Many of you have commented on my life and asked me how I spend my time. Alan’s World is my attempt to share some of this with you. Each week I will add to Alan’s World and keep you up to date on my activities for the week.

Dateline Naples, FL– Week of March 8, 2009

A relaxing week for both Nancy and me. We flew down to our Naples, FL home last Sunday. Spent the rest of the week working on scheduling and finalizing two in house seminars. The rest of the time we relaxed, visited our favorite Barnes & Noble book store and generally did nothing. That changed today though as we flew back to Toronto. Nancy went home to spend some time with her mother. I continued on to Montreal to teach an Excel seminar on Monday, then fly to Vancouver for another one on Tuesday and then back to Regina for seminars on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday I do a keynote at the CGA Controller’s Conference in Toronto. Then we fly back to Naples next Sunday. Busy but profitable week.

Dateline Naples, FL– Week of March 1, 2009

I spent last week in Western Canada teaching in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon. It was cold on the prairies with a -35 when I got up in the morning in Saskatoon. The hotel in Saskatoon had heating problems, so it was 55 in the room and everyone except me was wearing coats. Some of the women were wearing gloves, as well. However, we got through the day and everyone seemed pleased with the course content. Today, Nancy and I flew to our winter home in Naples, FL. We'll be there for most of March. A pleasant change from winter in Brampton, ON. I've got lots of work to do, but I won't be shoveling.

Dateline Vancouver, BC– Week of February 22, 2009

I’m back in the west again. Last week I was around home with seminars in the Toronto area and London. In between I continued to work on our scheduling and new manuals. This week I’m in Vancouver on Monday, Calgary on Tuesday, Edmonton on Wednesday and Saskatoon on Thursday. Then on Friday I fly to Halifax for the day for meetings with one of our Senior Associates in K2 Enterprises. Then I’m done for a couple of weeks. Home Friday afternoon to start getting ready to leave for our Florida home next Sunday. So winter is just about over.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of February 15, 2009

It was back to work with a vengeance last week. I flew to Vancouver last Sunday and then taught seminars in Vancouver on Monday, Tuesday in Edmonton, Wednesday in Calgary, Thursday in Regina and Friday in Winnipeg. Tiring because I was flying to a new city each night. However, it was a highly successful week with great reviews. I’m finally getting our Excel 2007 seminars to the point where I’m happy with the content. Saturday night it was Valentine Day dinner with Nancy and then on Sunday we saw the Sound of Music. It was amazing. This week is a little easier as I’m around the Toronto area and only teach two days. The other days I’ll be working away on our new courses for the coming year.
 

Dateline Vancouver, BC– Week of February 8, 2009

Back to the reality of winter last week, but it wasn’t too bad. No snow and the temperature was about -10 for the first part of the week. Friday and Saturday it warmed up to a high of plus 10 and melted all the snow on our deck. Taught one day last week – good start to the year. The rest of the week I spent getting caught on the admin stuff that piled up while we were in Naples. This week I’m back in the west doing my Excel seminars. Vancouver on Monday, Edmonton on Tuesday, Calgary on Wednesday, Regina on Thursday and Winnipeg on Friday. Busy week but worth. In my spare time I’m working on my new blog which I want to launch by the end of the month.
 

Dateline Naples, FL– Week of February 1, 2009

Last week was our last six days in our Naples, FL home. It was back to the reality of a Canadian winter when we flew home last night. Most of last week I spent on planning and scheduling for our spring and fall seminars. Just about done the spring schedule and then it’s time to move on to the fall. This is the challenging one, as it’s our busiest time of the year. This week I teach an Excel seminar on Tuesday and then spend the rest of the week on admin work. Nice to be home, but I don’t relish the snow. The good news is that we’ll be back in Florida in 27 days, so we really only have four weeks of winter left.

Dateline Naples, FL– Week of January 25, 2009

I got back from our partners meeting in Vail late Saturday night. Had our Naples, FL home to myself until Sunday evening, when Nancy flew back from Toronto. We had the rest of the week to ourselves. It was great to have the kids here, but it is also relaxing to have the place to ourselves. It was cool last week so Nancy didn’t spend much time at the beach. I got a fair bit of work done and Nancy did movies, TV and reading. Sunday, we headed north to Venice to have brunch with friends of ours who live on Cape Cod. It was a great afternoon. This week we wrap up our January time in the sun and get ready to head home on Saturday. The weather is better so Nancy will get some time on the beach. I’ll continue to work on scheduling and planning for our spring and fall seminars. I’m working on a new blog which I hope to launch on the 1st of February. It will have some neat stuff, including a weekly Excel Tips video.

Dateline Naples, FL– Week of January 18, 2009

Interesting week last week. My number 3 daughter Marina and her significant other arrived on Sunday to spend the week at our Naples home. It was great to spend time with her. On Monday we were in Boynton Beach on the East Coast to visit Jack and Hedda Rothman, who are long time friends. Thursday, I headed to Silverthorne, CO for a three day partner meeting. Nancy flew home to spend the weekend with her mother. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Colorado; fortunately the weather was good and the view of the mountains was spectacular. We had an excellent meeting and we’re now ready for another busy year. This week I’m back in Naples, working away on schedules and courses. It’s work but the weather sure beats what they’re getting in Toronto. The picture shows the chalet we stayed in for our meeting.

Dateline Naples, FL– Week of January 11, 2009

A pleasant week at our Florida winter home. We had Nancy’s eldest daughter and her two children with us for the week. Most of our time was spent with the grandkids. On Monday we took them to the Everglades for an air boat tour. They had a great time and saw three alligators. Tuesday they had kayak lessons at the beach. In between they spent the day at our beach or in the pool at our place. They headed home on Saturday after a wonderful week. It wasn’t all grandkids time though as I got a fair bit of work done in between adventures. Saturday night we welcomed my daughter Marina and John who will be with us for the week. We won’t see a lot of them as we are travelling this week. Sunday we’re off to West Palm Beach on the east coast to spend two days with our friends Jack and Hetta Rothman. Then Thursday I head to Denver for a three day K2 partners meeting. Nancy heads back to Toronto to spend a couple of days with her mother.
 

Dateline Naples, FL– Week of January 4, 2009

Last week was a busy and varied week. We entertained on Monday and Tuesday and then were feasted at dinner by Chef Mike and Marilyn Benninger at their new home in Burlington. New Year’s Eve was a quiet night for Nancy and me as we had the house to ourselves. We crashed well before the arrival of the new year. New Year’s Day we headed to our winter home in Naples, FL. It was sure nice to leave winter behind for a month. Joining us for our first week is Nancy’s oldest daughter and her two children. A bit different to have a 10 and 6 year old with us for 10 days. They’re having a ball on the beach, in the pool and in the hot tub. Fortunately our home is divided into three zones, so we can have some peace and quiet when we need it. This week we’re doing things with the grandkids. We took them to Everglades City on Monday for an air boat ride in the Everglades and they saw three big alligators during the ride. The picture shows one of the alligators sunning on a mud bank.
 

