Kev

I’m actually looking the correct way when I cross the street.

I get the whole M&S thing.

I’m thinking the tube is one of the most intelligently executed subway systems I’ve been on (although it’s a little warm)

Spaniards know way too many songs, and are far too eager to sing them into the wee hours.

The embankment is a really nice place to be at 0630, but it’s not the same as the canal.

The coffee is hopeless, and there’s even less point in talking about decaf than there normally is (even the people in Starbucks look at you funny).

I am beginning to understand cricket.

It’s definitely time to come home. Unfortunately, my stay has been extended for an extra 3-4 days to certify something I’m not sure I can (I don’t understand it either, but I’ll do my best to help out). I don’t mind too much, because it means I’ll have the opportunity to sight-see, but it’s funny how you get your mind set on going home at a certain date, and when it changes, it’s a little deflating. It probably doesn’t help that the people I know here will all be out of town.

Ah well, I’ll take pics and have fun! Or find a pub. Or something.

Although I prefer Cocaine Blues, live at the Folsom Prison.

Don’t let the turkeys get you down, enjoy your cookies, and get some fuzz therapy. 🙂

May’s a busy month for our family. Four birthdays to celebrate and one to remember.

My baby sister turns 29 again today, and I just wanted to give a little shout-out and wish her a happy day. Hopefully the trip home went well, and you get an opportunity to relax a little bit.

Hugs from across the pond!

On the way to my client site this morning the gym next door was handing out pamphlets on their professional fitness trainers. As props, they had a “before” and “after” person. The “after” was in great shape, the “before” looked like he weighed about 400 pounds, and was drinking a beer (it was 8:15am). I took out my camera to snap a pic, and he saw me and shouted “you take a fucking picture, I’m gonna get up and sit on you. mark my words, you don’t want to take my fucking picture.”

I saw the wisdom in his words, and didn’t take a picture. I’m hoping he’ll be back tomorrow so I can get a running start.

After a rough start last night (really, really long customs line and the Heathrow Express ticketing machine ate my only credit card), things went really well today. I like my client; they’re sharp and know exactly what our product strengths and weaknesses are, and I can actually help them with a couple problems they’re having. Back at the home office, another one of my team resigned last week, and our director let us know today that his last day was Friday.

Things to think about. Sunny (hah hah) London is treating me well, and I’ll be getting up early tomorrow to go for a walk and (hopefully) snap some pics.

I made it into Heathrow on time last night, and tricked them into letting me into the country (although the Customs line was long, and the people guiding you to the gates were some of the rudest I’ve ever seen. Great first impression.) I tried to buy a ticket for the Heathrow Express, and the machine ate my one and only credit card. Thankfully, they have people on site to deal with that kind of thing, and after a bit of a wait I got my card back and went to the human to purchase my ticket.

On the recommendation of the group within my company I’m working for while here, I’m staying at a Citadines Apart’Hotel. it’s not quite what I expected. The bed’s a pull-out, and is not terribly comfortable. The walls are pretty thin, so I got to listen to shrieking girls/women for an hour or so before I finally dropped off. There’s no in-room network access, and they don’t provide anything like, say, a coffee maker, alarm clock, soap, or any of that good stuff. The soap would have been good to know about before I arrived. They do sell it in the lobby, and they don’t charge you your first-born (a good thing for me), so I guess it’s ok.

A very different hotel experience than any I’ve had. I’ll give it a chance, but so far I’m not too crazy about the place. I’ve become accustomed to comfortable beds, reasonably quiet rooms, and reasonably priced, in-room network access. So endeth the complaining. I know it’s different here, so I’ll deal 🙂 I also think being awake at 0230 subjective isn’t helping.

Now all I have to do is hope the client calls me so I can figure out where I’m supposed to go/be.