Another year gone by....
Category
Bookmark :
Yes, it's that time of year again when we all look back to see how far we've come (or not!) in the last 365 days. Actually, this is a little early as I usually post this on the flight to Lotusphere, being the actual anniversary and all. But with the projected 'no-gadgets' restriction, I'm going to err on the safe side. So, what happened in 2009?
Work
Work in 2009 was, well, pretty uneventful really. Of course there were some big announcements like Domino Designer becoming free, Notes 8.5 and 8.5.1 shipping. But on the general, day-to-day front, no major new exciting projects I can talk about, no ground breaking solutions delivered. Yet. On the flip side, if there were, then when would I have the time for all of this other stuff? Here's the alternate year in review:
UKLUG
UKLUG got big this year! With ILUG taking a breather, there was always the possibility that UKLUG was going to be very popular. We weren't wrong either! Not only did we break all attendance records, for the first time at any conference I've been to - everyone was there right until the end. We didn't have to re-draw a single raffle entry, which just amazed me. Of course, I have to again give a huge thanks to all the people involved with UKLUG, all the speakers and all the sponsors. Over the last couple of months I've been trying to explain the business model to other user groups and they are always amazed at just how much of peoples' time and money they are willing to donate. All I can do is to say 'thankyou' and try to make your time with us as easy as possible!
One of the downsides, to an extent, of UKLUG, is the sheer amount of time it takes out of my diary. Essentially, I'm now running a small company in my spare time. This isn't any sort of complaint as actually it's quite interesting. But evenings and weekends of a UKLUG year soon disappear. Paul will tell you the same about ILUG, I'm sure.
Of course a personal highlight of mine was introducing Bob Picciano. Though, as it turned out, even that was topped by his attendance all day and right into the evening. He did manage to miss the dancing though...
Brickish
Well, if I thought I could be a member of Brickish without getting too involved, I was obviously wrong there
In April, I was voted in as Chairman of the Brickish Association (our LEGO
club) and obviously I've been working on that ever since. Again actually,
the extra work has been very interesting and I've met alot of new people
from LEGO as part of it. One of the things that surprised me about the
position though, is the media's interest in LEGO. We probably get a press
enquiry every week or so - and another general enquiry just as often. So,
when I'm quoted in the newspaper, arrange exhibits for the Gadget Show,
film for the BBC (upcoming) etc, it's much less of a surprise than you'd
think. Still, very cool though 
LEGO
The other side to the BA is the amount of LEGO shows that Kitty and I have been to this past year. Each of these is a one or two day event where we display our models and talk to the public all day. Not unlike a trade show, except that people don't get sold to! We've exhibited in Manchester and Swindon, as well as spending a week in Denmark exhibiting, visiting the factory, even staying with LEGO set designers. All very cool and a gradual entry to a whole other world! I'm actually off to Copenhagen in February for another show too. I also blogged about the building of St Pancras (which probably got more traffic than anything else I've written!) which will also continue into 2010. Thankfully though, I should have a little longer to build the next phase of it before next year - because building that in only 8 weeks of evenings and weekends nearly did me in!
Moonwalk
This is one thing we certainly won't be repeating in 2010! In June, Kitty and I walked out the house in just tracksuit bottoms and bras, and proceeded to walk 26.2 miles overnight. Everyone here was amazingly generous and donated over £2000 to charity (there was a reason!), for which I'm very humbled and thankful. It is one hell of an event and I would honestly encourage anyone to try doing it, it really isn't that hard. I am keeping my finishing 'medal' and every time I see it, I'm still really proud of what we did. Just not again this year
Collaboration University
Another great couple of weeks went by in the summer at CU Chicago and London. Of course, to keep up the tradition, I was ill again - but all was presented well I hope. It is getting a little strange, being ill so many CU's on the trot. Thank god for good organisers who know I'm not taking the piss I guess! In fact..
Health
Really hasn't been so good this year. For the first time ever, I had to leave a customer site very quickly, and ended up in A&E. Thankfully all was well - false alarm - and I was very grateful for co-workers on that day. I even had to leave Kerrs' wedding early feeling pretty terrible. With all that, I've been to the doctors more this year than in the last 5 years. Apparently it's just bad luck - so here's hoping 2010 won't continue that trend! I have a quick appointment in early Feb, but after that, let's hope they forget my face again!
So, what's on for 2010? Well, the same resolution as 2009 - 'do less stuff' seems to be on the board. At one point this year - sometime around May - Kitty and I had every weekend accounted for until October. In fact at one point I was working away for a week, came home, flew to Chicago for CU Chicago, flew home, drove to London, did CU London, did a LEGO product development workshop, picked up Kitty, drove to Denmark for a show, drove to Billund, drove back to Swindon, did another show, drove home, waited one day then picked up Rob Novak to start UKLUG!! That's just not healthy I'm sure.
I have started to fly/train down to sites the night before, cutting back the 5:00am starts which does seem to help, and there is even the possibility of work in Scotland for once. So, hopefully that will all calm down in 2010. Not moonwalking - or training for weeks on end - will help that alot, as will moving a few things around in the diary. Looking back on my review from last year, the blogging record is still down, though tweets are up and the overal trend seems to be similar. it still doesn't feel like it's slowing though!
