Category: As It Happens

A good guiness deserves a rest

I’m at a pub that specialises in guiness, called toucan actually, appreciate that they understand that when pouring a guiness a break must be made.
The Irish would be proud. And after 2 weekends in Ireland, so am I.
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it’a still just a Wednesday

This is in russel square. In soho square closer to work at lunch today the parkette was packed, barely a scratch of grass free. I don’t seem to remember Canadians embracing outdoor weather so much, but they don’t have to put up with the same amount of abusive rain we have here . Canadians do embrace the patio though. Cultural difference. Since public drinking is not only legal but socially acceptable (perhaps even expected here) the park scene flourishes.
Right now, i’d say well over half the people here are lounging in the grass sipping on cans of beer and bottles of cider. There are even a group of 6 kicking around a football in the sun, beers of heineken in hand. It all seems so casual and carefree.
The Aussies and kiwis I work with don’t marvel in this fact, but they are from countries with similar public drinking policies and attitudes.
I wonder why I didn’t notice this as much last year. Maybe i’ve had to endure my fair share of rain to really appreciate it.
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Jaffa Cakes

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Considering how often I’ve heard the Brits make reference to Jaffa Cakes I expected them to taste better. The one I had today tasted like stale bread with fake marmalade, but maybe that’s because they’re the bog-standard Sainsbury’s brand.

Cheers to 2 years.

Yup, 2 years to this day I arrived in the UK. As i’m on the eurostar coming back from Brussels, I can drink a glass of champagne and reflect upon the years that have passed.
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Something is up with visa laws in the UK

I’ve already heard from a few concerned Canadians that the HIghly Skilled Migrant Worker visa is changing. It’s now manditory to have a masters degree.
But this morning, around 7.40am I walk past this visa application centre to find a massive queue of people waiting to get in. I bet the centre doesn’t open until 9.30 at the earliest and there are already over a hundred people here. Very strange.

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The credit crunch, it’s everywhere

Marking the term credit crunch officially into the mainstream as displayed by an advert at Moorgate tube station.
What’s happening in London? Nothing but doom and gloom and prophising the economic apocalypse. Any day now apparently. Every week it’s another story about mass layoffs and failing that it’s a story about how the recession WILL hit the UK harder or that the London financial centre is failing . The media sure loves the drama a recession brings. On our personal fronts we’ve got our jobs that keep us busy. And when not working we’re escaping the british winter. Last weekend I took off to Dubai and Jason to the egypt for some diving. Yes, yes, it’s not as bad as Canada, it’s just different. It’s the dampness. The mist, the never being dry. Right now Canada winter sounds good. So good that this weekend we’ll be getting a taste in Stockholm.
By the way, thoughts on Dubai? Never have I seen such a multi cultural city. Or a city with some much stuff half built. It’s facinating but at first experience, a tough place to live.

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Snow in Cambridge

There’s been slow in England lately, but what’s particularly unusual is that it’s staying. This is the second day we’ve been back from New Zealand and there’s been snow on the ground since. What the hell!? I didn’t sign up for this!
Good thing I’m going to Las Vegas tomorrow (though, it’s probably snowing THERE as well!)
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Looks a bit off?

I think I’ve been in too many airports lately… Just landed in Brussels, looked up and thought, hmm, I hope that car moves out of my way, i’m in a bit of a rush.
Strange place for a car. Was in Copenhagen this morning, reminded how much I love that city. Then in Amsterdam for 2 meetings before flying to Brussels. How’s the credit crunch? Depressing. But from the people I’ve spoken with, there is a glimmer of hope.
Since I spend a lot of time in Europe for work we’ve been drawn to the rest of England for our leisure weekends. Last week it was up in Ely to visit some of Jason’s friends (mates if you will) and the weekend before that it was beautiful old York. York was actually quite far north, it’s pretty close to the scotish border, and I was cold. But that just gave us plenty of excuses to settle in by a wood burning fire place (none of this north American gas stuff) with a few pints of british ale. This weekend? Not sure yet, but we’ve got a few ideas in the mix.

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chez Kerwin

18 people, 30 pound turkey. Amazing that a bird that size can fit into a british sized oven! It was juicy, suculent…. We have competition for next week!
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The Worlds Largest Map and Travel Bookshop

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Well Sylvia’s in heaven. After almost 2 years in London we just today stumbled across Stanfords, a shop that bills itself as “The Worlds Largest Map and Travel Bookshop.” All these times we’ve been hunting all around for our more obscure travel books when we could’ve just stopped by here. We know for the future.

I’ll Be a Little Late Coming in Today …

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I arrived at the Cambridge Station bike lot this morning to find a happy surprise: the person next to me had locked her (yes, her: it was a girly bike) bike to mine. Interesting. I had to take apart my brake line by hand to wrestle it free. That made me a little late for work!
Remind me to buy a tool kit to keep in my cycling bag.

Shakesphere’s globe

Dan and Rachel are back in town again. They’re in London for a quick pit stop before there 4 week north Africa holiday. Last night we had our cousin Pawel and his girlfriend over for.a bbq dinner. Today, they did a few touristy things before meeting us at shakesphere’s globe. Even though it usually ranks high on the tourist to do list, this was a first for all of us. The weather couldn’t be more perfect for an open air theatre, warm, clear skies. We saw Timor of Athens, one of shakesphere’s obscure (and suprisingly graphic) plays, but it was a good one.
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