The Conference Checklist - Rootstech London

When I usually attend a Rootstech event it is a shorter trip from Australia to Salt Lake City followed by a spot of touristing in the USA. This time Rootstech London comes at the beginning of an eight week holiday that takes us to the US, South America and Antarctica so getting ready is a real challenge as I need clothes and gear for so many climates. I also need space for my two day shopping spree in Miami.

I had my hair cut very short but will it last the distance? Now I need to look at the checklist I did for the last geneaconference, THE Genealogy Show 2019, that I attended in England  and modify it. 

If you are looking for me at Rootstech just seek out the little old lady with the distinctive bag.

The GeniAus bag

Here is my list. Highlighted is what else I must still do

• Airport transfer - Booked. After a 23+ hour flight we want our transfer to the hotel to be stress free. 
• Books - A couple of unread books that I can swap on our cruise ship once read. Have also download a few eBooks from the local library onto my phone.
• Purchase and pack breakfast bars, liquid breakfasts and healthy snacks for quick meals.
• Pack Clothes - always a challenge
• Deliver Paddy to his second home where he loves playing with his mate Freddo.
• Empty the Frig and Pantry - In Progress - they already resemble Mother Hubbard's Cupboard.
• Flights - Booked, Seats are allocated so no need to book in online.
• Foreign Currency - Task delegated to Mr GeniAus. Have GBP and USD.
• Hotel Accommodation - All booked.
• Luggage - Two small suitcases are easier than one large one for an old girl to manage, I take one small carryon for the plane basically because I can't pack batteries and laptop in luggage for the hold. I can't understand why so many people carry such large bags on board - they must pack the kitchen sink. I could make do with a large handbag.
• Maps - will rely on Google maps on my phone and 
• Mobile Phone and Battery Pack - We have a plan that gives us international roaming and a small data allowance. It is handy to be able to phone Mr GeniAus when I lose him in a cemetery or shopping mall. I had a dinosaur battery pack that is so heavy. Now have a lighter new one that give two charges.
• A Notebook - I lose loose bits of paper.
• Oyster Card for travel on London network
• Passport and ESTA (for the US) - Already in travel handbag with sleeping pills for the plane.
• Pegs and Laundry Soap -  No need to buy expensive "travel" products. 
• Pencil Case - a few pens and pencils and a small ruler that has a magnifying window(Handy for reading small print or old handwriting).

Nifty ruler with magnifying window 

• Phone the Banks and Amex:  Need to let them know we are travelling, helps them monitor for fraud - Done.
• Pills and potions - All sorted, have packed an emergency 'just in case' kit of favourites. A few days supply in handbag in case we part company with our bags.
• Rental Car - another job for Mr GeniAus, done months ago. 
• Compile list of research tasks for The National Archives - In progress in my Family Historian Database.
• Clean off all my SD cards - have backed up all photos on them to two hard drives.

Storage for my SD Cards

• Technology: Digital camera and charger, Laptop, Portable 4 TB HDD Drive ( I download and tag my photos religiously most days), Chargers, Universal Adapters. Most of this stuff lives in a purpose designed case that doesn't get unpacked between trips.  Of course my mouse will be travelling with me, I can't get by without my mouse.
• Scan Travel Docs - Include copies of prescriptions for drugs and glasses, health report from GP, Passport, Credit cards, Driver's Licence. Save onto phone, hard drive, Google Drive and computer. Mr GeniAus carries a hard copy of files as well.
• Should I take a Selfie Stick? I have a cheap, light one and a quality reliable one that is heavy.
• Travel insurance - Renewed.
• Walking stick - needed for cities with cobblestone and uneven paths.
• Water bottle - Can fill once I have passed through security at airports.

My Travel Tech setup 

Specifically for Rootstech

• Find out names of Aussies who are travelling to Rootstech London -- have set up a Facebook Group and organised a pre-conference dinner 
• Blogger Beads - which ones will I wear?
• Follow fellow Show attendees on Twitter - added a few new genimates to my feed already.
• Conference Registration - Pass downloaded and printed
• A light day bag for conference - Packed
• GeniAus Business Cards 
• GeniAus Ribbons 
• A Notebook - I find writing notes helps me to reinforce my learning
• Rootstech App - Downloaded
• A Schedule - Have put everything into my Google Calendar. Needs to be accessible on my phone.
• Technology - I take a few extra toys when attending a conference as I may want to blog, vlog or interview genimates includes A dual headed microphone for interviewing with my phone. 

