I know that I said I would be writing in the blog more often! Blame Liz (for no particular reason, just don't blame me). Really, I was just quite busy at work this week. I had no motivation to come home and write; and, there was really not that much interesting going on!
Things are settling in here. Liz and I have managed to transition nicely into the London way of life. Convenience has really enabled us to live the way we want to. Three minutes walking from our front door is mostly everything we need, specifically a full grocery store and a full gym. Because of the convenience, Liz and I have been able to switch from our New Yorkish way of life (having to drive everywhere and eating out four nights a week) to a new chapter. We have both been going to the gym regularly and last week we ate at home every night! It is amazing what you can do when you have a nice new full kitchen and a grocery store around the corner! I know what you are all thinking: I didn't realize Liz was a master chef? Well, she is not, and never claimed to be! But, she did take it upon herself to cook alone one night which came out great. The other nights we are making it a team effort. It's a good way to spend some time!
Beyond that, life has been pretty normal here. I know, you all expect my London experience to be outrageous every day. Well, the fact of the matter is that I am here to work, and that takes up most of my time. The work and the people were all new and different a couple of months ago. Now, I have settled and am used to the work and the accents. Now it is about spending my time working hard, getting ready to open this beast of a company!
One big point of note should be that I have officially chosen my English Football team to support. After two months of understanding, researching, and lobbying from current team supporters, I have chosen to stick with the team that I have been loyal to for the last ten years. The winner, Arsenal. That is going to be all I say about that for now. There were many deciding factors that went into this decision that I will go into at length if requested, but not right now. If I do, I will get a bunch of crazy American ranters about how soccer is not a sport and this and that. I can fight that battle one on one! HAHA!
I also wanted to congratulate Ireland on winning the Grand Slam in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament! Not that I care, I just find it my duty to inform all of my readers. It is a big deal here - and absolutely no deal in the US. If anything, I thought I would give my "Irish-American" readers something to celebrate (Irish celebration = getting excessively drunk and starting fist fights with their siblings and/or parents). So, enjoy.
That is about all for now. It is about 9:00 on Sunday AM and Liz and I are off to explore this old city. It is the seventh straight day of sun and mid 50's and we are going to take advantage of it! We are off to hit one on London's famous street markets and then we shall see. Maybe the Thames, maybe a museum. I am going to get all the culture I can handle! An maybe, just maybe, there may be some fresh pictures for all of you to peruse......
Take care!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Harrods is the Name
Today was the day.
Liz got her opportunity to go to shopping heaven, the one and only Harrods.
For those of you who have never had the pleasure, it is the world's most famous store in the heart of Central London. It is the biggest, most ridiculous store I have ever been to (it takes up an entire city block). Though it was a bit ridiculous, I must admit that it was quite impressive.
You can apparently buy anything at this place. Of course, the highest of high fashion is there. What I did not realize is that Harrods carries excessive amounts of everything from chandeliers to huge rugs to paintings. There is something to be said of walking past a little glass statue that has a price tag of 12,000 pounds; or a stack of massive rugs each of which has a 20,000 pound price tag. The final straw for me was the "pet kingdom". It is an entire section of the store dedicated to excessively priced pet goods and accessories. I did see the cutest miniature couch and chaise lounge though!
Being that I get paid like a normal human, we did not but anything on this trip. But, if you know anyone who is looking for a Swarovski Crystal Foosball table, I know a place.....just 20,000 pounds - including tax.
Beyond that, not much new going on here.
I did go bowling last week with some people from work. Remarkably, bowling is the same here as it is anywhere else! The thing that stood out for me most was the excessivness of the warnings pasted all over the bowling alley. For some reason, there was a sign above every other lane saying "caution, slippery floor". That was strange enough. Then I realized that there was a sticker next to the foul line of each lane offering more caution. Until bowling in the UK, I had no idea how dangerous bowling could be! Being from Wisconsin, where drunk people and bowling are two state past-times, I have never seen a bowling injury due to "slippage". I think that is why it is so unusual!
I know you are all wondering - did you represent the good old USA? Of course I did. I did bowl quite well while beating everyone else. I should note that British people don't bowl well!
That is all for now. Got some good stuff happening tomorrow. Not sure what yet but I will let you know.
In closing, it is important to give a shout-out to the Holecz/Luciani/Cerniglia tribe for adding a healthy set of twins! Welcome to Emma and Grace! Congrats all!
SG
Liz got her opportunity to go to shopping heaven, the one and only Harrods.
For those of you who have never had the pleasure, it is the world's most famous store in the heart of Central London. It is the biggest, most ridiculous store I have ever been to (it takes up an entire city block). Though it was a bit ridiculous, I must admit that it was quite impressive.
You can apparently buy anything at this place. Of course, the highest of high fashion is there. What I did not realize is that Harrods carries excessive amounts of everything from chandeliers to huge rugs to paintings. There is something to be said of walking past a little glass statue that has a price tag of 12,000 pounds; or a stack of massive rugs each of which has a 20,000 pound price tag. The final straw for me was the "pet kingdom". It is an entire section of the store dedicated to excessively priced pet goods and accessories. I did see the cutest miniature couch and chaise lounge though!
Being that I get paid like a normal human, we did not but anything on this trip. But, if you know anyone who is looking for a Swarovski Crystal Foosball table, I know a place.....just 20,000 pounds - including tax.
Beyond that, not much new going on here.
