Rose tinted web?

So it’s that time of year again. The Online Information information Conference 2006 starts tomorrow.

I attended one of the seminars (part of one anyway) on social networking. It was interesting. Lloyd Davis chaired the session. He kept it open and allowed the delegates to decide the subject matter they wanted to cover - action learning style. The discussion was interesting. It did make me think more about what I wanted to obtain from the conference.

I’m most interested in how social media is being used - beyond the sites we are all far too familiar with. I use blogs and flickr and other social networking tools as an individual. Its great for individuals wanting to network for either social or career purposes and also for campaigning. I want to see how these technologies are being used by companies and organisations. It would be nice to have some new examples other than the same old, same old. From looking through the conference proceedings, it looks as if there will be just that. It will be interesting to see what will be presented. 

Anyway, today I left the seminar with one of Lloyd’s Flickr Moo cards - I’ve got one with an eye on it. it made me think maybe the Moo cards could be like top trumps or a trading game. Its a move away from the bland identikit business cards of American Psycho.

It always surprises me the conversations that people have on their mobile phones on trains.  This morning there was a lady sitting next to me discussing rather confidential HR type stuff which was clearly audible to everyone on the carriage. I have also heard people divulge credit card information and security details.

There was one particularly memorable journey between Paddington and Bristol where a lady was discussing the intimate details of her florid personal life. As you may imagine the whole carriage went silent and the lady in question said rather self conciously to the listener - ” I’ll have to call you back later as the whole carriage is earwigging.” There was a palpable sigh of disappointment from her audience.

Similarly, I have seen people marking examination papers, reading documents marked confidential (not that I was looking of course) and discussing business strategy with colleagues face to face.

Its interesting because both individuals and organisations get uptight about blogging and what can and can’t discussed, but the same issues often apply to other forms of communication ….

My Dad makes the Christmas puddings in my parents house. Its been a tradition for as long as I can remember. Dad, who is handy at doing roasts and casseroles etc normally leaves puddings to Mum, but Christmas pudding is different. Why? Because my Dad’s Christmas puddings incorporate large amounts of alcohol of course!!! Funnily enough the puddings are delicious and friends and family actually ask if they can have one.

Christmas pudding has long been associated with the purchase of a couple of crates of beer. You understand that not all of it is used in the recipe, its also an excellent excuse for my Dad to indulge in some proper, flat, Southern Ale. Through much testing and consideration on my fathers part, it now absolutely has to be Gales Prize Old Ale! I have to confess it is pretty nice. It tastes of Molasses and is really quite festive at 9% by vol.

Disaster has struck however. This year Fullers have taken over the Gales Ale Brewery. For some reason, the corking machine (for Prize Old Ale is a traditional corked beer) has been out of order and there is a shortage of the beers. Dad can’t get them through his usual distributors (who as he lives in the North of England are much bemused and amused about the lengths he goes to to get his crates of beer - funny southern stuff).

I’m going to have to track some bottles down, or my Dad will be pouty. It’s too late for the puddin’s as they have already been made, but he’ll need something to wash ‘em down with.

If anyone knows where a crate can be found…. let me know

We went to two lots of fireworks this weekend gone.

Godalming had its own bonfire night on the 3rd November, complete with firelight procession and stalls. It was organised by the Lions Club and not having been to a Godalming bonfire night before, it was very impressive. We paid £3 each for the view, but I reckon it was worth it. The way the torch bearers lit the bonfire was pretty dramatic and the mound of fire wood soon went up and those standing near got toasty warm. Then there was an excellent display of fireworks, which lasted at least 15 minutes. Everytime I thought it was nearly over, it started again. If we had been cheap we could have viewed the fireworks from afar, but I think that it was nice to be part of the event.

On 4th of November we went to the Chiddingfold fireworks which I understand has quite a reputation as being the most lavish in the area. We weren’t planning to go, but friends suggested we try it. We parked at Witley station, where a park and ride took us to Chiddingfold for £1.50 (there was no admission to the fireworks display). It was well organised, but there were a lot of people and we all got a bit cold waiting for the bus - good job I was armed with mulled apple juice to warm the cockles. Anyway, the town green of Chiddingfold, a small Surrey village, was packed to the gills with revellers. We’d missed the torchlit procession and the fire was already raging when we arrived. There were lots off stalls. We opted for festive roast chesnuts (a favourite with the other half), which were a bit disappointing as most of them were rotten. There were a lot of fireworks but I reckon the display at Godalming was better coordinated as those at Chiddingfold overlapped so much that they almost detracted from one another. It did look as though Chiddingfold had a beer tent and hog roast etc, which were lacking from the Godalming show.

I think next year if the weather is good I will definitely go to the Godalming show. I am not sure whether I could be bothered with the hassle of Chiddingfold again. Maybe if I took mulled alcohol, the time waiting for the bus would pass quicker ;-)