What a F@$ki&g Commute!

Okay, so it's only my 3 day of actually commuting to and from work at rush hour, but toda might have been one of the worst commutes in London history, well in Tara's London history. So at 5:30 I left the office and head down the street to the Tube. It's only a 3 minute walk, and all was well. When I got into the station, I had to reload my tube pass, and the first machine I went to was out of order (I should have known then it was going to be bad). I went to get on the train, and my train was delayed. When we went to get on it, the first train had a fault and was running through empty. The next train was SO packed that nobody could get on at my stop. The same happened with the next 3 trains. I then just got on the next train, even though it wasn't going to my destination, but figured I would be able to change trains down the line. We were packed like sardines, and yes, my claustrophobia was in full effect, but I perservered, and made it to the station where I was going to change trains. Then, over the loudspeaker I hear "Ladies and Gentlemen, we're sorry to inform you that there will be no further District Line Service in either direction". Just what I needed! Now, I had to walk from this station all the way home. I first stopped to call Mike, but my phone died. It just gets better. Luckily, I thought to bring a pair of sneakers in my purse and changed out of my 3 inch heels...thank God because I had to walk just under 3 miles to get home. You may be thinking "Why not hop on a bus, or grab a cab?". Well the bus lines were about 100 people deep and there certainly were no cabs to be had. I wasn't even 100% sure where I was going, but there was a Chelsea Football game tonight, and I just followed the Blue Jerseys home. As soon as I got home, I ran to call Mike b/c we had gotten cut off earlier, and he was having a similar issue. He was stuck at Victoria station and couldn't even get as far as I had. He was able to get on a bus, but then, they kicked everyone off this bus! Gotta love London transport! Luckily, he was able to get a cab, but in approaching the stadium, he had to get out because the roads were closed. He too had to walk about a mile home. Needless to say, we both needed a beer when all was said and done! Let's hope for a better ride tomorrow!

Tara's 1/2 day = A Whole 3 Day Assignment

Yes, I completed my assignment by lunchtime today. After lunch they were scrambling to find something for me to do! Basically, my whole task was to collect RSVPs for this big event the Institution of Mechanical Engineers are having to launch a new program for affliation. I certainly have collected RSVPs before, but this company had an ass backwards way of doing it, so I redid the whole thing. The girl that was overseeing me asked how I knew how to set up the spreadsheet, and when I told her I was a marketing analyst for Toyota, she was surprised. She said that whenever they get temps they are usually not experienced at all. Unfortunately, my experience didn't lend to any more challenging tasks, but I was busy for a good portion of the day. The only time I didn't have anything to do, they literally told me to 'have a look around the internet for awhile.' Fine, twist my arm!

One funny thing that happened to me---I went to a sandwich shop around the corner and got a sandwich and soda to go, and I went and sat in St. James's Park to have my lunch and read my book. There I was minding my own business, when along came a squirrel on the bench next to me. At first I didn't think he realized I was there, but when I went to shoo him away he literally hissed and clawed at me. I jumped up from the bench and he ran away. Damn people always feeding the squirrels, the little bastard thought I was going to feed him!!! It kind of reminded me of the squirrel I used to feed birdseed to in the backyard when I was a kid--he turned on me too! He used to come and knock on the door when he was hungry and when we stopped feeding him he went crazy if I remember correctly. Something to note: Squirrels aren't wrapped too tight, so keep your distance!

Do you know what we do to fish in London???

We catch 'em, batter 'em, fry 'em up, and eat 'em for dinner along with some chips! That's exactly what we did to the Dolphins tonight! It was a great game tonight at Wembley Stadium. Though it was a "Miami Home Game", and they really tried to maintain that with the Miami annoucers and the Miami cheers and stuff. The crowd I would say was 1 part curious English people, 2 parts Miami Fans, 3 parts Giants fans, and 4 parts random NFL fans. There were Cheeseheads from Lambeau, Jets fans wearing helments, Viking fans wearing their horns, and yes, there was even a Pats contingent. The game was a little sloppy on both sides, but I suppose that was due to the weather--Luckily the seats were all covered! The highlight of the game for me had to have been the streaker! No, that wasn't Mike running across the field naked--though he was kicking himself for not thinking of it! Just Kidding! Mike only had one outburst, which was warranted, but still an outburst at that stadium was defintely a scene--at some points I think you could hear a pin drop!

I have my first day of work tomorrow, so I think I probably should get to sleep! More tomorrow!

Fall Back...

Just a reminder that we're different from the US here. We've already changed our clocks. So until you all change yours we're only 4 hours ahead of you. Happy Sunday and GO GIANTS!

...and the day just gets better!!!

I have my first temp assignment starting on Monday! I'm working in the events department for the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Apparently, they have a very large event coming up that they need help organizing--and that's my specialty! The assignment is only booked until Wednesday, but the temp agency said it COULD go longer. We'll see. I'm just happy to have something to do! It's not one of the "big bucks" jobs, but it's an income. It's better than watching old episodes of Two and a Half Men all day! This means I can't overdo it at the Giants game. Oh well.

We Got 'Em!!!!!!!

