I had another one of those welcome to Europe moments today....
I got an email inviting me to a beer bust in the cafeteria at the office I work at for 6pm tonight. This is not something that seemed normal to me. Prude American offices would have nothing to do with beer in the workplace. So, as far as I was concerned, I was obviously mis-reading the email.
6pm comes around and I figured that I might as well check it out.
I walk to the cafe with a couple of my co-workers and sure enough, there are a bunch of people drinking beer and eating pizza!
I walk into the cafe itself and walk up to one of the stations and there are about 200 open bottles of good old Budweiser (yeah Lou!)just sitting there for the taking. I take a couple and move onto the next station with a bunch of different pizza. I chose a slice of corn and mushroom pizza (they put corn on everything here). I went and sat down with my mates.....this was really happening!
So, turns out that drinking beer at work is perfectly ok.....free beer at that!
I just got home and now I am watching rugby.
The six nations tournament has been going on the last couple of weeks: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy have some sort of round robin situation.
Of course, rugby is one of those beautiful European sports that Americans know nothing about. Rugby, football (soccer), cricket, snooker, and darts are the European standards.
I have been watching the tournament regularly just because it is cool! I have learned two things watching these rugby matches:
1. This sport is brutal - if you get hurt, the medic comes out and your team just keeps playing while you nearly die.
2. Italy has no business competing in this tournament. The suck.....bad.
France just beat Wales. Poor Welsh.
Oh well. Liz comes soon....only one more lonely weekend to get through!!
Cheers!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Fun Facts
Hello all,
Not much new going on across the pond. It was a very busy, very important week at work last week. I had one of my first major responsibilities to present and I must say, I don't think it could have gone much better!
I had the weekend off again. As nice as it is to have those days off, I still can't get used to it. I stick with my original claim: I would rather have one weekend day and one week day off; then I don't have to deal with all of the people that are off too!
I went on a couple of field trips over the weekend, mainly taking the tube around my new area to find the local stores. The only major victory I had this weekend was finding a nice 300Watt step down power converter. What is that for you ask? With this brilliant piece, I can now use my US XBOX 360 on the power system here. Oh, what good fun! Now, all I need is my broadband to get hooked up this coming weekend to get online and start destroying people in Tiger Woods Golf yet again. Good times.
You also may be surprised that I have cooked two nice meals this week. I made myself a nice steak and baked potato on Sunday and baked some cod yesterday. I do dabble a bit in the art of cooking, but living in such a small apartment, I have had no ambition to work in a small kitchen. Now, I have a nice new kitchen and a grocery store next door. All is good. And, when you have nothing but time to kill, you have to do something!
My other major victory this week was setting up a UK bank account. I had heard so many horror stories about it, but it was easy. I think it is easier and quicker to get a mortgage in the US that a foreigner to get a bank account here. But, Barclays took me in with open arms. No more BS currency exchange rates on my US cards....yeehaw!
Back to work as usual this week. On Thursday we are going out as a team for a curry and to the casino. I shall let you know how that goes!
Let me leave you with some random facts about my new home:
-There are casinos everywhere. Think of going to a bar in the US and jamming it full of casino games. That is how it is here, randomly located everywhere. I will give you more details after Thursday.
-Baked beans on toast in the morning is the breakfast the English are most proud of. Every morning in the cafeteria at work, there they are, all hot and steamy. I have yet to give it a shot. One of these days!
-Mushy peas. What more do I have to say? Look it up. Peas themselves are not very glamorous, little green balls, mediocre at best. Imagine them with the skin ripped off and half soupy. If you get fish and chips, you will have the option for mushy peas. I am not a hater, I like them.
-British humor is not as dry as you would think in real life, but it is AWFUL on tv.
-Most shows are not censored at all on tv. That means I get to enjoy my hero, Gordon Ramsey, in all of his beautifully excessive profanity.
-They love their potato chips here (crisps as they call them - chips are french fries). Though I must admit, they might have gone a little over the edge with their flavors. Their normal selection is strange enough: prawn cocktail, bbq rib flavor, Worcester sauce, etc. They are advertising a new competition for their best new flavor and the have outdone themselves! Chili and chocolate? Cajun Squirrel? Fish and Chips? I can't make this stuff up: http://www.walkers-crisps.co.uk/flavours/default.aspx?ver=low#/flavours/
-If you go into the egg aisle at the grocery store, all of the eggs are in a normal aisle, not a refrigerated section, strange.