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of December 28, 2008

Last week was family week. We started on Sunday with Christmas for my family. Once again we did “Swimming with Grandpa Al” where we rent a local swimming pool for an hour. This is always a big hit with the grandkids. Then it’s back to our home for food, fun and gifts. There were 16 of us this year and that’s a houseful. The picture on the left is my family at Christmas. Monday night was the big night for Nancy’s son Scotty, when he proposed to his girl friend. It was sure an orchestrated performance. Scott and Kat and Jennifer (Nancy’s youngest daughter) and her boy friend when out for dinner. A limo than picked up Scott and Kat and he proposed in the limo. The limo then took them to Kat’s house, where both parents joined them for a celebration party. What a great night! The wedding will be in June 2010.

On Christmas Eve we celebrated with Nancy’s family and again it was a full house of 15. Christmas Day was quiet with just Jennifer home with us. In the afternoon we dropped in to one of Nancy’s cousins for a short visit. Then it was off to Burlington to have Christmas dinner with my youngest daughter Anita. This week we have three social engagements. Monday at noon we’re having Nancy’s sister over for lunch. In the evening we’re hosting an alumni group of friends. Then on Tuesday evening we’ll be having dinner with Marilyn and Mike Benninger in Burlington in their new home. New Year’s Eve will be a quiet evening for both of us, as the kids will all be out doing their own celebrating. New Year’s Day we’re off to our winter home in Naples, Florida for the month of January and we’re both looking forward to time in the sun. This year will be different as we’re having four sets of grandkids join us for a week each. Two sets in January and two more in March. It won’t be all play though as I have a lot of partnership work to do. Plus, in the middle of the month I’m off to Denver for three days for a partners meeting. Nancy will be coming home for four days at the same time to be with her elderly mother. The picture on the right is Nancy’s family at Christmas.
 

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of December 21, 2008

Well my travel for the year is over. I only did 121 flights this year to 13 countries. A lot of miles but worth it, and still enjoyable. Last week I was back in the west for four days. Started in Vancouver on Monday, Edmonton on Tuesday and Wednesday and then Saskatoon on Thursday. They were having a cold snap so it was -31 in Saskatoon. Wednesday night I had my second “flight from hell” this year. Was supposed to fly from Edmonton to Calgary at 6 pm but the flight was two hours late. As a result I missed my Saskatoon flight and got moved to the 10:50 one. Checked into my hotel at 2:30 am on Thursday and was up teaching at 9. Friday I was supposed to finish the year in London, Ontario but the seminar got cancelled because of the blizzard Ontario received on Friday. That was a pleasant relief, as I sure wasn’t looking forward to getting home at 10:30 Thursday evening and then driving two hours to London, teaching on Friday and then fight the blizzard to get home. This week is family week for Nancy and me. My family Christmas happens on Sunday the 21st, Nancy’s on the 24th. We’ll spend a quiet Christmas together and then more socialization on Boxing Day. In between, I’m cleaning up our year end and getting ready to move to our Naples, FL home on January 1st. To all of our friends, Nancy and I wish you and yours all the best for 2009.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of December 14, 2008

Last week I was in Winnipeg on Monday and Tuesday doing my Excel seminars for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba. Good attendance again. Wednesday was my first full day off since early September and this was great, as I was able to do my Christmas shopping when the stores and parking lots were not jammed. Thursday I drove to Kitchener to do two half day seminars for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. Then I finished up Friday with an in house seminar for Cara Foods. This week I’m off to the west again. Teach in Vancouver on Monday, Edmonton on Tuesday and Wednesday, Saskatoon on Thursday and then finish the year in London, Ontario on Friday. It’s been a busy 2008 but we’ve shown great results. I’m done on Friday and will have one day to get ready for my family Christmas next Sunday.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of December 7, 2008

Another week in the west last week. I started in Vancouver on Monday and then moved to Calgary for Tuesday and Wednesday and then east to Regina for Thursday and Friday. Did five of my Excel courses to the western CAs. Saturday I watched Nancy’s 6 year old grandson play hockey; what a treat to watch them struggle to stay on their feet and scramble for the puck. Sunday morning Nancy and I had lunch with Brenda and Gerry Barker. They were in town from Vancouver to attend the annual CCH Christmas party. This is a mixed week for me. Monday and Tuesday I’m doing my Excel courses in Winnipeg. I fly home Tuesday night and get Wednesday off to finish my Christmas shopping. Thursday I’m teaching an Excel seminar in Kitchener and then Friday doing a private Excel seminar in Toronto. Busy week, but the end is in sight. Two more weeks of teaching and I get a six week break.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of November 30, 2008

A busy and tiring week last week, as I did 6 seminars, including one on Saturday. Started out in Vancouver on Monday and Tuesday and then Edmonton on Wednesday and Thursday, and Saskatoon on Friday. Flew home Friday night and then did a seminar on Saturday for CGA Ontario. Very rarely do I have to do this thank goodness. The weather on the prairies was amazing for the end of November. Clear skies and temperatures in the zero range. I’m back out west again this week for the third straight week. Start in Vancouver on Monday and then move to Calgary, Tuesday and Wednesday and then on to Regina, Thursday and Friday. Three more weeks of travel and it will be time to relax over Christmas.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of November 23, 2008

Four weeks to Christmas and we’re in the middle of our busiest time of the year. I taught in Western Canada last week. Monday in Victoria, Tuesday in Vancouver, Wednesday and Thursday in Calgary and Friday in Regina. Flew home Friday night. Today I’m flying back to Vancouver for another week in the west. I’ll be doing this every week until December 19th. I’m in Vancouver Monday and Tuesday, Edmonton Wednesday and Thursday, Saskatoon on Friday and then teaching on Saturday in Toronto. This is a rarity for me. It’s a grueling schedule but it only happens once a  year.

