Conference Time

[rareboy]

I will soon be attending a conference related to my work....when I was young, they were always good fun; time in another city, new restaurants and the chance to get laid (before I was partnered).

But now, beyond retirement age...I only do it because I have to and miss the few years now when it was all virtual. Instead, they are making us turn up in person for the various events and speakers....I no longer care about new restaurants and will likely eat in the hotel and be in bed with my book by 9:30. And the travel is harder work than I would do in a week, I think,

Does anyone else have to do conferences any more?

 

[unloadonme]

I haven't been to one since 2019. Conferences were cancelled during the Covid lockdowns and now the office is becoming increasingly nervous about travelling and subsistence claims. If I have to listen to someone droning on about something I'm not interested in, I'd far rather do it on Teams when I can put them on mute and get on with something else.

 

[rareboy]

I wish that we could just continue to do this by remote.

 

[rareboy]

One of the worst things is that we have Covid racing around again...and no one is masking. I am because I have to be in Ottawa next week for an event that I cannot miss.
I am trying to sit as far away from people as possible...but I see the likelihood of a whole lot of people being sick in about ten days from now.

 

[Kahaih]

And, probably the whole event is being video recorded, anyway.

 

[rareboy]

All the presenters offer the powerpoint presentations....I could have just sent one of the staff.

And things have changed.

For $600 per night, conference attendees get the lower floor rooms overlooking the mechanical systems for the 4th floor terrace restauramt. hahaha

Last time I was here, it was a 38th floor room with full glazing even in the bathroom. Of course it was new and not full....

 

[rareboy]

in the end, opted for room service pizza $50...and Malbec at $30 per glass.....but it meant I don't have to go out.

First world nonsense.

But I have picked up a few things that I can use for some current projects so I suppose the investment is worth it.

 

[Rickrock]

I am surprised by the prices. I didn't know that they would be that high.

 

[Rickrock]

If everyone had their shots it should be safe, maybe.

 

[rareboy]

I am surprised by the prices. I didn't know that they would be that high.

The hotel and hospitality industry are making up for lost time, it seems.

At the conference centre food stands, a pre-packaged egg salad sandwich is now $15.

 

[rareboy]

After grumping about being here, by accident ended up attending a presentation that is really valuable to our work...so there's that.

So last session today.

 

[lockeroomguy]

My last conference was precovid, and now that I am retired there will be no more.

I really enjoyed conferences, as they were typically at a beautifully resort with great amenities. Other than the aforementioned price gouging on food, it was always a good time.

 

[Latimer]

I've only been to one conference, a design conference in London in 2019, pre-pandemic.

I had already planned to be in Kyoto for the fall foliage, but friends who were involved in organizing it convinced me to go to London instead. As it turned out, the first presentation at the Royal Institute of British Architects was laughable, with two toffs (an earl and the brother of an earl) who, although they lived in important country houses (one in good repair, the other not), had nothing of interest to say about the places, and who acted, themselves, like caricatures of the breed. At best amusing, but actually quite insulting. This was followed by a seminar where fifteen or so architects and designers sat around a table and complained about their Generation X employees.

This introduction to the 5-day series of meetings was such a waste of time in one of the great cities of the world, that I decided to forego the scheduled presentations and seminars and spend my days visiting museums and favorite neighborhoods and buildings. Evenings were another matter: banquets at Blenheim, the Soane Museum and the Painted Hall at Greenwich, all of which were memorable, and were the best part of the conference. On my own I went to performances at Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Opera House and St John's Smith Square and had a meal at my favorite restaurant in the city, The Wolseley. I met some good and interesting people, also some boring and pretentious ones as well. I'm glad I went, but really only for the parties and the fact that it was, after all, London.

The next conference, post-pandemic, was in Rome. I finally went to Kyoto instead.

 

[metta]

I have not done any conferences, but I like to go to the Natural Products Expo each year.

 

[rareboy]

And...shit...I came back with a cold...or at least I hope it is a cold.

 

[rareboy]

And it is not...it is Covid.

Merde. Alors.

 

[unloadonme]

Have you had all your Covid shots?

 

[rareboy]

All 7 of them...so it could be worse.