Cannot believe it's the day before we head home. It just doesn't feel like it's been three weeks. I got behind on blogging since we've been going morning to night, so here's a quick catch-up.
Monday
Shot three interviews in the Redhill office with Water division folks. They were all lovely. One had worked on water reuse, one is a young engineer who is passionate about getting children excited about engineering and science and the last of our 17 interviews was hysterically funny. He described he and his director as the George Clooney and Brad Pitt of water process. He's mad for cricket and threw down a challenge to the Mumbai office cricket team. He had even written a script about what he does using as many Michael Jackson song titles as he could squeeze in. Can't wait to edit that one.
I think this was the night we ran into Paul Miller of Telecom in the hotel restaurant. First I noticed his B&V shirt and then I thought it looked like him, but I thought what is a Telecom guy doing in the UK? It's pretty much a U.S. business, but we made eye contact and it was him, so he joined us for dinner. He's seeing what kind of work can be had for private networks with Water clients. Hoping it works! Very nice guy and found out he went to Mizzou and we graduated the same year. So funny. For my sorority sisters -- he thought he remembered Angie Harrison as he was studying electrical engineering too.
Tuesday
Visited my first water treatment plant. It was in the middle of the English countryside so we got to see some lovely views and sheep that graze right next to the site to keep the grass down. It was raining all morning but by the time we had a 101 on the site and had been walked through safety procedures and dressed for safety (vest, hard hat, boots, glasses, gloves), the rain stopped. However, it was incredibly muddly, so we had to slog through it. Our first stop was the top of high hill that led to a resevoir. Very steep and a little slippery, especially in loaner boots that are too big. And my socks came off my feet and were squished around my toes. I was totally paranoid I'd fall in sheep poo and break B&V's very expensive camera, but I was fine. We had lunch at The Grasshopper Inn with Malcolm Hallsworth from the Redhill office (he also drove us to the site). Had a two-course carvery, which means it was a buffet with two meats being carved by the chef. Tasty. We had a pudding but it was a dry roll. Go figure. They also had a lemon posset for dessert. Lynne ordered it and so did Malcolm but he said posset is what they call baby puke. Not very appetizing but they loved it. I had a banofee. A banana tofee thing.
We took off for London about 3 p.m.. Took a quick bus tour around. It's freezing here. Only in the 40s and rain off and on. I had 4 layers on. Saw a ton of sites and then we went to Les Miserables (got half price tickets at Leiceister Square). I think it's my 5th time seeing it as it's my favorite show. The voices were amazing, and I loved it. Didn't get back to the hotel at Gatwick until almost midnight. We have to walk to the train station here (5-10 minutes), then wait for the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station in London which takes 30-40 minutes, then get on the Underground and sometimes change lines, so travel takes a while.
Wednesday
Our first mostly work-free/travel-free day in 2.5 weeks! We went to the Tower of London. Half gruesome and have awesome. Crown Jewels are there along with Armory. Then we had fish and chips at a pub called the Hung Drawn and Quartered. Very good food. Spent the afternoon walking through St. James' Park in the rain and looked at Buckingham Palace and some shops. Had dinner at a tiny Italian place in Soho. Had decided we wanted Italian so we headed to Oxford Circus, a major shopping area thinking there would be lots of restaurants. We walked and walked and walked before we found one. And of course when we left we saw three on the next street. Got back to the hotel about 10.
Update on bed bugs -- I don't think that's what it is. It faded pretty well by yesterday morning and has never been itchy. But it was back late yesterday, redder and bigger. I sent a pic to my doctor and he said it could be 100 things, possibly eczema, which I think could mean just really dry skin. Who knows but it's still creeping me out having the cooties.
Have to run. We leave in 5 minutes to visit my old stomping grounds from when I lived here -- Notting Hill and Kensington Gardens. Then if we have time we'll run to Hampton Court Palace.
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