-When you are on an escalator, if you are standing and waiting, stand on the right. Walkers get the left side. They get pissed if you are standing on the left!
-Almost every car is a stick shift. Not only do they drive down the wrong side of the road, they do it while driving manually!
I can't give everything away at once!
Take care!
Not much new going on across the pond. It was a very busy, very important week at work last week. I had one of my first major responsibilities to present and I must say, I don't think it could have gone much better!
I had the weekend off again. As nice as it is to have those days off, I still can't get used to it. I stick with my original claim: I would rather have one weekend day and one week day off; then I don't have to deal with all of the people that are off too!
I went on a couple of field trips over the weekend, mainly taking the tube around my new area to find the local stores. The only major victory I had this weekend was finding a nice 300Watt step down power converter. What is that for you ask? With this brilliant piece, I can now use my US XBOX 360 on the power system here. Oh, what good fun! Now, all I need is my broadband to get hooked up this coming weekend to get online and start destroying people in Tiger Woods Golf yet again. Good times.
You also may be surprised that I have cooked two nice meals this week. I made myself a nice steak and baked potato on Sunday and baked some cod yesterday. I do dabble a bit in the art of cooking, but living in such a small apartment, I have had no ambition to work in a small kitchen. Now, I have a nice new kitchen and a grocery store next door. All is good. And, when you have nothing but time to kill, you have to do something!
My other major victory this week was setting up a UK bank account. I had heard so many horror stories about it, but it was easy. I think it is easier and quicker to get a mortgage in the US that a foreigner to get a bank account here. But, Barclays took me in with open arms. No more BS currency exchange rates on my US cards....yeehaw!
Back to work as usual this week. On Thursday we are going out as a team for a curry and to the casino. I shall let you know how that goes!
Let me leave you with some random facts about my new home:
-There are casinos everywhere. Think of going to a bar in the US and jamming it full of casino games. That is how it is here, randomly located everywhere. I will give you more details after Thursday.
-Baked beans on toast in the morning is the breakfast the English are most proud of. Every morning in the cafeteria at work, there they are, all hot and steamy. I have yet to give it a shot. One of these days!
-Mushy peas. What more do I have to say? Look it up. Peas themselves are not very glamorous, little green balls, mediocre at best. Imagine them with the skin ripped off and half soupy. If you get fish and chips, you will have the option for mushy peas. I am not a hater, I like them.
-British humor is not as dry as you would think in real life, but it is AWFUL on tv.
-Most shows are not censored at all on tv. That means I get to enjoy my hero, Gordon Ramsey, in all of his beautifully excessive profanity.
-They love their potato chips here (crisps as they call them - chips are french fries). Though I must admit, they might have gone a little over the edge with their flavors. Their normal selection is strange enough: prawn cocktail, bbq rib flavor, Worcester sauce, etc. They are advertising a new competition for their best new flavor and the have outdone themselves! Chili and chocolate? Cajun Squirrel? Fish and Chips? I can't make this stuff up: http://www.walkers-crisps.co.uk/flavours/default.aspx?ver=low#/flavours/
-If you go into the egg aisle at the grocery store, all of the eggs are in a normal aisle, not a refrigerated section, strange.
-When you are on an escalator, if you are standing and waiting, stand on the right. Walkers get the left side. They get pissed if you are standing on the left!
-Almost every car is a stick shift. Not only do they drive down the wrong side of the road, they do it while driving manually!
I can't give everything away at once!
Take care!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Roids - Completely Non UK Related
I need to air my opinion about Alex Rodriguez for all who care!
It is sad that people are still getting called out for performance enhancer use that happened more than five years ago. I am so sick and tired of this stupid subject!
Don't get me wrong, I feel that the people should have the right to know about current players who intentionally break the rules today. If you are that stupid or arrogant to think that you won't get caught, you deserve it. Now, it is against the rules.
My problem is people making a big deal about people taking these enhancers when they were not against the rules. Who cares? Do you? I don't? If it was legal, it was legal.
Yes, I am a Yankee fan, but that has nothing to do with this point. For that matter, I appreciate A Rod as a player but I am not a fan. So, don't think that I am just another dumb ass Yankee fan preaching about poor A Rod - or any other random negative point brought up against the Yankees. A Rod specifically has nothing to do with this rant, he just brought it on.
