Enigin Voice

ESA and Enigin Enjoy the Winter

Many of you who read this are of course spread around the globe; this is the point of the internet after all. So I expect that there will be a lot of you who have real winters and for whom what follows will cause some amusement.

On Christmas Eve my blog mentioned “a bit of weather” and some sliding about in the Enigin car park. Well, we have now had about three inches up here, combined with temperatures down to -5 C overnight, and in true British style this has now really caused problems.

Many of the hardy Enigin souls have made it in to the office over the last couple of days but there are others who have been unable to harness up the huskies and forge through the blizzards. Today, a recent absentee who ignored the advice given about not coming down the slope into the car park has found that he cannot now get back up. It has been very amusing watching him try though, much sliding, slithering and revving – let’s hope he’s brought his sleeping bag.

You can guess the reaction to all of this from ESA Council Member Ken Cheyne who lives in Michigan and who of course is used to a few feet of snow; I don’t think he can quite see what our problem is. But he’ll be over here in ten days time and if we are still in the grip of winter he will be able to experience the joys of our snowy disruption first hand.

Ken is making the haul across “the pond” as we are now at a crucial stage with the development work at the ESA. Whilst internet and telephone communication is a miracle of our age, and really does make pretty much everything possible, it will be great to be able to sit down in the same room and review all the work that has been done over the last few weeks.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll be joined by a few more Enigin colleagues in the office, as well as my friend who may have to stay the night!!

Enigin and the ESA into 2010

So we’ve had New Year’s Eve. I have often thought it an overrated occasion, exciting plans are made, parties held and yet……a hangover is often the only memento the next day. Many years ago when I lived in London I spent a couple of New Year’s Eves in Trafalgar Square, the classic British celebration, and these were probably the best I’ve had - I keep promising myself that one year I will experience the Times Square equivalent.

Several of us from Enigin celebrated together, albeit twenty-four hours early! As they say, “a good time was had by all” and for me one measure of that “good time” is not to experience that well known “morning after”. (Already known as Granddad around the office, I guess I am only confirming the suitability of that nickname).

Having said that, I don’t think many of my Enigin colleagues suffered too much either. Whilst we know how to enjoy ourselves the idea of work next day for some and the real New Year this evening for all of us, meant that we were just a little circumspect.

The first working day after another long weekend and a chance to check on progress with the ESA launch, which appears to be on track. Although many businesses around the world seemed to shut down for long periods at this time of year, thankfully Enigin, the ESA and our other Council Members have all managed to put in a few hours over this “social season”!

The first posting of 2010, I am surprised how diligent I have been since I started. So, a time for resolutions (again a much overrated notion), but I will at least resolve to keep posting in 2010, particularly as I will have much to report as launch day approaches.