Early Friday morning, I headed off to Melbourne for the Digital Parents Conference 2012 and what took place over the next 48 hours was not what I planned. Here are some of the key moments from my trip away and what was happening back home.

Louisa Laney KellieLouisa, Laney, Laney’s boobs and I (stolen from Louisa’s Instagram)

FRIDAY:

8.24am:

ME: A bus driver nearly loses an eye at the airport bus zone when the bus my bloggy mates Lori, Cassie and I booked is full. Suddenly, we find it’s us, not the passengers who didn’t book, that have to transfer to another bus. Lori to bus driver: “You’ll be able to get us to our conference by 8.30am, then?’’. Bus driver: “No can do, lady’’.

JULIAN: Feeding Li’l Holly breakfast and struggling with the smell of the spew emanating from her high chair after yesterday’s power chuck.

 

9.15am:

ME: The bus driver takes Lori, Cassie and I captive, driving around the city releasing others but not us, like some scene from the movie Speed (sort of). My prescheduled tweet about how I’ll be “live blogging now’’ goes out. Umm, yes, live blogging from the bus isn’t particularly riveting reading according to my stats.

JULIAN: Watching the #DPCON12 Twitter stream, while text messaging me the following: “There yet?’’; “Oh dear. Lots of people waiting to meet you. Problogger on’’. (Problogger? Noooo).

 

10am:

ME: We finally wrestle the bus driver to the ground, tie him up and escape the bus. Not long after, I find myself sitting next to my good friend Louisa (thank you so much for saving me a seat), iPad open and taking deep breaths. I made it. Was disappointed to miss most of the Social Media For Social Good session.

JULIAN: Temper tantrums begin, mainly with Ella.

 

10.45:

ME: One of the highlights for me was the Blog to Book Session (click to read CoverItLive transcript). This is where my head is at right now, with the ebook coming out this month and also writing a biographical novel. While Valerie Khoo from the Sydney Writers Centre was quick to point out that the stories being told were not the norm, I still learnt a lot about getting a publisher. My biggest take home was “you need a book distributor to physically get books in stores’’.

JULIAN: Went to pick up Ella’s new glasses. Our little girl now sees the world in a different light – until she sits on them.

 

12.45:

ME: As much as I would love to have sat in on Valerie’s Writing Workshop, I ended up at the Working with Brands session (click to read CoverItLive transcript). This was probably one of the most… `interesting’ sessions of the day. I’ll let you read it for yourself. The comment: “You run a huge risk with your readers if you’re accepting cash for your posts. You’ll soon lose your readers. It will hurt your blog’’ sparked a lot of conversation.

JULIAN: Not much to report. Taking that as a good sign.

 

1.30pm:

ME: I’ll be honest and say I went into Blog to Business session (click to read CoverItLive transcript) not expecting to learn a whole lot. However, I was blown away by some of the lessons these women had to share. Renee from Bra Queen was particularly inspiring for me and was glad I had a chance to chat to her in the break too. Even during that chat, she was still sharing tips. What a generous woman.

JULIAN: As before.

 

6pm:

ME: I spent the afternoon in a hotel room stupidly trying to catch up on work after having Holly stuck to my chest the day before throwing up. Instead, I should have been listening to what I knew would be a powerful story from Kristie from Hespera’s Garden and others in the My Blog, My Story session. By 6pm, I was pulling on a dress and heels and ready to party for the dinner and dance.

JULIAN: Texts through to tell me: “oh no. I’m feeling crook’’.

 

8pm:

ME: There was that fear my awesome dancing abilities pre-children may have been lost to daggy mum shuffling. Thankfully, there wasn’t a Tassie Two Step in sight. The phrase “dance like no one is watching” was undoubtedly penned for the fabulous Shae. Although, I’m not so sure about the moment she decided to rip her boots and leggings off mid dance.  Hmm.

JULIAN: Texts through to tell me he’s: “power spewing and shakes’’.

 

10.30pm:

ME: Get wrangled into doing the photo booth, wearing a princess tiara and oversized glasses. Restrain myself from grabbing the microphone and singing Shania Twain. Wow, mummy bloggers are hardcore party animals.

photo boothSadly, the only photo I have from the whole DPCON12.

JULIAN: Texts through to tell me: “Holly has spewed everywhere. Your mum has come over.’’

