Hello "Pond" fans! I'm here! And now finally so is my computer! It was being held hostage by HMRS also know as Her Majesties Revenue and Customs Service! They were holding it in lieu of my paying a 230 Pound VAT tax on it! Yep, that roughly translates into $460! Welcome to England! Apparently the Queen is a poor old thing and needs the help...couldn't she just hit up Paul McCartney for a few bucks? I mean he's loaded! Well after much explaining that this is my personal two year old used computer that I need for work I have been sent a four page form that I have to fill out and send in with all appropriate labels and in a months time I may get my money back. Ah Monarchies... aren't they a quaint idea?
Anyhow I just wanted to post a quick update and let you know that now that I have my computer I will be posting pics and video! My mission after sculling tomorrow morning is to get some photos and post them!
Oooh and fellow Windhamite Alex Jenko has a stopover in London Wednesday so I will be meeting him at the airport. It will be nice to see a fellow Yank... there are a few of us here and I have to say... the American accent has never sounded so good! ;-)
OK well more to come tomorrow...pictures too but now its time for bed....yikes 12:20 am London time! I have to be up at 6 for the morning sculling session!
Be back soon!
Julie :-)
PS Jedi Master,
I've found my coffee shop couch! No loose springs though....I'll post a picture for you real soon... hope you are well.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Be Careful What You Wish For
I'm here! The flight was great, clear skies and smooth sailing the whole way. I got through customs in record time and friend of a friend who has a car picked me up at the airport and she was really nice. I'll be having lunch with her tomorrow. My new temporary flat-mate Kosta the Bulgarian rower helped me carry my things up 8 flights of stairs ( yes this is why they call them walk-ups!). So my arrival yesterday couldn't have gone any smoother!
I'm currently being serenaded by the rowdie pub-goers two doors down... I suppose its a good thing the pubs here close at 11!
So not wanting to waste any time and wanting to test my theory on how exercise combats jet lag, I was up at 5:30 am UK time and cycling with Kosta to the rowing club to attend his strength training class at 7. After that a quick cycle home and breakfast, the cycle back and right out onto the Thames in a single!
OK let me just say this... rowing on the Thames SUCKS! No really it sucks big time! How does it suck? Let me count the ways...
1) You have to carry your boats from the boat house down a large flight of slippery, muddy, stone steps to the water where you wade into the water (this is why the Brit rowers wear Wellies!) and place your boat. No docks!
2) Oh my God the currents are wicked. I wasn't sure if I was rowing or white-water kayaking!
3) Tons of rowers EVERYWHERE!!! You can't swing a dead fish (which they have here too!) with out hitting another sculler.
4) Crazy tidal-way vs river rules for which side of the river and/or buoys you should be on. Row up on river right up to marker 15 and then cross over and then when you reach Richmond bridge cross back over again but only if the tide is going out. If the tide is coming in the rules change.
5) It is not the ARC!!!
OK having said all that, the people here have been warm and welcoming and very anxious to take me in and teach me the ropes. And truth be told it was a bit of a thrill to be rowing on the Thames in London even if it is highly overrated. ;-)
Tomorrow I'm sleeping in (having a lie in in Brit speak) and then meeting my new friend Bryony for lunch and finding a bank! Then Wednesday more rowing and finding my school! I'm excited to see the school and meet my new co-workers. I'd post pictures but my computer hasn't arrived yet and I'm currently using Kosta's and the prompts are all in Bulgarian! I will need to go apartment hunting at some point too! Yipe a lot to do but at lest I have my priorities straight and went rowing first! he he
I'm currently being serenaded by the rowdie pub-goers two doors down... I suppose its a good thing the pubs here close at 11!
So not wanting to waste any time and wanting to test my theory on how exercise combats jet lag, I was up at 5:30 am UK time and cycling with Kosta to the rowing club to attend his strength training class at 7. After that a quick cycle home and breakfast, the cycle back and right out onto the Thames in a single!
OK let me just say this... rowing on the Thames SUCKS! No really it sucks big time! How does it suck? Let me count the ways...
1) You have to carry your boats from the boat house down a large flight of slippery, muddy, stone steps to the water where you wade into the water (this is why the Brit rowers wear Wellies!) and place your boat. No docks!
2) Oh my God the currents are wicked. I wasn't sure if I was rowing or white-water kayaking!
3) Tons of rowers EVERYWHERE!!! You can't swing a dead fish (which they have here too!) with out hitting another sculler.
4) Crazy tidal-way vs river rules for which side of the river and/or buoys you should be on. Row up on river right up to marker 15 and then cross over and then when you reach Richmond bridge cross back over again but only if the tide is going out. If the tide is coming in the rules change.
5) It is not the ARC!!!
OK having said all that, the people here have been warm and welcoming and very anxious to take me in and teach me the ropes. And truth be told it was a bit of a thrill to be rowing on the Thames in London even if it is highly overrated. ;-)
Tomorrow I'm sleeping in (having a lie in in Brit speak) and then meeting my new friend Bryony for lunch and finding a bank! Then Wednesday more rowing and finding my school! I'm excited to see the school and meet my new co-workers. I'd post pictures but my computer hasn't arrived yet and I'm currently using Kosta's and the prompts are all in Bulgarian! I will need to go apartment hunting at some point too! Yipe a lot to do but at lest I have my priorities straight and went rowing first! he he
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