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.

Golden Jubilee party

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We completed the Jubilee party. Clay shooting, Aunt Sally, Welly Wanging, Quiz, Boules, Tug of war over the brook and evening meal in the pub.

It was quite a sucess, I reckon every one enjoyed themselves. We won the tug of war over the brook, beating the neigbouring village. 

Up until the boules, Barrie and Barbara were winning the competition, the boules knockout was won by Mark and Stuart from crossways. They were duly elected Mayor and Mayoress of Kingswood.

Pictures and results will eventually be posted on this website in a couple of weeks or so.

The Ozzfest 2002 Donington Park

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Today I went to the Ozzfest at Donington Park. The drive up there was very easy and I parked just outside gate 12. Met up with Selina in the queue for the beer tent. Met some of her mates from the Liverpool University Rock Society. They had all come on a coach which had just arrived minutes before I arrived.

There were two stages, the main stage outside, and the Kerrang stage inside. I did not visit the Kerrang stage. The list of bands that played on the main stage were:

Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society I have never heard of them, I was quite impressed and will look out for their music.

Drowning Pool

Mad Capsule Markets Japanese band. Just my type of music

lostprophets Umm

Millencolin Umm

Slayer OK

Cradle of Filth Selina has some CD by them. I did enjoy the show. I really liked the tee shirt they had on sale, wish I had taken some extra cash. Not sure when I could have worn it though.

System of a Down Selina has a CD by them, I was not very impressed.

Tool Another band I really enjoyed. On my buy list now.

Ozzy Osbourne I am afraid I did not stay long watching Ozzy. I have seen him before, I was cold and wet and wanted to miss the queues going home. I do though sometimes feel he has some good songs from the early 70’s, but he is getting a bit past his well by date.

The weather was a bit of a let down, one time it really pelted down, with rain and hail. I was stuck at the front and was unable to find room in the crush to put on my waterproof. Took quite a while to dry out. Other times I was a little more successful. I also did not like the way a whole area was cordoned of at the front of the stage allowing a few thousand access to the front, while the rest of us plebes were kept a long way back. I did feel this destroyed the atmosphere, as there was not a really good mosh pit.
Why do the young kids pick on me to give them a leg up so they can crowd surf?

Clay Shooting

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A quick 45 minutes clay shoot at Pete Sherriff’s mini sporting layout. What an absolute diasater, I kept missing or my shells were lead less. At least the rain held off. 

Bit worried about Saturday when I go to Donnington Park for the Ozzfest. Why was the MTV series, the Osbournes delayed by one week last Sunday, I was looking forward to watching it.

I have started doing the web site for the beating the boundaries, should have it loaded on the web sometime next week.

Le Weekend

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This weekend started with rain on Saturday, and sunshine on Sunday. The wind was too strong for paragliding, so we stayed home.

On the Saturday we went out in the evening with the neighbours to the Seven Stars pub for an evening meal. Good pub grub.

On Sunday I worked in the garden, cut the grass, staked the trees and generally did a tidy up.