By train to Copenhagen…

Saturday 20 September.

Final train trip of this trip went without a hitch. On time and very painless.

A quick taxi ride brought me to my hotel for the night. It’s a close approximation to the Menzies Building, look…

Room 1032 is a sort of mini suite, here you are:

Having made myself at home and caught up with emails and texts, I set off in search of the phone booth near the Tivoli gardens where I phoned Pauline from the last time I was here.  It was gone and so was the nearby McDonalds. Oh well, sometimes things don’t last.  Undaunted I set off to walk and take photo’s of some of this clean city.

   
The very modern national museum

The National Library?

Some nice features

Two views of the same church tower

Some nice street scenes

My feet are tired and I’m hungry so off for some food and then sleep.

Today I’m loving…
Knowing that in one sleep I’ll be flying back home. I’m sad that’s it’s over and satisfied that I did my best to do as much as I could for dad and ARROW. Happy to have met so many lovely people. Seen so many inspiring sights. But, most of all I can’t wait to see Pauline.

Goodbye to the city of smiles :-)

Friday 19 September,

Today was a day of lasts and firsts.

Last trip on the No17 bus to the university.
Last rounds of presentations and speakers.
First meeting of the fedora Users Group Europe.
Last lunch of salmon and salad.
Last discussion about fedora.
Last time together with the great people who are pushing fedora and pulling it in ways that are really impressive. Oh, and did I say the people responsible were all really nice?

To cap it all of we ended up in a bar, naturally,  for last beers and yet more talking.  One bar led to another, which was: A. cheaper, B. had better beer, C. had Hookah water pipes. Some of the guys were very keen to have a long relaxing smoke. But not me.

We then decided we needed to eat. We followed one guy who knew of a great place. He was 100% spot on, great food at an affordable price and people who just smiled and smiled.  We asked our waitress who calmly informed us that Aarhus is known in Denmark as the “City of Smiles”.  Looking around the room that was confirmed.

Today I’m loving…

Affirming the myth that executives from Google really do have 3 credit cards:

1. Is for travel expenses
2. Is for accommodation and meals
3. Is to buy startup companies.

Why write and develop code yourself when you can buy the whole deal with the clever guys who wrote it? Far more efficient. That’s the Google way.
(NOTE to self: start writing clever code to get rich)

earlier today, I really didn’t feel like I could write about yesterday…

Tuesday 16 Setember,

Firstly an apology for the first time in this trip I’m going to cover two days in one blog.

The conference yesterday was as good as Monday’s sessions and I took heaps of notes and even a few photo’s as although the curtains were still closed the lights were on and I could see the speakers and they could clearly see their audience.

Here you go:

 

Good looking bunch eh and very engaged, well no, not all the time.

So onto, Wednesday 17 September,

ECDL2008 closed today at lunchtime. So Birtz (the conference organiser) said some lovely closing remarks and handed over to the Greeks who are hosting ECDL2009 in Corfu.

The contrast was startling, from low-key professional, confident Danish to a full on advert from the Corfu tourist board full of Greek music, images of old Greek temples, old men, people relaxing in Cafe’s and views of the blue Mediterranean.  The next conference will be held not on a university campus, but in a hotel resort, complete with bars, swimming pools, tanning lotion, Ouzo and everything that is associated with Greek Island holidays.

After lunch I walked back into the hotel, got changed and went sightseeing. I didn’t find anything other than shops of basically three varieties, namely clothing, spectacles or shoes. That’s it, the people of Aarhus are clearly very focused when it comes to shopping.

Today I’m loving…
Eating in a cafe and meeting new people, Erik, the marine engineer who loves Hong Kong and Simon the waiter who’s sister has just come home from a year in Grafton, NSW and clearly loved it.

Oh, and by the way I had a really mean burger tonight, let down only by the absence of French Fries – they were all sold out.  But, this means I now have a reason to return.

