Since those days, I like to think I’ve progressed, and now socialise with girls and boys in equal measure. Unfortunately for the Manchester BBC Innovation labs, as with the vast majority of the computer science industry, it is still excessively male dominated. I’m not sure why this is, but I’m sure it’s not a good thing. Today at the labs we’re currently looking at the ‘user’, a horribly geeky term for ‘people’. You know, men and women, your mum and dad, your girlfriend, your husband and so on. My worry is that we’ll turn the ‘user’ into a commodity, a collection of data, an over-simplified demographical reference to be packaged and digested rather than concerning ourselves with the real human, emotional side that makes us different from the machines. “What would a woman think?” we’re asking ourselves. I’m optimistic that it won’t turn to that because I have a plan. If by Thursday I haven’t said more than two words to a real woman, I’ll have to start loitering outside the ladies again. And then we’ll really know.

Paul Neave

The thought of fridays pitch to commissioners who can give the go ahead to our project there and then, is rather scary. Although my biggest fear is what is on todays lunch menu. Yesterday we had black pudding hot-pot!

Although the setting is beautiful this is no holiday. We are following an intense schedule, and there are even fines for being late. Which means sadly we may not have the opportunity to bother a badger at Trotter's World of Animals which is next to the hotel.

Adam Todd

The only other thing is the food is really awful - so much so last night we buggered off to The Pheasant and had a lovely meal that didn't look like it was created in the seventies.