blads blog

After a fabulous 3 days of R&R in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada we've currently enjoying the hospitality of Mike & Melanie Perry (of TechTea & Mistreess of the Dorkness fame) in St Louis, Mo. Yesterday saw us at the wonderful St Louis zoo and later at the Schalfly boutique brewery... more to follow :)

some more images from last night & this morning...

Some more images of Niagara Falls - views from our Hotel room

Well I was hoping to post something earlier than this but the internet connection in New York City was appalling... however we (errr......) I managed to snagged approx 1400 photos of the big apple before heading towards the capital of New York state... Albany. :) On our last night in NYC, we managed to catch up with SSR friend, Freya and her daughter Vanessa and headed out to catch a live comedy show - it was great. Albany saw me with a thmpin' head-cold during the first half of the week but thankfully that disappeared just in time for the Big Day... Jen & Roy's wedding and it was absolutely fabulous... With Jen & Roy on their "honeymoon", Albany friends James & Kira showed us the sights around Saratoga Springs... With Father's Day in the US, we boarded the Amtrak train bound for Niagra Falls and upon reaching the border, the train was detained for over an hour or so whilst immigration searched the train... the "alleged felon" was lead away h...

Eek... where does the time go... in less than a week The Saint & I will be heading east ward once again to the US and our first stop... The Big Apple Look out NYC here we come :)

Well the BDA National Conference has been and gone and for most part it was an outstanding success, although the lack of images displayed on the night of the NDA was very disappointing - next time if given the opportunity, I'll run it as a PDF presentation... The only other bad thing about Canberra, is that I returned sicker than I went there with... :( Otherwise, golf day was great... a tad cool err cold and wet but a good afternoon was had by all... Friday morning saw us all up bright n' early for the BDA "Sight Visit" aka ballooning across the Canberra skyline, followed by Champagne before breakie - wow what a way to start the day... This years' conference sessions were of a "charrette" style, were we are placed into teams and work together to develop a presentation based on information given at the conference - an interesting concept, Friday was a little slow but Saturday improved immensely with an unique summation given by Tone Wheeler on the model...

Oh the shame of it all... I hadn't realized well I had but its been too long between ramblings... I can't believe how little spare time I've had this year... So what's happened between now and then, you ask Christmas o7, pretty uneventful lots of partying with friends, drinkies, etc January saw me still in Oz working February - woo hoo, back into the states again for AUGI; had a fabulous time at Lynne's "Super Bowl" party then back home for the Festival Fringe & the Clipsal 500... March - more work, BDA Golf Day and my team completing its 5th successful back-2-back NAGA's now its at the end of April, with me getting ready to attend the National BDA Conference & Design Awards in Canberra, our Nationa's capital. Before signing off this time round, looks like Winter is fast approaching downunder - it actually hailed last Sunday afternoon...

Woo Hoo... what a great early chrissie present I recieved earlier today... I received word that I've been elected back into the AUGI BoD for my second term. It'll be great to keep working with the old team and especially the two new BoD members, John Morgan and Larry Swinea.

Well its been 2 weeks since AU 2007 has finished and I was hoping to post something whilst there but the scottish blood in me didn't wish to pay $10/day for internet access... and besides there were enough bloggers about posting comments about AU... I do have some nice photos, so of which made into the AUGI CWC Calendar ... some didn't... and some couldn't... and some worth mentioning, namely... not the "best side" of the amazing "Stump the Experts MC, CADMama"; new AUGI BoD candidate, Larry Swinea; AUGI Top Daug finialists in action; the AUGI Past Presidents and even... Shaan Hurley with the Matt Murphy head

Here it is only 38 hours before I leave on another trip to the states, madly finishing off some lose ends for work and haven't even thought about packing... Looking forward to catching up with friends once again with an exciting week at Autodesk University, the AUGI AGM and beer bash... These last two years serving on the AUGI board of Directors has been a truly amazing experience and hoping I'll be once again priviledge to serve on the BoD again... Oh well better get these jobs finished so I can start packing! See you in Vegas

OK I'm back from my 3+ weeks of glorious holidays... Now, about our lovely holiday... three and a bit weeks spent with some wonderful friends... it couldn't have been more perfect. We had really great weather, even better food and some mighty fine whisky - both irish & scottish, and some amazingly fun conversations, particularly whilst driving in our rental car with bitchin' Betty (our GPS). First up was a brief stay in Singapore -a great city, fantastic food & exceptionally nice people, amazing buildinggs and a shopper's paradise. Next is where we met up with friends Richard & Heather in Rome. A city filled with architectural and historical masterpieces. Again great food and drinks. Next came Ireland - its just as green and beautiful as everyone says it is... and the people are just so friendly. The castles we stayed in were absolutely bloody fantastic, the Guinness and other assorted irish beers and who could not forget the mighty fine irish whiskies....

Well...I'm off again only this time I'm heading towards Europe and ultimately Ireland. If I have the chance I'll post some photos... otherwise I'll see you all when I return...

Woo Hoo!!! The time has arrived for Autodesk subscription members and AUGI members alike... we can now register to attend Autodesk University. What's that you say, you've never attended AU !?!?! If you use Autodesk software, then there is one conference you should make a point in attending - this is it!!! As part of my invovlement with AUGI Board of Directors, I had the privaledge last year to attend AU for the first time, and it truly is a mind-blowing experience. It’s the place to keep your skills up to date, learn about future trends, and discover new ways to experience productivity on a whole new level. This years' event is held from November 27 - 30, 2007 at the Venetian Resort Hotel in beautiful Las Vegas, you won't want to miss this wonderful all inclusive event - that's right, it's exceptional value because everything is all inclusive - hotel accomodation and if you get to stay at the Venetian, the rooms are just amazing, food, drinks, entertainment, e...

Sadly, a couple of friends passed away 12 months, come August 1st, one a long time friend and collegue, Andrew; the other an online friend, who I never got the chance to meet personally, Brother Sid… One Year Later We don't think of dearest friends as gone. They are on an unending journey that has barely begun. Life holds so many differsent facets, the time on earth is only one. We think of them as resting from problems and fears, In a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days or years. Think how they must be wishing, that we could know today, that nothing but our sadness can really pass away. We think of them as living, in the hearts of all those they touched… for nothing loved is ever lost — and we love them so much.

Well since I've been back... all hell's broken loose with work & I'm despartately in catch-up mode. So here's some more photos from Boston, MA & Albany, NY - and it was great to actually be there for Jen's birthday :)