Posed on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 :: /geek/debian/debconf :: link
I'm currently sat in the formal dinner for DebConf8 in Argentina. As part of the presentations, our glorious leader, the forever DPL
Sledge announced that we'd recently won an award for... wait for it... MOST EPIC FAIL!
In recognition of this, I present to you the following:
Posed on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 :: /geek/debian/debconf :: link
As some people may know, there's a
group of us getting some official Debian Tartan (thanks to Phil at
hands.com) kits made up for
DebConf 7.
Moray got back from the weavers today, with a nice photo of the tartan being weaved :)
Posed on Wed, 24 May 2006 :: /geek/debian/debconf :: link
Well, I've finally got back from
DebConf6 and am quite nackered, especially considering I've just done a full day at work.
I could amuse you with the usual 'lists-of-memorable-dc6-events', or a 'review-of-each-day', or even a 'bits-from-the-orga-team', but there's pleanty of other posts on
planet.d.o about that, so instead, I'll recount my experiences of the return trip, starting in Oaxtepec.
I'm also putting up all my photos, but it'll take a while. They'll be appearing over the next few days at
my Fotopic site.
I wake up fairly early-ish (10am. It's early for me, ok? I'm not German :P) and pack my suitcase. I take the padlock keys out of the case and lock it. Except I got the wrong keys. So, the keys are now inside the locked case. Fortunately, I'd already taken everything out of the case I'd needed and put it in my rucksack.
Next, it comes to time to check out. I find out that we need out room checking to ensure that we haven't stolen a wall or ceiling or something. One of the cleaners has a look around and spots a missing lampshade. We (me + Fil Hands) try to explain in broken Spanish that it was missing when we arrived in the room, but she doesn't seem to be having any of it. Mind you, there is the
vague possibility that "Si","Fruta","Cafe" and "Hola" isn't quite enough knowledge to explain the situation. Feh.
So, we manage to accost the lovely Amaya to do some translation for us. The cleaner lady calls her boss, who tells us it'll cost 860 pesos (£43). We politely decline. So, she then calls
her boss. This all takes some time. Eventually, she opens a huge book, looks inside and sees that the shade was taken away by maintainance. Why this wasn't done before, I don't know.
Anyway, our bus was leaving at 2:00pm, so we had to rush to the reception. The journey was quite pleasent, and we eventually arrived at the airport at 4:20pm. There was a small altercation with the Taxi driver over the tip, as it was already included in the fair, and he said it wasn't. We then pointed out that tolls were also included in the fair, and the driver didn't take a toll road. At this point, he seemed to dissapear quite satified.
I approached the Air France desk, and was told I coudn't check in until 7:30pm (my flight dind't leave until 11:30pm). Bugger. So after waiting around quite a while, and getting something to eat, I went to check in. There was a huge queue, but it didn't really matter, as I was flying under a Flying Blue - Silver level card, so I could use the express queue. They did, however, want to check my luggage. Broken Spanish did work this time, as I wildly gestated towards my suitcase, making key symbols.
So, after another long wait, we (me and Daniel Baumann, we're on the same flight, and indeed sitting next to each other by some freak coincidence) wander off through to the gate. I manage to find some free wireless (ESSID: co_admeralty_club) and surf for a bit. Flight ends up being delayed for 30 mins, but it didn't matter too much.
Then, I hear an annoucement over the intercom, that a group of passengers should contact the gate staff, and my name is mentioned. A little worried, I approach.
"Hello, I'm Mr McGovern. My name was called on the intercom."
"Can I have your boarding pass please?"
"Sure..." *worry*
"Thank you.... ok, we'd like to invite you to fly business class with us today sir."
"Thank you very much"
I then proceed to whistle the 'Kill Bill' tune, as for some reason, it's following me everywhere I go in the airport, be it a cleaner, or another passenger. I think it's like some sort of virus, infecting one person and moving on to the next host.
We still had a little while, so we popped back to the waiting area to, well, wait. We saw some of the Brixen gang, and one of them had his laptop stolen :| That's the second laptop down then. The first was run over by a car in Oaxtepec.
So, I board the plane, and am immediately offered lots of alcohol and other free thingstm. Which was nice. Unfortunately, the plane was further delayed. This means that on arriving in CDG, my connecting flight was already boarding. It was at this point that I had dounts about my luggage arriving in MAN at the same time as me.
So, I board the plane in Paris, and it's a straightforward flight. But lo and behold, at the other end, no baggage. No suprises there then.
Today, my luggage arrived at 8:00pm, just after I've got home from work. I'd also got a nice letter from the Inland Revenue, with a £215.67 tax rebate \o/
As my subject: S^HWings and Roundabouts.
Posed on Mon, 03 Apr 2006 :: /geek/debian/debconf :: link
You
MUST reconfirm your attendance, or you won't get free lodgings and food.
The clock is ticking, you have about 2 hours left, ie: until 2006-04-03 23:59:59UTC.