Do I feel bad for A Rod?
Not at all.
He knew what he did and that he got caught doing it. Remember, it was legal then. Either way, he swept it under the rug and waited for it to come out this way. For that, he has to bear the burden.
Am I glad he admitted to it?
He had no choice, if he would have denied, he would have been like every other random sack of crap who denied reality (McGuire, Sosa, Bonds, and all those other stained girls).
I guess this brings me to the root of my frustration. I still have a hard time understanding why all of these idiots denied using these drugs in the first place. They know what they did. Most of them have been caught doing it! Is it really that hard to remember Mark McGuire using Androstenedione openly during those glory years? I seem to remember it vividly!
How hard would it have been for any one of these guys to say, "Yeah, I used them; there was no rule saying not to"? That is all it would have took. If one would have done it, they all would have done it. It may have caused a storm, but that storm would be gone in six months, unlike our current six year storm.
Mark McGuire crys like a girl, Sammy Sosa corks his bat and denies it (hopeless), and Barry Bonds has a huge roid head (except for on his 1986 Tops rookie card when he was on the Pirates for some reason). I hate all of these players. But, if they would have admitted using, I would have still respected their records - with no asterisk (that brings on another rant about 61* - for another time)!
How sad is it that we look back and the only big players to admit were thong wearing Jason Giambi and my hero Jose Canseco?
They are both pieces of work, but no one holds them accountable to using anymore. People hold Giambi accountable to getting overpaid and playing like crap. People hold Canseco accountable to being in it for the money. Who isn't?
A Rod will get what he gets. He, like almost everyone else missed his opportunity to admit when it wouldn't have mattered. So no, I don't feel for him. That, and he is worth like a billion dollars.
This isn't about feeling bad for one person or another. It is frankly about not giving a rat's ass anymore. Stop bitching about it. If you cheat now, take your suspension. Stop spending the government's fake money on this. No one cares. That goes for your opinion too Mr. Obama. Why don't we just shut the book on it. Everyone probably did it; and just like the coke and amphetamines of the 70's and 80's, players will do something else next year!
There is only one flea ridden scumbag to stick with in this whole thing, my boy, Jose Canseco. The one guy who really doesn't care what anyone thinks. I hate him for bringing this whole waste of time up, but you got to make a living somehow! Can't hate for that!
Remember, Bo knows baseball. He is the one man who never took enhancers. He is the only monster who never had to. Maybe he should have and injuries may not have cut his career so short!
It is sad that people are still getting called out for performance enhancer use that happened more than five years ago. I am so sick and tired of this stupid subject!
Don't get me wrong, I feel that the people should have the right to know about current players who intentionally break the rules today. If you are that stupid or arrogant to think that you won't get caught, you deserve it. Now, it is against the rules.
My problem is people making a big deal about people taking these enhancers when they were not against the rules. Who cares? Do you? I don't? If it was legal, it was legal.
Yes, I am a Yankee fan, but that has nothing to do with this point. For that matter, I appreciate A Rod as a player but I am not a fan. So, don't think that I am just another dumb ass Yankee fan preaching about poor A Rod - or any other random negative point brought up against the Yankees. A Rod specifically has nothing to do with this rant, he just brought it on.
Do I feel bad for A Rod?
Not at all.
He knew what he did and that he got caught doing it. Remember, it was legal then. Either way, he swept it under the rug and waited for it to come out this way. For that, he has to bear the burden.
Am I glad he admitted to it?
He had no choice, if he would have denied, he would have been like every other random sack of crap who denied reality (McGuire, Sosa, Bonds, and all those other stained girls).
I guess this brings me to the root of my frustration. I still have a hard time understanding why all of these idiots denied using these drugs in the first place. They know what they did. Most of them have been caught doing it! Is it really that hard to remember Mark McGuire using Androstenedione openly during those glory years? I seem to remember it vividly!
How hard would it have been for any one of these guys to say, "Yeah, I used them; there was no rule saying not to"? That is all it would have took. If one would have done it, they all would have done it. It may have caused a storm, but that storm would be gone in six months, unlike our current six year storm.
