Island Adventure (Day ‘who really cares’) November 19, 2012
I had my last meeting this morning which was from 8am until lunch time. While I was doing that Helen did what she has done all week - go and lie in the sun.  She objected to my blog yesterday when I said she has just been lying at the pool.  So I am going to correct that.  She has either been at the pool or on the strip of beach for the whole week. The...
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Island Adventure Day 6 (I think) November 18, 2012
It feels like we have been here forever. And there is seriously not a lot to do unless you like lying next to the pool. I can't see that I will be rushing back to the Bahamas any time soon.  Helen (who actually has been lying next to the pool most of the time - see video on Facebook), hasn't even managed to get much of a tan.  Even the sun doesn't seem to work here....
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Island Adventure Day 5 November 17, 2012
This was a full work day for me and work isn't really a fair description.  It is more like a full day of torture for me. I had a meeting starting at 8:30 and going through to 12:30. Then a lunch meeting from 12:30 to 2:00pm.  And then another meeting from 2pm until 5pm and then dinner from 7pm.  If you think it is glamorous traveling to the Bahamas then just compensate that with today. Meanwhile...
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Island Adventure Day 4 November 16, 2012
The problem with writing a blog while on a business trip is that everyone thinks you are having a holiday when you are actually working. Today was one such day.  We woke up at about 6am and so it seems the jet lag is beaten. I had no formal meetings today but both Paul and I decided to spend the morning working anyway. The ladies went and did the sunbathing thing as it was a lovely...
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Island Adventure Day 3 November 15, 2012
Jo Mon, how'ya all do'ing? You have got to learn to speak like that or the locals don't understand you. And a lot of the time I have no clue what they are saying. Sometimes I actually think they are speaking a foreign language and then I catch an English word and realize they are talking English. Helen was awake at about 5am this morning (given she went to sleep at 7:45pm that was a pretty...
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Island Adventure Day 2 November 14, 2012
We left for Heathrow airport at 7am this morning for our flight to Bahamas. We did a little duty free shopping for Helen and then had breakfast in the lounge. By that stage it was almost time to board. On the way to the gate we met Paul & Tina and then bumped into two other actuarial people all on the same flight. We left right on time and the pilot told us that the flying...
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Island Adventure Day 1 November 13, 2012
Some people are confused because they have seen Helen's Facebook status and wondered why we are in London today when we are meant to be going to the Bahama's.  Don't worry, the plane was delayed and nor has the Bahama's been hit by another Hurricane.  We planned it this way. To get to the Bahama's from Cape Town is a real schlep.  You can either fly to Jhb then to Atlanta then to Miami and then...
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Brussels – Last Take November 6, 2012
This morning the conference started at 9am with a motivational type speaker (Roy Sheppard). He did a session on how to make people like you; how to be the life of the party.  Better described would be 'How to take an introverted, boring actuary and become an interesting person'. Quite a challenge in 60 minutes. I think he failed. Some people liked him. I lost interest after 20 minutes and did my emails instead. Paul would...
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Brussels – Take 3 November 6, 2012
Last night we had the gala dinner. These affairs are generally rather dull so the organisers had some wandering magicians to entertain us.  The one guy came to our table and did a card trick and as hard as you try to see what he is doing you can't. 10 people at the table all watching him and not one of us saw how he did it. The most impressive thing he did was ask one...
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Brussels – Take 2 November 6, 2012
Now that I have spent a full day in Brussels I feel adequately informed enough to express some views on Brussels. Excuse me for not doing that yesterday. The conference officially started last night.  It is only a 5 minute walk from the hotel. The ladies were complaining about the cobbled streets and high heels. Wasn't an issue for me though. Crossing the road was especially when I thought it was a one-way road and only...
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