I’d waited anxiously for this the 28th of July, upon which the 26th 27 dinner would take place. Anxious only because that is the feeling I get when I know that I’m going to have to subject my evening to the abject horror of “socializing”. Nope I’m kidding, I was just excited to hear Charl Norman gloat about his own success - which he sadly never did.

The evening started off with a little haggling with the waiter, he wanted to give me two filter coffees and a Windhoek Lager, and I man of simple tastes just wanted my bloody coffee without all the extras. Don’t let me get started on something which is inconsequential; I have a poor habit of prevaricating when the moment calls for lucid clarity and precise thought. Shut up, I’m saying to myself!

Yes we were there, at table Cerebra, with the cool cats who are at the forefront of enterprise 2.0. I knew the line up; but the sudden appearance of Roy Blumenthal and his drawing tablet - which I couldn’t help but gaze at like a magpie might at a golden tooth in the Cape Flats caught me off guard. Definitely great to have someone who could translate the oft complex right - brained theoretical musings of the speakers into something for the lefties.

Lets get to the gist of this observational review; I was a little let down by Kate Elphick who I thought could have made her points a little clearer, as my ex lecturer would have said “a little too much on the slides I’m afraid - I couldn’t help but read ahead of you”. I guess if I wanted to know how to bathe in pools of my own dosh I’d have studied something else, so kudos to Kate for attempting to school us in the art of web 2.0 entrepreneurship. Lets just hope she doesn’t end off her next presentation with the “e-funeral” idea, as it left our table mourning the loss of a great idea..

Jason was up next; and as I’d read a little about user experience sort of had some idea of what he might pitch to us. I was wrong on most accounts and whilst I think his theoretical approach is vital, I think he could have grounded it more in real world user-experience application. Furthermore the bridge between market research (which he alluded to) and user-experience isn’t a bridge at all, we are one and the same and perhaps instead of re-branding techniques / methodologies of basic qualitative market research we should endeavour to do a little co-branding and unify the two fields..Food for thought I hope.

Charl; who I could tell was a little tired was interrupted by the constant whoops and interjections of a certain American man,who made me irate and as he stomped “aboot” our table demanding service from the manager and thus I was perhaps a little distracted. Charl, whilst focusing on what appeared to be a presentation on BlueWorld’s offerings threw out some very poignant tips on luring consumer’s eyeballs; I loved the “free sms” campaign as this is sharp marketing and excellent use of available and cheap resources to attract users. What I found most fascinating was his “can do attitude” which sounds hopelessly cliché; but his suggestion that the “blue-world engine” could be applied to whatever social - network required it was something I found startling realistic. Why re-invent the wheel? He’s talking business and not web 2.0 crazy talk like so many others. Well done Charl, I wish you all the best.

Lastly there was me; I entertained myself with my witty sarcastic reppertoir, and I listened intently to my commentary and I commented on my own mental-blog and said a few hail-mary’s because I knew that my genius was almost peverse.

Mike thank you for putting this event together; I’m sure those of us who might always consider themselves “still learning” appreciate your efforts to gather together such a quirk-e bunch. It is incredible opportunity to bump minds with some fascinating individuals; even if this time I was vicariously socializing whilst sitting in my chair pretty damned tired and ready to go on leave..Your next whiskey / coffee or combo cofskey is on me!

Peace out julle.