Monday, March 26, 2007
Passing time
...another week begins. I put Van on the last train back to London and wanted to wave at her from the station platform, but a pillar was in the way. We spent an enjoyable weekend walking the walls of Chester. The sun was out and it made our weekend that much more enjoyable: long bouts of coffee punctuated by bookstore browsing, walking, the occasional meal, and just enjoying each other's company. I never enjoyed the town as much as I did these past couple of days.
view from the Clock Tower by harrymoonNow I'm passing time, watching emo remix videos of Avatar: The Last Airbender on YouTube; wishing that the third Book (Fire) would finally air; that I was home watching all the previous episodes with Van, with a big cup of coffee and maybe some eclairs; and that I wasn't here, waiting for another week to begin.
Labels: chester, travel, update
Friday, March 23, 2007
Weekend at my place...
...up in Chester, that is. Van and I took the train up tonight and had a lovely hot dinner and watched the gray skies of London literally roll away.
Am finding myself spending less and less time in London. Plus ça change... it wasn't too long ago that I was out in the sticks in Basingstoke wishing I could spend more time in the capital. Only this time, I'm actually kind of enjoying my time with the HBOS project.
At least I can finally show Van the flat and walk the walls of Chester. I'm sure we'll find some other things to do as well.
Am finding myself spending less and less time in London. Plus ça change... it wasn't too long ago that I was out in the sticks in Basingstoke wishing I could spend more time in the capital. Only this time, I'm actually kind of enjoying my time with the HBOS project.
At least I can finally show Van the flat and walk the walls of Chester. I'm sure we'll find some other things to do as well.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Developing on Delphi
For my next trick, I'm doing XML development on something called the Delphi framework. And boy, do they hate the space bar. Of course AllObjectOrientedProgramsLookLikeThis. Blame me for cutting my teeth on even older languages like
* * *
Am back in Chester after two weeks in London and a weekend in Paris. We stayed overnight in the shadow of the Notre Dame; ate scallops and game birds in Bistro Polidor; and drank hot chocolate at a salon near the Orangerie.
All things considered, that was a pretty good weekend.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Champagne days
Good news seems abundant this month: first the Republicans get kicked out of Congress, then Rumsfeld resigns.
Random Onion:
Even better news: I'm back in London for some training for the next two weeks. Now that Van's back from the US we can finally spend some time together.
Even better, better news: I've gotten a call from another consultancy who's willing to wait to hire me. Not that I've stopped liking my finance job, but hey, it's good to have a parachute.
There you go. Hello blog. You're a bit dusty from neglect; I'll spruce you up.
Random Onion:
Even better news: I'm back in London for some training for the next two weeks. Now that Van's back from the US we can finally spend some time together.
Even better, better news: I've gotten a call from another consultancy who's willing to wait to hire me. Not that I've stopped liking my finance job, but hey, it's good to have a parachute.
There you go. Hello blog. You're a bit dusty from neglect; I'll spruce you up.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Welcome, City Boy
August 25th was my last day with my old company. I spent a week basically waking up late and making halfhearted attempts at DIY in the flat. Last week I started with my shiny, brand new company! Hurray! five weeks of training.
if you squint, you can see me waving.
The great thing about the New Job apart from its air of novelty is the fact that it's 20 minutes' walk away. So basically a jump across the Millennium Bridge, up behind St Pauls and Gresham Street, across Moorgate and into tiny Austin Friars in the shadow of the Natwest Building, sits this little hive of consultants whose job is to make asset finance software that Just Works.
And yes, in the software industry it is a major achievement to Just Work. Don't ask why.
There's lots more on the back burner this week - Marie's in town and Anj will be shortly - but more later.
if you squint, you can see me waving.The great thing about the New Job apart from its air of novelty is the fact that it's 20 minutes' walk away. So basically a jump across the Millennium Bridge, up behind St Pauls and Gresham Street, across Moorgate and into tiny Austin Friars in the shadow of the Natwest Building, sits this little hive of consultants whose job is to make asset finance software that Just Works.
