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Andrew's diary

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Thursday, 30 September 2004

A rushed day: had to pick the car up from the garage (can't go to a funeral with a dent in it); go over the affect of the news/Slashdot coverage on the patents (with Megan saying "I told you so"... <sigh />); then rushed home to speak to the New York Times in one of several one-on-one interviews.

Then left for Folkestone and Jack's funeral tomorrow. Went straight to Brenda and John's as they were doing a buffet type thing which was nice to have much of the family together.


Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Megan back at work after her holiday.

Tuesday, 28 September 2004

The lawyers seem to be a little itchy over the press coverage and it's potential affect on the patents. Megan's back tomorrow and she can say "I told you so".

Saturday, 25 September 2004

Mum and Dad popped in after taking Robert to Reading University for an open day. Chinese banquet for dinner.

Decided that PalmOS is too limited after EPOC and have come to the conclusion I should sell my Sony Clié (the PEG-UX50) and use the Series 7 more, potentially upgrading it to a netBook for extra RAM/speed.


Friday, 24 September 2004

BBC Online's got the Peridot story - now the world knows that IBM can fix broken links. I anonymously submitted it to Slashdot, but they got it anyway: from someone else!. Typical levels of Slashdot comments ranging from "it's trivial" to "it's impossible" - which suggests the truth is somewhere in the middle (which of course it is). There were, however, some insightful comments: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The above #4 suggests that dwerg was at the Expo in Amsterdam last week - Babelfish translating his web site isn't very helpful, however.


Thursday, 23 September 2004

Back to work; stuff about Peridot in the news and I'm talking to the New Scientist tomorrow.

Got a phone call from Allen in the evening: I'm wanted in the funeral procession (the five grandsons + 2 grandson-in-laws will carry/lead the coffin between them).


Wednesday, 22 September 2004

Went to the undertakers so that Allen could ask questions about procedures etc. and then back to Brenda & John's so it could be relayed.

Got home.


Tuesday, 21 September 2004

Got up early to head down to Folkestone. Mel spent most of the day sorting stuff out with Kelly and Mark, whilst I answered the phone and tried to do bits and bobs of work.

By mid-afternoon, I was stupidly exhausted though and falling asleep.

Allen and co got an earlier ferry than planned and was home in the early hours of the morning - we all went to bed and got back up, rather than staying awake.


Monday, 20 September 2004

Back to work: mostly caught up with email all day; a lot related to Extreme Blue and the newly filed invention disclosures.

Back at home and we're both still tired and so went to bed early. Unfortunately we were woken by the phone, and given the bad news we were waiting for: Mel's grandad passed away.


Sunday, 19 September 2004

Up ridiculously early (especially after last night) to head off to Oosterbeck for a memorial ceremony. Unfortunately as we got there we got a phone call telling us to get to the hospital quickly.

Raced up the motorway (fortunately no policemen or speed cameras about) and to the hospital. I looked after the kids (building bricks with Sam and Jack and paper planes with Aiden), whilst Mel went upstairs with Kelly etc.

Unfortunately we had to leave about 1pm to get travelling towards Dunkirk for the return ferry. Mel got very upset saying goodbye to her grandad and it affected me as well.

Got to Dunkirk in just enough time (after about four and a half hours driving); Malcolm, Simon, Nick, Chris and Aiden arrived with even less time to spare. Meal on the boat followed by a couple of games of cards to pass the time.

David drove back from Folkestone as I was shattered by this point.


Saturday, 18 September 2004

Up relatively early to get out for the parachute drop at Ginkle Heath. We got there and it was a madhouse: people, cars and military vehicles everywhere. Abandoned the cars on a verge and walked a good few miles to the heath itself. Met Pieter and Ilsa - Dutch friends of Jack's - who were really nice.

Squeezed on to a bus for the journey back to the car (with David and I shepherding them). Mel, Mark, Pieter and Ilsa walked (with the boys) as there was no way we were going to get the pushchair on.

