Forget the conference - highlight of the day was going to watch an NBA game.  Long conference day made worthwhile by the end of day entertainment. Day started at 6:30am for me - that after getting to bed well after midnight last night. I don't feel like I had enough sleep. I had to get up then because I had to read a document before my 7:15am telecon with the UK office. The conference started at...

2 more days of conference to go. Not sure I am going to make it. Someone rescue me. Today started with a session that the first speaker was introduced from Turkey and we were told it was her first ever presentation. Unfortunately I could tell. Then it was followed by a presentation that promised to be interesting but after about 7 minutes she said she was finished and sat down.  I thought she was just doing...

Another day in Washington. Feels like I have been here forever now. The conference proper started today. Fortunately they serve breakfast as part of the conference because I am getting tired of paying $21 for breakfast. The conference food has actually been quite good.  Nice continental breakfast this morning.  I had a bagel and cream cheese - good All American breakfast. I spent the day at the conference. Opening session was a plenary and they had...

We woke this morning to a rainy and cold Washington DC. It was also the day that the family split up. Helen & Chloe headed to visit family in Knoxville and Michael and I stayed in DC. I have another conference (International Congress of Actuaries) which started tonight. Helen and Chloe took a cab for their flight to Knoxville.  They went early so they could have brunch at the airport. Chloe was so well behaved while...

Even though it is Saturday I was still involved in meetings today.  Fortunately it was only from lunchtime so at least I could enjoy the morning with the family. We had breakfast at a local restaurant and then headed into the centre of Washington DC by Metro. It was my first time on the Metro since we have arrived but the rest of them are skilled Metro travelers already. I just followed them around. The Metro...

It has warmed up considerably in DC. That after yesterday broke the all-time record for the coldest temperature ever recorded on 27 March in Washington - 15 F - the previous record was 17 F.  Today though it rose to 60 F (or around 20 C).  Might more pleasant even though it was overcast. Not that it mattered to me because I had meetings starting at 8am through to 5:30pm. It started with breakfast with the Dutch...

Another work day for me.  Another sightseeing day for Helen and co.  My day started at 7am with breakfast with the Brits.  First time I have ever seen anyone from the UK up at 7am. Fortunately I was hungry at 7am because I had woken up at 5:30am.  At least it is getting slightly later each day. After breakfast I had a task force meeting on Ethics (for 2 hours), then another 1 hour 30 minute...

The day started early for us. For Michael it was 3am, I managed to get through to 4am and then dosed on and off until 5:30am and Helen was up from about 5am as well.  Chloe did the best and she was awake just before 7am. I am actually here to work and I had a breakfast at 7:30am. Usually I would be moaning about so early a start but today it felt like I had...

Today was consumed in traveling again.  We flew from London to Washington DC.  The flight left about an hour late. Some issue with no plane being on the stand and then the pilot said they had a few small technical issues which needed to be resolved. While we were waiting to board some guy abandoned his luggage for a few minutes. It was noticed by the gate staff and they made a few announcements and no...

After a 6 month break, we are back.  We are on our way to the USA and we will be there for 2 weeks.  We left last night from Cape Town.  Once we had checked-in (something I don't usually do because I usually only travel with hand-luggage) and cleared security and passport control we headed for the BA Lounge.  It struck us then - there were only 4 of us.  First time ever we are traveling...