In case you didn't know SQLBits 9 ,”Query across the Mersey”, is taking place in Liverpool from September 21st to October 1st.  3 days of the usual excellent quality presentations, networking interspersed with the odd beer or two should all make for an informative and entertaining conference.  Rumor has it that a) Places are going fast and b) That Chris Testa-o'neill’s  (blog|twitter) band will be supporting the Fab Beatles for the thursday night entertainment,  if it is half as much fun as the “Crappy Code Games” held by Fusion IO in Brighton then it will be a night to remember.

I shall be speaking on Saturday on the subject of “Whats new in Denali : TSQL “,  so this will be the new language enhancements that I will be spending the next X years of my career writing as well as meta-data discovery etc….

Immediately following SqlBits, the UK Sql Server community is coming together to hold the first , hopefully, of many,  SQL-Relay.  13 SqlServer user groups are running across the country , sign up to your local one.  More details of dates, locations and confirmed speakers are at SqlServerFAQ.

Finally, I shall be “releasing my inner viking” by speaking at SQLRally Nordic on 8th and 9th of November in Bålsta, Sweden.  This will be my first international speaking engagement and I shall be delivering my “Cursor are Evil” presentation.  Again, there is an excellent line-up of speakers and sessions, including members of the SQLCat team and other Microsofties, MVPs and other recognized speakers.  Another cracking event, that I hope to see you at.