WordCamp this weekend

There are only a few days left before it’s WordCamp time! I’m thrilled to be able to go to WordCamp UK this year. I’ve been wanting to go since I heard about WordCamps, and this one just happened to fit really neatly. It’s in Manchester which means I can boat and train my way there. I may even do some shopping, though I won’t be carrying any wholesale appliances back home. I do want to have a play with an iPad if I find one in the shops, but there are so many things going on, I’m not sure if I’ll find the time for a spot of retail therapy.

So, what’s on the cards? Well, I haven’t had a chance to really study the Running Order, but there are a few sessions that look quite interesting. There are also a number of WordHack sessions which look quite challenging. I’ll keep blogging about it.

Going to WordCamp UK

Yeay! I just managed to sort out a slot so that I can go to Word Camp UK! WordCamp UK is an informal annual gathering of WordPress publishers, designers and developers based in the United Kingdom, held at a different location around the country each year. This year the third WordCamp UK takes place at the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School on the weekend of 17-18 July 2010.

I’m pumped that I’m going to manage to make it this year. I wanted to go last year, but it was in Cardiff and I just couldn’t make the travel arrangements work. Manchester is just a boat and a train ride away from here so it will be great! It’s going to be WordPress all the way, no chance to catch a show, buy nuphedragen or do any sort of shopping. It should be awesome!

Can I make it to WordPress UK?

There’s an outline of some of the WordCamps happening this summer and the one that caught my eye was WordPress UK! Here’s what they say:

July 17–18: WordCamp UK- Manchester, England, UK. The roving WordCamp UK will be in Manchester this year, and is probably the closest to BarCamp style of all the WordCamps, using a wiki to plan some speakers/sessions and organizing the rest ad-hoc on the first day of the event. I’ll be attending this one as well, and am looking forward to seeing WordPress lead developer Peter Westwood again. I’m also looking forward to meeting some core contributors for the first time in person, like Simon Wheatley and John O’Nolan. Mike Little, co-founder of WordPress, is on the organizing team of WordCamp UK. Tickets on sale now!

I’m going to see if there’s anything I can do to fit that in as it would be awesome to make it to a WordCamp finally. Maybe I can buy gold online, sell it again and use the profits to fund a WordCamp trip.. what do you think?

Heading to WordCamp San Francisco ?

I’ve just read down the WordPress Blog that WordCamp San Francisco is happening in a few days time. If you’re unfamiliar with WordCamp:

If you’re unfamiliar with WordCamps, here’s the skinny: the San Francisco event is the flagship, put together each year under the direction of WordPress co-founder and lead developer Matt Mullenweg, who traditionally reports on the “State of the Word” and assembles a lineup of speakers that have inspired him over the past year. This year’s lineup includes luminaries such as Richard Stallman, the father of Free Software, best-selling author Scott Berkun, and Salon.com co-founder Scott Rosenberg. As the final speaker list is finalized, the remaining speakers will be added to the WordCamp SF website, but a surprise or two is still possible.

There are also a number of other WordCamps happening all over the world. So, forget about that relaxing weekend or that blackhead treatment you had booked, and head down to meet your WordPress buddies.

Meet other WordPress users

Are you interested in meeting other WordPress users? If so, here are some opportunities, events called WordCamps, meetups by people passionate about WordPress for similar like minded individuals. I’m not saying you won’t find people you can talk to about car accessories, but the main topic of conversation will be WordPress. Here are some dates and places:

WordCamp New Zealand: Wellington, New Zealand, August 8-9, 2009

WordCamp Huntsville: Huntsville, Alabama, USA, August 15–16, 2009

WordCamp Los Angeles: Los Angeles, California, USA, September 12, 2009

WordCamp Philippines: Makati City, Philippines, September 19, 2009

WordCamp Portland: Portland, Oregon, USA, September 19-20, 2009 (Last year’s PDX WordCamp was awesome, IMO.)

WordCamp Seattle: Seattle, Washington, USA, September 26, 2009

WordCamp Birmingham: Birmingham, Alabama, USA, September 26-27, 2009

WordCamp Netherlands: Utrecht, Netherlands, October 31, 2009

WordCamp NYC: New York, New York, USA, November 14-15, 2009 (Logo contest in progress!)

WordCamp Mexico: Mexico City, Mexico, November 20, 2009

Check them out and see if you can go to any of them.

WordCamp UK is over

Matt Mullenweg, creator of WordPress
Image by Matthew Burpee via Flickr

So, WordCamp UK has come to an end and unfortunately I couldn’t make it this year. But I’ve got my sights set on it and hope to be able to make it next year. There were some great speakers this year, and I would have loved to meet Matt Mullenweg, but it just wasn’t going to happen this time. It’s too close to our wedding anniversary (we’re off to Paris in a couple of days), we have twins on the way and the flights were just too expensive when I went to buy tickets.

I’ll be keeping a close eye on it next year, get my tickets in nice and early. People may be saving up for their next vacation, their Medicare supplement or even their pension .. me, I’ll be saving for Word Camp UK ;)

WordCamp UK

Are you based in the UK? If so, you might be interested in WordCamp UK which is taking place on the 18th and 19th of July. It looks like it’s shaping up to be a great event with a great programme of events with speakers like Matt Mullenweg and Dave Briggs.

I was planning to go myself, but travelling from the Isle of Man is just too expensive; so I’ve had to drop out. It’s a shame really, as I really had my heart set on it; but travel and acommodation will cost at least £400 and I need to save up. No, it’s not for Mesothelioma treatment or anything like that; but we have twins on the way and well, every penny counts.

Anyway, if you get the opportunity, you should head down there. Lots to learn and some great people to meet.