So, I just got back from a trip to Europe which started in Barcelona to Paris where I almost got stuck and could have missed the SharePoint Evolutions Conference in London where I was scheduled to speak at. Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic volcano had other ideas.

Beginning on 14 April 2010, the eruption entered a second phase and created an ash cloud that led to the closure of most of the European IFR airspace from 15 until 20 April 2010. Consequently, a very high proportion of flights within, to, and from Europe were cancelled.

I was one of the lucky few to get on a Eurostar train from Paris to London on Friday 16th April just before the major travel disruptions started due to airspace being closed.

My original flight was not due to fly till Friday evening from Paris to London, I wasn’t about to take any chances so I got next available Train tickets on Eurostar straightaway from Paris (Gar du Nord) to London.

That was lucky since some of the other great speakers were unfortunately left stranded in parts of Europe. AC (@andrewconnell) was stuck in Norway trying to get to London. Joel, Paul Swider and Michael Noel was stranded in Dubrovnik.

Bob Fox’s plane was turned away half way through from US to London. It was chaos.

Steve called all the available speakers who was in London to a “War Room” session on Saturday (17th) afternoon to assess and re-arranfge the whole conference. Luckily a lot of amazing speakers did make it and stepped up to fill in for those who couldn’t make it

I ended up picking eight (yes 8) sessions instead of the 2 sessions I was scheduled to do so over the two days. We got most of the slides and notes from those speakers who were not able to make it and prepared the sessions and the schedule the best we could.

The Conference “War Room” – some of THE best brains in the business of SharePoint doing what we do best despite challenges that get thrown our way!

Steve at the Keynote: Some didn’t want to miss out, drove all the way from Sweden to London!

Despite ash clouds and travel disruptions the Combined Knowledge team led by Steve Smith put on one of the best conferences that I have attended. Thanks to all the attendees that made the extra effort to get to London and made this conference an incredible and unforgettable event. I really hope to be there again next year and to see all of you there again