Equipped for THE Genealogy Show 2019?

I try to travel light!

As I prepare for my trip to the UK to attend THE Genealogy Show 2019 I need to think about packing. Prior  to THE Show Mr GeniAus and I are doing a Garden Tour, visiting some UK archives and graves of the ancestors and  catching up with a cousin. I anticipate being exhausted after THE Show so we'll be boarding one of our favourite cruise ships for some R&R.

My cases are open on the floor of a spare room and the bed is littered with clothing, medications and other essentials! 

This is what I must remember:

• Airport transfer - After a 23 hour flight we want our transfer to the hotel to be stress free.
• Books - I'll take a couple of unread books that I can swap on our cruise ship once read. Will also download a few eBooks from the local library onto my phone.
• Purchase breakfast bars, liquid breakfasts and healthy snacks for quick meals - packed.
• Deliver Paddy to his second home where he loves playing with his mate Freddo.
• Empty the Frig and Pantry - In Progress - they already resemble Mother Hubbard's Cupboard.
• Flights - Booked, Seats are allocated so no need to book in online.
• Foreign Currency - Task delegated to Mr GeniAus. Have GBP and Euros.
• Hotel Accommodation - All booked.
• Luggage - Two small suitcases are easier than one large one for an old girl to manage, I take one small carryon for the plane basically because I can't pack batteries and laptop in luggage for the hold. I can't understand why so many people carry such large bags on board - they must pack the kitchen sink. I could make do with a large handbag.
• Maps - Taking a UK road atlas and Western Europe SatNav (if you are renting a car for more than a week buy your own SatNav - works out cheaper).
• Mobile Phone and Battery Pack - We have a plan that gives us international roaming and a small data allowance. It is handy to be able to phone Mr GeniAus when I lose him in a cemetery or shopping mall. I had a dinosaur battery pack that is so heavy. Now have a lighter new one that give two charges.
• A Notebook - I lose loose bits of paper.
• Passport - Already in travel handbag with sleeping pills for the plane.
• Pegs and Laundry Soap -  No need to buy expensive "travel" products. 
• Pencil Case - a few pens and pencils and a small ruler that has a magnifying window(Handy for reading small print or old handwriting).

Nifty ruler with magnifying window 

• Phone the Banks and Amex:  Need to let them know we are travelling, helps them monitor for fraud - Done.
• Pills and potions - All sorted, have packed an emergency 'just in case' kit of favourites. A few days supply in handbag in case we part company with our bags.
• Plastic Plates and Cutlery -  Just two sets.There's nothing like a picnic dinner of bread, cheese,tomatoes and ham.
• Rental Car - another job for Mr GeniAus, done months ago. 
• Compile list of research tasks for The National Archives - In progress in my Family Historian Database.
• Clean off all my SD cards - have backed up all photos on them to two hard drives.

Storage for my SD Cards

• Technology: Digital camera and charger, Laptop, Portable 4 TB HDD Drive ( I download and tag my photos religiously most days), Chargers, Universal Adapters. Most of this stuff lives in a purpose designed case that doesn't get unpacked between trips.  Of course my mouse will be travelling with me, I can't get by without my mouse.
• Scan Travel Docs - Include copies of prescriptions for drugs and glasses, health report from GP, Passport, Credit cards, Driver's Licence. Save onto phone, hard drive, Google Drive and computer. Mr GeniAus carries a hard copy of files as well.
• Should I take a Selfie Stick? I have a cheap, light one and a quality reliable one that is heavy.
• Travel insurance - Renewed.
• Walking stick - needed for cities with cobblestone and uneven paths.
• Water bottle - Can fill once I have passed through security at airports.

