A Visit to Bletchley Park

Trotted up to BP today to have lunch with Kelsey Griffin, Director of Operations. As long as I was up there, I took a few pics that, I think, really illustrate the need for funding.

Hut 6

You see, the real problem here is that these huts were never intended to last long. They were simply built out of cheap materials and the priority was for them to go up fast. So they fulfilled their task admirably. However, the question now is how and to what extent do we preserve them? Always a tricky question.

Anyway, progress is definitely being made but it's not just a case of preserving what we have now but also ensuring that the site is maintained and accessible for the future.

Exciting Progress

Very exciting news today. The word is finally starting to get out. First, my father dropped a word and now the  Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Mathematics are aware of this madness and seem to approve. Hopefully they will spread the word through academia. That would be lovely. Maybe my little bro can do the same with the American Chemical Society? Not an obvious tie-in, I'll grant you but you never know. Maybe they'll ask me to conduct an experiment at Base Camp to show the difference in pressure or something. Mind you, the High Altitude Flatulence ought to cover that nicely.

Moving on...

I was also interviewed by a journalist today and will be dashing up to Bletchley tomorrow for a photo session and then lunch with Kelsey (Director of Museum Operations). I will, of course keep everyone posted as events transpire.

Good News/Bad News

So, the good news is, my contract in Brussels has been extended to mid-July, supplying a bit more much-needed money (cause this shindig is costing me a fortune!). The bad news is that it delays by 2 weeks my launch into intensive fitness preparation.

So, now I'm looking at doing a weekend at Mt. Snowdon for July 30 & 31. Does anyone want to join me? The idea is to get up there the Friday night then get up with the sparrow's fart on the Saturday and do the climb (route to be decided but I'm leaning toward the Watkins Path). Then, depending on how achy we are the next day, perhaps do a second climb? If not, we can always tour Electric Mountain.

Meet me in Cambridge!

It occurs to me that I ought to mention that I'll be speaking in Cambridge next week. Not on this topic although I plan to insert a slide at the end to ask for sponsorship.

Nonetheless, if anyone is interested, the topic is Facilitating LEAN Problem Solving Sessions.

Why?

It occurs to me that I've been talking a lot about the who, what, where, when and how but nothing at all about the WHY???

So, WHY am I raising money for Bletchley Park? In order to answer that, I would like to take you back through the mists of time. Back to the summer of 2008.

At that time I'd organised a picnic with some fellow friends from ACCU and their partners at Bletchley Park. It's something that we'd talked about for years and so it finally happened. Butu, while I knew that Bletchley needed money I had no idea the state that the place was in until that summer afternoon.

As I walked around this historic location, the place that can be considered the home of modern computing, I was aghast. The buildings were crumbling, often protected only by a cheap plastic tarpaulin thrown over the roof and secured with stones at the corners. I thought to myself "Oh no, no, no. Somebody ought to do something about this.". Then I thought, "I ought to do something about this!".

It especially shocked me because I and many others make some pretty good scratch in a field that owes so much to what was done at this historic site. So I think that's only right that we try to preserve this place for future generations.

And that's when and why I started raising money for Bletchley Park.

Normal Service has Resumed

Well I'm back from holiday. The weather and the fishing in the Algarve were both fabulous. If you want a good day of fishing near Portimao, you wouldn't go wrong by contacting Alvor Boat Trips and let Luis and his lovely wife Roisin guide you.See you next year guys!


Then  I returned to London to collect my father, turn around and head back to Brussels. only to grab a car and drive the rest of the way to Espelkamp in Germany. Stayed at the Hotel im Loh where the Albersmeyer family made us feel so welcome. I look forward to staying there again when I return next year to do the Grimm's Fairytale Trail.


Anyway, I'm back in Brussels trying to catch up on my sleep.


I'll try to get back on-topic in a day or so but I have to confess that after that vacation, I'm exhausted! 

Another small hiatus

I'm off to Germany today for a few days of hiking with my father. I'll be sure to post a pic in my hiking gear when I get back.