London June 2011

I didn't spend much time in London, but my trip was longer than normal. My first work UK trip was when we had five or six clients to visit and I could see them all in four days. If scheduled correctly.

I spent seven work days visiting clients and saw less than half of them. I made it to eight or nine. All great meetings - training sessions. One very long travel day. I may have said this before but it bears repeating....this is a big little country.

Perhaps I am good luck because two new contracts came in while I was here. I didn't get to meet these new clients yet, but I am tentatively returning in October.

Take away

Take away is the British term for food to go. They even give you a discount on food and drink if you consume it elsewhere. Or....are they charging more to eat on their premises?

I went to a Starbucks this morning to buy a bottle of water. It was 20 cents cheaper for take away.

I'm not sure how aggressively they enforce this. I didn't stick around to find out.

I had excellent take away twice while staying in Crawley (near Gatwick airport and GovDelivery's UK office). The first was fish and chips. The second was chinese.

Quarter past

It is quarter past 10. I am sitting on a park bench in London waiting for a colleague.

It is 10:15! There are some British ways of saying things that I can't get used to. It is 10:15!

No theatre

I've been in the UK for more than a week now. I wasn't blogging much because it is a business trip...working long days, and because I've been here many times and will probably return.

This is my first trip to London in a very long time where I haven't seen any shows. I'm pretty sad about that because I love theatre. It just didn't work out this time. I could possibly go tonight but I've been sick since before I arrived aand I think I should rest because I am not going home yet.

Pictures

I walked by Parliament and Westminster Abbey this morning on my way to my last London meeting. I walked by dozens of people taking pictures. I wonder two things...

1. How many times has Parliament and the famous clock been photographed? There is no way to know for sure, but that number might be even larger than US's debt.

2. Why do people continue to photograph famous buildings when it is so easy to download pictures from the internet? Do they need to prove they were really there?

Since I don't own a proper camera I download lots of pictures from the internet - especially for this blog. I know I was there!

Victoria and Albert Museum

I spent last Saturday morning roaming around this museum. There were two exhibits that I enjoyed:

1. glass - loads of old and new glass. Some kitschy and some elegant. Vases, glasses, figurines and more.

2. fashion - men's and women's fashion from the last hundred years or so. I really like the dresses that women wore in the 50's. Think Mrs. Cleaver. The dresses were simple yet elegant, and flattering. Since most things come back "in style" I am hoping these make a comeback.

This museum is in many "must see" lists for London.

Back in the UK

I arrived at Heathrow just after noon local time. I've never arrived on a Monday before - I usually come in over the weekend. There were a few good reasons why I didn't leave home until Sunday night - one of them was Angela and Ryan's wedding. I'm glad I stayed for it!

Typically I arrive in London on Saturday and spend the rest of the afternoon walking around the city and being a tourist. Today... I went straight to our office near Gatwick airport. I just want to curl up on the floor and fall asleep. I don't want to work, I don't want to blog. I really want to sleep.

I don't think I slept any more or less than normal on the flight, but I really need to be up and active -- not sitting in a chair typing and answering the phone.

I am happy to be back in the UK! Despite my fatigue, which I'm sure will pass in a day or two.

London 13 March

Back in London - yeah!!

I am staying at a different hotel this time and I love it. The location is awesome - I can see the London Eye and Big Ben from my window. I can walk to the offices of three clients - BIS, Parliament and DECC.

I spent the afternoon walking, which included a wander through Trafalgar Square, past Parliament and Westminster Abbey. I had afternoon tea at my hotel. I like afternoon tea!

I saw Private Lives at the Vaudeville theatre. This is a Noel Coward play that I've seen before. It was awesome! It is a comedy, and was very funny. It starred Kim Cattrall and a British actor that I hadn't heard of before.

The worst part of the day - a few body parts STILL hurt from skiing in Vail two weeks ago. I couldn't walk as much as I wanted because I have a sore knee and ankle. I guess I better take it easy....but that is hard because there is always lots to see in the city - even stuff I've seen before is fun to see again.

London 13 November 2009

I had lunch at Borough Market. I heard about this place from Samantha Brown - who has several shows on the Travel channel. I had a fried cheese sandwich from the same guy who made her sandwich when she went to Borough Market.

