For these days we were settled into a routine: I worked, Frank walked. And we drank. And we ate. And ate. And drank. And ate.
The conference I was attending was 2.5 days being sponsored by IASSIST Africa chapter which launched while I was IASSIST president. It is the 3rd regional workshop for the group and the first one I was able to attend. The host institution, National Integrated Cyber Infrastructure Systems, is part of the CSIR and the organising committee was kind enough to invite me to give the opening keynote speech on the theme of “Re-imagining the Future of Research Data Management” which I was happy to do.
Then it was lots of sessions about the state of RDM in various parts of Africa, research support services for various disciplines. I also chaired a session on the second day which proved to be one of my most interesting experiences. This is a hybrid conference which means that some of attendees and presenters will be remote. This format is challenging at the best of times but with connectivity problems across Africa in different countries, it has been exceptionally difficult for some presenters. But I get the prize: one of the presentations in my session was being given from A CAR. I had to run the slides while he talked through them, obviously sitting in a vehicle while doing so. It was absolutely surreal.
Meanwhile, as I was discussing the role of artificial intellegence in supporting research, Frank decided to essentially wander all over Pretoria. The conference center and our hotel next door are on the outskirts of the city so to get anywhere meant an Uber ride or a good mile-plus walk. Instead of looking in tour books for things to do in Pretoria, he asked the young folks at the front desk what they would do and then he did that. It involved visiting Hazelwood – a lovely neighborhood with café’s and shops where he found a giant statue of a rugby player made of all indigenous stone. They do love their rugby here. There was also a very large shopping mall that he enjoyed far more than I would!
Of course, all that walking not only wore him out but it meant a LONG time in the sun. Which for a pale Scottish person with no sunscreen on means a sunburn. So he was sore inside and out. This meant a much less active second day. And today was only a half day at the conference so Frank’s sole focus for this morning was making sure we were packed and checked out of the hotel. I got to have my first annual review over Teams (didn’t get fired) and then listen to several interesting talks about AI and data mining in libraries. And finally the workshop was at a close. But not before I had to give certificates to EVERY participant and have my picture taken with them. Apparently having the “President Emeritus” in attendance is a big thing. Who knew? Frank made his short walk and tall cup of coffee last as long as possible while he waited for me. Then it was an Uber to Joburg for our final night.
When I made these plans ages ago, I decided that for the last night of this mad month, we deserved something special. So I booked us into the posh Houghton Hotel for a night in a Junior Executive Suite. We were greeted at reception with a glass of champagne while the paperwork was summarily dealt with. Up to the lush oversized room (with the exact same bathtub that we have at home!) where we dropped our bags in search of food. We decided that we were going to stick close to home today so it was late lunch in the bistro – with a peacock in attendance – followed by a tour around the premises and the disappointing news that all the spa treatements for the day were booked. So back to the room for a soak in the tub before more food at the Bistro (still so tired of eating!) and then a glass of wine with some rugby (Arg-NZ) before an early bed. Gotta rest up because tomorrow we head home.
Data for these days:
- Steps: San – not enough to mention; Frank – enough to want to forget
- Number of certificates handed out: dozens
- Number of certificates that I was given: 2
- Number of TV channels in our hotel dedicated to sports: 17 (4 for rugby then football, cricket, swimming, athletics, you name it…)
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