Back to the Tron

First, read this.

Four years (and a pandemic) later, the same conference happened in the same place. And so presented me with a prime chance to see how things are the same, and how they are different.

Last time, I was pretty snobby about Hamilton. I felt differently this time. The downtown seemed clean and spacious somehow. And although there are plenty of empty storefronts, there was also a lot of public art to catch my eye. A lot of the murals are recent… maybe an infusion of COVID relief arts funding?

The little plaza (actually a glorified vacant lot) where Riff-Raff stood is under construction, part of what looks like a pretty big project. But fear not, Transylvania fans, for Richard O’Brien now holds stiletto-heeled sway over the entrance to the Waikato Museum. It’s a spot where I would expect either a WWI memorial or an overly earnest pile of cubes and half-spirals.

I walked briskly along the river again, and the rowers are still there.

But I didn’t run around the lake, because even an hour of walking now leads to fluid leaking out of my knee joint. Time for my first ever surgery, methinks.

Last time, the big Christmas tree was just going up, but this time I got to see its full LED glory.

Last time, I gave a short talk and then manned the company booth. This year I led a 2-day workshop, manned the HL7 booth in my role as Chair, and then gave another talk yesterday. Movin’ on up…

Sadly, we didn’t get to go back to Hobbiton for the dinner. But supposedly next year…

All in all, a good trip. But I’m glad to be home in the hot tub.