longest stint in one bed since last summer

So I'm all moved in to my new place and it has been a long time since I've last written. The flat is great and our flatmates (a French couple) are very nice and we hang out loads so thats really nice/lucky as well.

Mum was out for a week over Easter which was nice as I hadn't seen her since New Years (though that seems just like yesterday!) and we went up to York for a couple days which was very nice. Also got out to Richmond for the first time which was beautiful as well with all the restaurants/etc by the river and even in the river (i.e. boat restaurants/cafes). The weather was beautiful the whole time she was here which made things quite pleasant.

Bruce also came out for a few days about a month ago now (my its been a longtime since I've written last) over his spring break in a combination trip to Europe to also see a special friend in Paris. It was great to see him and for him to see my new snazzy flat and everything.

My first proper case at work finished about a week ago and that went pretty well so quite a relief to have that under my belt! I just hope the relatively normal state of affairs present in the last case will be a constant feature of my future cases (though ideally with slightly fewer hours as I had quite a many late nights!)

Since my last case ending I've been able to relax a bit being unassigned which basically means I don't need to go in to work and can instead go to the gym, read, anything else which allows me to be at my desk in ~30 minutes if and when I get that email beckoning for me! Tomorrow I think I'll be in in the morning though as will have some proposal work to do I imagine.

Finally got a light bulb today for my floor lamp from Ikea which I'd continuously forgotten to get a bulb for until today as I was leaving Sainsbury's and thought "I know I'm forgetting something but what is it...?"

Met someone special's parents on Saturday which was a relatively painless encounter, inflated a 3 metre swimming ("paddling") pool, and got to jump on a huge trampoline which is always fun

We're having our housewarming / my birthday party in a couple weeks which I sent the invite out today for (New Yorkers feel free to come on over for that! ;-) so good to finally get that out
Interesting featured section in New York magazine comparing London and NY (to determine which is better!)

Dollar nearly hit $2 to £1 today ($1.99 it was) but alas not yet for today. A favourable exchange rate for one earning in £ thats for sure!

Planning to go to Sicily with my sister in September which should be great fun ;-)

Meanwhile global warming is in full swing with 27 C (81 F) temperatures felt yesterday here in London (today was a bit cooler I believe at 23 C).

100-day dinner tomorrow night, should be good times!

Well as I'm meant to be for tomorrow should probably sign-off now. Will try to write more frequently!!

nearly able to unpack my bags

thats right ladies and gentlemen-- come thursday I will be able to unpack my suitcase for the first time since September, yipee! Sad to leave Aleem and Clara, who I'm living with at the moment in Eddie's room up in Belsize Park but will invite them round for dinner when I'm moved in to my new place.

So yeah I'm now staffed on a proper project, working proper (i.e. long) hours and all that good stuff. Was travelling out to the client in Surrey a lot in the first couple weeks but have been able to work from the office this week which is nice (and saves the 3 1/2 hour commute to haslemere!)

Saw Yelena this morning (afternoon) for coffee which was really nice, haven't been able to hear how she's doing for... a while! I am jealous though that shes going to the killers concert tonight!! Coincidentally I'm going to the same venue (Wembley) on Wednesday night to see Keane so at least that softens the blow slightly.

Last night saw the boys (Nic, Joe, Markus) and Caro, Eric, and Lizzie (2 of Caro's friends) which was nice and ended in a lot of rain and mad scatter for various means of getting home (I stumbled onto a nightbus which left me at King's Cross before very luckily finding a taxi). Friday night was the standard (highly entertaining) fare: King's Arms followed by the SE Asian restaurant across the road (Straits).

And a while ago we went to Venice which was loads of fun, check out photos on picasaweb. Going to Austria in a couple weeks for the ski weekend which also promises to be a lot of fun. Need to find a wallet that fits english money (am having to fold everything and its all very cumbresome!) not to mention one which isn't falling apart at the seams.

Anyway, will try to post again sooner than last time
P

Fun weekend had in Gloucester, forgot toothbrush at work

So this past weekend was definitely a barrel of monkeys (euphemism for me + my co-workers) spent up in Gloucester about 3 hours NW of London. It was the birthday of a friend from the office so had a bunch of us as well as a lot of her friends from uni so a good mixed group all told. Photos posted on the picasaweb site for your enjoyment.

