Its July!! When did that happen?! Things kicked off as they usually do…with some element of a 4th of July celebration. This year the BU alumni association threw a "Happy 3rd of July" event. I have been to a few alumni events here in London and each have been interesting in their own right. This event was cool and I am glad that I went. It was great as well to attend with the Bensons (always need to bring your own friends in case you can't make new ones). It was a great event and it got me inspired to get involved again with BU. I was extremely active whilst I was at BU and a bit when I was living in NY. It hard here in London, but I would love to get more involved on things and give back. Just need to find a way. If nothing else…perhaps I can be the "officially photographer" of BU London events :-)
The 3rd of July was naturally followed by the 4th of July. Not an official BU event, but I did celebrate in fashion with another Terrier…Ms Diamond :-) We celebrated at the Red Salon a new BBQ joint in Hoxton Square which can only be defined as heaven. It was a difficult choice of what to order, but Adam and I went for the 50 wing challenge. Our eyes may have been larger than our tummies. Going through 2 dozen wings is a difficult task…but I am proud to say that I made it through 18 of them. Just couldn't push myself for the other 7. Maybe next time I will plan wiser and not go to the American dinner for lunch. That was poor planning on my part.4th of July is never the same living here in London and this year was marked with an extra bit of oddness. I handed in my paperwork and documents for my ILR. Its all becoming real now :-)
That weekend it was off to Lyminton and the New Forrest for a visit. It was a much needed weekend away and a great weekend to explore some new parts of England.It was a relaxing weekend away. With the stress of this Visa application and dealing with lawyers on getting a date, finding the required paperwork, filling out the form I was on the edge. The weekend away offered the perfect escape.
One of my dear friends took me to her hometown to chill. We spent the weekend chilling my the seaside, exploring the town, visiting Southampton, eating and taking a walk in the forrest. Well not a very long walk as someone may have had food poisoning (and no it was not me this time). If a friendship can survive food poisoning, it can survive anything. I am complete awe of the new forrest though and the whole idea that cows and horse roam wild. It is absolutely fascinating :-)
Unfortunately I couldn't stay in Lyminton and take care of my mate as I had a very important date on the 8th! I had my appointment with the UK Border Agency to present my application and evidence for them to grant me ILR; "Please sir can I stay in your country indefinitely?!"After a long day of waiting and shifting from room to room I was pleased when I had my meet with the agent and was given my letter saying I was APPROVED!
This whole process has been rather anti-climatic. Incredibly stressful with a lot of prep all for a stock letter. The cool part is a few days letter I got my Resident Card. Now that is official and cool :-) Its official, I live in the UK and now have indefinite leave to remain. I can work, live, study…move around as I wish. I am no longer restricted or tied down. What a great feeling :-)
Not the typical celebration or send-off, but for John's farewell from the team we played one last LOTR Risk night. We did it properly this time too with Bacon Dip, Pizza and plenty of whisky. It was an epic match between 4 great players, but somehow we managed to essentially start and finish in almost the same place. I am going to miss our Risk Nites. Tuesday nights just won't be the same without John. Sad that he is leaving Mindshare and the team, but really jealous of the kid. Traveling around Europe and Asia for the next 4 months sounds wicked. I am sad that I did not take the opportunity to do the same. He is going to have a wicked time I am certain.
From one over indulgent evening it was time for another later that week; Regent Park Open Air Theatre to see Pride & Prejudice. I think we have learnt one thing. If you leave the picnic purchasing to Country and I you are going to get enough for to feed 2 dozen people. Stocked with plenty of bubbles, fruits, desserts and nibbles we enjoyed an incredible evening. You really can't go wrong when you have a whole bottle of bubbles to yourself. Kirk and I made our best efforts to finish the beverages brought. It was a great evening (thankfully the weather held up) and the P&P performance was phenomenal. I think the Open Air Theatre is one of my favorites. I have been there twice now, both with the Bensons and have been impressed by the caliber of the performances. Looking forward to 2014…going to try to see To Kill a Mocking Bird as I think its meant to come back.
Sadly all good things have to come to an end. A previously mentioned, Shirley sadden us all when we told MM and I that he was leaving us to go traveling.
It has been a sincere pleasure working with Shirley and he is truly going to be missed. I am not always the easiest person to work for and tend to hold my team to high standards. Shirley never disappointed and even more truly inspired me everyday.
He brought such a great attitude to work and even on rubbish awful days he was filled with positive optimism. He is a hard character to find. We had a good thing going, but I am pleased for the kid. There are great things in his future I just know it :-) All the best buddy! Glad I got to celebrate your last day with you and send you off with an epic tour of the area…new and old :-)
Not that you can fill the void nor was this the reason, but it makes for a good segway. That weekend and perhaps influenced by the massive hangover I decided to spontaneously get a hamster. She is the cutest thing ever. Don't really know what prompted it, but I am so pleased that I did.
All I would like to introduce you to Cinnamon or "Ninni" to close friends and family. I am sure there will be more tales and stories to be had with this little one. Only a few days and I am confident she is going to be a spoiled little girl!! Just look at that face…how can one say no?!
Continuing the theme of "LATE"s, this month it was off to the London Zoo!! This was a wicked event and one that I would love to repeat. The only annoying thing is most of the animals go to sleep, but it was well worth having full reign of the zoo. Need to learn how to navigate the zoo to fully optimize it, but for a first time I think we did a good job of getting around.
I forgot how much I love the zoo. Remember going to the zoo for the first time when I was 7 or was I 6 in Texas during the whole accident stuff. It was great to just be with family. I think that it what I associate the zoo with…family time. The London Zoo is remarkable and truly impressive. I love seeing Lions, Tigers, Guerrillas, Camels, Goats, Penguins, Monkeys, Turtles…oh it is AMAZING!!! So much fun. Was truly a kid that night; maybe next time I will dress up :-)
Continuing with the summer fun and in anticipation of the London Triathlon there was a fundraising event. Being Mindshare this meant only one thing…a PUB QUIZ!! Nothing attracts a crowd like a pub quiz. I have really grown to love Pub Quizzes whilst living here and thanks to the ILR exam I was actually able to answer a number of questions :-) Still have no clue about sports here though…must work on that.It was a lovely evening and its definitely nights like that one that remind me why I work with the guys that I do. I think I can safely say that we are genuinely friends…not just 9-5 co-workers (though it would be great if we only worked 9-5). Above all…I love this view
At the end of July I saw one of my biggest dreams come true… I had my first photography exhibition. For years I have wanted to do something more with my photography and each year I make that resolution with nothing really coming from it. Until now :-)I ran into an old co-worker who works at a favorite cocktail bar of mine. He mentioned to me that the bar are continually looking for new 'artists'…so one thing led to another. I presented my portfolio to the General Manager and 3 weeks later I was hanging up my photos for my first exhibit.
It was a rather fitting and special day for UDYOT to launch. Why UDYOT?! Well apologies, but if you don't know why that is a special name and where it comes from I am not going to share. It's a name dear to me and the man that I dedicated this exhibit to (aka my Daddy) knows what that names means to me.
I chose to celebrate the launch with a few close friends and even though they couldn't be there physically I shared the big day with my family. 28 July is a special day for me so I am pleased that I spent the day doing something with my photography. I think Dad would have been proud and would have enjoyed the exhibition. I am not bother if none of the photographs sell. That is not what it's about… it was just about doing something different.I have been truly touched by the showing of people that came out to support this exhibit and my new endeavor. Thank you to all my friends, running buddies, old bosses, co-workers and family for all your support.
Photographs from the "Artist" night at the exhibition
