OOW 2009 - Freeloaders!

Although I haven't blogged about it specifically, my regular weekly trips to work in London recently have included a couple of fellow travellers each week. The rule has been that once a Cuddly Toy has experienced the London trip, they move to the 'old' comfy seat (the black leather recliner) so we can keep track of who has been and make sure everyone has a chance. But the system has fallen apart in recent weeks as smart Cuddly Toys have learnt to turn down the opportunity, knowing full well that OOW in San Francisco was just around the metaphorical corner!

Although some have travelled in previous years there's been more of a clamour for places this year. I can't help thinking that might be something to do with the change of accommodation from a smoking room in the self-financed King George Hotel (one of the cheapest on the official housing list) to a non-smoking room in the Oracle-financed Intercontinental in Howard Street. (Cuddly Toy Ed: So now you all know where the big Meet-Up is!)

A total of six Cuddly Toys have made the trip across the Atlantic and it was a hell of a job whittling down to 'just' six.




Back Row, Left-Right ... Little Moo, Sens Moose, Gerald, Little H and Derek Junior.
Front Row ... Flatcat

It's about time Flatcat had a holiday. He deserves it for all his peace-making efforts over the years and there was just enough room in the suitcase. The argument for Little H and Derek Junior is a little more difficult, though, and caused some consternation because they went to London recently (and have been inseperable since), so they were plucked from the old comfy seat. In the end it was my decision because I think it was the least they deserved after drawing the short straw and going to London in a week I was staying in the Easy Hotel Paddington!



Having inflicted that on them, I thought I should make it up to them. I think you can safely assume that Little H, in particular, prefers the Intercontinental.



So, you see, I had little choice but to accept the Ace Director thing - I'm surrounded by freeloaders!

I just left them in the room to party last night, while I met up with Alex Gorbachev and his wife Olga (who I haven't seen in 3 years) and Jacco Landlust. This year's jet lag reduction plan isn't quite going to plan so he and I were both rather disappointed when all the bars closed before 2. Don't they know there's a conference coming up?

Disclosure: I'm attending this year's Openworld Conference at the invitation of the Oracle ACE Director program, which is paying my travel and accommodation expenses. The time off work is my own choice.