Adventures in London: Issue 27

I have been staring at a blank computer screen for the past hour scratching my head for a topic for this week's blog. 

I don't know if you have heard, but the US swore in it 44th president on Tuesday. Regardless of how people voted (or would have voted), I think we can all agree that it was certainly a day in history. I did not get a chance to hear the full speech, but I have read that he has been compared to the likes of Lincoln and Kennedy. I don't know if it is fair to set such high expectation for a person on their first day on the job, but then again he doesn't just have any job. I believe that the new President comes a new vision, momentum and hope for the US and the World economy. Since being voted for President, the the exchange rate from the USD to GBP has dropped by 14% (6% since he was sworn in). Now I am sure that it great news for Americans as a strong US dollar is good for the economy, but I cannot help but feel that I did not pick a good time to move to another country - like LOST: Season 5, I have gone back in time :-( Guess the sliver lining of the situation is that it is less expensive for you Yanks to come to London (flights are $189-$239 on Virgin). 

I was catching up with my friend today from Edinburgh and while talking with her I was reminded that tomorrow is my 6 month anniversary to moving to London. It is strange when you think about it. A part of me feels like I just moved here, but another part of me feels quite settled in. Some evidence of the fact that I have settled in is: I find it troublesome to come up with an "adventure" based on my week's events as I realize how boring my life truly is, I can run outdoors without the need of a GPS device (still carry one, but am getting used to my surroundings), I have mapped out my TV schedule of LOST on Sundays, 90210 & 24 on Mondays, Gossip Girl on Wednesdays and Grey's on Thursdays, it looks like the honeymoon at work is over, and I have mates now that drop by when they are in the neighborhood :-) 

Today, all the American's gathered to celebrate Chinese New Year at a dim sum restaurant in Elephant & Castle. I don't know if it was the year of the Ox or the BBQ pork buns, but today marked the first time that we got the full group to hang out. We even managed to mix in an English and Aussie. Whilst eating lunch I realized that next week is Superbowl. This used to be my party of the year! For 4 years, I would plan the menu for this one night - the wings, the chilis (yes there were two kinds), the steak bits, the dips. This year, we will still gather (not at my flat) to watch the game. But if you thought the Monday after Superbowl Sunday was hard in the US, imagine it after you've watched a game that started at 11:00p (GMT) and unlikely to end until 4:00pm (GMT). With that just said, I probably won't update the blog next sunday due to this fact. Let's go Cardinals (come on, the Arizona Cardinals have never played in the Superbowl and isn't this the year for history!!)

xx

T

Adventures in London: Issue 26

When I woke up this morning, I had no idea what I could possibly write about today. This week has been utterly unadventurous for one main reason, but I am not going into that. I thought that a long run would make for a good story - even lunch with a friend. But then it dawned on me...you know what would make this week's adventure - a trip to the A&E (accident and emergency room)!! 

But before I tell you about my visit to the A&E, let me tell you how I got there...

This afternoon against my better judgement, I decided to go for a run. The key words there are "against my better judgement".  Something told me not to go for the run and there were plenty of signs not to go -  my normal running gear was still damp in the dryer, I was starving, and I just did not feel like running the scheduled 13.5 miles. On the other hand, I figured that I was just feeding into my long-run fear and that I needed to buck up and go for a run - surely I would feel better in a couple of hours. Boy I could not have been more mistaken. As soon as I took the first step I felt a stabbing pain in the top of my foot, but as you can guess - I decided to continue on.  I thought it was just adjustment pains (pain that you feel while your body warms up to run), but even 3 miles into the run, that pain was still there getting sharper by the step.  At the 5 miler maker I decided to call it and took the tube back home (so very happy that I took my oyster card - had a feeling I was not going to be running back). 

It was a bit uncomfortable to walk, but when I got to the flat I did not see any swelling or bruising, so I did not thinking anything of it. I simply got ready and went back into London to meet a friend for lunch.  The lunch was lovely and had it not been for the A&E visit, I probably could make a full entry from the past couple of times that NA and I have gone out. What I will say is this...just like events on 9 Sept 1998, ?? Sept 2000 (sorry do not want to get up to find the ticket stub), 15 Sept 2001, 30 May 2005, 30 Mar 2008, and 12 July 1997 there are just some things that you don't have to work at and as hard as it is at times (especially as you grow older), you have to try to trust it. 

After lunch my foot felt worse and when I reached my flat, I noticed some bruising and swelling. The pain was getting worse (coming from me), so I decided to call the emergency care number and they instructed me to go to the minor injuries unit.  Yes there is a special unit for minor injuries here. Unlike the US, I did not have to wait for hours or fill out a novel of paperwork - all I needed was a name, address, a phone no, and a reason for the visit. After some quick exams (no x-ray bull), I was diagnosed and sent home. It reminded me of the time I got ill in India when I diagnosed from a simple pulse reading. So after all that - what did I do this time? I have badly sprained my ankle. I am supposed to ice, rest and elevate the ankle for the next 7 to 10 days. Oh and if I feel like it is an off day...I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO GO RUNNING! Lesson learned! 

Hope you all are well. My blue foot and I are going to sleep. Going to treat myself and actually sleep in my bed for a change ;-)

xx

Adventures in London: Issue 25

This week I have been asked a number of times whether I have been enjoying myself in London and how it differs from the NY. To answer the first question, YES! In regards to the second question, there are a number of things that are different here. On the other hand, life here is no different than in NYC. So how are things different I hear you asking?

Pros of London...