Dateline Victoria, BC– Week of November 16, 2008

I had a good week last week in the Toronto area. Last week it was 5 days of Excel seminars in Toronto and Kitchener. Had an interesting day in Kitchener on Wednesday. I was supposed to teach an Excel Budgeting course in Excel 2003 but 75% of the class were using the new Excel 2007. So I taught it both ways and it went well. That’s what we’ll be doing next fall, as we’ll be teaching all our courses in Excel 2007, with references back to the older versions. This week I’m in the west. Victoria on Monday, Vancouver on Tuesday, Calgary Wednesday and Thursday and Regina Friday. Fly home Friday night and then back to Vancouver next Sunday. It’s our busiest time of the year but it’s worth it. Nancy and I took time out yesterday to see the new James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and it was excellent.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of November 9, 2008

I was in the east coast last week doing seminars at PD week for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I taught three of our new Excel 2007 courses to full houses. Wednesday evening I flew home to do a keynote at the CGA Ontario annual conference on Thursday. Ward Blatch’s (one of our senior associates) father in law passed away suddenly on Tuesday, so I flew back to Halifax on Thursday night to cover for him on Friday. This week I’m working in Ontario with seminars in Markham, Toronto and Kitchener. Should be an easier week for me and I’ll get caught up on my outstanding work during the evening.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of November 2, 2008

Another busy fall week last week. The first three days I was teaching my Excel seminars in the Greater Toronto area. Thursday, Friday and Saturday we finished the Fall 2008 Accounting Technology seminar series in Toronto West, London and Toronto East. This was the 14th year we have done the tour and it was the biggest yet. Attendance was up and the reviews were extremely positive. This week I’m off to Halifax to do three days of Excel 2007 training for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia. Then it’s back home to do a keynote at the CGA Ontario annual conference this Thursday.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of October 27, 2008

Busy week last week as we took the Fall 2008 Accounting Technology seminar to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria and Vancouver. Attendance is up and the presentations are great. This week I’m doing three Excel seminars in the Toronto area and then wrapping up the AT tour with seminars in Toronto West, London and Toronto East. It’s our busiest time of the year but it’s great fun.
 

Dateline Vancouver, BC– Week of October 19, 2008

Interesting week last week. I started out in Ontario for most of the week with seminars in the Toronto area and then in Southwestern Ontario on Friday. Hustled from Chatham to the airport in London late Friday afternoon and flew to Vancouver. Saturday I did a keynote presentation at the Simply 2008 Consultants Conference in Vancouver. What a great event. Best attendance ever. Sunday I flew to Winnipeg to do an Excel seminar on Monday for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. Staying in Winnipeg Monday night and then starting the western Canada Accounting Technology seminars on Tuesday. It’s a busy week as we will be in Winnipeg Tuesday, Edmonton Wednesday, Calgary Thursday, Victoria Friday and Vancouver Saturday. But it’s fun and it’s a great tour this fall.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of October 12, 2008

We kicked off the Fall 2008 Accounting Technology seminar series tour last week. We opened in Burlington and then moved on to Moncton, Halifax, Montreal and Ottawa. The attendance was up again, which is good news for the partners. This is the 1st time ever we’ve been able to show both QuickBooks 2009 and Simply 2009 and this was a real hit with the attendees. Then it was home for Thanksgiving weekend. Still had a lot of work to do finalizing our manuals for the fall. Monday is our big day with 12 of our family sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. Then it’s on the road again with a couple of half day seminars for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, two sessions of my Power Excel for Simply Accounting users and then a session in Chatham, ON on Friday for the CGA Southern Work and Play seminar. Then it’s a quick trip to the London ON airport and a flight to Vancouver. I’m doing a keynote on Saturday morning at the 2008 Simply Accounting conference. Busy week but fun.

Dateline Brampton, ON– Week of October 5, 2008

Well September has come and gone and we’re into our busiest time of the year. Last week I was teaching my Power Excel seminar in Moncton, Halifax and Ottawa. Then on Thursday it was my 1st fall seminar for CGA Ontario. Friday and Saturday I was in the office getting ready for the launch of our fall 2008 Accounting Technology seminars. As well, I finalized our first four 2007 Excel Self Study courses. This week we’re off on the fall At tour. We start in Burlington on Monday and then move on to Moncton, Halifax, Montreal and Ottawa. It should be a good one with lots of new products to unveil.

Dateline Prince George BC– Week of September 21, 2008

I’m on the road again. Last week I did a two day technology conference in Toronto and then headed west Tuesday night. Wednesday I did my Power Excel for Simply Accounting Users seminar in Vancouver. Thursday I was in Kelowna doing a keynote at the CGA BC conference and then Friday I did my Power Excel seminar in Kelowna. It was a treat to be in the same city for three days. Sunday I headed to Prince George BC to do another Power Excel seminar. Then I get to do it again in Calgary, Saskatoon and London. Friday I end up in Sarnia ON for an Excel Reporting seminar. A lot of travel but it’s worth it. The picture this week shows me presenting at the CGA Ontario Technology Symposium.

Dateline Brampton – Week of September 14, 2008

What a great week we had last week. Nancy and I flew to Hamilton, Bermuda last Sunday to spend a week on that colorful island. I had three and a half days of seminars to do for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda, while Nancy had six days of holidays. The island is spectacular. Located in the Atlantic off the coast of South Carolina, it is right in the path of the Gulfstream which give it a tropical climate. It was sunny and 30 degrees for the whole week. We stayed at the Royal Palm Hotel, which is a 5 start guest house on the fringe of the city of Hamilton. We had a great two room suite with lots of room and a patio for Nancy to sun bathe one. I had a day and a half off, so we played tourist and took the ferry to the old British Dockyards and to the historic town of St. George. A lot of British history here. This week I head out for a full week of training. Two days in Toronto, one day in Vancouver and two days in Kelowna, BC. It’s the start of a busy fall teaching season and I’m ready for it.

Dateline Hamilton Bermuda – Week of September 7, 2008

Last week was my last opportunity to get ready for a busy fall seminar season. For the 1st three days Nancy and I were at the cottage enjoying wonderful weather with not a cloud in the sky. The rest of the week we were home in Brampton. I got a lot done during the week. The course manuals are 90% done and three of the Self Study courses are finished. Today was Nancy’s 60th birthday and we celebrated by flying to the island of Bermuda. Fortunately, it’s well off the track of the three hurricanes that are threatening the US. I have five seminars to teach this week for the Bermuda Institute of Chartered Accountants. The good news is that it’s not all work. Nancy and I have all day Monday and Wednesday afternoon to play tourist. We have never been to Bermuda, so this will be a new experience for both of us and we’re looking forward to the week with a great deal of anticipation.

Dateline Brampton – Week of August 31, 2008

Last week had a little bit of everything. I taught a seminar in Brantford on Tuesday and then flew to Winnipeg to do two days of Excel training for a private client. Friday at noon we headed to the cottage for a really long weekend. In between seminars I was working away on finalizing our fall manuals and our new Self Study courses. It’s a big job but I’m on schedule. This week we’re at the cottage until late Wednesday. The weather has been fabulous and this week promises more of the same. It won’t be a real holiday though as I’ll be working. However, the environment is sure great.