Mark McGuire crys like a girl, Sammy Sosa corks his bat and denies it (hopeless), and Barry Bonds has a huge roid head (except for on his 1986 Tops rookie card when he was on the Pirates for some reason). I hate all of these players. But, if they would have admitted using, I would have still respected their records - with no asterisk (that brings on another rant about 61* - for another time)!
How sad is it that we look back and the only big players to admit were thong wearing Jason Giambi and my hero Jose Canseco?
They are both pieces of work, but no one holds them accountable to using anymore. People hold Giambi accountable to getting overpaid and playing like crap. People hold Canseco accountable to being in it for the money. Who isn't?
A Rod will get what he gets. He, like almost everyone else missed his opportunity to admit when it wouldn't have mattered. So no, I don't feel for him. That, and he is worth like a billion dollars.
This isn't about feeling bad for one person or another. It is frankly about not giving a rat's ass anymore. Stop bitching about it. If you cheat now, take your suspension. Stop spending the government's fake money on this. No one cares. That goes for your opinion too Mr. Obama. Why don't we just shut the book on it. Everyone probably did it; and just like the coke and amphetamines of the 70's and 80's, players will do something else next year!
There is only one flea ridden scumbag to stick with in this whole thing, my boy, Jose Canseco. The one guy who really doesn't care what anyone thinks. I hate him for bringing this whole waste of time up, but you got to make a living somehow! Can't hate for that!
Remember, Bo knows baseball. He is the one man who never took enhancers. He is the only monster who never had to. Maybe he should have and injuries may not have cut his career so short!
All Work and No Play
I arrived in London late on Saturday night.
Let me note that I was once again pleased with my British Airways experience. I think the trick is to fly during the day; each day flight I have been on has been half empty. I do much prefer to have the seat next to me empty, it is just more comfortable. My red-eye experiences were not nearly as nice...apparently Brits love to fly at night because the plane was packed!
I took a cab home from the airport. Like every other country, the cab driver asked me how to get where I was going; like every other country, I told him that I had no idea! I should not complain - at least we spoke the same language. The difference here was that once I told him I did not know how to get to my flat (apartment), he pulled out his sat/nav (GPS) and typed my address it. Apparently, he was resisting technology at all costs!
I got home on Saturday and spent my first night in my new flat. I wasn't up for much that first night, so I unsuccessfully tried to make myself sleep. There is nothing like taking prescription sleeping pills and laying it bed awake for three hours!
Sunday was officially "move in day". I woke up at 12:30 pm (after unsuccessfully trying to work through my jet lag) and it was game time! I began unpacking all my goods, shortly realizing that I had no hangars. I took a walk over to the mall and scored the goods: hangars, some basic food supplies, some tp, and some cleaning stuff. I spent the rest of the day unpacking, cleaning, washing all the new dishes (not manually of course), and washing some clothes and towels. The appliances are great, but like most UK homes, I have no dryer. So, I have to hang dry my clothes in a drying rack in my third bedroom. I thought it may be annoying, but I have to admit, it was actually somewhat satisfying (don't ask for explanation, I have none).
The flat is great. There are pics in my slideshow. My landlord had it all hooked up and furnished by the time I got here. Unfortunately, he was not able to get the cleaners in before I moved it (have no fear, they are coming on Saturday). Being it was all redone, there is that construction-type dust all over the place. I also haven't gotten my tv/broadband/phone installed yet either. That is happening next week. Until then, I get to enjoy my local aerial tv broadcast and enjoy some internet from one of my neighbors (thanks much). Beyond that, all is great! Oh yeah, I still don't have the codes to my alarm system, so come and rob me now.
Monday came and it was back to the office. This is a very long, important week of work, so I have my hands full there!
There is something special about coming home and living my bachelor/China life again. Not in general - don't judge me - I miss my wife and my son horribly! The special part is coming home and eating like a starving college student! Not that I have to, I am just tired and it is so easy! Soup and toast Sunday night....mmmm! A tuna and corn (yep...and good) sandwich last night. Tomato soup and crackerbread (some cardboard tasting stuff that is great with soup) again tonight! It's quite funny. I figured after all of the eating I have done the last couple weeks, it couldn't hurt. I suppose one of these days I should get some real food and use my fantastic kitchen - beyond the microwave. I have to practice for Liz you know!