How exciting! We got tickets to the Giants Game on Sunday!!!! They released the unused players tickets this morning, so for all we know, we're sitting in the Manning family section. Actually, I'd hope they'd give them better seats than the 500 level, but maybe they're the water boy's family tickets! Regardless, we're very excited to go! Unfortunately, we have to cancel the party that we were planning on throwing for the event, but I don't think anyone will be too put out! SO! Mike's coworker Marygrace is having a tailgate party at her house- also in Fulham, and we'll all go to the game from there! Her dad even flew in for the game!

The good news...

The good news is that apparently I type fast enough to get a secretarial job and that's where all the big bucks are. (Can you sense the sarcasm in my blazing fast typing?) So I'm officially signed up with the temp agency, and if they don't call me in the next week or so, I have to call them. In speaking to Mike, he said the pay may not even be worth it--For the "good paying" secretarial/PA jobs, they pay 12-15 GBP, for the other regular office type work it's 6-12...So like I said I can get paid the big bucks, so I guess we'll see! By the time I get taxed, etc, it's going to be next to nothing...

My Country 'Tis of Thee...God Save the Queen....

Did you know the songs were one in the same??? Today during the Rugby World Cup Final, the entire bar broke out into song when God Save The Queen came on. Mike and I too broke into song, but to another song all together. We sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee"...same tune...we got a few strange looks, but it was totally fun belting out "LET FREEDOM RING" rather than "God Save the Queen"! Another funny thing about the English Rugby team anthems was that one of them was "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". I said to Mike, "Isn't this a slave song". He didn't know what I was talking about, but I knew I was right. Later on in the night, another American standing next to us was saying the same thing! I KNEW I WAS RIGHT! Mom and Dad paid for a History Degree for a reason! We were all laughing about how the English wanted to "Carry Me Home". The other American said he even asked an Englishman why he had a slave song as an anthem, and he couldn't even say why. The English don't even know it's a slave song!

MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE
SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY
LET FREEDOM RING.

LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED
LAND WHERE THE PILGRIMS CRIED
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE
LET FREEDOM RING!

VACATION!!!!

Or should I say VACATION(S)! We just booked out vacations for the summer! Good thing that the UK gives Mike 30 vacation days!! We're going on a 13-Night Northern Europe Cruise, leaving from London. It hits Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Latvia, and Estonia (I think!). That's from July 27-August 10. THEN, we're going to Mauritius and Paris from August 26-Sep 5. We were able to do that vacation on all points, so we're flying business class London-Paris-Mauritius and back and we're spending 2 days in Paris on the return leg. We also booked Oktoberfest with our expat friends on the September 19-22! What a schedule!

SO...if anyone is planning on visiting us this summer, book the Chateau Racano soon! Time is running out and space is limited!

Love to everyone!

The Butcher Shop...

There is a butcher shop down the road from us that we've been dying to try since we moved here. Yesterday, I decided to go and get a couple of steaks for dinner there, and what an experience it was! First, I arrived around 2PM on a Friday and had to wait in line for a half an hour. It was like waiting in line for toilet paper in communist Russia! Finally, I got into the store and the man in front of me ordered 2 lamb breasts which looked kind just slabs of boney meat. The butcher asked the man if he wanted them chopped, and he did. so with 2 knives (one in each hand) it was a chopping frenzy. I think I even got a little meat ricochet splatter on my face. Next, it was my turn...I just asked for 2 sirloin steaks and she just put them in a plastic ShopRite style bag and then handed them to me. They weren't wrapped in butcher paper or anything. I was a little grossed out by the whole thing. Have I mentioned the smell? It was awful, just imagine pounds and pounds of raw flesh everywhere and pigs heads on the counter, bleh. As you can tell I was thoroughly grossed out by the whole experience! Though the steaks were decent, they certainly weren't the best we've ever had, so we may be trying elsewhere for our meat going forward!

Since When is 40 hours/week part time???

Did I miss something? Was there a summit on employment norms that I missed out on whist (my new favorite word) without internet????? Apparently, in the world of Harrods, 40 hours per week M-F is part time and being an elf is a "full-time" position. When I asked what above what I put on my availability would be considered "full-time" the girl told me that I would have to work 3 out of 4 Saturdays per month...NO THANK YOU! So she's put me in a pile for "part time" work, and I should know by Friday. WHATEVER. I called Adecco today and sent them my CV. Maybe they'll come through!

That's all for now!

Not that We're Ungrateful or Anything...

But please don't send us any food. Unfortunately, we got at 50 GBP/$100 bill for a birthday package I got. We have to pay VAT taxes on this end when the package goes through customs. I'm not sure if it was because of the description that said "snacks" or what, but the taxes are sooo not worth that VAT! We did not get charged VAT for the other two packages I got though, just the one with "sundries".

So thanks again for all the birthday gifts, cards, and wishes!

Harrod's Here I Come!

