More Meetings and Science Fiction Frenzy

Today was the second and final time at the Microsoft campus.  More presentations and more good stuff. I took a trip over the the legendary Microsoft Company store which was wonderful. Halo Wars on day of release at 25 dollars? I should think so. Of course I had resolved not to spend much money. Of course I failed.

In the evening it was time for the summit party, which was held at the “Experience Music Project” at the base of the Space Needle. They had Rock Band, karaoke with a live backing group and huge amounts of food and drink.

It was a bit like our Christmas Bash, only slightly bigger.

The venue is also host to a great science fiction museum, with books, props, sets and robots to look at. Great stuff.

This guy was working the lights on the video wall behind the stage. What a cool job.

Meeting the Mobile Team

Today we got all got on busses bright and early and headed off to the Microsoft campus at Redmond. It was quite a nice morning, and on the way we saw a rainbow which seemed to have its roots in the middle of Microsoft, which I thought was interesting. Unfortunately by the time I got my camera out we had driven past it.

The rainbow is about 20 feet to the right of this picture.

We had a bunch of presentations from product team members. I hope they found our comments useful. After that it was time for more mingling, and then a bus back to the hotel.

I remembered my camera this time.

And So to Seattle

The MVP Summit is next week in Seattle, and lucky old me is going, which is nice. Set off today from Humberside, my favourite airport.

We had a very smooth journey, and I took a few quick pictures on the way.

Obligatory Taxi Shot

Night Traffic. (I just wish the hotel windows were a bit cleaner)

Doncaster Meeting and Programming Puzzle

Went to Doncaster for an exam board today.

The meeting room had this very impressive chandelier, which lent a lot to the proceedings.

Spent some time chatting with Colin, the external examiner, about programming matters. We were talking about good practices, properties and get/set methods and the like, and a question occurred.

“Why do some types in C# have a Length property (for example String and Array) whereas others have a Count method (for example List)? Both of them do the same thing, so it seems to be silly to have different names for them.”

Colin and I think we know the answer. But do you?

Open Day

We had our first Saturday Open Day of the season today. Had a great bunch of people to see us (I always say they are great if they laugh at one of my jokes).

Here they are, looking quite happy – although I hadn’t told the joke yet…

As usual, we gave away a PSP to one lucky winner.

Mike did the honours this time.

Having Fun By Degrees

Did my one and only degree warmup of this round of ceremonies today. It was for the students from our faculty, which meant that there were people in the audience who I had actually taught something. Perhaps. Everyone played their parts very well and it was a terrific ceremony. I took the camera along, of course.

Artistic shot of one of the maces

Hon. Grad Sir Andrew Clark, Master of the Rolls, giving his speech (very good one by the way).

Looking Left

Looking Right

I took the pictures at the end of the ceremony when everyone is relaxed, including me. My little camera did quite a good job with the shots.If you want to see a much bigger versions (where you can pretty much recognise everyone) click on the images above and follow the links to the versions on my Flickr account. Then click on the (+ All Sizes) button at the top so you can play “Where’s Wally (or Waldo)” properly.

Pictures from Portugal

I’ve noticed that one way to get really good photographs is to go to nice places and take pictures of them. I’ve lost count of the number of lovely shots I’ve seen in photo books with captions like “The Rice Fields on the mountains of Jokarta look lovely just after dawn”. In this respect, Portugal is a definite win. It has this fantastic light.

Cranes on the skyline

The way into the hotel. Pity the fountains were turned off, but you can’t have everything.

The venue this year was the Instituto Superior Tecnico at Taguspark, right opposite the Microsoft Portugal offices.  I like doing sessions in Portugal. I always get a great audience. The session was all about the .NET Micro Framework, and how you can take over the world using it.

I said I’d put a picture of you all up after the session. Here you all are.

Playing with the toys afterwards…

Now, that’s some kind of font…

Outside the building.

I got back last night and staggered into bed. I’d been away just about 24 hours or so and spent 8 of those in the air. But it was all great fun. Thanks to Microsoft Portugal for setting it up.

I’ll be putting the sample code and the presentation up on my blog tonight.

First Open Day

We had our first Open Day of the season today. We had a good turnout and I managed to get through my part of the proceedings without actually falling over, which is always good. And of course we gave away a prize.

Head of department Warren (on the right) hands out the PSP 300 to Francis.

If you came along to see us, thank you, I hope you found the visit worthwhile.

University Union

Our union building has these fancy lights on the front that change colour. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of them from the car park tonight.

More Hull Pictures

I’m getting quite into this photography business now. It kind of annoys the person who is with me when we go out, because I keep stopping and taking photographs.

At Hull we have fishes in the pavement.

Hull Museums Quarter

For no particular reason we went for a walk around Hull Museums Quarter today. Makes a change from buying stuff up town, and I had a camera I wanted to play with. If you live in Hull and you haven’t been down there for a look round, shame on you. I’ve always liked looking around these places, and there are some quite nice bits and bobs in the Transport museum

It might have had “One Careful Owner”, but what about all the other ones?

I’ll have the oats please…

What a Way to Start the Semester

The car park, on arrival today

Lifesaver

Went to York today and took some photos.

This is my new desktop background.

Remembered the Camera

I remembered the camera this time.  The light wasn't quite as good, but I still managed one shot worth bothering with.

Hull Marina

Fun and Games

Name the game. And for a Christmas bonus, who's winning?

Good Weather for Pictures

The weather may be horrid cold and icy. But it does make for some nice pictures in the morning.

Hail the Duke

The Duke of Edinburgh came to see Hull today. Amongst other things he opened the new Enterprise Centre at the university, and unveiled a "virtual plaque". Paul Chapman from our department was on hand to give the Duke a briefing on our virtual research and the Venus project.

Paul and the Duke, looking cool. (Paul is the one on the right)

Happy Pigs

The closest we have to a family heirloom.

Full York

Did you go shopping in York today? You didn't? I'm surprised, because everybody else seemed to be there. I've never seen so many people in a city centre.  It was like being at a very crowded cocktail party, with no food or drink and freezing cold.  I was surprised to see so many out in the midst of the current credit-crunch but it was noticeable that only a few were actually carrying full shopping bags....

I took the little camera, and managed to take some happy snaps.

The Ouse, once the mist had cleared a bit

York Trees

Went to York today to see number one daughter. They have nice looking trees there.

York Trees