If there's one thing I've learned in recent months at Microsoft is........it's good to talk. The Partnering for the Future roundtable in Cambridge last Friday week ago was pretty good. More of that I think.

Steve and I spend quite a significant amount of our time outside the hallowed walls of HQ in Reading networking in London (trying to convince the boss that a townhouse is Knightsbridge is a good idea) as we try to 'spread the word'.....i.e. that MS is interested in Web 2.0, in start-ups and emerging business, and in talking to people! Really, we are. Check out the new startupzone. Marvellous. More UK-centric content will appear in the coming months.

Both Steve and I have witnessed the frowns when folks see a 'softie in the room. Steve's experience at Chinwag resonates. But in the end people seem genuinely pleased to see us and hear about some of the cool stuff we're investing time and energy (and money) in. Had one such positive conversation with Arun Aggarwal, board member at TiE last week. Arun's main raison d'etre is heading up Consultancy for TCS in the UK. Good blog from them.

I'm pleased to say that both of my New Year's Rezzies have materialised - one to start blogging and the other to "get out there". That conscious decision in January may have resulted in a much higher expense claim for Q1 and a manic diary, but it's worth it. Only issue is, the more great things I attend, the more great people I meet, the more I want to share things, the less time I have for blogging!!!! Who said blogging is like going to the gym?

Chinwag is a great example of something we should part of. Internet Peeps is the brain-child of Robert Loch who I have thus far managed to avoid meeting several times! Second Chance Tuesday is good and Cary at Mydeo was telling me about OpenCoffee Club held in Starbuck's on Regent St. The wonderful Steve Moore gets me involved in plenty and I'm spending lots of time at RSA lectures, feeling all high-brow and unworthy. Then there's Supper Clubs and City Zone. Not to mention all the regional events. Phew! Where is that cloning technology when you most need it.......?

Been chatting with the guys at NESTA about hosting another get-together of like-minded people (like the one last month - but bigger & better) to talk about innovation in it's broadest sense - how technology is an enabler, the impact of Web 2.0, what NESTA is doing, what Microsoft is doing in the regions, internationally and online, young enterprise, old enterprise, women's enterprise, investment readiness, finance and investment, and cool technology that simply makes the world a better place. We convene on 1st May. Can't wait.