The Very Last, Final DBF Blog, really ...

It's been back to work with a vengeance this week, but quite enjoyable as I've been spending time explaining to one of the vendors on a super-expensive project that RAC won't deliver what they're looking for. However, I feel there's some unfinished business before I get back to the occasional Oracle technical blog, the usual cuddly toy nonsense and switching on the ISP4400 more often.

First, I've had a few notes of concern from regular readers about the state of my relationship with certain renowned Oracle experts. Please don't be concerned. First, there is a smiley in that blog. Second, Mr. Kyte took the 'body shot' in surprisingly good humour, whilst being good enough not to mention that, like the wuss I am, I wore a flowery, almost see-through girl's blouse throughout the Beach Party. In fact, everyone has been very reasonable in not pointing that out. Put it down to two factors :-

1. Psoriasis, of which more another time.
2. A natural geek aversion to stripping off! My mate Kurt practically made it a condition of attending DBF that there would be no swimming trunk requirement! Let's face it, long hours at a keyboard do not lead to a Charles Atlas physique But then, I bet Charles Atlas knew next to nothing about SQL tuning. Then again, he could probably have made it down a kids slide without breaking his nose!

Remember - it was only retaliation for the 'settee' shot. I knew how excited TK was about getting the trunks on (not very), so it was a piece of minor, but deliberate cruelty. Based on that, he took it very well indeed (and you'll notice my guilty head is bowed in that photo).

Next up - my presentation. I've been loathe to mention it because it was far from one of my best. I was doing it to help fill the agenda and hadn't had my usual 6 months thinking about it; 3 months *really* thinking about it and 1 month panicking. In the end, it was intended to be a piece of mild amusement with maybe one or two serious messages contained in it. I wanted it to be non-technical but, in retrospect, I should have gone for something very technical to satisfy the slavering geek hordes. Only one problem - I don't know enough Once I wasn't allowed to do Parallelism, I was stuffed!

My guess is that a few people enjoyed it very much but that an equal number (some of whom told me so, in subtle ways) would have opted for another presentation if they'd realised it wasn't going to be tech-heavy.

The sad truth is (and I hate to admit it) I was just relieved to have produced anything coherent at all and not let the side down too much.

By the way, Copenhagen airport is excellent.

Finally, I hear whisperings of a possible Miracle Openworld 2007 and positive screamings of a Miracle Scotland event in the much nearer future. I'll keep you posted.