 

SATURDAY:

8.30am:

ME: On the phone to Julian and the princesses, giving details of my fabulous night with some of the most inspiring women on the web. Brenda, you and the team should be very proud.

JULIAN: On the phone to me, detailing the volume of spew flushed down the toilet since 8.30pm yesterday, which includes Ella also now spewing.

 

10am:

ME: Eating this with my li’l brother in St Kilda.

Breakfast pancakes

JULIAN: Texts through to tell me: “you cow’’.

 

11.30am:

ME: Shopping at Chadstone and fell in love with the Build a Bear Workshop.

Build A Bear Workshop

JULIAN: Texts through to tell me: “Holly has crashed. Ella asleep in our bed’’. It seems the sick girls are worn out.

 

5pm:

ME: Sitting on the plane, just landed, and seeing a little girl in a pink dress jumping up and down inside the airport. Within a few minutes, I have two li’l princesses jumping all over me, covering me in the biggest kisses. Especially Holly, who has never spent a night away from her mum-mum. It’s good to be home.

JULIAN: Enjoying seeing his girls smiling for a change.

 

6pm:

ME: Going through the DPCON goodies bag with the girls, with Ella’s favourite being Karen Andrews book Surprise. My favourite is the beautiful cards from Hallmark and the voucher from mooo.com.au.

Surprise

JULIAN: Becomes far too excited about the Viva and ENJO products included in the bag. Apparently one of the Viva products was marked on his shopping list. I am not kidding. Probably due to all the spewing that’s been going on.

Viva

 

7pm:

ME: Exactly two hours after arriving home, I begin adding colour to the inside of the toilet bowl.

JULIAN: Sighing… will this ever end?

Does anyone else go to these sorts of events and have that fear someone via Facebook/Twitter/email will mention they spoke to you, but you will have no recollection of it? We spoke? Did we?

34 Responses to Key moments from the Digital Parents Conference 2012

  1. Shelly says:

    Oh no, I hope you’re feeling better soon!

    I had a fear that everyone would expect me to have read their blogs in earnest, but it’s not like that. Everyone understands that it’s not possible to follow every blog all of the time.

    I’ve met some lovely people and now I have a list of blogs I want to follow more closely.

    It was lovely to meet you, if only for a few seconds.

    • Kel says:

      You too, Shelly. I only wish we could have had more time to chat. And my shock at seeing you was because I think I was expecting someone older. You look so young – and gorgeous!
      Glad you enjoyed it. I loved reading your letter to your pre-DPCON self too. I related to every word!

  2. Oh dear, it really must have been the weekend for sickness. My son was spewing all Friday and Saturday too. I thankfully have not seen the inside of the bowl (touch wood)

    I found the conference wonderful. I was great to meet you!
    I am glad I went to Nic Avery’s Blog Boost workshop but an sad that I missed Valerie’s workshop, by ALL accounts is was fabulous!

    Great wrap up of your time. You had me laughing and am going to get Hubs to read it when he gets home. Love it.

    • Kel says:

      Hehe! Glad it made you giggle, Courtney. It was so nice to meet you and get the chance to chat too. I’m looking forward to seeing all the videos from the sessions I missed out on.
      My fingers are crossed for you on the spewing front. So not fun!

  3. I was so disappointed I did not get to speak with you and then I realized I had been dancing with you Friday night LOL – I totally did not recognize you and was too busy eating, drinking and dancing to stop and confirm who you were ( i missed meeting many people)

    Sorry for all the spewing and hope you are all feeling better!

    • Kel says:

      LOL! How funny! It’s so hard to recognise someone from their gravatar, isn’t it, Deb! Next time!!!! I had another blogger say she was looking for me. Then I looked harder at her pic and realised I had seen her numerous times through the night and not recognised her. Doh!

  4. Louisa says:

    Great post – sorry about the sickness 🙁 I’d like to say however that thought it may be your ONLY photo from the weekend, those photo booth shots are “straight to the pool room” quality!! BRILLIANT to see you xx

    • Kel says:

      I’m kinda wishing I had have done more of the photo boothing actually. It was fun! I have no idea why I didn’t take any of my own photos. Too distracted, I think.
      Great to catch up with you again too, Lou. x

  5. The Flying Drunken Monkey says:

    That bus ride was one of the most anxious of my life! I sent an email to the hotel about the horrible service I got from the conceirge regarding it and got a response from the front office manager apologizing. I suppose that’s something. I’m going o contact the bus company next.