So I went to the gym this morning but got there a lot later than I planned and only had time for 2 sets of weight exercises (one bench, one curls) before having to leave for the office, bummer! But how is this affecting me now? Well I brought my toothbrush/toothpaste with me (along with shampoo/soap) to shower and be hygienic (though note I forgot a belt and cufflinks for my French cuffed shirt which I didn't realise was French cuffed until I put it on at 9.15 this morning). But now I've gone and forgotten these useful items (toothbrush/toothpaste) at my desk and so I don't have them to brush my teeth until I get back to my desk tomorrow morning (talk about a plan backfiring!) The one silver lining of this story is that at least there's no pressure looming over me of having to brush my teeth because well I can't! Gross yes but yet strangely serene.

In other news I shall be off to Venice on Friday which I'm looking forward to. Should be 3 days of fun!

I've finally put down the holding deposit on my new flat near Old Street as well so thats a bit of a relief. Move in date in 1 March. Only slight issue now is where I'm going to live for the 3 weeks between when I have to bugger out of my friends place I'm currently staying at and moving into the new permanent place up on Old St. Will try to sort it tomorrow.

I saw Sufia, my sister's good friend from uni, last night with her boyfriend Dave which was very exciting. He's working in Nairobi and she in Baltimore so London was something of a compromise for them to meet in for 5 days. Very cool.

Should hopefully see Chace again tomorrow for the first time since Beijing. Supposedly we're meeting at LSE so this is a piggy-back trip down memory lane as I also haven't been back to LSE since probably graduation in July. Feels so long ago now!

anyway going to get some sleep
miss you all

Officially a working man (boy)

So first day of work went off without a hitch. I must say it is a bunch of keanos (of the 10 new joiners I arrived 9th and I arrived 5 minutes early!)
Training occupies the first 2 1/2 weeks, a week of which will be in Germany next week along with all the newbies across Europe- should be a good time!
Anyway, up early again tomorrow so should go but the flat I'm in at the moment in South Ken is definitely plush to say the least so am enjoying that! Not to mention the brisk 15 minute commute! Only drag is its still suitcase-living for me until I move in somewhere more permanently next month (I feel like I should be looking for a short let or something, I haven't lived in one place for more than 11 months since high school! So weird to finally be in a permanent job.
Lots of loose ends to work on like uploading photos and getting Caro a phone to replace the one I lost in Hanoi (Direct Line here I come!). Am bracing myself for life with 2 mobiles (one work, one personal), and a blackberry which should commence in a couple weeks when I get back from Germany.

Tom put me to shame the other day when I received a Christmas card and mittens all the way from Kazakhstan and in good time no less!! Gotta find something nice to get him upon his return in just 3 months now.

Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh, Angkor, Bangkok, Ko Samet, New York

Are the places, in that order, where many a photos have been taken by yours truly since the last post.

Highlights (again, shall be brought to you in full colour on picasaweb when I find a computer to upload them and a few hours to caption them):
Mekong delta-- homestay 30 mins from Can Tho (capital of region), which is only accessible by motorbike, and a leisurely walk through a foot of water in wellies. Floating market at Cai Rang (and on-land market too). My Tho canal ride. General feeling of being as in the bush as possible.

Phnom Penh-- lots of crazy Khmer Rouge genocide-related thing (e.g. Choeng Ek Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng genocide museum), Royal Palace. Meeting cool Swedes and Aussie.

Siem Reap/Angkor-- Remarkable temples from 1000 years ago. Angkor Wat, Preah Khan, Banteay Srei, Bayon, and so much more! 3 days and 4 nights well spent.

Bangkok-- The principal tourist attractions of Grand Palace and Wat Pho, as well as the christmas tunes on the subway in the leisurely 28 degree (85 F) weather.

Ko Samet-- The perfect way to end the trip. Relaxing and magnificient. The seclusion of our wooden bungalow and the tiny beach.

New York-- the constant feeling as if I've never left despite having been here not more than 15 days over the past 15 months.