UK

Oxford

Fist stop was Oxford University to visit a friend who had just finished studying at Christ's Collage.

Radford Infirmary - Oxford

This is the view out of the window of the hospital where penicillin was first tested. It also appears in the sets of some of the Inspector Morse (made for television) movies. To the right and over a bit is the Oxford University Computer Services centre.

The infirmary has a stone floor in some parts. This has two curious features: it is worn from use and it is warm.

Christ's College - Oxford

This is one of the famous and hallowed halls. Just about everything in this part of Oxford is old, famous and hallowed. It reality it looks a little more ordinary, than in the photos.

The sign at the front door of the Oxford University Computing Service

Having arrived in Oxford and seen the hallowed halls I had to check the e- mail. Unfortunately it was just before Easter and most University people were on holiday, so there wasn't anyone to visit. I hadn't warned anyone I was coming so I just called the computer centre. The help desk said come with some identification, which I did and was issued with a temporary user-id. I sat next to the help desk for an hour and checked my mail. The system seamed a bit slow, but that may have been because my mail box was on the other side of the world. It was just like being at home, in a computer centre, surrounded by computer people. "mail message from OUCS Director"

The lake at Blenheim Palace

This lake was designed by the English landscape architect "Capability" Brown. The lake is bisected by a bridge, which carries a road from the Palace to a monument in the distance. The layout is reminiscent of that of Canberra's lake and Parliament House.

"Usenet on Arcadia"

London

Park across the road from the London Business School

Just put this photo in to show the flowers. Visited a student at the Business School, who is studying how to use time-series statistical analysis to predict the performance of pension fund managers.

Just around the corner, on the monopoly board is the London office of the British Computer Society. The BCS has much in common with the ACS. Their on-line services for members aren't as advanced as the ACS's. They appear to have a clearer view of their place in their region (Europe) than the ACS has in it's (Southeast Asia).

Paris Train, Victoria Station - London

It was a very odd feeling to get in a train to ravel to another country. All the countries visited appeared to have very efficient computerised train booking systems.

Telephone on the cross-channel ferry - English Channel

This had ambiguous and complex instructions in several languages and I couldn't get to work.