And yes, in the software industry it is a major achievement to Just Work. Don't ask why.
There's lots more on the back burner this week - Marie's in town and Anj will be shortly - but more later.
Labels: random stuff, update
Friday, May 12, 2006
The day before...
[tag: _philippines]
...and everyone is rushing around buying last minute accessories, arranging transportation to Tagaytay, and packing for the big day. Whew.The forecast is for wind & rain tomorrow :-( We'll be praying at the shrine at Santa Clara and hopefully the storm will hold off for just one more day. Please pray with us that the sun will come out tomorrow!
Got to run. See you tomorrow at the Church...
Labels: philippines, update
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Crossing the threshold
[tags: _random stuff ¦ _news]
Last night, with a handful of salt and a handful of rice each, Van and I blessed our new apartment.
It's taken over twelve weeks of hard work, endless phone calls with the solicitors, and over five weeks sleeping on a couch bed in Andrew's apartment (for which we are forever grateful), but now we've finally got a place of our own to call home. And what a fantastic place it is - right smack in the middle of the South Bank and Bankside areas, about fifty feet away from the river.
Today I took a day off work, intending to get started on the cleaning and clearing out of the rubbish in the flat (it was repossessed), but instead findng myself moving in slow motion, just basking in the glow of ownership. It's so different this time. After the entire mortgage and purchase process, to have a place that is truly yours.
Last night, after placing a small pinch of salt and rice in each of the room, we cracked open some beers, put up our feet and watched some TV. It was a night like any others. In our flat.
Last night, with a handful of salt and a handful of rice each, Van and I blessed our new apartment.
It's taken over twelve weeks of hard work, endless phone calls with the solicitors, and over five weeks sleeping on a couch bed in Andrew's apartment (for which we are forever grateful), but now we've finally got a place of our own to call home. And what a fantastic place it is - right smack in the middle of the South Bank and Bankside areas, about fifty feet away from the river.
Today I took a day off work, intending to get started on the cleaning and clearing out of the rubbish in the flat (it was repossessed), but instead findng myself moving in slow motion, just basking in the glow of ownership. It's so different this time. After the entire mortgage and purchase process, to have a place that is truly yours.
Last night, after placing a small pinch of salt and rice in each of the room, we cracked open some beers, put up our feet and watched some TV. It was a night like any others. In our flat.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Goodbye to a window space
[tags: _news]
The house is now nearly empty. Only the sofa bed and the TV remain; a few utensils and the remnants of our food supply. We've moved all the furniture out of the house in the last stages of our move. It's quietly depressing.
Having spent a couple of years sitting on the windowsill looking out at the garden (the only reason I'd rented here in the first place), I was doing it for one of the last times today, working from home. On Friday we will be unceremoniously booted out and effectively homeless for the next couple of weeks. It will be a stressful next couple of weeks; of course friends have offered to put us p, but we will feel adrift, nevertheless.
Yesterday Ariel and Winnie helped us lug the stuff into storage; one major casualty was the wardrobe doors; the other was Ariel's ear. Today I am searching the house for nicks and marks, wiping all trace of my presence clean.
But it's the view from the window which I'll miss the most.
The house is now nearly empty. Only the sofa bed and the TV remain; a few utensils and the remnants of our food supply. We've moved all the furniture out of the house in the last stages of our move. It's quietly depressing.
Having spent a couple of years sitting on the windowsill looking out at the garden (the only reason I'd rented here in the first place), I was doing it for one of the last times today, working from home. On Friday we will be unceremoniously booted out and effectively homeless for the next couple of weeks. It will be a stressful next couple of weeks; of course friends have offered to put us p, but we will feel adrift, nevertheless.
Yesterday Ariel and Winnie helped us lug the stuff into storage; one major casualty was the wardrobe doors; the other was Ariel's ear. Today I am searching the house for nicks and marks, wiping all trace of my presence clean.
But it's the view from the window which I'll miss the most.
Labels: update
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