Dateline Charlotte, NC – Week of August 24, 2008

Fall is fast approaching and where has the summer gone? Last week I spent two days in Charlotte, NC working at one of our K2 Enterprises technology conferences. I got a chance to see some of our new fall courses and spend time with my partners. Thursday, I taught an in-house Excel seminar in Mississauga. The rest of the week was spent working on our fall courses. The good news for the week was that I finished our 1st Self Study course and it is out for beta testing. This is a new program that we will be launching October 1st. These two hour courses can be done on your time and at your location. This week I do an in-house Excel course in Brantford and then two seminars in Winnipeg. Friday, Nancy and I head for the cottage and we’ll be there over the Labor Day weekend. Relaxing but I’ll still be working on course material.

Dateline Charlotte, NC – Week of August 17, 2008

Had a good week last week, as I spent most of it at our family cottage north of Toronto. It got interrupted on Tuesday when I had to fly to Atlanta for a one day session with two of my partners. We put the finishing touches on our new Self Study programs which launches October 1st. We got the 1st one finished, so now it’s just a case of me getting the other four up on the Self Study web site. Thursday and Friday I was back at the cottage. The weather wasn’t great, with a fair bit of rain, but it was still pleasant. This week I start out in Charlotte, NC where I will be attending one of our K2 Technology Conferences. I need to see the new sessions that we will be incorporating into our Canadian conferences this fall. Thursday I teach a private Excel seminar in the Toronto area. The rest of the time I will be working on editing our new manuals

Dateline The Cottage – Week of August 10, 2008

Was in my home office last week. Working on making minor changes to our Excel manuals for the fall and continuing to work on our new Self Study courses. The weather wasn’t great with intermittent rain but Nancy and I still found time for our daily glass of wine on our deck each afternoon about 5:30. That’s a tradition for the two of us. This week we’re at the cottage north of Toronto. Nancy will be here all week. I have to fly to Atlanta for a one day meeting with two of my partners on Wednesday, so I’ll miss a couple of days. While I’m looking at the lake I’ll continue to work on manuals and our self study courses. Great environment to do that.

Dateline Brampton – Week of August 3, 2008

It was an easy week last week. I taught an in-house Excel seminar in Toronto on Monday. The rest of the week I was cleaning off my desk and starting to work on our fall courses. Got a lot of work to do there. The highlight of the week was picking up our new car on Wednesday afternoon. Nancy spoiled me with an Infiniti M35x. The technology is amazing. This week I’ll continuing my work on courses for the fall.

Dateline Fox Point Ontario – Week of July 27, 2008

Short week last week as I finished my summer teaching for the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants. Three days of teaching and then a long weekend at the family cottage north of Toronto. Good to get away. This week I have an private in-house seminar in Toronto and the rest of the time I will be getting ready for a busy fall.
 

Dateline Vancouver – Week of July 20, 2008

Excellent week last week. I flew from Toronto to Kelowna on Sunday and had a drink with an old friend of mine at the Grande Okanagan Hotel. Monday I taught my Advanced Excel seminar and then flew to Vancouver. Tuesday it was my Excel Financial Reporting seminar and then off to Victoria. The BC Institute of Chartered Accountants uses the Delta Ocean Pointe and this is a favorite of mine. I had dinner in the dining room looking at the Inner Harbor. What a marvelous view. Then it was back to Vancouver for Thursday and Friday. Home on Saturday. This week I’m teaching in the Toronto area for the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants. Then Thursday we’re off to the cottage for a long weekend.
 

Dateline Brampton – Week of July 13, 2008

Interesting week last week. Monday and Tuesday I was teaching my Excel seminars in Ottawa. Wednesday morning I headed for New Orleans for our summer K2 Enterprises partners meeting. Always great to spend time with my four US partners. This was our planning meeting for 2009 and we got a lot done. We’ll be dropping a couple of seminars next year and adding a half day Word Tips and Outlook Tips events. They should do well. This week I’m headed west to teach in BC. Seminars in Kelowna on Monday, Vancouver Tuesday, Victoria Wednesday and Vancouver again on Thursday and Friday. It’s my last long trip of the summer.

Dateline Brampton – Week of July 6, 2008

Last week was an interesting week. For the first part of the week we were relaxing in Bali, Indonesia. Tuesday we headed to the north of the island to visit the elephant camp. This was a fun day as we got to ride an elephant for about 45 minutes, enjoy a delicious lunch and then watch the elephants perform for us. Tuesday night we enjoyed a private dinner on the beach at Bali. What a great way to end our two weeks in Asia. Thursday we started the long journey home and after 25 hours of flying we were back in our house in Brampton. But no rest for the wicked as I had to teach an Excel seminar in Burlington on Friday. This week I’m off to Ottawa for two days of seminars and then I head south to New Orleans for our summer partner’s meeting. We’ve got a lot of planning to do for a busy fall.

Dateline Bali, Indonesia – Week of June 29, 2008

Nancy and I had a great time last week. I spent from Sunday to Friday noon co-managing the Internet Café at the annual Lions Clubs International world convention, which this year, was held in Bangkok. It’s a lot of work providing free e-mail service to 16,000 delegates but it’s sure worth it. I’ve been doing it for nine years now and a lot of old friends now show up each year. We put through just under3,000 people during the week. While I was working Nancy was enjoying the sites of Bangkok. Each day she did an excursion to a shopping, tourist or historical site. Thursday we had a lovely dinner cruising the river that flows through Bangkok. Saturday we headed out of town to do a private tour of some special places. Out first stop was at the Bridge Over the River Quai. This infamous prisoner of war camp held thousands of British, Dutch and US prisoners of war between 1941 and 1945. They were forced to build the railroad that joined Siam with Burma. Thousands of the prisoners died from malaria and malnutrition. The museum at the bridge documents their terrible life. The bridge itself is still there and we were able to walk over the narrow bridge and into the jungle. After a delicious Thai lunch we headed west to the Tiger Temple. This is a little known site that is home to tigers that have been saved from starvation. They have three full grown tigers, eight youngsters and three babies that are only five weeks old. At 1:30 each day they bring the tigers into a central area where they can be photographed. Then in groups of three you accompany a full grown tiger down to the Tiger canyon. There the tigers are let loose and you can have your picture taken with a tiger’s head on your lap. What an amazing and memorable experience. This week we’re in Bali for three days of rest and relaxation and then we make the long 25 hour flight home on Wednesday night and Thursday. Friday I’m back teaching one of the my Excel seminars again in Toronto.

