Adventures in London: Issue 232

This has been an interesting month. Like any roller coaster ride its had its high points, its low points and moments when you just wanted the rush to stop. The month kicked off with a client conference in Hamburg Germany. I had been to Germany back in 2009 with Stan and John (sadly lost all of my photos from that trip...still cannot talk about). We did a bus tour of the city so it was nice to see the full tour and learn more about the city and its history. Conferences are always fun and a good way to network, but blimey they are exhausting. Always the way, after spending 2 days in a conference room by the second day all everyone wants is alone time :-) Was so good to come back. 

There wasn't much time to relax and rest up though as the weekend was Superbowl...which sadly means an all nighter for those in the UK who are crazy enough to stay up. I decided this year to have a few people over for the game. I attempted this year to make Silas' famous Buffalo Wings. I think I did them justice. I also made honey BBQ wings, the infamous Entler bacon dip, and some other snacks. It was an interesting evening. It was nice to have old friends over and an interesting experience to have some new friends over. Everyone left around midnight or so, so I ended up watching the game with an acquaintance and getting some work done. I had imagined the Superbowl evening going another way, but sometimes things happen for a reason. During the weekend I wrote the following:

"My eyes are open and now I can see
The truth in what stands before me
What we want and where we are going
To focus on the planting trees worth growing
When the tide is right, ships will sail
Adventures will succeed or they will fail
Hold in your hearts what is dearest and true
Listen to the stars and how they direct you" 
-PNS 130204

The highlight of the weekend I must say though was Skyping with my friend Meg (please note the beer has nothing to do with her, just a funny and tasteful beer to have). It was good to see her and share a catch up on the drama that I can only describe this month of being. You seriously cannot make these things up sometimes...and Superbowl weekend was one of them. 

Keeping up with the Skype dates, the following weekend I caught up with my dear Parker and Jamila (she is purposely covering up the Yankee logo as Tini Foi doesn't approve). It is lovely to catch up with them, but extremely hard at the same time. This is going to sound odd, but I haven't been able to bond and connect with with Parker. I don't know him and that it really odd. I don't know if Parker is going to grow up not really knowing who I am. Kadin and I will always have a special bond, but wonder if I will have the chance to have the same connection with him. Would be really sad if I don't, but those were the consequences I have to accept for living abroad. 

The Skype session was a nice break to the work schedule. This year has kicked off with long working days and sadly weekend. I was trying to have 2013 be a work on weekend free year, but that didn't last long. There is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. Fingers crossed this time next year I will not be here anymore. Weekends haven't been all that bad though. I have started a new ritual that I hope to carry on...SPA SUNDAYS! Nothing fancy, but does involve me taking an hour off and taking a nice bath and chilling out. Post bath, I put the fire on and chill. Working under these conditions don't seem as bad :-) 

Work hasn't been all that that bad. I may be having a number of late evenings in the office, but on Tuesday its an on-time finish so John and I can go play darts and pool. We have extended the tradition to Sam as well. It is a nice break from the office and great way to bond a bit with the team and get to know them. My scope of work has grown with our new contract and with it so has my team and responsibilities. We have some great talent on the team and am going to enjoy working with them. I am certain that I have a lot to learn from them and vice versa. Its going to be a hard year, but I am looking forward to it. Just need to hire the rest of my team now :-)

A day after I moved to London, the Bensons (friends from BU) moved to Edinburgh. Thankfully last month they moved to London. Its so great to have such old friends (note they are not old, just commenting on the fact that I have known them for 15+ years).

I hadn't been feeling the best, in fact the long days had taken a toll on me and spent most of the week ill with fever. Nothing however was going to make me miss an afternoon with the Benson; it  was just what I needed to get back my spirits. It was amazing to see them and watch some Rugby (still trying to learn this sport) in one of my favourite London bars.

I forgot how great it is to watch live sports in a bar. There is just something about it. I miss that...spending Sunday afternoons in a pub watching the Redskins, or spending an evening after work watching the Sox in a bar. If there is one thing I miss about living in the States, its the Live Sports. Suppose I need to learn to watch more British sports if I want to go to the local pub :-) Looking forward to the year ahead and spending more weekends and fun times with the Bensons. Miss those kids and so happy to have them in London :-) 

I would like to end this post welcoming my dear Nugget to the world. Congrats to Powers & Sir O on their darling little angel!!! 

Love you all and miss you loads

xxx

T