New York City Trip

I've been very lax in my updates of this site, so instead of doing lengthy blogs ill be putting up pics of whats been happening. Over past 6 wks everything has been going great, a few more people have gravitated to London and over the coming months ill be heading off to NYC, Ibiza, France, Switzerland and Sweden. Two of which are for work (no not Ibiza! ...NYC and Geneva in Switzerland)

Heres my pics, some of my local area and some of my recent trip to Scotland plus others

This is my pad (not the whole thing)

Nicks pad off Oxford St

View from near my unit

Hot time. Summer in the city. Its firing up here, with a forecast 27 degrees today. I haven’t got the net working at home as we’re changing companies, but I will try and get the photos up this week when its on.

Doin' the dash

I have been here for over a month now and I don’t think I have quite experienced London weather yet. I think in this whole time there has been one day of rain and on day of mild sleet – and that’s it!

I nearly experienced one more day of rain yesterday, as I tried to bike back from the city to my place in Hammersmith. Luckily it held off as I rode home, but that was a massive ride. In the morning it took me maybe 2 hours as I followed the curvy Thames River into the city to see the end of the London marathon, which seemed a good idea at the time. After bumping into someone I knew along the way, I arrived near Westminster to see the runners go past. It was quite a good atmosphere, with throngs of people everywhere.

To cross the running track you had to go in stages, and once on the other side in a park (London has parks absolutely everywhere) I was pushed forward towards the finish line, as the track doubled back on itself – this was definitely a “high congestion” area. Of course, I became “the idiot with the bike” and people everywhere were trying to make points about me having a bike, not letting me past, bumping into me. One guy later on even tried to give me a “hip and shoulder”. I was having none of that, and told him to get lost. It probably would’ve been hard to follow my advice though, as there were signs everywhere pointing to the nearest tube – so I doubt he could’ve even if he tried.

As the bike ride was so far, my plan was to get a tube home – but the only tube I could get a bike on was the one right next to the finish line with tens of thousands of people getting crammed in. The attendant convinced me to stay in the city for a few hours and try again later. Which I did, and just biked around London (great way to see a city). A few hours later I came back to the same station, and it must’ve doubled in people there!

Stuff THIS! I’m biking home. Famous last words.

Firstly, you must be a madman to bike in any city – let alone in London. However, I had to get home as I was sick of everything by now, including the moron who tried to bump me earlier in the day. I have now realised that biking in a city like London must be done like playing a tough footy game – if you don’t go for it, you’re gonna get nailed!

I kept seeing these ruthless individuals blaze a trail in front of me, un-helmeted and taking on buses at every turn. Maybe I too could be like them? And I was. I followed this crazy black man’s lead, and just pretended I was a car. I was going thru roundabouts, taking up a whole lane, stopping at stop lights (ok that last part wasn’t that exciting). As there are so many traffic lights anyway, you can almost travel the same speed as traffic.

After an hour and a half of biking (I followed the quick road back, rather than the river) I was in my hood. What an ordeal. At least next time I know what it takes to do a biking-in-traffic dash.

Photos of my London / my area /my place coming soon

Update

I write this after being here for nearly 4 weeks – and although this is my 2nd week of work, I am still yet to have any pounds coming in! I’m getting into the swing of things and getting to know my local area, tube, shops etc

Things have been really good at work, and there is another guy in the office now (taking the total in this company to 5!) who is in the same situation as me. He’s a cool guy and his girlfriend also lives in another city, Leeds. More and more im thinking its going to be an exciting place to work as it’s a growing company and it even looks like there might be some trips to Geneva and New York over the year. That is, if I take a job here, as im still only on a 5 week contract.

I am still getting potential job specifications being emailed to me, so Im going to have to make a quick decision about what I want to do. This could define what exactly I do here.

In other news, I have just booked a trip to Glasgow to see a mate who is working up there. I'm Looking forward to seeing other parts of the UK.

Thats all for now.

Hello to the land downunder (& the rest of the world)

Well, after 2 crazy weeks over here things seemed to have fallen into place so far – and my worst nightmares of a bad unit / bad weather and no job have not materialised. Ok, well the job and the unit are good anyway! I thought I could time things and get an endless summer, but 2 days after arriving it was snowing.
Upon getting to the airport I was told I had no ticket booked! (thanks flight centre). I nearly had to wait 7 hours at Vienna for the next plane, but luckily the connection all worked out. At least I managed to get under the plane the 40kg of baggage that I decided to try and get thru.

My flat in Hammersmith is pretty great, close to a tube station, good sized kitchen / lounge, cool flatmates - not to mention the chandeliers and a 17th century gold-plated mirror!
I haven't actually spent a weekend in London yet, with the first weekend in Sweden visiting Karin then the second in Split, Croatia on a footy trip. Split was pretty amazing and would love to get back there again sometime. Ive got enough of their currency left I think I have to.

As of Monday I have started working at a Hedge Fund as a performance analyst. Im pretty happy to get some pounds coming in, because I think I'd have to start camping out in Hyde Park otherwise. Its only a 5 week contract but some good potential to go from there if I go well. Its a little strange as there are only a few people working for the company, but will be good for the CV to get some UK experience on there and it overlooks Buckingham Palace.