https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beano

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bash_Street_Kids

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Whizz

No doubt my British and European compatriots will recognize the reference here to the generations old comic book and annual. My children grew up on them as favorite reading material (subversive as they were-wink) and as we lived overseas (Canada at that time), my mother would package them up a few times a year along with some Blackpool Rock, Bassets Sherbert Fountains, Licorice Allsorts, Peanut Brittle, Treacle Toffees from Callard and Bowser, Teas, and a few small gifts and for my husband and I along with copies of the News of The World and The Sunday Post.

I mention this because we received 3 to 4 packages a year from my mother and although most were date holiday related, we all awaited them like giddy school children. At Christmas, the wait was even more painful, my sons would receive beautiful Britains toy soldiers for there collections. Corgi and Matchbox trucks and cars, The wait would sent them into fits and starts. The wait and countdown started about mid October. A rough 8-9 weeks for my little nippers. Oh what fun !

I mentioned the above to bring up the subject of anxiety, the angst in anticipation and the weight of the waiting.

Lets face it, by now, we (okay most of us then) really do understand the product or the greater aspects of it, and the fact of what it may be able to do what is said it could do. The known and certain fact that there is a world class team assembled around it.To take it to the next level(s). I certainly am comfortable from my vantage point.

We have previously discussed theoretical ideas of self involvement.....if you, I,we had a newly invented widget of say large importance, how we would be very careful to design, build, and roll out in a very confidential way with all requisite protections and stop gaps on the admin/legal sides and company wide. You can add a large multiplier to those requirements if say one of your partners in the product was one of the largest widget distributors on the planet. Financial, legal, marketing, manufacturing, distribution, exclusivity of percentages, et al, you name it. Each item would have to examined word by word, line by line, to make sure proper grammar, punctuation is all in beneficial position to us. Lest some smart lawyer see a hole and take a court date to wrestle us from part or whole ownership of our widget. We would want this detailed coverage....yes ? To borrow a phrase from The Flintstones (my husbands quote-tongue firmly in cheek)...Yes Eileen..."Check, Check, Recheck and Checkaroony".

I am suggesting then, that with the complexity inherent in the tech world (we have had contracts in the 500+ page count on our manufacturing side) that the delays to date were as much the legality, complexity of wording, the involvement of many names (even more complexities) and multi strata layering. Its also been said we have been waiting for the GloFo/IBM deal to close, well thats an example of the compexity or complexities involved here. Possibly even "i want what she's having", multiple situations being juggled ?

We are all humans, subject to all the human foibles, and that includes the management team, the scientific team with both most probably just as weary as we. The only advantage (or short term curse?) is that they know the real story, however they (not unlike us) have to wait for the official version before they/we can shout from the roof tops. I know that it would be killing me if I was in that position. So while we wait, they wait as well. While we twist, they too, twist. Christmas is coming...but not soon enough.

I put out a post yesterday regarding the urgency of management to get on with the program once the coming out party starts. With great respect to their task at hand, and the full knowledge of the complexities of our business, I think the maxim "timing is everything" can be overused, even cliched. However, in this stuation, its mission critical, if for no other reason than the competition shift will begin. I also believe that the last 5-6 months leading up to the AGM that the behind the scenes action, demands to time and purpose, wants from all manner of jurisdictions to see the golden child, have most likely been frenetic. Again I base this on my experience with roll outs. Its the old "ice berg" concept. Publicly, a new COO/CEO, a certain TRAB with a Blevins attached, 3rd Party Foundry, new directors, a new Warrior.....privately ?.....what ?

Privately, meetings upon meetings, high level and involved, potential customers, numbers discussed, possibly offers of varying kinds, refusals, counter offers, (think pro athlete or movie star contract negotiation), lawyers, accountants, marketing people, exchange people, did I mention lawyers ? Scientists, designers, maybe even some top level executives on tour ? There absolutely no doubt that they have been busy behind the scenes, none. While we see something akin to sporadic developments, or at least what we think are sporadic. The frenzy on the bottom side of the ice berg is enough to have the management team saying "where the hell does the time go"?...not unlike I do...in fact.

So lets liken this to an expansion hockey team. Before we play a game, comes President, Coach, GM, roster players, marketing, finance, minor league personnel and management departments.....all in place......ALL before we play the first game.......it now looks like POET finally has its expansion team in place.

As for the remaining wait, sort of a ....how long till we are there dad ?..... its my belief that sooner rather than later. How soon ? Well, your first full week of July begins Monday. A good time as any to blow up a balloon or two ?

Someone knows......