Well, I'd have gone anyway, but my Java iterator proposal has been accepted. Super. As ever, the conference is looking to be a belter, with keynotes lined up from 'Lean' Mary Poppendieck, C++ big-brain Dan Saks, and Linux-loving space-man Mark Shuttleworth.

Clearly as ACCU Chair, I have an interest in bigging the conference up, as I believe today's young people say, but actually I don't need to. The quality of the speakers we attract, both from outside ACCU and from within (as m'collegue Allan discussed), means the conference doesn't need empty hyperbole. It simply is a good conference. If you're interested in strong, technical presentations that will make you a better programmer and you can get to Oxford for 4 days in April, there's probably nothing better you could be doing with your time or money.