Dateline Bangkok – Week of June 22, 2008

Last week was an interesting week. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I did my Excel seminars in the Greater Toronto area. In between, we did a lot of running around. My driver’s license and health card had to be renewed so that meant standing in line twice for an hour each. We also had to finalize some legal matters, so that involved a trip to our lawyer’s office. Thursday afternoon we headed off to Asia to co-manage the Internet Café at the annual Lion’s Clubs International conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Our first flight was to New York City where we had to move from La Guardia airport to Kennedy. Fortunately, it wasn’t rush hour, so the taxi ride was uneventful. From Kennedy we flew overnight to Frankfurt, Germany on Singapore Airlines, which is without a doubt one of the top three airlines in the world. We had a two hour layover in Frankfurt but we didn’t have to change planes, which was a bonus. From Frankfurt it was a 12 hour flight to Singapore. We were flying business class, so we had lots of leg room and a flat seat bed. Both Nancy and I got about five hours of sleep on the flight. In Singapore we had a two hour layover before the 2 hour short flight to Bangkok. We’re staying at the Shangri-La hotel, which is a 5 star hotel right on the river in downtown Bangkok. It’s close to shopping and the Sky train, so Nancy won’t be bored. The hotel is great and we can sit on our balcony and watch the traffic on the river below. The junks, ferries and tugs go up and down the river all day long.

Saturday and Sunday was devoted to getting the Internet Café functioning. Fortunately, we have an IT team to work with us. We will have 20 e-mail stations and 3 VOIP phones working by 9 am Monday morning. Over 5,000 people will use the service before the end of the week. It’s a challenge to deal with the multiplicity of languages spoken by the 16,000 delegates but it’s fun. This is the 9th year that Dan Uitti and I have managed this service and it’s great to visit with people we only see once a year.
 

Dateline Brampton – Week of June 15, 2008

Last week I was back in Western Canada for 5 days. Tuesday and Wednesday I was in Vancouver doing my Excel seminars for the BC Institute of Chartered Accountants. Wednesday night I hopped over to Calgary. Thursday and Friday we did our Technology Conference for the Alberta Institute of Chartered Accountants. Our team for this one was Bob Spencer from K2 Enterprises US and Ward Blatch from Halifax. The conference went well and we got a lot of positive feedback. For the 1st part of this week I’m doing my Excel seminars in Burlington, Mississauga and Kitchener. Thursday, Nancy and I are off to Bangkok, Thailand where I will co-chair the Internet Café at the annual Lions Clubs International conference. It will be a long flight as our routing takes us to New York, Frankfurt, Singapore and then on to Thailand. This is always a fun week, particularly when it’s at an international destination. We’ll provide Internet access for over 2,000 Lions and family during the week of the convention.

Dateline Brampton – Week of June 8, 2008

Last week we focused on the Spring 2008 Accounting Technology tour. Monday we were in Calgary, Tuesday in Edmonton, flew back to Toronto on Wednesday and then did London on Thursday, Toronto West on Friday and Toronto East on Saturday. We had a record attendance and the feedback has been very positive. I start this week in Toronto teaching one of my Excel seminars and then head west to Vancouver for two days of seminars. Then it’s over to Calgary to chair the 2008 Accounting Technology Conference for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta. I get home on Saturday for a short weekend.

Dateline Brampton – Week of June 1, 2008

Another busy week last week. I started in Toronto with the two day CGA Ontario Technology Symposium. The place was packed and we had an excellent event. From there I moved to Edmonton for one of my Excel courses and a Simply Accounting Reporting seminar. Then over to Vancouver for an Excel course and the launch of the Spring 2008 Accounting Technology series. We had a great day on Saturday with a large crowd and rave reviews. This week we take the AT tour to Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto West, London and Toronto East.

Dateline Brampton – Week of May 25, 2008

Busy and challenging week last week. Two days of seminars in Toronto, a two day conference in Vancouver and a one day conference in Winnipeg. Sure racking up the Aeroplan points. All of the events went well and the evaluations were excellent. This week I have a two day CGA Ontario conference in Toronto and then head west again. Two days of seminars in Edmonton and then one on Friday in Vancouver. Saturday we kick off the spring 2008 Accounting Technology tour in Vancouver. The registrations are excellent and we’ll have close to 150 attendees in Vancouver.

Dateline Brampton – Week of May 18, 2008

I had a great time in Washington last week attending the Sage Software Insights conference. The sessions were excellent and I met a number of old friends. Plus I got to spend time with Randy Johnston who is one of my K2 Enterprises partners. We got a lot of planning work for 2009 out of the way. Wednesday night I was treated to dinner by Tom and Linda Cranmore. They are old friends from our Antigua days and it was good to get caught on what they have been doing for the last couple of years. Then it was home to co-chair a four day alumni conference in. This is an annual event and it was a great weekend. The highlight was the Saturday night dinner when my oldest grandson performed his Scottish Dancing numbers. He’s a gold medalist and puts on a great show. This week I have two Excel seminars to do in the Toronto area and then I head west to Vancouver to participate in a Technology Conference organized by the British Columbia Institute of Chartered Accountants. Should be a great two days. Then I’m off to Winnipeg to do a one day conference for CGA Manitoba. Get home late Friday night.

Dateline Brampton – Week of May 11, 2008

Time to get back to work. Last week I did my Excel seminars in Brampton, Vaughn, Toronto and Mississauga. This week I’m off to Washington for the Sage Insights Conference. This is always a great event and I’ll come away with new insights into where Sage is going with its many accounting products. I will also get to spend some planning time with my US partner, Randy Johnston. When I get home on Thursday, Nancy and I move to Burlington for the long weekend. I’m co-chairing an alumni conference.

Dateline Singapore – Week of May 4, 2008 - addition
The Jury is In - The 747 vs. the A 380

I flew the A380 from Singapore to Sydney on Friday evening. I’m on a Star Alliance 1st class Around the World ticket but Singapore Airlines won’t book me in a suite on the 380, so I had to settle for Business Class. They consider their suites to be a cut above normal international 1st class.

Before I give you my opinion, I need to comment on Changi airport in Singapore. I have always considered Changi to be the best airport in the world and it’s now even better with the new Concourse C. This was built for the 380 and includes a huge waiting area, with great shops and restaurants. It only took 15 minutes to load the 500 passengers on the aircraft. If you’re in business class on the upper deck you go up a ramp – no stairs.

Along with the new concourse is a magnificent new Kris lounge. Both the Business Class and 1st Class lounges are a site to behold. Makes the Air Canada lounges look like a 1 Star Hotel. Great sitting areas, complete meals and an Internet area with more than 20 computers and 10 workstations. Free broad band Internet, of course. In the 1st class lounge there is a chef to cook you a meal.

Now let’s get back to the A380. It’s a great aircraft, extremely quiet and spacious. The way they’ve subdivided the plane turns it into a bunch of little aircraft. You don’t realize that there are 500 people on board.

1. The Suite class is overrated. I had the opportunity to try one (helps to have a press pass) and the only difference between them and the normal 1st class is the partitions that give you privacy. Would I pay extra for one – NO.
2. Business class on the A380 is significantly better than normal international business class. Wider seats and more privacy. Flat beds, of course. So if I could only fly business class, I would pick the 380.

It was a good experience. As Nancy says, I’ve now got another airplane under my belt.

