Being a court reporter is not always as glamorous as it looks. Here PATRICK GRAFTON-GREEN describes six farcical days in the Old Bailey press box featuring countless delays, arguments… and train journeys.

Nov 19 noon: After spending a morning in the News Shopper newsroom I am sent to the Old Bailey by my news editor to cover the Lee Rigby Woolwich murder case.

The case is hugely anticipated: the media’s demand for access to the courtroom is so great that News Shopper has been allocated its own special ticket. Without such a ticket, no access to the courtroom.

Nov 19 2pm: The media scrum outside the courtroom is told the hearing has been delayed by half an hour. We've already been informed the session, which was supposed to see the trial start, will now be a mention hearing.

Nov 19 2.30pm: We are allowed inside. Barristers, clerks, court workers and the judge fill the courtroom. The defendants, Michael Adebowale and Michael Adebolajo, are led into the dock.

Nov 19 3.30pm: Due to circumstances which cannot be discussed in this blog for legal reasons, the start of the trial has been delayed until Thursday. We all go home.

Nov 20 10am: Once again I am at the Old Bailey and this time I head over first thing to cover the Kevin Ssali case, who was stabbed to death on a bus in Lee last year. It quickly becomes clear that counsel are not fully prepared for the case, reports that are necessary to begin have not been completed. The trial is delayed by a day. I leave the court by 11am.

Nov 21 10am: I'm back again for the Kevin Ssali case, and gone again by 11am. Similar problems with the case. I feel a bit like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. The case will not start until at least Friday.

Nov 22 noon: Back at the Old Bailey after briefly touching base at News Shopper first thing. This time for Lee Rigby. Again, just a mention hearing. It seems unclear from discussions between judge and barristers when the trial will start. Meanwhile conspiracy theorists on Twitter talk of a 'media blackout'. There are unfounded claims David Cameron has ordered the media not to report on the case.

Nov 23 10am: Back for Kevin Ssali, confident that by the end of today I will have something to show for my week trekking back and forth from the Old Bailey. Sadly, no such luck. The case has been delayed until Monday. I'm heading back to News Shopper by 11am.

Nov 26 10am: Finally the Kevin Ssali case begins.

Nov 26 10.20am: Within 20 minutes of the prosecution's opening one of the jurors has a fit. An alarming turn of events for everyone in the courtroom but unfortunately it also means a new jury must be selected and the case restarted. We’re supposed to be on day five yet no progress has yet been made.

Nov 26 2pm: New jury selected, and we're off again. This time we get through the prosecution's opening and for the first time in more than a week, I have a story I can send to my boss.