Worshipping at the cathedral of learning…

Monday 15 September

What am I referring to?  Well, it’s the term used in the opening keynote to describe the large assembly hall at the University of Aarhus.  It was difficult taking photo’s that capture the scale of the hall, but here they are:

See what I mean?  Anyway, the day was nice with a lot of good presentations and lot’s of stuff to think about. Many of the sessions were held in rooms with the lights out and the curtains pulled so that we could see the PowerPoint presentations.  It was tricky taking notes in the semi dark.  But, I was able to observe just what most delegates do when they have a laptop at the conference.  It may surprise you to learn that note taking is not popular.  Emails are very popular, so is Googling and reading online newspapers. However, I can report I did see one person preparing their presentation.

The organisers are very friendly and helpful and naturally being Danish speak impeccable English.  It was nice to get a copy of the papers printed and bound (see below) in the delegates pack.

Someone at the university has a nice sense of humour, I found this water feature on an outside patio terrace.

They also produce a nice line in university t-shirts.

Now for Angela here are the now obligatory hotel room photo’s

I think the last pic is explaining about the hotel features? Anyhow it’s regular Ikea land here in patriotic red and white.

Today I’m loving…
No air conditioning in the bedroom and having windows that open to let in the fresh air. Back to long  good sleeps.

By taxi, coach, plane, train and taxi…

Sunday 14 September

That’s what it takes to get from one conference (Oxford) to my next conference ECDL2008, Aarhus, Denmark.

We woke at 6.30 showered and lugged our suitcases downstairs to wait for the taxi. There was no time for breakfast as is was not served until 7.30AM, the time our taxi arrived.

We were quickly transported to the coach station. So quickly in fact, we were in time for the early coach.  The driver kindly loaded our suitcases and we climbed on board to join the other 3 passengers.  Next thing, he was unloading our suitcases. Oops, we were not allowed to travel.
Why? well the rule is – the bus company will take you either on your pre-booked coach or a later one. But never, never on an earlier one. Go figure?

Never mind, that gave us time to grab a quick coffee. When we arrived at Heathrow Terminal 5,  I waved goodbye to Pauline and set off to check in.  Thanks to modern electronic systems I was able to check in at a touch screen terminal which printed my boarding card and the screen told me to check in my bag. So, off I went, handed over my passport and boarding card.
Too early, I was told come back in 20min.  So, I found a seat and wrote yesterday’s blog.

Finally, my bag was checked in and off to security to get undressed and put everything into separate trays. I needed 5, some people had seven or eight. It’s no surprise the line moves slowly.

Terminal 5 is a total retail experience.  Travellers are now expected to spend, spend, spend before they fly anywhere. I’d love to know how the total spent on any day.  I bet it’s far more than I am willing to guess.

Flight BA816 departed on-time and arrived on-time, well done BA. Low marks for the Copenhagen baggage handlers who changed their minds twice about what belt our cases were coming out of and it taking nearly 40min before I collected my suitcase.

Never mind, I was here and still in time to collect and pay for my train reservation.  I could pay using my corporate credit card, but only if I had a PIN code.  Westpac haven’t issued PIN numbers so I had to use my own AMEX card.  I was told in Europe they’re phasing out using signatures, I gather Denmark, Finland and Sweden are the first countries to start to change.

My train came and I boarded wagon 51 and found my seat 31.
I enjoyed a nice  and informative conversation with a Danish electrical engineer who had been in Australia ten days ago and had just come from India. Next Tuesday he’s flying back to India for 1 day, can you imagine doing that? The journey was uneventful and we arrived on schedule.

I found a taxi who took me to the Scandic Hotel, who said the conference organisers had made a mistake and I was really booked at the Scandic Plaza, a one minute walk from the train station. Another taxi trip and I fell into bed.

It had taken 15 hours to travel approximately the same distance as Melbourne to Brisbane.

Today I’m loving…
Talking and laughing over lunch with Matthias from ESCIdoc and some German colleagues  who are attending ECDL2008.  Matthias is still eating like a champion but is as skinny as a rake.  I am so jealous.

Katie, these are specially for you from Aarhus.

 

Happy hours in Oxford…

Saturday 13 September

We skipped breakfast this morning and headed straight into town for my final morning at the conference.  Near to the main venue there was a deli that made good coffee and sold even better croissants.

I left Pauline and headed to the lecture theatre for the last time.  I was not surprised that most delegates had left Oxford or were giving this last morning a miss.  However, the mighty Australian contingent of four doggedly stuck it out ’til the end.