Well, I got a text message and follow up email earlier today! I've got an interview at Harrod's tomorrow at 2:00PM and they say that if it goes well, I would be there until after 5:00! I know I said I wanted to do something in London that I would never do in the States, and I think this one really takes the cake! Full Time Christmas Grotto Host--In short, an elf! Greeting people coming to see Father Christmas, etc. Sadly, or maybe not so sadly, I think I'll be really good at this. I guess I'm looking at it as a chance of a lifetime to do something like this--and I'd get a 33% discount!! I just hope they are okay with my schedule requirements--I don't want to work weekends, but I'll work like crazy Mon-Fri AND I'll be gone for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I figure I might as well be up front with them about it! The email had very specific instructions on what I was and was not to wear/bring to the interview. I have to wear a black matching suit with a white or pastel colored blouse and black matching shoes. I also need to bring a passport picture! I had to get one of those today--How embarressing, I had to go to a photo booth at the tube station to get it!

So wish me luck in my interview tomorrow! Honestly, if I can't get a job as a freaking elf, I'm not going to get any job here!

It just doesn't get much better than this...

The only thing that could make this day any better than it already is would be if the Giants were playing today. We're able to watch football in the comfort of our own home, we made homemade pizzas and I can sit here in my pajama pants! We're meeting more and more of our neighbors which is good. We're thinking we may ask them to come over for football one Sunday--they aren't Americans, but who could turn down NFL? I'm going to be uploading pics from both Amsterdam and Portugal soon, so stay tuned!

IT WORKS!!!!

Finally, we've only been living in our flat for about a month, and finally today we got the internet up and running! I'm a very happy girl, and Mike is very happy that he can watch football AND have his stattracker on the computer! HOORAY! I can't even express the glee we felt when we got home this afternoon and saw the little light flashing green on the router!
So, now I have no excuse for not looking for a job! I'm actually thinking about being an elf at Harrods...They have openings in the "Santa Grotto". I know that I'm really having high hopes for my careers opportunities!!!

Alright, lots of things to do on the internet...more updates to come!

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lapse in blogging! I've actually been REALLY sick since we got back from Portugal. I wound up having to sit next to a guy on the plane that was coughing and sneezing all the way to Portugal, so I got his sickness! The whole trip we were joking that I was going to get TB from the guy, and I think I came pretty close--I was down for the count for over a week! Luckily, they sell codine over the counter here!---See I guess England ain't that bad afterall. So although England is a 3rd world country--for even more reasons than I mentioned--I think I was just having a moment that day. So please do not begin hating our greatest ally for the simple reason that I don't have internet access in my home yet. And please don't let it stop you from visiting!!

On to Portugal--We flew in on Friday night, and checked into our hotel. We called Amanda at her hostel and made plans for the following day. We were taking a river cruise up the Douro (sp?) to the vinyards. It was a beautiful cruise and the best part was that we were like the only tourist on the cruise, so it was a great experience. We boarded the boat at 10, and sat down for our breakfast. There was a family sitting next to us, and a little girl turned to me and said, 'Why do you speak the same language as me?' As it turns out, little Zara and her family were from Australia and were travelling in Europe for 5 weeks. So for the morning I was talking to Zara, and coloring with her...in the afternoon, Amanda took to reading her fairy tales in Portugese--interesting! The cruise finished and we took a bus to a local winery where it was really just a tourist trap to get you to buy there port, which I think is dreadful by the way. We wound up getting back around 9:00PM and went to dinner in what I think was the only restaurant open in the entire city. It was Cuban night and they had a salsa band there! Cuban Salsa in Portugal--yes! The next day we wanted to spend some time seeing the sights of Porto. The only problem was that it was Sunday, and as in every Catholic city in Europe, most things are closed. We took a very nice stroll along the river and sat at a restaurant for awhile. It was all in all a great day!

The next week was pure hell for me, so we're just going to skip right over that part!

Saturday, we went to Kaileigh and Chris' place in Chiswick--more expats--and we did a mini bar crawl there. It was a good time. Sunday, it was back to the Sports Cafe for the Giants game! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y Victory, Victory, That's our cry! Yay! We weren't on the big screen this week as it's still the rugby world cup. I still don't get that sport--Kimmy you're gonna have to explain it to me when I get home! So Scotland and Argentina were playing. It's a big deal because England beat Australia and there could be a scotland/england final. Which I don't get b/c in the soccer world cup, you'd never have a Eastern USA team and Western USA team, so I don't get why Scotland gets its own team. I'm now on a mission to figure it out. It's the same bloody country afterall!

Yesterday we got our Satellite Dish, and now have around 400 channels...including US ones like E!, Bravo, etc. The best part is that I also get the food network, so my friend Rachel Ray won't miss me too much! I also got my phone call that said our internet was hooked up...Later I found out that that means in 3 working days, my internet will be up...YES, England is a 3rd world country! I've only been waiting since Sept 14!

Next on my list of things to do is get a job. We'll see how that goes in the next couple of weeks...I'm not optimistic...Let's see, I have to tell them that I'm on holiday for about a week in November for Thanksgiving, another week in December at Christmas...It's almost funny!

Talk to you soon!

PS...we can now receive phone calls on our Vonage phone. We'll be able to make outgoing ones when we get our internet, but it works great!