As an aside, I was supposed to fly back to Singapore on another 380. But when I boarded the aircraft it was a 747. They had changed the aircraft for that flight and I wasn’t aware of it. The good news is that I was now back in 1st class. I was a very happy camper.

So should you fly the A380. Sure, it would be a great experience.
 

Dateline Singapore – Week of May 4, 2008

I’m still away, but that will change this week. Last week was another fabulous week in the Highlands of Scotland. Sunday we got to Inverness, which was our most northern point in our counter clockwise tour of Scotland. During the day we drove the back narrow hilly roads of the highlands. Quite an experience. In the late afternoon we arrived at Castle Stuart, which was to be our home for the night. It was built in the 1600s and restored in the 1980s. It is now a 4 star hotel that accommodates 16 guests in 8 bedrooms. Each tower of the castle contains 4 bedrooms. The centre section contains the dining room, great room and drawing room. We discovered that we were the only guests Sunday night, so we had our pick of the rooms. We chose one half way up in the east tower. No elevator and 99 steps in each tower. We were piped to dinner by a real piper and, of course, I had to wear my kilt again. We were served an intimate dinner in the dining room, where the table accommodates 20 people. We felt like a King and Queen.

Monday we continued west towards the Isle of Skye. More back roads and quaint little villages in the highlands. We always stop for lunch in a local pub. Nigel is a great guide and its sure nice to let him do the driving. Tuesday, it was time to explore the Isle of Skye. The island is now connected by a bridge, so it’s not as isolated as it once was. Certainly picturesque with the highlands running down to the sea. In the afternoon we stopped in the main small town on the island to let Nancy do some shopping.

Wednesday and it was time to head south and return to Edinburgh. A five hour drive but great scenery in the highlands. We said good bye to Nigel and ended our April holiday. Thursday we flew to Frankfurt, Germany and then parted company. Nancy headed home while I pointed east to do my 6th around the world flight in the last 6 years. The 1st leg took me to Singapore. That’s an 11 hour flight, but when you’re flying 1st class on an international flight you get a flat bed seat, so I got a pretty good night’s sleep. After spending most of the day in Changi airport, in Singapore, I headed south to Sydney, Australia.

This gave me a chance to fly on the new double deck Airbus 380. What an amazing aircraft it is. Very quiet and you do not get the feeling that there are 500 passengers on the airplane. I was in business class and it was nicer than the normal business class on international flights, but not as comfortable as 1st class. I spent the day in Sydney and then Sunday morning headed home.

This week I’m flying from Singapore to Tokyo and then on to New York and Toronto. I get home late Monday, afternoon. It’s been a great month, but now it’s time to get back to work. I get Tuesday off to recover and then teach seminars on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. It will be good to get back at it again.

The pictures this week show us with the piper, dinner at Castle Stuart, the drawing room and the upper deck business class section on the A380.
 

Dateline Edinburgh, Scotland – Week of April 27, 2008

Well our visit to the Dalmatian coast is quickly coming to an end. On Monday we were in Sibenik, Croatia. This is another of the very small cities on the Dalmatian coast. The harbor is hidden and you sail through a very narrow channel to get in. It has a walled inner city with the usual narrow streets and centuries old cathedral. The highlight of our visit to Sibenik was a visit to Kirka National Park. Waterfalls, gorges and traces of ancient settlements along the Kirka River are fabulous. Tuesday we left Sibenik for our final voyage to Venice where we will fly to Edinburgh.

Wednesday was a long travel day. We had to leave the ship at 9 but our flight to Frankfurt didn’t leave until 2:30 so we had lots of time in the lounge at the Venice airport. Same situation in Frankfurt where we had a four hour layover before leaving for Edinburgh.

Thursday we met Nigel Cole, who is our driver guide for our week in Scotland. We start at the Edinburgh Castle and worked our way down the famous Golden Mile. Our 1st stop was the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre where we had a fascinating tour which showed us how whisky is made. From the it was down the Golden Mile to a Scottish pub for lunch where we had a bit of Haggis. In the afternoon we visited the Scottish Parliament buildings. This six year building features modern architecture and is very controversial.

Friday we headed out of Edinburgh and our 1st stop was in the city of Dunfermline, which was once the capital of Scotland, where we visited the Abbey and the former royal palace, which is now in ruins. From Dunfermline we headed northeast to the coast where we visited several quaint fishing villages on the North Sea. For lunch we stopped at a chip shop which always wins the best fish and chips award in Scotland. They were amazing. Then it was off to St. Andrews to visit the university, old town and of course the famous gold courses. We stayed at the Old Course Hotel, which is located right beside the 7th hole of the old course. From our suite we could watch the golfers playing this famous course.

My great great grandfather was a colonel in the Black Watch, so I decided to honor his memory by wearing the Black Watch dress kilt in Scotland. Dinner in the Old Course Hotel was my first adventure and it went well. Saturday morning Nancy and I walked across the old course to the sea for a walk on the beach. This was used for one of the scenes in Chariots of Fire.

Saturday we headed northwest towards the highlands and our 1st stop was Glamis Castle. This was the former home of the Queen Mother and it is a magnificent palace. We were able to visit most of the rooms in the castle, including the three rooms that the Queen Mother lived in after her marriage to George VI. From Glamis we headed to Dunkeld for a pub lunch in an old hotel. In the afternoon we drove over a mountain pass to our hotel. We stayed at Kinnaird House which is the restored home of a former British Earl. The rooms are magnificent and we had a wonderful dinner overlooking the River Tay.

This week we continue our tour of the highlands and head north to Inverness, we will be staying in Castle Stuart. Monday and Tuesday we will be touring the Isle of Skye. Then Wednesday we wind our way back to Edinburgh. Nancy flies home on Thursday, while I head east to Singapore and then on to Sydney, Australia.

The pictures this week are of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Castle, eating fish and chips, the Old Course Hotel, my kilt, Glamis Castle and Kinneard House.
 

Dateline Sibenik, Croatia – Week of April 20, 2008

Nancy and I have just finished a 14 day cruise of the Adriatic coast of Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro. We visited 9 different ports and in every port except one I was able to piggyback on an unsecured wireless connection. The attached picture shows me working for almost two hours in the Croatian port of Sibenik. You should have seen the stares I got.

The best experience was in Dubrovnik, where a fellow passenger and I sat outside of the Dubrovnik police station and attached to their wireless network. ?

We’re now off to Scotland for a week.

Dateline Dubrovnik, Croatia – Week of April 20, 2008

Another amazing week cruising the eastern coastline of the Adriatic Sea. Monday we reached the old city of Zadar in Croatia. It’s an old town that is located on a narrow peninsula which separates the harbor from the mainland.

