buckle-up

  Finding ourselves between meetings on both sides of the North Sea, it only seemed fair that we succumbed to the temptation of making the crossing by ship. After all, it was a long holiday weekend back in North America as both sides of the forty-ninth parallel celebrated historically important events. To say it was a sleepy time for all involved would not be accurate and yet, suggesting fireworks doesn’t seem to convey the significance. For Australians 1776 marked a change of destination for ships out of England as one day it was off to Georgia and the next, to Botany Bay. Eking out a little downtime while maintaining a working schedule is always a difficult proposition at the best of times and yet, relief was at hand given how Wimbledon was in full swing as was the ashes battle between old sparing partners, Australia and the Marylebone Cricket Club (Otherwise known as England and Wales). Not to mention that supporters of St Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox were in old ...

Having only returned from a business trip that included stops in London and Edinburgh, it was just a few weeks later that we boarded a flight to follow a similar itinerary. Mixing a little business chatter with an opportunity to visit old haunts wasn’t so much a chore as it was yet one more opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the greater London town we are getting to know well. When you find yourself back in a place you only left a short time before, such familiarity doesn’t take long to take hold. Many years ago, I happened to be on a trip to London as part of extending the reach of our business. While I was there, I was given the opportunity to visit a hotel that could serve the HPE NonStop community well as a place to hold a conference. It was a Hilton DoubleTree with a location that placed us close by to many of London’s main attractions and while the designated chatter often extended into the wee hours, being able to step outside to dine by the Thames in the late twilight ...

  If it is June then it is time again to take to the road. It always seems as though at this time of the year presenting clients at the conferences takes precedence. But who are we to even think about complaining or otherwise raising objections when the daytime hours lengthen and driving for days on end brings with it opportunities to catch up on conversations planned, but never quite started. There's more to the picture Than meets the eye. Hey Hey, My My – what an experience it proved to be this time. The photo above was taken as we entered Canada on our way to the picturesque village of Mississauga. Just kidding. This city lies on the outskirts of Toronto, adjacent to their main airport. Perhaps it’s a good time to quote Toronto’s own storyteller, Neil Young. Yes, with the photo above with it’s blue skies and black tarmac, there was a lot more to the picture. Given that it was June and summer was at hand, we had decided to make the trip from Windsor, Colorado, to Mississaug...

  For Margo and me, it continues to be all about the journey. When it was confirmed that I would have the opportunity to provide a presentation at the first European in-person HPE NonStop event in Edinburgh little time passed before tickets were booked and hotel rooms reserved. When you factor into this journey the opportunity to visit both London and Edinburgh this journey became even more enticing. While we have been to Edinburgh on previous trips to the UK, it was in 1999 that the trip took on an extra special meaning as it was the first business trip for the newly wed, Mr. and Mrs. Buckle. Well perhaps not with that naming convention as we were still very much Margo and Richard to all of our business colleagues and yet, coming as it did so soon after our honeymoon in London only a month or two prior, we were still experiencing those early days where everything was new. Making this trip extra special was that the venue for this European event would be at the very same hotel we...

Shortly we will be boarding flights to take us back to Europe for a major industry event. I have elected this time to prepare a completely new presentation and when I go down that path there is always that small fear that it just doesn’t click with the audience. Following the introductory presentations by the primary vendor I take to the stage as the first representative of the independent vendor to present, so I will just have to see how it goes. But there is no escaping how at this time of year, it seems like the race has begun and the starter's pistol has been fired! Margo and I can now report that within the family there is a fully electric car. Margo’s daughter, Anna, made the brave move to purchase the Mustang Mach-E and I fear it is the start of a cycle that will see additional electric vehicles begin to pop up in our collective garages. With seven cars between the two families – yes, it is America but it is also out of necessity with family and business commitments – to h...

Here is no hiding the fact that for the past year Margo and I have returned to the days of travel of past years. COVID put a big dent in our plans that saw us, like so many other families, putting on hold any idea about leaving our home. But eventually, we all began accepting that the global pandemic that hit us so hard was waning and that seeing the sights was becoming popular once again. We spent Christmas and the New Year 2022 – 2023 sailing out of the east coast, but this time, it was my birthday cruise that saw us sailing out of the west coast. With the exception of the time spent housebound between 2020 and 2022, every second year Margo and I have taken this particular Princess cruise to Hawaii. Leaving from San Pedro’s Port of Los Angeles, circling the Hawaiian Islands before heading back to the port via Ensenada, Mexico, it has become a 15 days change of pace. Yes, we still devote many hours to working but fortunately remote work has become the norm for many of us. This time my...