We drove - in convoy - towards a war cemetery, unfortunately there was some form of argument between two of the cars about where the cemetery was and Mark and Kelly sped off. The rest of us carried on to where it should've been when we got a phone call saying that Jack had had a bad night and so we met back up, had some food and then raced back to the hospital in Appledoorn.

He didn't look well but was putting on a brave face. Everybody was pretty tired by this point, but Mark, Kelly and the boys; Pieter and Ilsa; and David, Mel and I went out for dinner which was nice. Kids are so bloody noisy though.

Went back to the chalet for some cheese and wine and a few games of Burnout 3 on Mark's PS2 :-)


Friday, 17 September 2004

Managed to speak to David and Mel and, after the final day of the expo, got into Arnhem station shortly after 7pm. Caught the end of the memorial service David and Mel were at and met up with them afterwards. Then went out to a pub in Oosterbeck which was full of paras and people having a good time - as well as decent food and beer and a 40s style big band.

Back to the chalet and it was clear that people were on edge - with Mel and David having to babysit Jack until 2am; felt guilty about crashing into bed, but was absolutely exhausted.

The expo went well with both the BBC interview and press presentations going very well. James excelled :-)


Thursday, 16 September 2004

Up early to head off to the conference centre; however whilst waiting for the bus I got a phone call from Mel: her grandad wasn't well and had been taken in to hospital. Later on, she rang to say that she and David were heading down to Dover now to catch an earlier ferry.

Unfortunately this put a cloud over the rest of my day, although the meal on the boat around Amsterdam harbour was good - getting a chance to socialise with (mainly) some of the German and Irish teams.

Back at the hotel, had a stiff whiskey before going to bed - knowing Mel'll want to talk to me, but not being able to get through due to stupid mobile phone credits. Vodafone's lack of a pay-what-you-use, like Three or Virgin Mobile, is very inconvenient.


Wednesday, 15 September 2004

Up early and then sitting around watch things like Bewitched, waiting for Iain to arrive and whisk me to Gatwick.

Through the grotty little north terminal and on to our dinky little plane; felt like by the time we were airborne we were back on the(very flat) ground. Fun-filled time getting everyone from the airport to the hotel - several of us have taxi rides between €29 and €50 to claim back. More fun ensued at the hotel, when they claimed we hadn't paid yet, but Gill said we had. A few frantic phone calls to the UK-based booking agent seemed to eventually sort it out.

Had a few minutes spare in my room to settle in (Adrian, my roommate was arriving later) before I headed down to the bar to read the paper and wait for everyone else. Barman was friendly (well, he gave me Leffe - what do you expect?) and told me the Dutch for "please" and "thank you".

Got the bus to the conference centre and got set up. James and I had a press briefing so missed going out with everyone, but found a small bar ourselves doing beer (mmm) and delicious burgers - unfortunately the choice at 8pm in Amstelveen seemed somewhat limited. Afterwards heading back to the centre for Philipp and Ben's run through, which was OK - but could've been better.

Back to the hotel for a few more drinks :-)


Monday, 13 September 2004

The Google AdSense trial on some of the TV pages seems to have been a success: in two weeks, I've made a shade over $18. Of course, they only send you a US cheque when you get to $100. Worth having, although it's not exactly something to retire on :-)

Friday, 10 September 2004

The carpet fitter hadn't arrived by 11am, despite us being the first call of his day. The warning about him "not being an early bird", delayed the inevitable ranting phone call. Ten minutes of the phone ringing got us told that he'd picked up the carpet and would be with us shortly. Twenty minutes later: "he's still not there?". Apparently there was a "mix-up" and he went to the wrong job first, he'll be with us "in about 45 minutes". Of course, that meant over an hour and a half...

By the time they did arrive, it only took them 20 minutes, so we raced up to Cov to get my parents' anniversary present (Arts Centre gift vouchers) and see if they had any tickets left for Lenny Henry (unfortunately none together).

