in the morning:) (Not learnt that really I'm too lazy). The media can really make your head go fuzzy, and you will be mis-quoted. In was in the spirit of what I said, so I guess it's ok.

Well I hope you like the photos of Yang Guang NameYang Guang Other NamesYang Guang Stud Number564 Date of Birth2003-Aug-14 SexMale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atWOLONG MotherQuan Quan - #414 Father and Tian Tian NameTian Tian Chinese Names甜甜 Stud Number569 Date of Birth2003-Aug-24 SexFemale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atBeijing Zoological Gardens MotherNu Nu - #421 FatherYing Ying - #369 , Most of the images were taken by Jim, as I was so bemused by it all. We're now trying to workout when we can visit again and how often.

Checkout the Pandanews facebook page for images of me opening the exhibit and other animals we saw at the zoo.