July, 2008
by Ken Williams, Rick Ralston
We like to look after our American guest speakers at UKCMG. They are really welcome and we appreciate them coming over all this way to talk about new ideas and new techniques. In the past I have taken visitors around Stonehenge and Avebury stone circle, to show them what something really old looks like. After all, the difference between an American and a European is that to an European, 100 miles is a long distance; to an American, 100 years is a long time.
So I went to Gatwick airport on the Sunday morning before the conference to pick up Rick (Ralston), who was going to talk about publishing SAS graphs on the web, and his techniques for using ODS to send them out to the web.
The first problem was the early start, as he was due to arrive at 8 am, so a 60 mile trek each way to the airport could take some time if the roads were slow. They weren't slow, and the plane arrived early, and Rick appeared eventually after having been given a good introduction to the British queuing systems in Passport Control.
So we set off and got home, where Rick discovered that I was no good at cooking bacon and eggs for breakfast (he's just a good as I am). The only trouble was that I had to do some tidying up in the garden before I left for the conference, so I got out the lawnmower, and the next thing I knew Rick was busy mowing the lawn while I potted the tomatoes. Not quite what was expected for an American guest, but never mind (he did a really good job - can I hire him out?). Anyway, he got a chance to wander around our local town, which has some nice old architecture, including the old coaching inn that was used for "Four weddings and a funeral".
Here's my side of this story, Ken said he had some gardening to do. While we were going to his house, he talked about planting tomatoes. I could sit around the house or I could help him (after all he picked me up at the airport). I assumed we would be planting tomatoes or other garden vegetables. Anyway, after breakfast, we go in into his back yard, he gets out the lawnmower and shows me how to start it. I can say that British lawnmowers push on the same side of the grass as their American counterparts. For the entire UKCMG, I told everyone that Ken picks you up at the airport and makes you mow the lawn. LOL!
I did have a good time walking around town. It is a quaint English village.
Eventually we left and had a pleasant hours drive up to Northamptonshire, where the conference was to be held, driving along the back streets past pretty thatched cottages and views of the green English countryside in spring. When I was driving up a very narrow country lane, with only room for one car, I was asked "what happens when you meet someone coming the other way?". He soon discovered- one of you backs up, until you find a suitable passing place.
I half expected to see Steed drive by in his Bentley.
The conference was excellent. I had the chance to attend Peg McMahon's session and others. There were 2 great sessions on the early days/creation of ITIL. I actually learned a few tips that I was able to use when I got back to Louisville. A couple of friends from Australia were there and we had a chance to catch up and a promise to go bicycling next time I'm in Australia. The evening festivities were fun and provided great opportunities to make new friends.
On the way back there were a number of people who needed to get to Heathrow to fly to CMG Italia in Milano, which was to be held on the Thursday following UKCMG. Glen Anderson and Michael Salzburg were due to present at CMG Italia, having already presented papers at UKCMG, and Danilo , the CMG Italia president, had attended UKCMG . So we needed to get to Heathrow fairly soon after the end of the conference. Now I know what it is like to sit in a car going fast down the wrong side of the road in Europe (ever tried a Turkish taxi driver in Germany on the Autobahn?), as I do it all the time, but it is not normal for Americans to experience driving on the left, so I felt that there were a certain number of people pressing hard on non-existent brake pedals as I drove down the motorway. Anyway we arrived safely at nearly the right Heathrow terminal ( it has recently been renamed Deathrow by some wag) . (choice of 5 terminals? I had a 20% chance of being right!) and the speakers arrived safely at CMG Italia.
As for me, I was taken to High Wickham where I caught a train to London. I ate dinner Wednesday night in a pub full of Chelsea fans. After a long game, Chelsea lost to Manchester United. I'm still bummed out, like my friends from the pub.
So any CMG members bearing interesting papers will be welcomed next year - May, Northampton, next to Silverstone racing circuit. Any volunteers?