Weblog
27/4: RSS in plain English
There's a great video explaining what RSS is and why it can save you time when reading blogs. What quickly becomes second nature to people who have a blog or regularly read blogs is still the exception rather than the rule in many businesses and for most people who are new to the web.
So if you've seen the icon above when you browse the BBC website or on your favourite blog or you've heard about RSS but don't know whether it's for you, click on the picture below to visit the CommonCraft site and view the video. You'll never look back.
If you're reading this via your RSS reader, please accept my apologies for wasting 10 seconds of your valuable time!
19/4: Implementing Oracle eBusiness Suite
One of my clients has decided to implement Oracle eBusiness Suite throughout their business. Their UK company has bespoke systems written using IBM's UniVerse DBMS and well as in Lotus Notes/Domino. They have other companies based in the US, Canada, Mexico, Ireland and Australia amongst others. The intention is to use global best practices yet adopt Oracle with minimal customisation.This is quite a challenge especially as the intention is to go live with all systems at the same time in the UK and Ireland later this year. Other countries will then follow.
I have personally written many of the systems that are being replaced both in UniVerse and in Lotus Notes and my company will be helping with the migration.
I will be taking some training for both the Human Resources and Timesheets modules and liaising with the Oracle Consultants who actually configure the applications. I am also responsible for the data migration strategy and for actually making data available from the existing systems.
I am quite looking forward to the experience. I will learn a lot of new technology and will be able to apply it in the future with new clients. I will also be able to adapt some of my existing products to integrate better with the Oracle ERP.
Do I see a quick return on investment? Absolutely not.
16/4: In loving memory of Anthony Owen
1928-2007
Julie's Dad died on 30th March. Today we celebrated his life and I was asked (and honoured) to read a eulogy at his funeral in Warrington. I reproduce it here in remembrance.
Tony was born in 1928 to Agnes and Charles Owen. He had three brothers and two sisters and was brought up in Bewsey.
In 1952 he married Marie and just four months later, in January 1953, he was sent to Japan with the Royal Army Medical Core where he stayed for about 18 months. He had to leave Marie behind - pregnant with their first child Tony who was born in July. The two Tonys did not meet until 'little' Tony was several months old.
On his return, Tony settled into married life. Over the next ten years he had three daughters: Terry, Kate and, last but not least, Julie. Tony worked as a Painter & Decorator and he also worked in various departments of Tetley Walker breweries.
One of Tony's pastimes was sea fishing. He used to spend many a Saturday off the Welsh coast with his mates. His family remember his returns with him gutting fish in the garden and then eating nothing but fish for the next few days.
Tony loved his family very much and was very involved in family life. He provided well for them and ensured that they were all well educated. Both of these things were very important to him. One by one, his children moved out with husbands, wives and partners.
In 1979 Daniella, his first grandchild, was born. She was followed by two grandsons, Dominic and Edward - a refreshing change after such a plethora of girls! Then in 1986, Marie and Tony doubled their number of grandchildren when Mandi, Sophie and Lucy were born within six weeks of each other.
At 58 years of age, Tony took early retirement from Tetleys. Well he didn't exactly retire because, as many of you will know, as a husband, father, grandfather and friend he then became a cook, taxi driver, baby sitter, painter, decorator, gardener, tiler. The list goes on. This is the Tony I remember. He saved us all a fortune with his decorating and handyman skills - not only us but also St Benedicts school and any friends who were in need of his help.
Daniella remembers his wicked sense of humour. Imagine her unquestioning pride for her heroic grandad upon hearing that he had single-handedly held up the bow of a sinking ship whilst his comrades made their escape. He had in fact been one of the first off the ill fated vessel which incidentally was so big that it would have made Superman's eyes water.
Not content with having his gullible grandchildren believe he was a Super Hero, he loved to impress them with his knowledge of the natural world. We all know that he was a keen gardener so what reason was there to disbelieve him when he pointed out that the harvested hay wrapped up in black plastic and piled up in the fields was where black puddings come from? Amazed, Daniella remembers telling her friends at school that she knew the origins of this mysterious food. In fact, she'd still like to see what's inside those giant bin bags.
Tony Owen, first and foremost husband, but also father, grandfather, brother and friend.
As we heard in the first reading, "you take your good deeds with you" and Tony will be weighed down with the good deeds he has performed throughout his life - never asking for anything more than a "Thank you".
Tony will be remembered as a good man, a friend with a daft sense of humour, but above all a gentleman.
We all miss him very much.