On Tuesday we sailed during the day to the Croatian town of Split. Wednesday we did a tour of the old walled city of Split. The Diocletian’s Palace is an amazing monument to a former emperor. In the afternoon we took a bus to the old cities of Solin and Trogit. Solin is the site of the ancient Roman city of Salona and we visited the ruins of the old Roman amphitheatre. Trogir is a UNESCO World Heritage site situated on a small island. Here we visited the Kameriengo fortress and a Romanesque cathedral.

Thursday morning we sailed from Split to Korcula. This is another ancient site and we visited the 15th century cathedral of St. Mark’s. In the evening we were treated to a concert of Croatian capella music on board the Monet.

Friday morning we arrived in the port city of Dubrovnik, which is the second largest city in Croatia. We docked outside of the city and took a bus to the old walled inner city. Again we visited the medieval buildings and monuments and wandered down the narrow streets. I found an Internet Café and got my files up to date.

Saturday was an interesting, but long day. From Dubrovnik we took a two hour bus ride to the country of Montenegro. Our first stop was the city of Kotor where the old town is a historic UNESCO site. We strolled across the moat and through one of the three gates into the narrow streets. After visiting the Cathedral we spent a pleasant hour in the main square enjoying a cappuccino and watching the people walking by. From Kotor we travelled to Budva to visit the world famous islet of St. Steven. On the way back we crossed the Boka Kotorska on a ferry. A long day but well worth the trip.

Sunday we were in port in Dubrovnik until 4 pm. We had warm sunny weather for the 1st time on the cruise and we spent a lazy day on the ship; Nancy did a lot of reading and I worked on our new manuals. At 4 we set sail for our last stop in Sibenik, Croatia. We’ll be there Monday and Tuesday morning. Wednesday we say goodbye to the Monet in Venice and fly to Edinburgh, Scotland. We’ll be there for a week doing a private tour of the Scottish Highlands.

The pictures this week show the Old Wall in Korcula, the Walled Old City of Dubrovnik, the new Harbor Bridge in Dubrovnik, the moat in Kotor, Montenegro and the historic bell in Budva.
 

Dateline Mali Losinj, Croatia – Week of April 13, 2008

Monday was our last day in Brampton for the next month. I had two client meetings in the morning and then we headed to the airport to start our month long adventure in Europe. Our first flight was to Frankfurt, Germany. It’s sure nice to fly up front where you have lots of leg room and decent service. We had a pretty good dinner and then put our seat back flat and got about 4hours of rest. From Frankfurt we did the short hop to Venice, Italy. This is one of our favorite cities in Europe and we always stay at the Locanda Vivaldi, a very small boutique hotel, right on the Grand Canal. It was the former home of the composer, Vivaldi. We always get a second floor room overlooking the Grand Canal. It’s fascinating to sit by the open window and watch the boats traverse the canal. Wednesday we took a private boat taxi to the glass factory on the island in Murano where we ordered a glass decanter and four red wine glasses. On each of our trips we buy one major item and Nancy was ecstatic with the pattern we selected. These are works of art and we’ll have to wait about eight weeks for them to be made and shipped to Canada.

Wednesday we took a short boat taxi to the docks where we boarded the cruise ship SS Monet. This is a very small but elegant ship that will be our home for the next two weeks, as we cruise the Adriatic. We departed Venice on Friday evening for Kopers, Slovenia, which is directly across the Adriatic Sea from Venice. Saturday we took a bus trip to the caves of Postojna. These are the largest caves in Europe and are an amazing sight. A small train took us two kilometers into the cave and then we walked for another three kilometers through the caves and grottos. The Stalagmites were impressive.

Saturday overnight we sailed from Kopers south to Mali Losinj, an island, in Croatia. Sunday we took a bus to the island of Cress where we visited a Griffin sanctuary. These are huge vultures with wing spans of over 10 feet.

This week we head south to Zadar, Split, Korcula and Dubrovnik. The Monet is small but we have a nice sized suite. All of the other 41 passengers are very friendly and we have enjoyed their company.

The pictures this week show the Locanda Vivaldi Hotel, the SS Monet, the train the caves, a Griffin and Nancy and me enjoying a cappuccino on the waterfront at Mali, Losinj.
 

Dateline Brampton (home), ON – Week of April 6, 2008

Yes, I’m home for a couple of days but that will change tomorrow. Nancy and I flew home from our winter home in Naples, Florida last Monday. Tuesday, I was in the office trying to deal with the admin stuff that had piled up over the past month. Wednesday I headed west for two days of meetings with the Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC Institutes of Chartered Accountants. We’re introducing a new Self Study program this fall for their members and I needed to show them our new manuals. Got back home late Friday. This week Nancy and I start our annual April adventure. This will be the 6th year that I have flown around the world. On Monday we’re headed for Venice, which is one of our favorite cities. We’ll be there for three days and then board the SS Monet for a 12 day cruise of the Croatian coast. This a small luxury ship that only carries 42 passengers. We start with a visit to the old city of Koper, next Friday. After the cruise we head for Edinburgh, Scotland for a weeklong guided tour of the Scottish Highlands. Nancy flies home on May 1 while I head east to Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Should be a great month.

Dateline Naples, FL – Week of March 29, 2008

I had an interesting time for me last week. I left our winter home on Monday and flew to Vancouver for a day of meetings with two of our clients. This is the time of year when my K2 Enterprises partners and I meet with our software clients. This give us a chance to be briefed on what’s coming in the year ahead. We’re always under non-disclosure, so I can’t share anything with you. However, there’s a lot of great enhancements in the pipeline. From Vancouver we drove south to Seattle for two days of high level meetings with Microsoft in Redmond. They’ve also got a lot of new releases coming this year. This week we leave our winter home in Naples, FL and head home on Monday. We’ve had a wonderful winter here. I’m home on April 1st and then head west again on the 2nd for meetings in Regina, Edmonton and Vancouver. I will be showing the various CA Institutes our new Self Study courses that we’ll launch this fall. So it will be busy week.

Dateline Naples, FL – Week of March 23, 2008

Another glorious week in our Naples, FL home. I spent the week working on admin work for K2 Enterprises Canada and finalizing the 1st of our Self Study manuals. Friday, I was online for most of the day attending web presentations on new software. There’s a lot of new stuff in the pipeline and I will showing some of these products and services in the June Accounting Technology seminar series. This week I’m back on the road again. Monday I fly to Vancouver for meetings with Sage and Softrak. Wednesday and Thursday I will be in Redmond, WA for briefing sessions with senior Microsoft staff. This is an annual event for me and my K2 partners. This is the time of year when these companies share with us their plans for the coming year. You’ll hear about them over time in my Bottom Line articles and in the conference and seminar presentations that I present in the coming months. Friday I fly back to Naples to spend the remaining three days of March with Nancy.

