As my first London
summer draws to a close I will take this moment
to look back with nostalgia and affection.
Unsurprisingly, the Summer
started out very wet. June was marked by weeks of absolute cloud cover and
intermittent rain. It took more than a month and the arrival of the Olympics
before we began to enjoy sun. Just in time many remarked, as the organizers
were anxious the games would be rained out. Warm sunny days were soon as
common as bumbling tourists and I almost forgot it ever rained here.
I saw an influx of
visitors which was welcomed. A couple friends from UCR kicked off the summer
when they stayed with me for a weekend. Olivia arrived in July for a couple
days, then another friend from UCR who was here on a family reunion trip. A
small contingent of South Pas Barkers showed up in August for almost a week. Hillary
and Dad rounded out the summer with a 2 week visit earlier this month. Fall is
looking empty until December when Mom has proposed a visit.
Summer also marked a
job transition. My contract as a Technology Administrator expired in August and
I interviewed successfully for a full time position as a Customer Migration
Assistant. This meant a switch in departments, a new boss, new work friends and
finally a well-deserved pay raise. My previous department, Technology,
had a very casual atmosphere. Only my boss and a few other folks dressed
formally while the remainder of the employees dressed very casually. Some would
even wear sandals on occasion. I also sat near a window and could see the sky.
In contrast, my new department is much more business-y and formal. The area my
desk is in is surrounded by glass executive offices. And gone are my window
views. On the upside several of people around my age sit near me and we
occasionally go out for drinks and work lunches. I’ve also started to play soccer
with some of the guys here. My workload has increased substantially. I miss my
old department, but I was bored there and lacked social connections.
Travel wise, most of my
touring has been limited to London and surrounding environs and a quick trip up
to Scotland at the end of August. I’ve been itching to visit Continental Europe
but life keeps getting the way. There are plenty of things to visit in and
around London anyway so Lauren and I have been consistently spending weekends
visiting sights around the city and taking day trips to destinations like
Brighton. When Hillary and Dad were in town, I was able to tour a bit of the
country side northeast of London as well as pop out to the city of Bath for a
day. I’m trying to see if we can squeeze in a trip to Wales come October and
perhaps a weekend visit to Amsterdam in November?
The Olympics.
Originally anticipated to be a colossal failure, citing transportation
concerns, lousy weather and an inflated budget, but by all almost all measures
were a success. The vibe across the city was amazing and palpable. Parades,
parties and concerts were held almost daily throughout London. The Olympic
rings adorned just about everything. Unfortunately I was unable to secure
tickets to any events (not that I put much effort into it) but I did watch the
games daily while at work. Londoners were shaking in their boots at the thought
of tube being inundated with extra people. Just like the gridlock that was
anticipated during LA’s Carmageddon - which did not happen- our worst fears
were not realized. The only crush occurred around Stratford where the Olympic
park is located. An Olympic highlight for me was watching the US Basketball game
in a hospitality suite that was set up right next to the Tower of London. Literally,
right at the base of the walls. We pondered the many men and women who perished
on the property as we sipped our £6 beers and watched a bunch of guys throw a
ball around.
Lauren and I also have
moved, swapping verdant Wandsworth for the grit and grime of Stockwell.
Fortunately we’re minutes from the tube station and my commute to Camden has
been halved, but the drunken Polish and Portuguese chaps that wander our estate
during the evenings are disconcerting. Last month I was awoken to the sounds of
bottles smashing and a bunch of men yelling in some indeterminate foreign
language. I poked my head out of our 5th story window and
observed a couple black guys, one carrying what looked like hammer, approach a
group of intoxicated men. My heart raced as I prepared to watch an epic battle.
After several minutes of posturing, yelling and name calling, the two black
dudes backed down and retreated. The drunks’ tone noticeably quieter. Conflict
averted. It’s events like that that keep Stockwell zesty and fresh.
That about wraps it up
for the past couple months. It’s been a year since I moved to London. Good god.
I stand now
facing the doom and gloom of winter and the prospects of a brand new year.
Cheerio
