The schedule for accu2009 has been published and registration is now open. Every year I say what a fantastic programme it is, and I can say without hyperbole that this year's programme is as terrific as ever. This year's keynote speakers include 'Uncle Bob' Martin, and Baroness Susan Greenfield. Other speakers include Andrei Alexandrescu, Michael Feathers, Angelika Langer, and Diomidis Spinellis.

If you're a programmer and you care even remotely about your craft, you should think about going. It'll be hard, tiring work - every year I come back exhausted, but it'll be exciting, invigourating, revealing fun. You'll have some aspects of what you do challenged and some confirmed. You'll look at other things in an entirely new way. You will be a better programmer for going. There's no other conference like it. It's terrific value for money too - £465 for a 4 day conference. By comparison, three days at QCon costs £1105, three days at DevWeek costs £1200.

But you would say that, Jez, you're the ACCU Chair ...

Well, yes I am the Chair. But I joined in running ACCU because things like the conference were so good, I don't say they're good because I'm Chair.

My already meagre ornithological skills have clearly atrophied to almost nothing. Two days ago, shortly after I'd topped up the bird-feeder with high-energy seed'n'peanut goodness, Natalie spotted a robin bipping about in the holly tree. The low morning sun was hitting square on, lighting it up like a little avian beacon, so bright was it.

We saw our glowing little friend again the next morning. With her mate. Things begin to grind. That's wrong - robins are wildly territorial and absolutely don't get chummy in the winter. Then to clinch the deal, glow-bird's pal flits onto the feeder, showing off his splendid white backside.

I scraped, head hung in shame, around for my tiny binoculars and field guide for confirmation. How could a new bird visit the garden and it take me two days for me to spot it? Especially when it's as distinctive as a bullfinch? Even at twenty metres and not really paying attention, I should be able to tell one of these from one of those.

Didn't see them this morning, so perhaps they've moved on. Keep an eye out ...