    It was so great to meet you! Glad you had a great time and just be thankful you didn’t get sick until after the conference!!

    • Kel says:

      Let me know how you go, Cassie. What an episode, hey! So glad I was with you and Lori, or I would have been in absolute tears. So glad we got the chance to meet too. x

  6. Kirrily says:

    Oh my goodness, you poor guys!
    That was a really entertaining post…. sorry about the spewing factoring in that.

    • Kel says:

      Thanks Kirrily. There’s nothing like a bit of drama to spice things up. Well, it keeps blogging interesting (and entertaining) anyway! 🙂

  7. Maxabella says:

    What a great wrap-up, Kellie. Poor Julian. I hope you are all feeling better now!! x

    • Kel says:

      Thanks Bron.
      I don’t think Julian wants me to go away again in too much of a hurry. He was worn out by Sunday, poor ol’ thing. x

  8. Caz says:

    Sounds so funny when you put it like that Kellie – but I’m guess the spew was not so funny for Julian. Was lovely to see you IRL again 🙂

    • Kel says:

      Always love catching up with you and seeing your smiling face, Caz. x
      And yes, I’m hoping gastro doesn’t come to visit again for quite a while!

  9. Naomi Bulger says:

    This is such a cute wrap-up. And I had no idea you went through so much adventure just to get there!

    • Kel says:

      Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, Naomi! LOL! But yes, it was a pretty wild ride trying to get to the conference. Lesson learnt. Next time we’ll take a taxi. x

  10. nellbe says:

    I hope you are all feeling better now. It was great to chat to you.

    • Kel says:

      So glad you sought me out, Nellbe. I really loved chatting to you and finally being able to put that face and voice to your written words. I only wish we could have chatted for longer. So many distractions! 🙂

  11. It would have been great to have talk some more at the conference but the kids were calling. I am glad you are all on the mend and it sounded terrible but you always put your funny wit into it! 😀

    • Kel says:

      Oh Kym, I wish these things went for longer. It would have been great to sit and chat for a while.
      And thank you, I’m definitely all better now. Thank goodness!!! x

  12. Becci says:

    Well you won’t forget that conference in a hurry! Hope you’re feeling better soon and I think I met you but I can’t be sure, it’s still a bit fuzzy….

    • Kel says:

      Teehee! Oh Becci, I seriously have no idea who I met and who I didn’t. My brain hasn’t worked that hard since… well, I can’t remember! LOL!
      And yes, definitely a conference to remember. 🙂

  13. Thanks for the mention. My speech is on my site now if you want to have a read. And I just have to say, I am so happy to find your blog again, I used to visit, but have not for a while – you got lost in my reader.. glad to be back

    • Kel says:

      Oh wow, thanks Kristie. That’s really nice of you to say. I think the whole “losing Google Friend Connect” thing has probably meant I’ve lost a few there. Although, Facebook seems to be picking up more. (Thank goodness for FB!).
      I’m off to read your post now. So glad you’ve put it up. It’s the one moment I regret missing. Looking forward to the video too when they have it done. xx

  14. Nikki says:

    Oh how stressy about your daughter being sick. Murphy’s Law! Excited that you’re thinking of a book – it’s a distributor that you need to get your book into stores – I only know this from doing PR for an author a couple of years ago. Can’t wait to hear more!

    • Kel says:

      Thanks Nikki. I started working on the book (an authorised biography) this month. Very exciting indeed. Sometimes little girl’s dreams do come true!
      And thanks for the “distributor” tip. You know, I’ve read the word “publisher” as “distributor” a couple of times and obviously my eyes have been playing tricks on me. Thank you. xx

  15. Brenda says:

    Love the way you did the wrap-up, Kel. So unique.x

    • Kel says:

      Thanks Brenda. You know me – always trying to do things differently! I figured I covered all the educational elements in my live blogging, so thought I’d provide a bit of entertainment for my follow up.
      You and your team did a fabulous job, Brenda. You should be proud. x

  16. Cathy says:

    It all sounds very eventful!! Glad to hear you eventually made it and had a great time 🙂

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