I really don’t know where to start writing this post. There’s been so much that’s happened over the past few days, it’s really hard to encapsulate it all in a blog post.

I’ll give it a go though.

Following the Traditional design and New technology panel on Saturday, I kind of hung around with the nice chaps from Philly enjoying, not only the company, but the good restaraunts in Austin. Talk was, as you might expect, centred around the panels, the event and design in general. That’s the one thing that struck me compared to when I attended a couple of years ago; the socialising.

SXSWi 2004

When I attended in 2004, jetlag absolutely floored me. I’d be getting maybe three hours sleep a night, getting up in the morning at about 5am following lying there wide-eyed from 2am. As such, I didn’t really attend any of the parties. This year was very different though. As I’m writing this, I’m glad I’m leaving because I couldn’t really go out any more than I have in the past few days. Maybe I’m getting old, but there only so many loud, dark clubs and free beer a man can take.

I don’t really want to compare this year’s event to last time I came in 2004, but I can’t help it. This year was big. I mean, there were a lot of people in Austin this year. Busy panels, busy hallways and even busier bars. Don’t get me wrong, I like a buzz at an event, and nothing quite tops SXSW (yet), but for me, this year I felt like SXSW had put on a lot of weight and there weren’t many notches left on the belt.

The people

There are just too many people to mention here, so I won’t. If I met you, it was a pleasure. If I didn’t, maybe there’s next time.

Two days in Philly

Following SXSW in Austin, I’m spending two days in Philadelphia at the UIE Usability Roadshow. Sounds like it could be good fun. The part about Philly I’m most looking forward to however is Cheese Steaks and running up those steps Rocky did (Jason and Rob did promise they’d ditch, er, take me). Then it’s back on the plane on Friday afternoon for the flight to London, then the train to Cardiff.

It’s been cool being away, but I’m missing the wife and the creature comforts of home. Plus, the washing machine is on the blink and Emma’s going nuts with the computers in my absence. It’ll be good to be back.