We were all told that as technology advanced we would have more leisure time, time to spend with loved ones and pursuing our recreational desires. So why do I now find that I need a 10 day week so that I can get through all my work and still end up working most weekend?

Well in my case I can’t really blame anyone else for my need of more days in the week or working through the weekend. I have been in the last stages of software development for the Mobile Audits program that I have developed in my business About Data to be used by Environmental Health Officers of Local Governments.

This enables them to complete audits of Food Premises, Lodging Houses, Public Buildings and General Premises all through a PDA. The information is collected in the field and then on return to the office the PDA is connected to the desktop computer and then all data is synchronized to a SQL Server database.

My business partner Sandra Morley from Sanmor Computing has developed the desktop component of the software. The Enviro Health Manager system that is on the desktop is very complex and includes, Health Notice, Pest Management, Unit Cost and Waste Management.

The software with the PDA component has been tested in the field by the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder over the past two years.

On October 4th and 5th we visited the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder and installed the latest version of the software. It has been upgraded to now include:

: Property based data

: SQL Server data file

: PDA component to manage in the field audits

: Proprietor/manager signature capture

: Fully compliant with the new legislation

: Health Notice, Pest Management, Unit Cost and Waste Management

: Onsite Training

: Ability to integrate the EHM application with LGA’s financial management system

It has been a massive project, and we encountered several hurdles but in the end we have come through it all with a solid product that allows Local Government to manage their data in an efficient and effective manner.

So now all the hard work is done we are on the marketing trail, flyer’s have been produced and are in the process of being sent to all Local Governments in Western Australia. This will be followed by information packs to be delivered in early 2008.

So now you know why I haven’t been around online, and may not be around much in the nest few months. I will now start working on Swimming Pool audits and the list goes on, but I do really enjoy my work so it is all worth it in the long run.

I am now about a week behind posting about my 31 Days to a Better Blog tasks but have been quietly getting them done in the background. This blog is reasonably new and has not hade many visitors (until recently) so the task of emailing an old time reader was not to difficult to under take.  Sue is my longest and most supportive reader so this is who I have sent an email to thanking her for her continued support and encouragement. Sue was the one who encouraged (nagged) me to become more involved in the online communities and create a blog and it has been a wonderful learning experience. Thanks to all who have come and visited and left comments, it is great to know that others are reading what I have written.

I would like to say thank you to Michele Martin for her article  Why Frances McLean Rocks and How You Can Score Some Chocolate! where she details how the Chocolate Box are now sponsoring the chocolate challenge and I would also like to add that Sue Waters also Rocks and she negotiated with James Farmer for the donation from edublogs

So that means that Frances McLean and Sue Waters both Rock and make a pretty good team I think don’t you?