MARCH 1972: I am amazed that my new-born brother has already been to the hairdresser's.

JULY 1988: After an accident at work I sit in hotel director Hanspeter Graber's office in front of an IBM AT 02. I familiarize myself with the software and enter an identity crisis.

JULY 1992: It is 10 PM, I am going for a walk, after that I have to pore over nonlinear equations and tomorrow I have to take the exam in organizational theory. I wonder why I am putting myself through this.

APRIL 1994: Paris, Hotel Concorde La Fayette, 33rd floor, suite 32. I have ten minutes to win over Raymond Hung for 'Performance REVIEW Plus'.

JULY 1996: As part of the head office conference Beat and I can present the hypertext system we have developed.

OCTOBER 2000: A dramatic end. I have to let half my team go in the afternoon and then at 5 PM I find out that it is over for good.

AUGUST 2003: Dutch poker. I lose a backrub to Martina.

JULY 2006: Together with Martina, Richard, Eva, Hanna and skipper David we sail across the channel and arrive under storm force winds in Cherbourg.

JULY 2007: After virtual interviews in Second Life I am flown to San Francisco by Linden Labs to introduce myself personally.

OCTOBER 2009: I eat vermicelli dessert with Martina. Four hours later we are holding our new-born son in our arms.