Homeward bound

So last day here in the Bay as Openworld starts to wind down...

Last night was the Appreciation Event where Oracle threw a huge 'party' for its customers. It was held in the Cow Palace (15 minutes outside the city). The building is enormous and looks like it was once a huge cattle market but is now a venue for gigs and so on.

Interestingly, the key themes of the conference - eco-responsibility and energy efficiency - were completely tossed aside as Oracle laid on a wanton exhibition of excess. There was enough food to feed any number of African nations for a month, free buses from the centre transported what must have been around 20,000 partygoers there and back and the beer, wine and spirits flowed freely.

There were 3 entertainment areas: a main stage where Billy Joel performed and two tented areas which housed Lenny Kravitz and Stevie Nicks. Around all of that was a gigantic tented village strewn with armchairs, sofas and candle-lit tables. The place looked like it had been lit and furnished by Laurence Llewellyn Bowen on speed. I have never witnessed such a thing in my life before. Think T in the Park but with comfy chairs. Well, I guess some of us are getting on a bit and it was nice to get a wee rest.

Stevie Nicks was actually pretty good. I was hoping that the enigmatic Mr Fleetwood would do his stuff (he was listed as sharing the bill) but he only made a fleeting appearance right at the end. Amazingly, he still has the beard and ponytail but it is now pure white. It's the first time I have seen him since the infamous Brit awards a few years ago. Must have taken its toll.

Anyway, Billy Joel and Lenny Kravitz are not really my cup of tea but they seemed to get a good enough reception from the wrinkly crowd.

We watched a good bit of the Stevie Nicks set and everything was going well until she shouted right at the end "Oracle rocks!".

For me, that was time to go home and a fitting epitaph to an amazing week.