Bookmark :
Yes, it's that time of year again when we all look back to see how far we've come (or not!) in the last 365 days. Actually, this is a little early as I usually post this on the flight to Lotusphere, being the actual anniversary and all. But with the projected 'no-gadgets' restriction, I'm going to err on the safe side. So, what happened in 2009?
Work
Work in 2009 was, well, pretty uneventful really. Of course there were some big announcements like Domino Designer becoming free, Notes 8.5 and 8.5.1 shipping. But on the general, day-to-day front, no major new exciting projects I can talk about, no ground breaking solutions delivered. Yet. On the flip side, if there were, then when would I have the time for all of this other stuff? Here's the alternate year in review:
UKLUG
UKLUG got big this year! With ILUG taking a breather, there was always the possibility that UKLUG was going to be very popular. We weren't wrong either! Not only did we break all attendance records, for the first time at any conference I've been to - everyone was there right until the end. We didn't have to re-draw a single raffle entry, which just amazed me. Of course, I have to again give a huge thanks to all the people involved with UKLUG, all the speakers and all the sponsors. Over the last couple of months I've been trying to explain the business model to other user groups and they are always amazed at just how much of peoples' time and money they are willing to donate. All I can do is to say 'thankyou' and try to make your time with us as easy as possible!
One of the downsides, to an extent, of UKLUG, is the sheer amount of time it takes out of my diary. Essentially, I'm now running a small company in my spare time. This isn't any sort of complaint as actually it's quite interesting. But evenings and weekends of a UKLUG year soon disappear. Paul will tell you the same about ILUG, I'm sure.
Of course a personal highlight of mine was introducing Bob Picciano. Though, as it turned out, even that was topped by his attendance all day and right into the evening. He did manage to miss the dancing though...
Brickish
Well, if I thought I could be a member of Brickish without getting too involved, I was obviously wrong there
In April, I was voted in as Chairman of the Brickish Association (our LEGO
club) and obviously I've been working on that ever since. Again actually,
the extra work has been very interesting and I've met alot of new people
from LEGO as part of it. One of the things that surprised me about the
position though, is the media's interest in LEGO. We probably get a press
enquiry every week or so - and another general enquiry just as often. So,
when I'm quoted in the newspaper, arrange exhibits for the Gadget Show,
film for the BBC (upcoming) etc, it's much less of a surprise than you'd
think. Still, very cool though
LEGO
The other side to the BA is the amount of LEGO shows that Kitty and I have been to this past year. Each of these is a one or two day event where we display our models and talk to the public all day. Not unlike a trade show, except that people don't get sold to! We've exhibited in Manchester and Swindon, as well as spending a week in Denmark exhibiting, visiting the factory, even staying with LEGO set designers. All very cool and a gradual entry to a whole other world! I'm actually off to Copenhagen in February for another show too. I also blogged about the building of St Pancras (which probably got more traffic than anything else I've written!) which will also continue into 2010. Thankfully though, I should have a little longer to build the next phase of it before next year - because building that in only 8 weeks of evenings and weekends nearly did me in!
Moonwalk
This is one thing we certainly won't be repeating in 2010! In June, Kitty and I walked out the house in just tracksuit bottoms and bras, and proceeded to walk 26.2 miles overnight. Everyone here was amazingly generous and donated over £2000 to charity (there was a reason!), for which I'm very humbled and thankful. It is one hell of an event and I would honestly encourage anyone to try doing it, it really isn't that hard. I am keeping my finishing 'medal' and every time I see it, I'm still really proud of what we did. Just not again this year
Collaboration University
Another great couple of weeks went by in the summer at CU Chicago and London. Of course, to keep up the tradition, I was ill again - but all was presented well I hope. It is getting a little strange, being ill so many CU's on the trot. Thank god for good organisers who know I'm not taking the piss I guess! In fact..
Health
Really hasn't been so good this year. For the first time ever, I had to leave a customer site very quickly, and ended up in A&E. Thankfully all was well - false alarm - and I was very grateful for co-workers on that day. I even had to leave Kerrs' wedding early feeling pretty terrible. With all that, I've been to the doctors more this year than in the last 5 years. Apparently it's just bad luck - so here's hoping 2010 won't continue that trend! I have a quick appointment in early Feb, but after that, let's hope they forget my face again!
So, what's on for 2010? Well, the same resolution as 2009 - 'do less stuff' seems to be on the board. At one point this year - sometime around May - Kitty and I had every weekend accounted for until October. In fact at one point I was working away for a week, came home, flew to Chicago for CU Chicago, flew home, drove to London, did CU London, did a LEGO product development workshop, picked up Kitty, drove to Denmark for a show, drove to Billund, drove back to Swindon, did another show, drove home, waited one day then picked up Rob Novak to start UKLUG!! That's just not healthy I'm sure.
I have started to fly/train down to sites the night before, cutting back the 5:00am starts which does seem to help, and there is even the possibility of work in Scotland for once. So, hopefully that will all calm down in 2010. Not moonwalking - or training for weeks on end - will help that alot, as will moving a few things around in the diary. Looking back on my review from last year, the blogging record is still down, though tweets are up and the overal trend seems to be similar. it still doesn't feel like it's slowing though!
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