1. The city as a whole is much cleaner than NYC (even the underground is cleaner than the NYC subway system)
2. The average employee receives 23 days of vacation vs 10 days of vacation. You also get the day after your birthday off (but I think that is a Mindshare thing and NOT a London thing)
3. There are a lot more parks and open spaces than NYC
4. Museums here are free of charge and there are plenty to choose from
5. Bridge in general here are much more mesmerizing. However if you were to compare Tower hill (as the bridge of London) vs the Brooklyn Bridge (the bridge of NYC), I think they are quite even when it comes to the view and the experience of walking across it
6. There is no "open container" law here and as such you can enjoy Champagne from the bottle on NYE while standing on the bridge watching the fireworks on the Thames
7. Chips (crisps) and chocolate are much tastier on this side of the pond. 
8. This is a city that work to live rather than living to work
9. Paris, Dublin, Edinburgh all are just a couple of hours away and make lovely weekend trips 

Pros of NYC...

1. It is a city that knows how to do Brunch. NYC gives you plenty of options to indulge in what is clearly the best part of Sundays. 
2. Taking taxis is far less expensive and much more convenient to travel from destination to destination. 
3. The ability to run races in NYC is much easier and central of an activity thanks to NYRR
4. NYC is a city of 24/7 convenience - there is always a place to eat and hangout regardless of the time. 
5. No matter how long you have lived in NYC, there is always something new to discover (I suppose the same can be said about London)
6. Although it is not prominent - it is still a city that attracts country music stars
7. Signing up for cable TV, phone, healthcare is not a 2 month process
8. Bacon, mac 'n cheese, pancakes are much better in NYC (America in general).
9. Primetime TV is much more entertaining - how can you argue with a country that has Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, House, 24. There is a reason why there are numerous American TV channels here and only a couple of English channels in the US that no one watches
10. The biggest pro of NYC is it is the home of my friends, family and my dear Kadin. 
    

So when it comes down to it, London may have the finest port, cheese, markets, Indian food, history, shopping, but NYC will always have my heart.

With that said, onto this week's adventures. There is not much to share as it was the first week back to work. After 2 weeks off from work, working from 9-5 is rather exhausting. It took me a couple of days to get back into the swing of things, but by the end of the week I believe I was there. 

The most noteworthy event from this week was my run today. I ran from Clapham west to Kew to meet a friend for coffee. It was a long way to run for a latte, but it was well worth it. Irony of the situation was that given where I was meeting NA, it was just as fast to run there as it would have been to take the underground. The run overall was rather pleasant - it was not too cold, the sun was actually out and it was not too windy. Next time though, I am going to find a better route so I can run along the Thames, therefore avoiding the nuisance of the stop lights, people and traffic. 

Well I am off to tidy up the flat a bit before tomorrow!

xx

T

Adventures in London: Issue 24

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

It is amazing how quickly we fall back into the routines of work. I dropped Mom off at the airport at 7:30 and went straight into work. I think it took me to 11:00 before I wished I had another 2 week break from work. Looking back on matters, I don't know if it was the fact that Mom was leaving or that I had to go back to work the next day that got me so down. I am sorry for writing such a depressing email - did not mean for it to be that dire.  Thank you very much for your kind words and phone calls. I am continually thanking the stars for blessing me with such amazing family and friends. 

When I came back home on Monday, the tube quote of the day read, "A smile is a light in the window of the soul indicating that the heart is at home" - believe me when I say...my heart is always home :-)

We made the most of Mom's last week in London.  On Monday, I took her to the Kensington area for some shopping and site seeing. If there was one lesson that Mom learned during this trip it would be, don't believe Tini I tell say something is just around the corner.  With me, "a 5 minute walk" will generally take 3x as long.  I am just good like that. 

While in Kensington, we swung through Harrods at Knightsbridge to meet a co-worker from the NY office. Despite the crowd and the tourist hell that exploded in there, it was a pleasure to catch up with a friendly face over a latte and biscuit. Harrods is definitely an experience. I feel in love with the Foodhall, but the luxury rooms of perfume and handbags - those were just too much for me (and too expensive). 

Contrary to the agenda, on Tuesday went to Clapham Junction to have lunch with one of Mom's childhood family friends. Funny, Clapham Junction is probably 3K away from my flat, yet because of the public transport here, it would be faster for me to run there than to take the bus or over ground train. What was supposed to a quick lunch turned into a day of sharing stories, photographs, memories and laughs. 

To celebrate New Year's, we went to a friend's place. Si had made a buffet of canapes including sushi, salmon tartar, english sandwiches and of course a delightful cheese board. 7 of us gathered around the dinner table and...well did what we always do - laugh, eat and drink. Shortly before midnight, we walked over to the Thames to see the NY fireworks. Certainly was a change from counting down with Dick Clark and the Times Square ball. 

The next morning would have been ideal for a movie marathon, but instead Mom did a cooking lesson of chicken curry, roti, and dal. Not quite what I wanted to do, but I was not going to argue as the key benefit of the lesson was I got a freezer stocked full of delicious food. 

On Saturday, Mom and I went back to where is all started 24 weeks ago - Portabello road and Princes Square. I thought the antique market was overwhelming because I had just taken the red-eye to London, but I was wrong. The market is simply overwhelming, but the Electric is well worth the trip. I am sad to report that 24 weeks later and I still have not developed a taste for black pudding. Perhaps in another 24 weeks, I will try again. Only a matter of time, I am not giving up on it - on the other hand is it really worth pursuing? 

A dear friend of mine wrote me saying, "Just remember that the reason you want another 18 days is because you just had the previous 18. And wasn't it nice to have those 18 days?" Boy was he right! Thank you dear for making me smile :-)