Andrew Black Political reporter, BBC Scotland news website

Not many people will willingly expose themselves to the Highland elements on a chilly October morning, so why then were a large group of people doing exactly that outside a conference venue in Aviemore?

Alex Salmond was greeted with a standing ovation

The answer - they all were waiting for Alex Salmond to turn up, of course.

And if he had the F.E.A.R about the historic conference he was about to open, it didn't show.

Eventually the first minister arrived in a 4X4, accompanied by his deputy Nicola Sturgeon, to meet the throngs of supporters before sweeping into the venue to speak at the start of the SNP's 75th conference - the first since the party came to power during the May elections.

This conference also promises to be a new and improved punter-friendly version, even if the agendas do come with a �20 price tag.

The event is not just about the policy debates, resolutions and fringe meetings which sometimes fail to capture the imagination of the viewing public.

Nationalist MSPs who happen to have become senior Scottish ministers will make major policy announcements that will actually mean something because they can be implemented - so watch this space.

Background music

A word of advice though - it is not just Labour who do stage management.

Before Mr Salmond's arrival, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson was busy organising the crowd, which stood with yellow balloons at the ready.

Later, in the auditorium, before Mr Salmond got to his feet, Mr Robertson advised delegates to fill seats from the front to the back.

"And try not to leave gaps," he added (It looks better on the telly, you see).

One thing the Nats maybe didn't have control over was the pre-conference background music.

The sound of Ian Brown could be heard before the event

One briefly heard the strains of F.E.A.R by Ian Brown, featuring the lyric "you've got the fear".

But that accusation was reserved for Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown - branded a feartie by Mr Salmond for deciding not to call a General Election amid mounting speculation.

Following a standing ovation of 20.49 seconds, the SNP leader said his government was a highly popular one with a solid record of achievement - and all after just 160 days at the helm.

The atmosphere in Aviemore could not be different from the SNP's 2006 conference in Perth.

Then, delegates were on edge during what was a make-or-break event in its campaign to win at Holyrood.

Some were not convinced the party had what it was going to take to emerge victorious.