Dateline Naples, FL – Week of March 16, 2008

We had another glorious week at our winter home in Naples, Florida last week. The temperature was in the high 70s and low 80s with sun almost every day. Nancy got to the beach twice to work on her tan. I spent the week working on our fall and winter seminar schedule. What a challenge that is. Between Mona Carson, Ward Blatch and myself we’ve got 130 seminars to do. But, I finally got it all sorted out. Nancy flew back to Toronto for the weekend to visit with her mother. This week I’m back working on our Self Study courses. The writing is done; now I need to create the video clips to show people visually how Excel 2007 works. It’s tricky but it’s fun.

Week of March 2nd

I had my last week of winter for 2008 last week. I finished my western swing with seminars in Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Flew home Wednesday night and did an Excel seminar in Mississauga on Thursday. That’s it for my teaching until the 1st week of May. Friday it snowed again in Toronto, so I had to shovel out the driveway three times. Saturday, we left winter behind and flew back to Naples, FL. We’re in a different house from January as our January place had already been rented when we decided to come back in March. It’s not quite as nice but still comfortable for the two of us. This week we drive to Miami and then fly south to Panama to spend a couple of days with our friends Tom and Donna Dawson. Will make a nice break. On Wednesday we’re going to do a half day cruise through the Panama canal. Should be a lot of fun.

Week of February 24th

Last week I was in Western Canada teaching in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Somebody must like me as the weather was fabulous. It was plus 8 degrees in Calgary on Wednesday and Thursday. I spent the weekend in Edmonton and that gave me a chance to get caught up on my e-mail and a number of outstanding projects. This week I finish my teaching for February with seminars in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Toronto. Then Nancy and I head south to our winter home in Naples, Florida to spend the month of March in the sun. So we have 6 days of winter left.

Week of February 17th

Last week was another nasty weather week in Southern Ontario, but fortunately I was teaching in the Toronto area. Wednesday night it took me almost four hours to get from mid-town Toronto to our home north of the airport. That's normally about a 75 minute drive. In spite of the storm I had good attendance at my three Excel seminars. This week I'm off to the west for 12 days. Will be doing seminars in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg. The good news is that I'm in the three major cities for two days each, which reduces my travel. The bad news is that I get to spend next weekend in Edmonton. Normally that would not be a problem because I would spend time with my best friend Tom Dawson. However, he and Donna deserted Canada for Panama a year and a half ago so I'll be working in my hotel room and making a trip to the West Edmonton Mall. The best news of all is that I get back a week from next Wednesday night and we leave for a month in Naples on March 1st. So the end of winter for Nancy and me is only 13 days away.

Week of February 10th

Last week was one of those weeks that reminds you that there really is a winter in Southern Ontario. I taught in London, Kitchener and Ottawa last week. Getting to Ottawa was a real challenge. It took me three hours to get home from Kitchener early Wednesday evening. Supposed to fly to Ottawa that night but the flights were cancelled so I couldn’t get out until the 1st flight Thursday morning. Got to my class 50 minutes late but almost all of the attendees were late to, so All’s Well that End’s Well. This week is an easy week for me. Monday I’m in the office; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I’m teaching in Toronto. Friday I’m back in the office getting ready for a ten day trip to the west.

Week of February 3rd

Last week brought to an end our relaxing month of January in Naples, Florida. I got 8 Self Study courses written which was my target before I left. Nancy and I flew home on Thursday evening to a cold and dreary Toronto. Friday, I had to shovel the driveway before I headed off to teach my 1st seminar of the year in Mississauga. We got 20 cm of snow but the roads weren’t too bad. However, 8 of my class didn’t make it. This week I’m back at it again with a vengeance. Seminars in London, Kitchener and two in Ottawa. Good to get back at it though. Need to start accumulating Aeroplan points for our 2009 travel. We’re planning to visit Egypt and Turkey.

Week of January 27th

Another week in our winter home in Naples, Florida. The weather continues to be sunny but a little cool. The temperature has been averaging around 20 – 23 degrees. Certainly it’s better than the freezing weather in Toronto. I continue to work on my Self Study manuals and now have 8 at the final draft stage. That was my target for January so I’m pleased with myself. We took a break on the weekend and drove to Daytona Beach. Certainly not one of my favorite places in Florida but we needed to attend a US reunion to promote our Canadian reunion which is coming up in May. This week I’ll be focusing on my February seminars. I’ve got a full schedule and need to review a number of the seminars that I don’t do very often. We fly home on Thursday and I start teaching again on Friday.

Week of January 20th

Another pleasant week at our winter home in Naples, Florida. Got a lot done on my writing and still found time for an excursion every day with Nancy. Thursday I turned into a bachelor for the weekend, as Nancy flew back to Toronto to spend some time with her mother and celebrate her second oldest daughter’s birthday. She’s back on Monday of this week. This week I want to finish two more Self Study courses. In between we’re having friends down from Sarasota for lunch on Thursday and then on Friday we’re off to a reunion at Daytona Beach for the weekend. We certainly don’t have any trouble keeping busy.

Week of January 13th

Another week in Naples, Florida for Nancy and me. The weather has warmed up nicely and it’s been around 20 to 25 degrees every day. I’m working hard on my new Self Study manuals and have the text done for five of them. I want to get another three to this stage before we he head back to Toronto at the end of the month. But it’s not all work. We find something to do every day. Yesterday we took in the Bonita Springs Art Fest. This is a major exhibition that attracts over 75,000 people on the two days that it is open. Found a really gorgeous stone necklace for Nancy. Other days we’ll visit one of the major malls and I’ll enjoy a cappuccino at a Barnes and Nobles bookstore while Nancy takes in the stores. Jack and Hedda Rothman spent two days with us last week and we had a great time. Jack is a former client and a good friend. This coming week will be a little different, as Nancy flies home on Thursday for three days to spend some time with her aging mother. I’ll get a lot of writing done while she’s gone.

Week of January 6th

Last week was a good week for Nancy and me. We had a very quiet New Year’s Eve and then got out of Toronto on January 1st for our winter home in Naples, Florida. We’ll be here until the end of January. We were delayed for 90 minutes because of the snow storm that hit Toronto on New Year’s Day but that was a small price to pay to leave winter behind. This year we’re renting a home in Naples, instead of a condo. We’ve got lots of room, plus a pool and hot tub. Great place for me to write. I’m doing well with my Self Study manuals; finished the 3rd one today, with another four more to go this month. This week it will be more of the Florida sun, plus a lot more writing. I get a break on Tuesday when Jack and Hedda Rothman pay us a visit. Jack is a former client and long time friend. They’re driving over from West Palm Beach to spend a couple of days with us. The picture shows my winter office, overlooking the pool. Tough life, but somebody has to do it.

Alan's World 2007

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Alan's World Pre-2005