Don's Diary

Friday

Marge and I are picked up from Helsinki University, where I gave a presentation yesterday to catch the flight to Stockholm. On arrival we meet Nobel Foundation officials and Ulrike, the attache assigned to ensure that I will always be in the right place at the right time. The first time I have not needed to collect luggage from the carousel. We also have our own elongated Volvo limousine and driver, Philip. Our room at the Grand Hotel overlooks the water. In the early evening there is a reception for laureates, family and friends.

Saturday

After breakfast we are all taken to the Royal Swedish Academy of Science where we listen to three talks by the physics laureates on their discussion of superfluidity in 3He. I skip lunch to prepare my afternoon talk with my fellow chemistry laureates Richard Smalley and Robert Curl. I speak last, using only overheads to enable me to complement the presentations of my colleagues

Sunday

No engagements until a meeting at 10am about a CNN TV discussion, Nobel Minds, to be recorded live on Wednesday. Then there is a radio interview, a discussion with a Chemistry and Engineering News journalist, a press conference, a reception followed by an informal dinner. Philip takes us back to the hotel.

Monday

An exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts followed by a pleasant, informal lunch at the British Embassy. No speeches, thank goodness. Then a reception at the Swedish Academy with students from all around the world, young winners of science competitions. More hand-shaking, more photos and then back to the hotel. Swedish TV interview with Smalley and Curl in which we express our regret that students cannot also be co-recipients.

Tuesday

The big day. At 10.30am all the cars drive off to the concert hall, where we rehearse the presentation ceremony. Then back to the hotel, where I skip lunch to attend to work matters in the UK via the phone. I start to put my penguin suit on. At 1.55pm a re-enactment of the team photo in 1985 when we discovered C60, but this time in white tie and tails. Police cars escort the limousines through Stockholm to the concert hall where, at 4pm, we receive our awards from the King. Then we are taken to the magnificent Stockholm City Hall for the banquet after which we are presented to the King and Queen. Taken back to the hotel by Philip at 3.30am afer a "Nobel nightcap" at the Royal Technical University.

Wednesday

Yet another photographic portrait session. In the afternoon we pontificate again on the TV programme for CNN, answering questions from the audience and viewers in the US and Hong Kong. I manage to play hookey for a couple of hours and get to a nearby bookstore, only to discover that books are about 30 per cent more expensive than in the UK. In the evening another reception followed by a banquet with the King and Queen. The winner of the Nobel literature prize, Madame Szymborska, sits between king and me. When she says something to me, the Polish to Swedish interpreter tells the king, who translates into English. Maybe I am the first person to have the King of Sweden as an interpreter.

Thursday

An early departure to the physics department of Stockholm University to give lectures, three half-hour presentations. Curl is followed by Smalley and then me. I give a research-oriented presentation this time. Venture out in the afternoon for an hour or so, but it turns bitterly cold. Just time to buy a book on the Swedish artist, Anders Zorn. Extremely expensive.

Friday

Wake to breakfast with eight children singing 'Santa Lucia' and a set of Swedish songs, as is the seasonal custom. The travelling chemistry roadshow does the triple act again. This is my first slide presentation on this tour and the projector decides to cause havoc. I receive an ovation for sorting out the problem and offer to apply for the job of audiovisual aid technician. I pick up my medal and certificate from the Nobel Foundation offices and arrange for the prize money to be transferred. At the Lucia Night dinner we all have student hosts. The physics and chemistry laureates are asked to get up on the stage where we are sent up by the students and presented with the Order of the Ever-Laughing Jumping Green Frog.

Saturday

Morning call for packing: will all our presents fit? At the airport no check in at the SAS VIP lounge - what a luxury. Back at Heathrow by 1pm and the reality of fending for ourselves again. Arrive at Sussex at 3pm and a couple of hours later I am back at the lab to confront the backlog of mail.

Sir Harold Kroto

Winner of this year's Nobel prize for chemistry for his part in the discovery of a previously unknown form of carbon molecule, C60 and a chemistry professor at Sussex University.