I then had afternoon tea at Harrods, after doing a little window shopping. Harrods is an amazing department store. I remember my first trip to Harrods when I was in college. The only thing I could afford to buy at that time was a key chain.

Afternoon tea consisted of 5 small sandwiches, 2 scones, 4 pastries, tea...and I splurged and got champagne too. It was delicious!

I didn't do any other shopping this time...but I was tempted. Harrods actually has a little store in the airport, so that is where I will pick up some gifts.

London 10 November 2009

I had a little time today to spend at the Tate Modern. Awesome art!

The highlight of the day:

London theatre......


.....wait for it....

Phantom of the Opera

Enough said.

London 7 November 2009

I love London. I always find new adventures.

I forgot my umbrella. It didn't start raining until 10 pm, and I was pretty much done for the day. I'm still hopeful for good weather the rest of the trip so I won't need to buy one.

I also forgot my camera, so these blog posts will be sans pictures. Or...I could steal pics from the Internet. I've been known to do that.

Sadly, I didn't get as much done today as I planned. I have been unable to get my BB connected to UK's local mobile phone network. I'm sure I got more frustrated than I should have been, but I am here alone; so it was important to me that I can easily connect with people back home.

The highlight of the day was going to the theatre. I bought the ticket before I left, and because I was a single I got a great seat. I was 5th row - dead center. I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's. I really enjoyed the play. It is different than the movie.

I've had season tickets to the Guthrie for ~ 10 years. I see lots of plays. I've only seen one play at the Guthrie that had any nudity - Six Degrees of separation.

Breakfast at Tiffany's had male and female nudity - and I had a great seat. I think Europeans have a different - more open - attitude toward nudity.

"Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act" Truman Capote.

Good day, good day! Now I need to try and get to sleep. It is 5 pm at home, but I need to sleep now.

UK January 1989

I can't believe it has been 20 years since my first trip outside of the US. I went with 19 other girls (strangers) on a college trip during J-term. We spent the whole month of January in the UK.




Sadly, I flew to London one week after Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Scotland. Yep, I was scared, but I still went.

Here are the highlights of what I can remember

First week was spent in London; weeks two and three in Leicester; and 4th week back in London.

First meal was horrible - fried veal patty and peas. (What is with their obsession with peas? There are like 10 other vegetables that I actually like - peas is not one of them.) I didn't eat again for 2 days - when I found a KFC.

We went as a group to the Tower of London and saw the crown jewels, to Buckingham Palace, to watch Les Miserables, and to Windsor Castle. (All places in "the book" are colored.)

We took a bus from London to Warwick Castle, to Oxford and then to Stratford-upon-Avon. A cute, ancient man took us on a tour of the oldest library in the world at Oxford. We saw Shakespeare's wife's home in Stratford and then watched the Tempest at Shakespeare's theatre. I also saw his grave.

I vaguely remember stopping at other places too - like the place where Lady Godiva rode naked on her horse.

We then spent two weeks in Leicester - this was the real learnin' part of the trip. All 20 of us girls were placed in the local schools and we lived with local families. I really liked my family. I got to be friends with another girl (Belle) who was placed in the same school and lived with a family on the same street.

I remember taking a tour of a local radio station. They even interviewed a few of the girls. (Not me - I am too shy.) Our radio station guide played a song for us and said the "singers" were going to be HUGE in the US in the next 6 months. It was Milli Vanilli. He was right - they were huge - but we all know how that ends.

I spent one weekend in York. I only remember going to the Railway museum.

I spent the next weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland (new country). That was an interesting experience for a college-aged girl from the US. We arrived before noon on Saturday. There were already lots of drunk men wearing skirts (kilts) who were more than happy to show us young American girls what they had - or didn't have - under their kilts. We stayed at the local youth hostel - another first for me - and last. I did visit Edinburgh Castle.

And we looked for the Loch Ness monster.

I don't remember much about the last week in London. I was pretty homesick by this time. I took the tube (subway) to Wimbledon, but was disappointed when I couldn't see anything from the station.

I have no idea where to find my pictures from this trip.

Europe 2009

These are the places from "1,000 places to see before you die" that we visited on this trip.

