Mass Update

Hi all

Been a bit busy to write much on my blog (http://mingworld.blogspot.com) and to be honest, nothing personal goes there to save the innocent etc. Come over and visit it though!

However, 2007 has seen all sorts of interesting things happen and I am aware that I have neglected to keep in touch with many of you. For that I am very sorry. In an effort to make up for the tardy responses, I have sat down at work, finished everything and on a Friday afternoon with the work ‘phone off the hook, am giving myself a good hour to write stuff down - all for you guys and here it is.

So where to start?

++WORK++
Not odd that I start with this first, as it gives you an idea that I have been focused on this to the exclusion of everything else and to some extent this is true. My annual review is coming up and life is good, in fact great at the moment. Haven't had a chance to go to the user conference this year; may be next year. I was last at the UC in 2004 in San Diego. The added another week onto the end of it and travelled around with a colleague.
So ESRI UK (www.esriuk.com) continues to pay me and fill my time wonderfully; been managing a team of two for the last 12 months and have enjoyed it. Need to increase the size of the team but all in good time. Work has thrown up many challenges and tested me but this is good, I would hate being stuck in a rut. Been at this company now for six years and I am amazed. We’ve been in the top 10 fastest earning private companies in the UK and in a recent survey; we came quite high in terms of being a ‘good company to work for’ though I don’t know who came top. Probably Google! Playing quite a bit of five-a-side football but the attendance is dropping a bit. After four years, most people are worn out. I will also miss the annual AGI five-a-side competition held this August. We’ve been past three-time winners and being the Captain, am eager to win back the trophy.

++Mad Things++

I decided at this point to get this out of the way – I am writing to you all so as to keep in touch but not content with keeping myself busy, I was asked in late 2006 to do the ‘Trailwalkers’. It is a sponsored 100Km walk along the South Downs and is part of a well known world wide event.

Details here: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/events/trailwalker/about_tw.htm

So why am I doing this? Well, it is a physical challenge – completing the 100km course in 24 hours was something that got my competitive juices flowing. However, the team of four (all work friends) are aiming to complete the course in 26 hours. No sleep and little rest. Just walking, and walking and walking.

Some mad fools are going to run it and regard it as a double-marathon. The Gurkhas, acting as marshals are also doing this and aim to complete the entire course in something equally mad as 10 hours.

The charity is also worthwhile, I think the way the Gurkha’s have been treated by the UK government in the past has been shite. The Gurkhas’ deserved better.

If you want to sponsor me, come to our My Charity site and give generously – leave a message for me too! https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/Trailwalker2007LostAgain

++PERSONAL++

I have a new woman: yes, Mingles has been a bit distracted therefore and another reason why my communications has been so poor. It’s a good excuse though! I met up with S***** at a speed-dating event (for those single, try it – ‘tis a blast!), November 2006. We didn’t then meet up straight after as a week later I was in Iceland, then Finland then Sweden so didn’t meet up with her proper until Feb 2007; though we exchanged emails and texts late 2006.

She’s a teacher and busy as hell but we make time for each other. We’re similar in some areas and different in others. She doesn’t like hiking but does like computer games (though not the one’s I like!) – we both love food and go out often. Still early days but she’s great and I am happy. Have introduced her to work colleagues and some friends but for those I haven’t met up yet; pictures soon!

Mum and brother are fine; I see them every week – usually Sunday and it’s a good time for us to catch up. We rotate between mum’s place or my brothers. They haven’t been round mine for a while though, there’s too much travel involved and mum always complains! In fact, we’re heading over to brother’s in Hoxton this Sunday after going to a Chinese SuperMarket. Mum loves going to these places!

My health is good though I am relatively out of shape compared to what I am normally like. I think it’s a combination of too much sitting down and eating! I haven’t done ANY 10K runs this year when 2005 and 2006, I had already done 5 each year by June. However, read on.

++TRAVEL++

No overseas hikes planned for this year either: last year I went hiking with friends to the Picos but CC (one of the three chaps I go hiking with) has been super busy this year; he’s been the guiding hand behind the last few trips (Picos, Black Forest etc) so we’ve dropped behind a little.

++Open University++

Well, been slaving away for the past six years (!!!!) on a MSc in Development Management with the OU. I submitted my thesis on May and was NOT happy with it. I simply ran out of time and lost focus. I also foolishly dumped my years 1,2,3,4 and 5 reference material…thinking that I would have no need of it. How wrong I was!

However, I worked hard and I hope I get a pass and a second MSc to my name! I am going to continue with the distance learning lark and probably in the humanitarian field…which leads me to ->

++MapAction++

Been a full-time volunteer for MapAction (www.mapaction.org) now for over two years and I am one of the ‘old lags’ there! I manage the tasks that comes into the field base during an emergency. We’re all GIS specialist there too but my role is more supervisory with an aim to smooth out the entire process during a crisis.

Love the time in MapAction though 2007 has been a quiet year in terms emergencies, which is a good thing.

But the organisation has been busy attending training courses, delivering training courses and exercises. This year I was in Germany, attending a UNDAC (UN Disaster and Coordination) team leaders pilot training course. Lots of work but fun!

Also, I have been asked to attend the INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) annual training exercise; this time held in Mongolia! I attended the 2006 exercise in China but Mongolia is something else. Should be fun but now I have the headaches of applying for visas and flights etc. Looks like I might have to fly with Aeroflot too.

++Holidays++

Hmmm – I did manage a lovely 1 week break in Edinburgh with S**** in Easter. It was lovely. I am also planning on taking mum and bro to China for a ten day tour taking in the Great Wall, Terracota Army and the Forbidden City. We’ve arranged it for October 2007. Also, S**** (being a teacher with lots of holiday) and I are planning for a one-week trip to the US and we’ll most likely go to New York. With the pound being so strong; I think it calls for lots of shopping and eating! Tentative dates August 2007 and probably just after my return from Mongolia. That gobbles up my holidays!

++Games and Stuff++

Ach – no PS3 or XBOX360 round Ming’s but I have my trusty PC (five years old and still motoring along) and I have been still playing EVE-Online (www.eve-online.com) – those who remember Elite on the old BBC Micros…what are you waiting for?

Peace all!