Frances Bell

Thanks Don,
I'd just like to thank my family and all the people that made it possible (wipes away a tear) ..................

Seriously though
Very useful link to the semaphore page.  I had learned semaphore as a girl guide but forgotten it.  I think I might need to print it out, as I can't rely on having a wireless network connection when in a situation where I need to use semaphore and If I had such a connection then I wouldn't need semaphore.
I could always relearn it - NO! I'll rely on intuition and see if that works.

That was a boy thing - we girls used telepathy!!

This exchange is getting perilously close to a parody of the Four Yorkshiremen sketch from Monty Python

Are we having a competition for who is the "oldest" programmer?
I earned my living for a few years in the 70s, programming in COBOL, designing programmes using flowcharts, then writing all statement for very long programme in pencil on coding sheets. Compilation took 48 hours, so we had plenty of time to design our tests whilst waiting for the compilation to come back. When online editing came in in (mid 70s for us) it was such a luxury.
Even the computers reflected the fashion of the day, the colour of the ICL 2900 series being Hot Tango (orange) and looking rather like a fitted kitchen.

I have programmed in FORTRAN, BASIC, RTL2, SQL, PASCAL, even 68000 machine code, but now I am much more interested in the application of software with people and organisations, rather than me doing the development. I am still very grateful to those who are developing (particularly here on Moodle) and I still use the lessons I learned in a very different era. Plus ca change .....

Hi Martyn,
It's good to talk to an alumni - who was your supervisor?.  I also think that your web site looks great.  I would be really pleased to talk to you about possible projects and synergies and have mailed you to make telephone contact.
I suggest that you look at Gina Stevens et al facultyroom.org too.
Gina and I are trying to help our projects learn from each other.
I think that there are some issues of student safety and differences in teaching style in joint school/university projects though I know they can work well.  Some university teachers would tend to adopt (particularly with some of the very large classes we teach) a hands-off style of facilitation that may not be appropriate for collaboration with younger students.
Anyway, more opportunities for learning for teachers and students.