Well, despite the fact that I thought I was going to get shorted one vacation day since Memorial Day is a US occasion, I was surprised to learn that I get today off too (as does the rest of the UK). It's a "Bank Holiday," which basically means that since the banks are closed, so is everyone else.
Its been rainy the past three days, and will continue for the rest of the week. It seems my good luck (and good weather) at the beginning of my trip has finally run out. Oh well.
I'm still finalizing some of the paperwork on my flat, but in the meantime you can check out the location (hooray for Google Maps) and start planning your visit. I should be moving in around the last week of June.
As far as the rest of my timeline, I'll be in London for the next week and a half (until June 8th). Then I'm back to the States for two weeks in order to get all the rest of my stuff packed and moved over here. Then I'm back here for good (mostly).
I was talking with my boss over some delicious pints over the weekend, and it looks like I'll be doing quite a bit of travelling once I get settled. He's currently in Paris, after just finishing a week in Lithuania, and then to he's off to Switzerland for two days. So I'd guess he's about right.
I'm very excited about travelling, as it will keep me very busy while Laura's in Africa.
Speaking of Africa, I've talked with Laura a few times since she's landed. She's settled into the village and is getting situated this week in order to prepare for volunteers coming out for the next few weeks in a row. It sounds like she's having a great time, plus she discovered that her room has an actual shower (while its not hot water, its also not a bucket bath). I'm sure she'll have an updating coming up by the end of the week (if she makes it to an internet cafe over the weekend).
28 May 2007
24 May 2007
Found a Flat
Well, I expected it to take a bit longer, but I've found a flat. I just talked with the agent in charge of the property and we're all set to move forward on it.
First, the greatest part is that the closest Tube stop is called "Elephant & Castle." Seriously, why can't the DC Metro have kickass names like that (how boring does McPherson Square sound now).
Its in Southeast London, about a 10 minute walk from the London Bridge south of the river Thames.
Supposedly there are some good and bad areas around the area, but I checked it out late at night and it all seemed up on the up and up. I was quizzing people on the street about the area as well. I'm not expecting it to be a fantastic wonderland, but its also not quite the same as being in Southeast DC.
Its also well within my budget, which means I can save up even more money to spend on flights to Uganda to visit Laura.
I should be moving in sometime mid to late June.
Once I get a new camera (Laura took the point and shoot to Africa), I'll get some pictures up so you can see my new digs. That probably won't be until I head back to the States though, so be patient.
First, the greatest part is that the closest Tube stop is called "Elephant & Castle." Seriously, why can't the DC Metro have kickass names like that (how boring does McPherson Square sound now).
Its in Southeast London, about a 10 minute walk from the London Bridge south of the river Thames.
Supposedly there are some good and bad areas around the area, but I checked it out late at night and it all seemed up on the up and up. I was quizzing people on the street about the area as well. I'm not expecting it to be a fantastic wonderland, but its also not quite the same as being in Southeast DC.
Its also well within my budget, which means I can save up even more money to spend on flights to Uganda to visit Laura.
I should be moving in sometime mid to late June.
Once I get a new camera (Laura took the point and shoot to Africa), I'll get some pictures up so you can see my new digs. That probably won't be until I head back to the States though, so be patient.
20 May 2007
Contact Me
After a full day of stopping into just about every mobile shop in London, I went ahead and got a phone. I actually have a really good plan for calling the US (only 5p/minute, about 10 cents). If you want to call my phone the number is 011 44 7942 259 097. Yeah, it's a lot of numbers. Please be kind to the 5 hour time difference from the East Coast to here.
I highly recommend Skype for calling over here (and for Laura as well). To the UK I think Skype is only 2 cents a minute to any regular phone number. And if you do get Skype setup, you can contact me with my username robert.harwig if I'm online at the same time.
Other than that, all that I've been doing the past two days is wandering around different areas of London for hours on end. It's fantastic. There's so much to see, and so many pubs to visit. Kudos to Mom for proving me right last night that ESB stands for Extra Special Bitters. Not even the bartender knew that one.
I highly recommend Skype for calling over here (and for Laura as well). To the UK I think Skype is only 2 cents a minute to any regular phone number. And if you do get Skype setup, you can contact me with my username robert.harwig if I'm online at the same time.
Other than that, all that I've been doing the past two days is wandering around different areas of London for hours on end. It's fantastic. There's so much to see, and so many pubs to visit. Kudos to Mom for proving me right last night that ESB stands for Extra Special Bitters. Not even the bartender knew that one.
18 May 2007
Snakes on a Plane
So I wrote the following while I was on the plane (with pen and paper, not even a computer), and thought I'd share. It's a little bit stream of consciousness, so just go with it.
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What began as a seemingly retched flight turned out to be much more agreeable soon after takeoff.