Beyond that, everything is calm. I have actually been pretty bored at home since I got back. English local TV is horribly dry and the internet is only fun for about five minutes. It has give me some time to get some extra work done which is nice. Remember, for the last three months, I have been living with a roommate. I got used to chilling out with someone else, having a drink and conversing is not so bad. Now I am alone....until March 5 - I can't wait!!!
For all of you concerned, Nigel will be coming out sometime in May once he has completed his six month waiting period!
That is all for now. Hope all is well.
Let me note that I was once again pleased with my British Airways experience. I think the trick is to fly during the day; each day flight I have been on has been half empty. I do much prefer to have the seat next to me empty, it is just more comfortable. My red-eye experiences were not nearly as nice...apparently Brits love to fly at night because the plane was packed!
I took a cab home from the airport. Like every other country, the cab driver asked me how to get where I was going; like every other country, I told him that I had no idea! I should not complain - at least we spoke the same language. The difference here was that once I told him I did not know how to get to my flat (apartment), he pulled out his sat/nav (GPS) and typed my address it. Apparently, he was resisting technology at all costs!
I got home on Saturday and spent my first night in my new flat. I wasn't up for much that first night, so I unsuccessfully tried to make myself sleep. There is nothing like taking prescription sleeping pills and laying it bed awake for three hours!
Sunday was officially "move in day". I woke up at 12:30 pm (after unsuccessfully trying to work through my jet lag) and it was game time! I began unpacking all my goods, shortly realizing that I had no hangars. I took a walk over to the mall and scored the goods: hangars, some basic food supplies, some tp, and some cleaning stuff. I spent the rest of the day unpacking, cleaning, washing all the new dishes (not manually of course), and washing some clothes and towels. The appliances are great, but like most UK homes, I have no dryer. So, I have to hang dry my clothes in a drying rack in my third bedroom. I thought it may be annoying, but I have to admit, it was actually somewhat satisfying (don't ask for explanation, I have none).
The flat is great. There are pics in my slideshow. My landlord had it all hooked up and furnished by the time I got here. Unfortunately, he was not able to get the cleaners in before I moved it (have no fear, they are coming on Saturday). Being it was all redone, there is that construction-type dust all over the place. I also haven't gotten my tv/broadband/phone installed yet either. That is happening next week. Until then, I get to enjoy my local aerial tv broadcast and enjoy some internet from one of my neighbors (thanks much). Beyond that, all is great! Oh yeah, I still don't have the codes to my alarm system, so come and rob me now.
Monday came and it was back to the office. This is a very long, important week of work, so I have my hands full there!
There is something special about coming home and living my bachelor/China life again. Not in general - don't judge me - I miss my wife and my son horribly! The special part is coming home and eating like a starving college student! Not that I have to, I am just tired and it is so easy! Soup and toast Sunday night....mmmm! A tuna and corn (yep...and good) sandwich last night. Tomato soup and crackerbread (some cardboard tasting stuff that is great with soup) again tonight! It's quite funny. I figured after all of the eating I have done the last couple weeks, it couldn't hurt. I suppose one of these days I should get some real food and use my fantastic kitchen - beyond the microwave. I have to practice for Liz you know!
Beyond that, everything is calm. I have actually been pretty bored at home since I got back. English local TV is horribly dry and the internet is only fun for about five minutes. It has give me some time to get some extra work done which is nice. Remember, for the last three months, I have been living with a roommate. I got used to chilling out with someone else, having a drink and conversing is not so bad. Now I am alone....until March 5 - I can't wait!!!
For all of you concerned, Nigel will be coming out sometime in May once he has completed his six month waiting period!
That is all for now. Hope all is well.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
And I Return.....
Have no fear all of my loyal readers!
I have been getting a lot of hassle about my lack of recent blogs....
So you all understand, I had no intention of leaving anyone in the cold. I have been in the US for the last week, so I decided to spend time with the family instead of blogging. I know you will understand.
But, have no fear, I am sitting at JFK airport right now about to board my flight back.
The blogs will be coming shortly.....
Scott
I have been getting a lot of hassle about my lack of recent blogs....
So you all understand, I had no intention of leaving anyone in the cold. I have been in the US for the last week, so I decided to spend time with the family instead of blogging. I know you will understand.
But, have no fear, I am sitting at JFK airport right now about to board my flight back.
The blogs will be coming shortly.....
Scott
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