Tourist at home

Right, where was I? Yes, the blogging course from 4 days ago obviously enthused me enough for me to sit on my arse and do precisely nothing since. I mitigation the following happened
1: football on Monday evening
2: reacquainting myself on Tuesday with my children and their maths homework (plus Life on mars, currently the best TV programme currently)
3: getting drunk before, during and after Liverpool’s somewhat unexpected but sincerely wonderful win in Barcelona on Wednesday. (I just knew that was going to happen the week after I was there…)
4: hung over Thursday with a hair of the dog press party from Midnight Communications

So this brings us back to here. It’s weird to think that a whole 7 days has past since I arrived back from barca. In these seven days, one my closest friends has found lurve in a big way and is on her way to Belgium for hopefully a new exciting chapter in her life’s journey. SO hope that works for her; she is a top girl. I’ve also found a new house and a sense of satisfaction in achieving one of the changes that I know I must make this year. There are two other key ones but more of them at another time.

Buying and selling houses has become an English fetish and something that I really can’t ‘get’; maybe I should but I just don’t have the seemingly overwhelming excitement about property. I see these things as where I live and where the family will be happy rather than investment potential. Can’t take the whole charade seriously. That said great work from the estate agent: sold our place for exactly what we asked and bought new place for a lot less than what the other part wanted. If all goes to plan, I'll be living 50 yards (60 metres) from the sea in Hove, next to Brighton. Now THAT is something to be excited about.

As is the fact that I just booked a trip to Amsterdam next Wednesday. 19th time to the Dam (only twice as a tourist funnily) and I know it better than basically all other English cities apart from Liverpool where I grew up. IN fact I probably know Amsterdam and its environs better than whole swathes of South and East Liverpool. Then again I’ve never worked there.

There’s a whole lot more to the city than its notorious red light district which basically has the characteristics of any largish English town on a Friday with drunken lads staggering around in Brownian mention.

All I can say is get out the centre and enjoy the museums, markets, restaurants and other places of culture that the city is teeming with. Like Barca that is a city where I could live; I’ve liked working there in the past so hey who knows?

Anyway back to work….

Apologies for the tardiness and lack of replies and posts - too contemptuous of technology after last week at 3GSM to do anything until now.

Today is a funny day - bloging trainng course. NO excuses to be rubbish or late now...

... let's see what happens over the course of the next few hours. Maybe ignorance was bliss.      . Jesus, I've started on emoticons already...

I arrived in Barca on Sunday the 10th and the very kind sponsors of my trip organised things that as recompense for having to get up at 3:45 to catch my flight from London, I had a couple of hours to myself to wander round before we had an official ‘work’ meeting at the Barcelona vs. racing Santander football game.

The city has never failed to inspire me since I came here in 1989 when it more or less unrecognisable as the culture capital that is its now. I can still remember the shed of an airport, the ramshackle Ramblas and other streets, wall with bullet holes in them and a not too pleasant smell.
These days it’s a totally different story, thanks to the superb development that took place for the Olympics. The streets are clean, the old building renovated and there’s a real urban chic and élan of those walking around – with some pride that they should have. The Grand marina is a great place to stroll around; there’s an abundance of wonderful churches, a magnificent Cathedral and shops, not to mention the world class museums.

One of these exits at Camp Nou, home of Barcelona FC and the venue for tonight’s soiree. I last went there on my first visit in 89 and incredibly it’s got even better and more impressive. Hospitality suites contrive to drain the excitement of football matches and this one of no exception. That said the food was regional and excellent and at least we have tickets in the stands and not in a glass box. Not footy to me.

Game’s s not up to much; Racing were beaten as they walked onto the pitch and even missed a penalty at 0-0. Barca wake up from somnambulant start and begin to play or contrive to find ways to miss. Goalless half time but takes Ronaldinho 5 mins to slot- ominously for a Liverpool fan – a free kick. Rest of match is one-sided procession. Ronnie heads in a free kick and only thing left in game is to watch his profligacy in blowing with some style various hat trick opportunities. Biggest cheers of the night for arrival from bench of returning star players.

Barca wins a basketball final again Real Madrid and ground erupts irrespective of football. Mes que un club indeed.

Ironic in an Alainis Morrissette way that that the Reds are here next week – or just bad timing. If we stand back like Racing we’ll get hammered. The idea of the latter is mooted for remainder of night but being mature adult it’s back to hotel wonderfully placed in centre of city in Plaza de Cataluña. Chic ambience shattered by English hen party negotiating entry into bar. That snobbish or have I just seen too many of same in Brighton?

Buenos suenos

Anyway I’m going to on up a new blog here for those interested in the show and all things mobile. Hi ho…

Hola de Barcelona. My lack of Catalan prevents me from welcoming you in the local language to the latest blog written today from the very sunny Catalan capital.

Having unsuccessfully tried to convince close relative that I was not on holiday. I’m here nevertheless on work reasons for the 3GSM world congress.

Whilst mobile phones and mobile telephony in general are dull as dishwater to most people it can’t be denied that they both form an increasingly intrinsic part of people’s lives and we’re becoming ever more dependent on the things. Anyway, I’m here, they are here and what I’ll do is try to blog from the show outlining what I think may be of interest. Or not as the case may be.

If I irritate you, bore you or even, God forbid, inspire more info, email me