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As the MIPIM merry-go-round starts to wind down the delegates retreat to the usual Croisette bars and with shiny sun and wind-burnt faces reflect on this year's show. Official numbers were put at 18,000 but some have guestimated that it may have been as low as 10,000.

While the talk has been of more business and less freeloading, there were still one or two lively sounding parties in tents at night on the Croisette and the bars at the Martinez end of the Croisette where the drinking action was taking place.

The lack of big announcements was also noticeable. Some of the UK's RDAs put their hands up and freely admitted they had nothing to promote, while others scrabbled around for what were obviously spurious announcements. One briefing was an announcement about... an announcement.

Notable faces that have caused a stir have been Boris (of course) who made his presence felt in the way only he can, Kevin McLoud of Grand Designs fame - who is very passionate about sustainability apparently - and Linda Barker, if you happened to go to the Bradford apartment.

The presence of Sir Bob Kerslake also caused a bit of a stir among those in the public sector.

And so it is time for a final bit of networking and then the clearing up after what has been a much more sober MIPIM.

The sun has set on the second day at MIPIM, a day when the event is in full swing. Everyone is talking about the dramatic drop in numbers and how much more "serious" everyone is. There is no need for the French police to marshall the crossings in front of the Palais and there certainly seem to be more locals promenading along the sea front without fear of being bowled over by a besuited MIPIM delegate rushing to an appointment, Blackberry attached to ear.

Last year it was the Russians who seemed overwhelmed by glamourous ladies adorning their stands and parading around the Croisette with material. This year the city of Stockholm has taken up the slack - only its hired glamour has a far more practical role than merely marketing. The ladies are handing out water to thirsty MIPIM-ites

The sun sets on the first day of MIPIM 2009 and everyone was talking about how much quieter it is. One prominent London developer, and I'll spare his blushes by not naming him, described it bluntly as "f***ing quiet".

There is less of everything: people, marquees, branded cafés and hotels. The public sector seem to be the ones waving the biggest flags but as Boris Johnson and Sir Howard Bernstein have both said in their own way: "how can you promote your city if you aren't here?".

Boris has provided much of the entertainment for the day choosing to deliver part of his speech to the guests assembled at the LDA drinks in French. He also pointed out that with the current exchange rate a meal at two star restaurant in Cannes would cost you €80 while the same meal in a similar restaurant in London would cost €25. I'm not sure he took into account MIPIM inflation though.

Overall the atmosphere has been a lot more serious and about getting as many bangs for your MIPIM buck as possible.

Value is even being squeezed out of the celebrity with Bradford Regeneration favourite Linda Barker - of Changing Rooms fame - required to work the stand in the bunker this year rather than swan around the airier and more pleasant apartment.

Wednesday is normally the day when MIPIM reaches its peak but on today's performance I think is going to be more of a Scarfel Pike than Kilamanjaro.

Construction seems to have stopped everywhere but Cannes. The sound of drilling and building works fills the air, invading meetings for those unfortunate enough to have chosen an apartment next door - like Team Scotland for example.

Several of the big hotels are having work done including the Majestic which is partially covered in hoardings.

The sun has risen on the first morning of MIPIM 2009, the weather is warm but the atmosphere is more one of a cold focus on getting down to business.

Whether that will change once the lunchtime drinks start to flow is a different matter.

What I've learnt while travelling to Cannes:

• The French have points failure too.
• Loos in stations cost 20p more than British ones
• The French for 'I'm on the train' is 'Je suis en le train'
• A new funding deal for Kings Cross is going to be announced tomorrow.
• Boris is going to greet the Cannes cyclists (imagine having cycled all that way to have Boris as your welcoming committee - he is a keen cyclist, I suppose)
• And the old gent in sitting in front of me has plenty of underwear and doesn't want to eat at a friends house "because they'll cook and it will be something I don't like and I'll be forced to eat it".