Today was a gem. It followed my current Normal Wednesday pattern.
Unplugged today included a mix of "regulars" and people who discovered Unplugged via Redrawing the Maps. Our discussion started with a diagram by Anthony McCann, and bounced off into explorations of play, experimentation, using our senses, science, philosphy/psychology of identity, roles, cultural stereotypes, learning through play and playfulness, how that kind of learning can/could/shoud/does apply to us as adults as well as children.
After Unplugged is a good time fo rme to meet people. Today my meeting was with Julliet Makhapila. She has just done a great event and updated me - but neither of us see our way to get it into writing at present. We wondered if we might have captured some of the details in writing if we'd been tweeting or skyping about it beforehand. With this in mind I demonstrated Skpe and Twitter to her - you can follow her @JNMakhapila
There were two happy coincidences, while Julliet and I were together. 1 - I got an unexpected phone call from @stevepodmore who'd introduced us in the first place and was pleased to find us together. 2 - When I logged on to show Skype to Julliet there was a message from David Hopson @nunnington - a much welcome "voice from the past" who has recently written Beyond Reason - Knowledge, Religion and Science in The West, David was online, and so we had a quick catch up and Julliet got to see Skype in action.
After Julliet and I separated I went to the Hub, bumped into various people I know, casught up on some news, and did some work online. I've been writing a chapter for a book on e-learning and the latest draft was back with some editors commens and request to phone to discuss them (with a 10pm deadline). I decided that was best done from home, and got there in time to have it all sorted before 9pm.
About an hour later I got a Skype video call from Jeff LaHay of Minnesota Renewable Energy Society who was at Fantsuam with John Dada earlier this year. We had wide ranging discussion, including putting a few things on the agenda for tomorrow's UK-Nigeria Dadamac meeting. Time flew - it was early evening for him when I notice that It was past midnight for me - and I still had a few things to do.
Hmm - I must have left my Skype status as online as I have just seen a new Skype message. It's from Andrius Kulikasukas - asking if I really am online so late... he knows my timezone is several hours ahead of his) Hmm.. it's months since we've been in touch, and a proper chat is tempting - but I know I sh'd be asleep by now. Guess it would be best to send the following message "Hi, Andrius. Yes I am - but shouldn't be. Hope things are well with you and we can catch up soon. Please see http://dadamac.net/blog/20121122/another-lovely-wednesday Goodnight". A chat with him would be a lovely way to end the day - but I need to be propely awake again for Thursday - which has a special pattern too.