Whilst we were receiving pearls of wisdom, – Pauline was off booking a tour of the colleges and my place on a tour of the Bodleian Library.  Below are images of the library found on the web.

  

End of conference

When the conference finished finished we met up and went back to the hotel to pack and have a quick lunch. before returning to the city centre for our tours.

Pauline had a great time and here are some photo’s snapped along the way.  Trevor, We’ll need your help to identify the various colleges and churches. So please have your answers ready.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Some of the above places were used when filming Harry Potter films. So, extra marks for correct identification of those locations.

Cotwolds

On Friday 12th Pauline went on a day tour of the Cotswolds and here are some of her photos.

 

Today I’m loving…
Finding self service supermarket checkouts, complete with touch screen, laser bar code scanner and credit card slot.  Naomi, this next photo is especially for you.  You would have loved it.

Many papers, many presenters…

Friday 12 September

Wow, they really pack in many presentations here at Oxford. Today in one workshop, presenters only had 7 min to say their piece.  In the last day and a half I’ve seen and heard many papers. It’s becoming a bit of a blur.

Here’s some of the presenters, do you recognise anyone?

  

  

 

The good thing is I got a lot of insights into what’s going on here and in Europe, and what we need to consider for the future.

Today I’m loving…
Another fabulous dinner and a rarity – wonderful professional, friendly service. Well done GEES,  5 stars from me. 

Who’s who?…

Here is the cast list:

1. dad = David = my boss
2. My Dad = My real father, not dad who is David, my boss
3. Paul = Paul from Monash
4. Pauline (aka Paul) = My wife and not Paul, from Monash to whom I am not married even though Pauline likes him.  Ohh, she also thinks dad is quite handsome

There, that’s everything clear now I hope.

Oxford’s Faulty Towers…

Wednesday 10 September

Today we were up, breakfasted and at Edinburgh Airport before dad had eaten his breakfast. For once British Airways not only departed on time but managed to fly us both to Heathrow Terminal 5 with our luggage, fantastic.

Here is Pauline in front of the dancing waters:

We rocked up for our coach trip to Oxford we were 40 minutes ahead of schedule, but despite having a booked seat on the 11:40 service, the 11:00 coach driver refused to take us.  Not because the coach was full (it only had two people on it), but because we were early and therefore not on his list of passengers.  He helpfully explained that if we had been late and missed our booked service then that would been okay, then he could have allowed us on board. I give up.

Anyway we’re staying at the Parklands Hotel it’s 4 star and we are in one of the
B I G  bedrooms, here it is…

 

Now this is what I call s p a c i o u s. But wait it get’s better.

At breakfast  we studied the menu which lovingly described the eggs and bacon rashers (note the plural).  So, I asked for poached eggs on toast with bacon (again note the plural).  Parklands, clearly does not understand plural tense.  I got one poached egg and one rasher of bacon.  This was after a bad nights rest trying to sleep on a double bed mattress that was  on top of two single bed bases which were both: (a) longer than the mattress and (b) of different heights.  The end result was I kept rolling downhill into Pauline who clung onto the lower side, else she fell out.  Paul who is also staying at Parklands had a blocked toilet!

Today I’m loving…
Eating two entree’s at Browns which were stunning in their simplicity, taste and freshness.  Then finishing off the night at the Eagle and Child with a brilliant pint of Brakspear

At the end of a long day, you can’t beat a great burger…

Tuesday 9 September

Day one of All Hands 2008.

It was long day,  lots of 15 min sessions and 2 seminars.  This conference really knew how to pack in the speakers.

We split up to cover as many sessions as possible  and then compared notes.

Her’s some images from the conference.

 

 

It was well attended and the old buildings of Edinburgh University are lovely.

Here’s a sample:

  Department of Philosophy

Some small faculty offices, note the cobbled street

The student union building

Decorative lamp posts.

The one in the background on the carved stone plinth is wonderful.

Today I’m loving…
Pauline and I took Dad and Paul to Bells Diner in Stock Bridge for sensational burgers. They’re as good today as they were 15 years ago.  5 Guys now has some serious competition.