I did go bowling last week with some people from work. Remarkably, bowling is the same here as it is anywhere else! The thing that stood out for me most was the excessivness of the warnings pasted all over the bowling alley. For some reason, there was a sign above every other lane saying "caution, slippery floor". That was strange enough. Then I realized that there was a sticker next to the foul line of each lane offering more caution. Until bowling in the UK, I had no idea how dangerous bowling could be! Being from Wisconsin, where drunk people and bowling are two state past-times, I have never seen a bowling injury due to "slippage". I think that is why it is so unusual!
I know you are all wondering - did you represent the good old USA? Of course I did. I did bowl quite well while beating everyone else. I should note that British people don't bowl well!
That is all for now. Got some good stuff happening tomorrow. Not sure what yet but I will let you know.
In closing, it is important to give a shout-out to the Holecz/Luciani/Cerniglia tribe for adding a healthy set of twins! Welcome to Emma and Grace! Congrats all!
SG
Sunday, March 8, 2009
WELCOME TO THE UK LIZ!!!
Sorry I have not written for so long. Apparently time moves much faster in the UK because it feels like I just wrote last week! But, I must admit that my mind has been elsewhere. My mind has been focused on my lovely wife finally arriving in the UK....and now she has!
I picked Liz up at the airport on Thursday night. Her flight was all good, and even on time. She has an interesting story about a crazy man on her flight who was checking out all of the exit doors and being overly mysterious, but that is a story for her to tell!
Once we got home we celebrated her arrival (finally) with some champagne and a trip to the proper pub down the road. I mean, what would you expect? I am some kind of hopeless romantic.....hahahahahaha!~
We spent a the last couple of days settling in together.
Friday was all about showing Liz around Ealing (our town). I had to give her the lay of the land and show her what was what. I showed her around and we ended up at another local proper pub for lunch....a great place! I assure any of you who end up visiting, you will end up here. Great atmosphere, great beer, great food (excellent foie gras for all you liver enthusiasts)!
On Saturday, we had a combination tour of London. We started in Central London trying to find a particular store that carries all kinds of stuff for the house. We were unsuccessful, but of course I had a backup plan....
We ended up at the biggest, newest, nicest mall in London (which just happens to be five tube stops from our house). I think I satisfied all of Liz's mall demands....being that it as an absolute world class mall! Frankly, I don't think that I have ever been to a nicer mall. We stopped and enjoyed one of the mall's finer offerings, a champagne bar in the middle of the mall. It was a really unique offering that was packed. Based on the prices they charged, that business is doing just fine! Either way, it was a great stop - especially Liz who loves champagne. We ended the day off with some quality Greek food!
Today's plan was to hit Oxford Circus in the heart of Central London. For those of you who do not know, this is the absolute shopping and fashion capital of the UK. Not much my cup of tea, but there is someone in my family who likes it....
We made it but unfortunately half-way through our day, it started pouring. Hmmm. London, rain, what??? Yeah, it was supposed to be nice all day, but is stormed, and we were in the middle of it. We ended up getting soaked and ended up ending our day early. It was all good though because it gave me a chance to get home and cook a nice dinner.
Life is all good now. For the first time in five months, Liz and I are together in a somewhat usual situation! It might be unusual right now, but eventually, this will be normal. I am a very happy man!
I promise more regular updates going forward! If you don't get them, it is Liz's fault!
I picked Liz up at the airport on Thursday night. Her flight was all good, and even on time. She has an interesting story about a crazy man on her flight who was checking out all of the exit doors and being overly mysterious, but that is a story for her to tell!
Once we got home we celebrated her arrival (finally) with some champagne and a trip to the proper pub down the road. I mean, what would you expect? I am some kind of hopeless romantic.....hahahahahaha!~
We spent a the last couple of days settling in together.
Friday was all about showing Liz around Ealing (our town). I had to give her the lay of the land and show her what was what. I showed her around and we ended up at another local proper pub for lunch....a great place! I assure any of you who end up visiting, you will end up here. Great atmosphere, great beer, great food (excellent foie gras for all you liver enthusiasts)!
On Saturday, we had a combination tour of London. We started in Central London trying to find a particular store that carries all kinds of stuff for the house. We were unsuccessful, but of course I had a backup plan....
We ended up at the biggest, newest, nicest mall in London (which just happens to be five tube stops from our house). I think I satisfied all of Liz's mall demands....being that it as an absolute world class mall! Frankly, I don't think that I have ever been to a nicer mall. We stopped and enjoyed one of the mall's finer offerings, a champagne bar in the middle of the mall. It was a really unique offering that was packed. Based on the prices they charged, that business is doing just fine! Either way, it was a great stop - especially Liz who loves champagne. We ended the day off with some quality Greek food!
Today's plan was to hit Oxford Circus in the heart of Central London. For those of you who do not know, this is the absolute shopping and fashion capital of the UK. Not much my cup of tea, but there is someone in my family who likes it....
We made it but unfortunately half-way through our day, it started pouring. Hmmm. London, rain, what??? Yeah, it was supposed to be nice all day, but is stormed, and we were in the middle of it. We ended up getting soaked and ended up ending our day early. It was all good though because it gave me a chance to get home and cook a nice dinner.
Life is all good now. For the first time in five months, Liz and I are together in a somewhat usual situation! It might be unusual right now, but eventually, this will be normal. I am a very happy man!
I promise more regular updates going forward! If you don't get them, it is Liz's fault!
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