Category Archives: work

Posting relating to my work

Going to Chicago

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On Sunday drove down to Heathrow to catch the plane to Chicago. Got stuck on the M25 for one hour and made the checkin 75 minutes before the scheduled flight leaving time.

Flight was full. Had plenty of wine and food on the trip. Arrived in Chicago, and filled in the customs form to say I had been on a farm. They were still concerned with FMD from England, so cleaned and disinfected my shoes.

Caught to Chicago City train into tge city, as this is quite a low clost way in.

The Hilton Palmer House Hotel was good, it is a 1900 hotel with a wonderful ceiling in the entrance hall painted by a French impressionist. 

Had a burger and a few glasses of beer before going to bed.

Axon Summer Party

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This weekend was the Axon Summer party at Brighton. We had a good trip down there around the M25 and M23 and finally were delayed along the Brighton front as we made our way to the Grand Hotel.

After booking and having our car taken away from us, we caught the coach to the Racecourse where the afternoon entertainment was taking place. Lunch was a BBQ, with lashings of beer. Played on the dogem cars, quad bikes and a simulator for the Aintree Grand National race. This time I did not turn the quad bike over. There were other activities, laser clay shooting, Pilot Bikes and a show for the kids. The weather held out, and got brighter as the day progressed.

Made our way to the hotel, our room was on the front, so had a good view of the see. We went for quick swim, and then down for the evening meal. Managed to speak to the head honcho Mark Hunter during the cocktail event. He gave his view of financial analysts, which was not very polite. 

The meal was pretty good, and the evening continued with usual formula of gambling, disco and slot car racing.

In the morning breakfast, and then visited Karen and her boy friend in their room. She had been booked into a honeymoon suite as they are getting married next Saturday. It was magnificent with a four poster bed in a large room, and another lounge with television sofas and writing tables. We then headed back home in the rain. Not much else during the day just relaxed. Rain held off later, so was able to do some mowing around the field.

Stage diving at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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Today is the last day. Yesterday evening we were taken by coach to an industrial site and were herded into a large warehouse. (Usual purpose was go cart racing. The entrance was made into a tube on its side with smoke effects, and creatures, dressed as insects on stilts greeting the visitors. 

In the warehouse we had food, good food, and drink and music. The organisers had set up 2 stages, and 3 bands played 4 sets. They were pretty good, and yes there was crowd surfing and stage diving at an IBM conference. The first band a jazz like, the rest were rock. When the bands finished at midnight a disco continued. I had had enough, and only live music is worth the effort, so of home to bed.

It was a pretty good event, and I was pretty hot and sweaty after event. Well done IBM.

Today I have three sessions I want to attend, just hope I do not snore too loudly.

Made it through the last sessions which were very interesting presentations of the new features of Websphere 5.0.

Then back in to town to buy some Sacher Torte for Rosemary. Good flight back.

In Wien at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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Well it is Thursday morning. Yesterday I attended some good sessions, and also one of the worst I have ever been to. 

Lunch was a scramble as the session I was attending overrun a little, and the queues were on the long size. But managed a quick refuel of bean salad.

When the sessions ended I took the tube back into town and walked around the museum area. The buildings there are absolutely fabulous. I chose the correct day, because the Natural History museum was open. Had a quick walk around there. Lots of stuffed, and bottled specimens. Bit difficult, all the exhibits were described in German.

Afterwards had a long walk around town, a few beers and then a German Hot Dog.

In Wien at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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Well it is nearly the end of Wednesday. Been to many enjoyable sessions at the IBM Symposium. Heard how to make Websphere run faster and better.

Today the sun has been shining, as it was yesterday.

Yesterday after finishing here at 7 in the evening, went back to the hotel. Did not do a great deal other than a few beers, then a McDonnalds. I have never seen so many in one town.

Tonight I will look around the museums are, and maybe enter into the museums.

In Wien at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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I had to get up early on Sunday at 5.00 to catch the 7.30 to Wien (Vienna) in Austria. Spent the Sunday walking around the city, saw the cathedral, had lunch on the Danube of souvlaki and salad. The citizens of Wein seemed to be having an inline skateing race around the banks of the river. Seemed to be quite dangerous for the competitors and those just out for a Sunday afternoon stroll. 

The weather was cloudy all day, but the sun was almost peaking through. Of course I had forgotten my hat and suntan cream so I had to be a bit careful.

ON the tube back I stopped of to see the Catherdral, St Stephens or some thing like that. More interesting were some break dancers.

Then I tried to go to the museum, when the heavens opened with a large thunder storm. So gave up and went back to the hotel for a few beers. 

For supper had a meal in hotel which was quite pleasant. Starter was a terrine of Spinach, and main course was Viennese style boiled beef.

On Monday attended some long sessions on Websphere, then caught the underground back to the hotel at about 8 in the evening. Went out for supper, found an Indian resturant. Not the typical English type. Food was spicy but not hot, with quite alot of greenery with it. Unusually there was an Indian woman dressed in a sari serving. As I said not the usual English Indian resturant. Weather was drizzle all day.

So this is the start of Tuesday, blue skys today.

Been emailing the daughter and found my antique phone works hear to.

IBM course

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Out of the office this week on a course at IBM at Hursley, learning about Web Services. Great time to think and relax as I drive there and back.