The past few weeks have been pretty typical and symptomatic of the crazy world that is the life of a member of the Microsoft Academic Team. I’ve spent most of the time on the road hosting, presenting to and interacting with a whole bunch of student developers of all ages and sizes; starting with the Microsoft Student Partner Meeting in London; then a road trip down to Swansea for a 4 day Technocamp which consisted of a series of hands-on technology sessions (Digital Imagery, Graphics and Gaming, Internet Systems, Web design and development using HTML and Simulation) for forty 14-15 year olds from the Swansea Bay Area hosted by the Department of Computer Science at the University of Wales Swansea; and I’m now just through with a "mentoring" stint for the 7 different teams that have made it to the finals of the UK Imagine Cup student programming competition somewhere in the darkest and deepest depths of Oxfordshire.

Official congratulations have to go to all 29 UK Imagine Cup finalists who were just outstanding however I just wanted to call out four MSPs who made it through to the last stages - Amjad (Liverpool Hope University); Andy (University of Hull); David (Sheffield University) and Peter (University of York). However so as not to steal Gavin's thunder I'll let him give you the skinny and final scores on the doors of the UK Imagine Cup Final.

Getting out and about on the road really has to the best part of my job and the one that’s definitely the most rewarding. It’s great to see at first hand the amazing and inspirational things you guys are doing with technology. And of course it gives me the opportunity to sample the local sights, delights, the odd bar and hotels of the local environs. Indeed if you’re ever in Swansea I can personally recommend Morgans Hotel, a converted, grade II listed former port authority building on the road out towards the Mumbles and the fabulous Gower peninsular.

So now all that's left are the Imagine Cup Awards ceremony and party and then I'm off to recharge my batteries over the Easter Break.