Nice meal at Mum & Dad's: beef stroganof, mmmm :-)


Thursday, 09 September 2004

Feeling like things on the transition plan are spiraling out of control in too many directions - a fork of the codebase at this early a stage, with so many things left to do could be disastrous. It also seems that Megan (as a 100% mentor, this is understandable) is driving the different threads which may make it difficult to leverage (eugh) this to the immediate benefit of my career.

After work got some bad news on Malcolm & Carol's pregnancy :-(


Wednesday, 08 September 2004

Several defects fixed and then an impromptu barbecue for the Extreme Blue team, and Dave and Linda. Was good fun, if a little hectic getting it sorted :-)

In other good news, not only have I got an official invite to the expo next week now, but my manager agreed I could go. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Phrase of the day: "It's none of my business". Lather, rinse and repeat. Always repeat.


Tuesday, 07 September 2004

Did very little actual work until I got home, and then rushed through about three days worth of work in 20 minutes before dinner. Why our builds start at 8pm, I'll never know - putting them later when there's absolutely no chance of wanting to still be modifying files seems much more sensible to me.

Sunday, 05 September 2004

Typed up an incredibly pretentious, pompous, self-involved, rambling, diatribe in yesterday's diary. I'm either turning into a newspaper columnist (oh God, please not the Daily Mail), or a "real" diarist (oh God, please not a blogger).

Is there anything ruder than saying hello to someone via an instant message and getting in response:

$"FRIEND" has closed the conversation window.

Saturday, 04 September 2004

The Russian siege is over and the death toll is rising. The media, inviting people to "text in" with their thoughts are wailing at the "evil inhuman monsters". Regardless of whether or not such public emotional masturbation is public service broadcasting at its best, the dehumanising of the terrorists involved only gives weight to their cause and emphasises the widening gap in understanding which pours fuel on the fires of hate and mis-trust.

Coincidentally, there was also a column in today's paper talking about how a new film detailing the final hours of Hitler's life has been decried by the Daily Mail as "Germany finally forgiving Hitler". However, if we don't understand how people like Hitler, the 9/11 hijackers and the Beslan terrorists came to do the terrible things they did, how can we ever stop it happening again? Understanding them does not explain them, or even forgive them, but does help history to not repeat itself.

This is why programmes like this week's Hamburg Cell should be applauded (assuming they actually achieve what they set out to - I haven't seen it yet) and also why we should aim to understand what drove tens of people to become hostage-taking terrorists. Think about it: what are the chances of 50 psychopaths all believing in the same cause enough to hold hostage over a thousand people hostage and be willing to kill themselves if necessary? Desperate times call for desperate measures - and we don't have to accept, let alone condone, those measures to recognise that something drove these people to desperation. The only hope is that out of tragedy can come understanding, and then a plan on how to solve the root problem.


Friday, 03 September 2004

Migraine all day, so missed Megan's birthday party at the students' halls.

Thursday, 02 September 2004

In a miserable mood all day, mostly due to neck pain back again. However, did get an interesting phone call from someone claiming to be a headhunter for an investment bank. He wanted to call me back at home, but never did. He says he got my name from someone at IBM he's been working with, but wouldn't give me their name. Some Googling on his name suggested he may be from a recruitment agency - would have been interesting to see how he answered some in-depth questions.

It's also nice to feel special after a day of seeing how many mediocre people are recognised as PTLs (lots of very good people as well, though). Would I go to a highly paid job in London? Perhaps, but that's not the point.


Wednesday, 01 September 2004

Hectic day at work, fortunately Andrew is back and could review the fixes I'd made over the last week on his code.

Google AdSense on the TV pages seems to return vaguely sensible results. Now will wait to see what, if any, money it will bring in and how the users will react.

Saw Chronicles of Riddick after work: not as good as Pitch Black, but - as a standalone film - not entirely bad. Heavily influenced by Dune, but I don't think it's going to dislodge any of the top 100 sci-fi films from their hard-won places of glory, though.


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