Having successfully negotiated the fog blanket playing havoc with airline schedules in the UK yesterday and then not so successfully locating the EuroSTAR Shuttle Bus at Brussels Airport, we were deposited outside a dark and less than welcoming MECC around 8:30pm last night. The onward journey to our respective hotels was like something out of a Jacques Tati movie as five brave souls circled the NH Hotel for some sign of a warmly lit entrance. I can report that their car parking capability is prodigious and their Emergency Exits are plentiful. Eventually we stumbled across a lift that deposited us within walking distance of the front desk where the friendly staff saved the day – I, for one, wished I’d chosen this hotel, rather than letting my wallet and TripAdvisor dictate my preference – damn you Captain Sensible!!
Anyway, after a superb Onion Soup in the hotel dining room last night, I’m awake and pumped at 5:00am, diligently writing this intro for Day 1 of The TestHuddle Community Blogger’s Guide to EuroSTAR 2015 (another Douglas Adams inspiration – thank you, sir).
I booked a hotel that gives me a 20 minute stroll to and from the MECC in, not quite, downtown Maastricht. This means I get a modicum of exercise and an opportunity to clear some headspace in preparation for the bombardment my brain cells will endure as I endeavour to process inordinate amounts of input throughout the day.
Oh yeh, I almost forgot to mention, I spent the majority of my travel hours yesterday in the enchanting company of @cheekytester (aka Julie Gardiner, for the unplugged), who mercilessly pummelled me into promising that I would attend her half-day tutorial entitled Rainmaking for Testers – How to Make a Difference. What this means is that (as predicted) my Day 1 Plan, posted less than 12 hours ago, is already out the window and on it’s way to Delta Gamma 5. I’m a sucker for a pretty face and the promise of an endless supply of Quality Street chocolates.
So, here’s what happens next….
Rainmaking for Testers – How to Make a Difference @cheekytester (Tutorial)
Score: 8/10
Key Takeouts:
Delegate: “I wouldn’t trust George Clooney because his teeth are too white”
Julie: “Information is giving out; Communication is getting through”
11:30 A Coffee with Dot Graham
My Score: 10/10
My chat with Dot will be published in the days/weeks following EuroSTAR
12:30 Lunch with @CheekyTester
My chat with Julie will be published in the days/weeks following EuroSTAR
13:30 Ruud’s Awakening
13:45 TRENDZ 2030 with Richard van Hooijdonk (Keynote 1)
My Score: 8/10
Key Takeout: I’m going to move to a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
14:30 Coffee Break 1 and a visited the EXPO
Got my first freebie from an Exhibitor – a hat from Smart Bear
Chatted with Paul Gerrard & Stuart Reid about the “Dirty Old Man” tour
16:00 Mobile Testing, One Step Forward or Two Steps Back (Track T5), Susan van der Ven
My Score: 8/10
Key takeout: If you’re testing Apps you’d better test them in the Wild (not just in the Lab)
17:00 Kanban Testing and Lego with Kristoffer Nordström (Keynote 2)
My Score: 6/10
Key takeout: Blah, blah, blah, LEGO; Blah, Blah, blah, KANBAN; Blah, blah, blah, Gandolf; Blah, blah, blah Charriots of Fire
It’s time for a drink……
And just before I sign off at the end of Day 1, here’s version 1 of my Day 2 Plan.
08:30 Ruud’s Awakening
08:45 Keynote 3
09:45 W3
11:00 W8
12:00 W11
13:45 W16
14:45 W19
16:00 W23
17:00 Lightning Strikes the Keynotes
NOTE: I decided to only provide the “Session Codes” as you can read the detail just as well as I can