I checked in with my suitcase, garment bag and laptop bag, intending to only check the suitcase and have the garment bag ready to go in case of lost luggage issues. I was even careful to pack extra stuff into my garment bag so I could have at least one or two full changes of clothes at the ready.
As it turns out, my garment bag was too big. Seriously, who designs a soft garment bag that can't fit in an overhead compartment (which is crap, because it can, it just can't fit in there little measurement thingys). I was only further enraged at this when I noticed the girl across the aisle lug her trombone case (or some sort of huge instrument) into the overhead bin and take up nearly the entire space. Jerks.
After checking my bags, I went to the TravelEx counter to exchange some money. From previous travels, Laura and I have amassed a collection of small coins (Belize dollars, Euros, South African Rand) that I was trying to exchange for something of actual value to me (aka pounds). No such luck. The guy at the counter won't accept coins except for 1 and 2 Euro coins and US coins. Bastards!
Security went just fine and I made a bee-line for the Old Dominion Brewery in Terminal B. Paying $7 for a nice tall Dominion Ale is the only redeeming quality that Dulles has.
I had another hour to kill so I started reading a book my Mom had just sent up for me, A Man Without A Country, by Kurt Vonnegut. It was a great book, and very funny, but it turns out it was also a very easy read. I managed to finish it just before the plane took off.
Back to the main point. I was seated in Row 57 F... as in D, E, F, G . Not the best place for a nearly 2 meter tall person to be (go metric!). Amazingly, just after take off, the guys in D and G both moved into open seats near a bulkhead, so I got to stretch out across 2 seats, what a joy.
And also, I didn't sleep a wink, depsite all best efforts of earplugs, eyemasks, and alcohol. Oh well. I'm about to crash hard for the next few hours over here.
-------
What began as a seemingly retched flight turned out to be much more agreeable soon after takeoff.
I checked in with my suitcase, garment bag and laptop bag, intending to only check the suitcase and have the garment bag ready to go in case of lost luggage issues. I was even careful to pack extra stuff into my garment bag so I could have at least one or two full changes of clothes at the ready.
As it turns out, my garment bag was too big. Seriously, who designs a soft garment bag that can't fit in an overhead compartment (which is crap, because it can, it just can't fit in there little measurement thingys). I was only further enraged at this when I noticed the girl across the aisle lug her trombone case (or some sort of huge instrument) into the overhead bin and take up nearly the entire space. Jerks.
After checking my bags, I went to the TravelEx counter to exchange some money. From previous travels, Laura and I have amassed a collection of small coins (Belize dollars, Euros, South African Rand) that I was trying to exchange for something of actual value to me (aka pounds). No such luck. The guy at the counter won't accept coins except for 1 and 2 Euro coins and US coins. Bastards!
Security went just fine and I made a bee-line for the Old Dominion Brewery in Terminal B. Paying $7 for a nice tall Dominion Ale is the only redeeming quality that Dulles has.
I had another hour to kill so I started reading a book my Mom had just sent up for me, A Man Without A Country, by Kurt Vonnegut. It was a great book, and very funny, but it turns out it was also a very easy read. I managed to finish it just before the plane took off.
Back to the main point. I was seated in Row 57 F... as in
And also, I didn't sleep a wink, depsite all best efforts of earplugs, eyemasks, and alcohol. Oh well. I'm about to crash hard for the next few hours over here.
I'm in London!
I've just set myself up in the new office. Don't have much time now to say anything except that I'm here. Took a quick tour around the city while waiting to check-in to the hotel, lots of cool stuff. I definitely should have bought my new camera before heading over.
More update and a long rant I wrote on the flight over to follow.
Cheers.
More update and a long rant I wrote on the flight over to follow.
Cheers.
14 May 2007
Plane Ticket Purchased
Well, I just purchased my plane ticket for London ($950, ouch!). Good thing it's being reimbursed.
I'm heading out of here on Thursday evening for three weeks across the pond. Hopefully sometime in the next few days I'll be figuring out a place to stay. There's nothing like saving things for the last minute.
There's still a bunch that needs to get done; reserve a moving company, find a flat, pack up the apartment. It looks like it will be a pretty packed week trying to get everything setup before I head over there.
I'll be coming back here on June 8th for about a week to finalize everything in the States, move out of the apartment, and ship everything to London (not to mention a weekend in Blacksburg thrown in for good measure).
Look out for my next post to be sent from the UK!
I'm heading out of here on Thursday evening for three weeks across the pond. Hopefully sometime in the next few days I'll be figuring out a place to stay. There's nothing like saving things for the last minute.
There's still a bunch that needs to get done; reserve a moving company, find a flat, pack up the apartment. It looks like it will be a pretty packed week trying to get everything setup before I head over there.
I'll be coming back here on June 8th for about a week to finalize everything in the States, move out of the apartment, and ship everything to London (not to mention a weekend in Blacksburg thrown in for good measure).
Look out for my next post to be sent from the UK!
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