London Calling...: January 2006

24 January 2006

Life at Uni-UK begins!

Yes, I have finally started work and I feel a bit like a deer in headlights! So many new faces to meet and processes to learn. I had forgotten what starting a new job is like. And to make matters worse, there are absolutely no nametags or labels on offices or desks. So when you meet someone, that is your first and last chance to learn their name without risking embarrassment. This procedure doesn't seem to work very well, however, because I have noticed that when I forget someone's name and ask a person who's been around a while, they don't seem to know either! I think there may be 150 people walking around who don't know each other's name!

The office is so different from LA. Very open plan with only a few offices around the edges. XFM plays all day long (nice) and there is ample tea and coffee available with a nice lady who comes around and collects your mugs from your desk when you've finished. There are literally a bazillion doors on the floor -- I guess due to fire regulations -- and you have to push a button before you can open each door, and use a badge to get out the other side. You have to walk through 3 doors alone just to get to the bathroom--very annoying (especially considering the endless cups of tea & coffee!). We get to choose our start time each day (8:30, 9:00 or 9:30), which I haven't really grasped yet, but sounds like a nice idea. The commute doesn't seem too bad so far. It is a short journey, but a very crowded one. Should be interesting (read: smelly) come summer.

It is absolutely freezing--the HIGH is something like 2-degrees. I try not to think about it...

I got the great news today that my furniture and other goods has finally cleared customs, and am so excited to be reunited with my bed after 6 long weeks!

Anyway, everyone seems really nice so far - can't remember anyone's name but I'm sure that will come in time. Had a fun weekend with John and Adrian. Northampton was further away than I expected. See a map here. Mark Morriss was great and I just can't wait to see The Bluetones together at their gig in March. Did I mention they're playing at The Garage, which is less than 5 mins walk from my flat?

I can't talk about Arsenal's horrible loss on Saturday so don't ask. Ooh, but I just remembered they have a home game tonight, so I better go home!! Night night...

20 January 2006

Blue sky!!!

Yes, I am all excited. A tiiinnnnyyy bit of blue sky has poked through the clouds for the first time since I arrived. Amazing what a little bit of sunshine will do for you. Don't fool yourself into thinking this means it is warm outside. I learned that the hard way. Brrr!!!

I was hoping to have time to write more, but need to get back soon - John is kindly driving up with his car to help me run some errands (most likely a beer run if he has anything to do with it!) :-) Tonight we're off to Northampton to see Mark Morriss (lead singer of The Bluetones) play a solo gig.

I met up with Dan and Rob last night in a nice local pub (Matt, you'll love the name) called The Bailey. Description here: http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/review_952.html It was so nice to actually have a conversation with other humans (the checkers at Sainsburys and Waitrose do not count!). They were really nice and both live locally, which is great. Both Arsenal fans - hoorah. Apparently January is the time when everyone stops drinking, or cuts down on drinking. They both apologized for only being able to manage 5 pints....

Rob's girlfriend also came along, and she gave me some tips a great yoga center in the neighborhood and some good walks. I didn't realize I could walk to Hampstead Heath from my place - sweet! Also they all agreed to put together a nice care package email for me with the essentials (daily celebrity gossip, daily football gossip, etc). I also learned that there is a train from Highbury & Islington station (5 mins walk from my flat) that will take me to Camden Town, and all the way to Richmond.

Tomorrow, Arsenal play Everton (away game), but it will be my first as a local resident - I am so excited to see what the neighborhood is like during a game. I will probably go down to a pub with Rob or Dan. And soooo nice to be able to watch it live at a time other the 4am! :-) Can't wait for my first home game - the neighborhood apparently goes nuts. Bring it on, I say!

18 January 2006

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17 January 2006

The cold is making me cough!

Sitting in a cafe watching the world go by. Yesterday was pretty frustrating -- went to 7 different banks and not one would open an account for me. Nice. Which makes it kind of impossible to do anything else. But, I did make it successfully into my flat yesterday which is great. It is TINY but very nice on the inside. The balcony overlooks 2 construction sites, but at least it's a balcony, right? I don't think all of my furniture will fit, which is a bit worrying, but I figure that I will deal with that once it arrives. The bathroom has a heated towel rail, so I may just stay in there full-time.

The neighborhood is very "up-and-coming" (read: pretty run down), but I am only about 1.5 mi from Upper Street, which is very cool - tons of bars, restaurants and shops. I can take a bus right there, or walk (if it ever stops raining). My hair looks like medusa as a result and I until today I have been unable to find towels, so I have had to use a little 6" x 12" tea towel for the bath and shower for the past 2 days. All the stores seem to close at 6:00 and I keep forgetting this fact as I keep showing up about 6:30 to try and buy my towels! I also locked myself in the building's garage yesterday trying to find the "rubbish" bins. So much to learn...

When I arrived yesterday morning, my landlord had left me flowers, a nice card and a "yoga relaxation CD" -- he must know me well! Also, he supplied a pretty sweet flatscreen LCD TV which is nice. Some nice man from the development came by this morning to get it working for me. Oh, and did I mention when you walk out my front door you can see the new Arsenal Stadium? I can't wait until a home game to see what it's like in the neighborhood.

Meeting up with Rob and Dan, friends of Tim, one of my LA friends (and Arsenal supporters) on Thursday evening, and Johnny M and Adrian are coming for a visit this weekend. Starting work on Monday - yikes!

Battery is dying and I need to go find a microwave that will fit on the tube. I've got my full address now, so email me if you'd like it. More soon...

16 January 2006

The weather forecast for today says:
"Damp, Cloudy, Mild with Dribbles of Rain"

I'm not kidding... :-/

15 January 2006

Official resident!

Well, somehow I made it past the immigration people without too much hassle. I handed over my documents and he looked at them for what seemed like an eternity, gave me my stamp and I was on my way! I am officially a UK resident!

You'll never believe who was on my flight: my old boss Kevin Kraff from Universal! He works for THQ games now and was flying over for a meeting in Paris. It was such a nice surprise to see him! And a welcome one, after being so sad to be leave and blubbering in the airport. The flight was a little disappointing. As Murphy's Law would have it, because I was so excited about all of the movies they would be showing that I was excited to watch (including Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room), the entertainment system was broken on the entire plane! Such a bummer.

Went out about 6:00pm to try and get a hair dryer and some water, and found literally everything (even the supermarkets) closed. Welcome to England! ;-)

Really tired and disoriented, so going to head off to bed (after watching Celebrity Big Brother--something my driver today informed me was a 'must-watch'--features Dennis Rodman, Michael Barrymore, a Minister of Parliament and a member of the Welsh rap band Goldie Looking Chain). Jimmy Saville (aka Jim'll Fix It) is making a surprise appearance today. Tomorrow I (hopefully) pick up the keys to my flat! More soon...

03 January 2006

January 2
Happy New Year! Thought I would start the new year off by figuring out an easy way to stay in touch after I move. I am back in LA now for only a few days before heading off "home"--as some have been known to call it--on Jan 14th. The 3-day drive back to Texas before Christmas was long, but relaxing. Even Piccadilly had a good time. You can see her here, napping on the passenger seat next to me. She never strays too far from the baby carrots!

Check back soon for updates...

London Calling...