My Travel Tech setup 

Specifically for THE Show

• Follow fellow Show attendees on Twitter - added a few new genimates to my feed already.
• Find out names of Aussies who are travelling to THE Show -- wonder if I have missed anyone?
• Conference Registration - Done
• GeniAus Business Cards - Packed
• GeniAus Ribbons - Packed
• Blogger Beads - which ones will I wear?
• Comfortable, professional looking outfit and shoes for when I'm on stage.
• A light day bag for conference - Packed
• A Schedule - Haven't studied the program in depth but need to have a spreadsheet in Google Docs or put everything into my Google Calendar. Needs to be accessible on my phone.
• Back up my presentations - Still fiddling with the order of my slides.Need to prune a few too.
• Technology - I take a few extra toys when attending a conference as I may want to blog, vlog or interview genimates. A dual headed microphone for interviewing with my phone, my headset and microphone and a webcam - all packed. 

Any further suggestions?

Geniaus' Gunnas

This time last week I was somewhere else

When I am on holidays I make a mental list of things I need to do on my return home. I call these Gunnas (things I am going to do do). What struck me on our recent trip through China, Japan and South Korea was that Gunna figured in the vocabulary of many of the tour guides we encountered.

While I was away I found it easy to keep up with geneanews and to share Geniaus' Gems on my microblogging Facebook Page,  https://www.facebook.com/geniauspage/. However I don't have time to write lengthy blog posts, prepare presentations or answer queries from readers, I could make time but I prefer to direct my attention to the sites I am visiting.

So what of my Gunnas.

 * I need to add a DNA Downunder Ambassador badge to this blog. I am one of a number of my Genimates who have been appointed as Ambassadors to promote and enthuse fellow genies about this around Australia event that will take place in Australian Cities in August this year. I congratulate Alan Phillips for bringing together this cast of DNA Gurus to teach us about genetic genealogy.

From what I have seen on social media already one would have to be living under a rock to miss the news of his event. However if you wish to register at the earlybird rate you had bettter get cracking and do it now before the end of April. See https://www.dnadownunder.com/ for details of the event in the city closest to your home.

* I must register for the Sydney 3 Day DNA Downunder event before the venue reaches capacity. It would be embarrassing if this Ambassador couldn't secure a seat.

* I have two talks to prepare for THE Genealogy Show that is to be held in Birmingham, England in June. If you have been considering  a geneajourney to THE Old Country it's not too late to grab a cheap airfare to London and combine a visit to ancestral towns and villages with  attendance at this conference that has presentations from speakers from the UK, Europe, the US and Canada and downunder. Several of my Australian genimates are making the journey to THE Show so you will have good company.

* I still have a few videos from Rootstech 2019 to add to my Youtube Rootstech collection.

* I need to get cracking on a guest blog post for next week. I'll share the link once it is posted.

* Cousin Bait can reap rewards but it also hooks distant or potential cousins who need help with their research. I have a few such messages that I need to follow up. These queries came to me via this blog, Ancestry and my family website.

*  Not many DNA matches contact me but a few that I have contacted have responded to me so I must follow these up lest they lose interest.

* A twelve hour wait at Tokyo airport the other day gave me an opportunity to catch up on blog reading. I am particularly enjoying Carmel Galvin's and Pauleen Cass's posts in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. I must admit I don't read all the posts about people's ancestors that come through my feeds  but I love those with themes that interest me. In her posts Carmel shares recipes that remind me of childhood days while Pauleen recounts tales of her times living in PNG. Having taken part in the Challenge on a couple of occasions I understand the effort involved  and congratulate those who have the stamina to reach the finish line.

* Before I go travelling again I must schedule some blog posts for the Geneadictionary. Thankfully I keep coming across new words and phrases used in genimates' writings.

*All of the DNA Kits I administer have moved from Gedmatch to Genesis so some investigation is warranted.

* Then there is my own research and chasing up more DNA matches!!!

I have four and a half weeks before we set off the the UK for a Garden tour and a bit of research prior to THE Genealogy Show  so I don't have time to dilly-dally.

As I brought a bug and dose of asthma home from Japan I am confined to quarters for a few days so I have some time to concentrate on my Gunnas.