OpenStreetMap lecture

April 23rd, 2007

I’ve mentioned OpenStreetMap before on this site so I’d thought I’d plug a BCS Hants lecture this Thursday on the subject. It’s a shame I won’t be able to make it.

Vegas (again)

April 22nd, 2007

I followed in Andy’s footsteps today, getting the 10 hour flight from Gatwick to Las Vegas for the annual IBM WebSphere Software Service gathering. With only just over 3 weeks until B-day I’m trying to minimise my time out of the country but it means I don’t have much time to recover from the flight before launching in to the technical sessions tomorrow morning. The buffet dinner this evening was a good chance to catch up with some of my colleagues from around Europe and further afield that I have worked with over the past year.

We’ve all been to the zoo

April 21st, 2007

330Today was the latest outing of the Hursley Photo Club. Courtesy of Helena, we all had cheap tickets for Marwell Zoo. Helena was also able to give some excellent advice on where to find the photogenic animals. As I’m about to disappear off for the next week, I was feeling a bit guilty at abandoning Christine again so didn’t stay too long but was pleased to have a great opportunity to give my new telephoto a good workout. The photos need some weeding out which will have to wait until I have a spare moment next week so I’ll post again when I’m done.

Persian dining in Düsseldorf

April 20th, 2007

I’ve spent the last two day’s in the German city of Düsseldorf. Sadly I didn’t see much more of the city than the view through the window of the taxi going to and from the airport. We did, however, eat out at a very nice Persian restaurant in the city centre on Thursday night. Of the four of us, I was the odd one out when it came to deciphering the menu. Two of my companions were native German speakers and the third, an American, could read pharsee. As well as being able to give excellent advice on menu choices, I’m sure his banter with the waitress also helped with the service.

Baby first aid

April 19th, 2007

Sadly I had to miss the first RR10 of the season but it was in a good cause: baby first aid. Just over an hour’s worth from the Red Cross covering CPR, the recovery position and, particularly important for babies, choking. Let’s just hope we never have to put it in to use!

Picking locks

April 18th, 2007

Generally I’m wary of Googling for search terms that are on the borders of legality but today I found myself entering the words “kensington lock paper clip”. I arrived in the office yesterday and discovered that my lock was mysteriously open but without the key in it and when it’s open you can’t get the key in. Anyway, I used a bit of coffee cup and sticky tape rather than the suggested loo roll and gaffer tape but it still did the trick in just a matter of seconds. (And yes, it did work equally well unlocking it once locked.) Now I just have to decide whether it’s worth ever using the lock again!

Great Tits

April 16th, 2007

327A title like that should bring in a good flood of spam! Anyway, I was working at home today as I often do to avoid the distractions of the office when out of the corner of my eye I spied a Great Tit perched on what passes for a tree in our front garden. With the window already wide open and my camera sat beside me with telephoto lens already attached I couldn’t resist the temptation. Sadly it wasn’t particularly obliging before flitting off in to the distance. However, when it opened its tiny beak the deafening call that rang out confirmed that this is the b*rd that wakes me up each morning!

Hillier Gardens membership

April 16th, 2007

324We made the most of the sunshine yesterday and headed over to Hillier Gardens near Romsey. By way of an early birthday present, Christine bought us joint membership for a year on the basis that the gardens will be an ideal place for wandering around with a pram. Actually, at £47.50, joint membership is a bargain given that admission is normally £7.50 and, in addition to free access for the year, you also get six vouchers to get friends and family in for free. On top of that, you also get free admission to Kew Gardens so I reckon my paternity leave may include a trip to London. The trip was also an excuse to take my new glass out for a play. With stunning displays everywhere you looked the telephoto didn’t see much action but the 50mm prime is great for shots in shady spots not to mention the speed to stop bees in flight. There are a few more pictures over on Flickr.