London
The Connaught Hotel
Tea at the Ritz
Paris
Hotel de Crillon
Cathedrale Notre Dame de Chartres
Biarritz
The Dordogne
St Emillion
Madrid
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
San Sebastian
La Cathedral de Toledo
Catalan National Art Museum
La Sagrada Familia
Figueres

London / Paris - 12 June 2009

My last day in London. I am sitting at London City Airport (I love free wi-fi) waiting for my flight to Paris. I had one work meeting earlier today, one last pub meal with my UK colleague, and now I am trying to catch up on work before I sign off for two weeks.

I am so unbelievably frustrated right now. There were two - yes two - earlier flights to Paris; but they don't do stand-by here. They are happy to let seats go empty and make me wait for my later flight. I don't understand the insanity of this. They tried to get another 300 British pounds from me to take one of those earlier flights. I am really, really hating Air France.

Tomorrow will be better. Today was not good for me, but my family had a good day.

What my family did in Paris:
Found a great bakery near the hotel, went to the Louvre, walked through the Jardin de Tuileries and Place de la Concorde, walked by the US Embassy, and ate at a local McDonald's. Walked up the Champs Elysees to Arc de Triomphe. Went back to the ice cream place, and ate dinner at an Indian restaurant. Andy was awake for this dinner.

London / Paris - 11 June 2009

DH and the kids took a very early train to Paris. I stayed behind in London. I met with an existing client and conducted a training session for a new client.

My day got very exciting after work. First, I had a private tour around Parliament. Then, I went to Beating Retreat and was treated to a most unexpected surprise.....I saw the Queen and Prince Philip. Dave Worsell has pictures so I can prove it! How cool is it that I saw the Queen (from a distance of about 50 yards) today, and I saw President Obama two weeks ago? Who will be next?

And....I walked 10,687 steps today.

What my family did in Paris while I was working in London:
Walked by Hotel de Invalides, went to the Eiffel Tower (lots of beggars and people selling crap) and St. Germain-de-Pres and St. Sulpice (featured in Da Vinci Code). Saw the inside of Notre Dame and found a great sorbet/ice cream place nearby.

Andy missed a great Indian dinner because his dad was unable to wake him.

London day 4 - June 2009

Otherwise known as first full day of no tube (subway) access due to a strike. 11,810 steps.

The family took a ride on a double-decker red bus. They went to the British Museum and to Covent Garden.

I worked today, but Jill and I just walked across Hyde Park to Harrods and walked around the store.

London day 3 - June 2009

My family covered this today, mostly without me:

St. Paul's Cathedral (me too)
Tate Modern
Millennium Bridge
Fish & chips at British pub
Shopping at Harrod's
Trafalgar Square (me too)

More places from "the book" that I can tick (British version of check) off of my list:
Tea at the Ritz
Connaught Hotel

Tea at the Ritz was an awesome experience. Jill and I went to the Ritz tonight while the boys had beer at the pub. I think Andy is really enjoying the fact that he can legally drink beer in London at 19.

The Connaught Hotel has a very impressive staircase.

The day ended on a bit of a downer because the tube (subway) workers started a 48-hour strike at 7 pm local time.

I worked again today - met with a prospect, met with a long-time client (UK Parliament) and met with a new client. It was a good day.

London day 2 - June 2009

I left the hotel at 8:15 am for work and got back at 6:45 pm. It was a long day, but a great trip to Exeter and meeting with Met Office.

The family did all of this while I was working:
Natural History Museum
Science Museum
London Eye
Westminster Abbey
10 Downing Street
Parliament / Big Ben
Whitehall Hall

London day 1 - June 2009

16,549. That is how many steps I walked today according to my Wells Fargo freebie pedometer.

First day in London was really a 1/2 of a day. We took an overnight flight and arrived at noon local time. After immigration, two bathrooms breaks, collecting luggage, customs, buying train tickets, taking the train, transferring to the underground/subway, and arriving at our hotel - it was 2 pm. I think the kids thought we were done for the day, but no......

First destination after finally leaving the hotel was a local McDonald's. (Not my choice.)

We walked through Hyde Park, to Buckingham Palace, took the underground to the Tower of London, walked over the Tower Bridge, walked along the Thames River, took the underground to Picadilly Circus, ate dinner at a pub, and have finally collapsed at the Edward Lear hotel. 16,549.