Back on the bus at 7.15 and back to a full day in the office today. Folks were kind, expressing there concern for my wellbeing, and sorry that I missed the trip out yesterday (which sounded like lots of fun) and I was pleased to say that I felt much better today. Just my luck to be poorly for the day out, and well for all of the office time. Oh well!
After our office day today, it was back on the bus and straight from the office to our restaurant for the evening, which was once again at the top of a big and steep hill, offering great views across the city. This time I did at least have my phone with me, and so was able to take a couple of photos. They are currently struggling their way off my phone and onto flickr, and if they arrive before I finish this post, I will include them here.
Talking of photos, I've just seen the pictures on the photo stream of the chinese meal out - looked very tasty indeed. Sounds like a pretty good birthday all round - just a shame that I couldn't be there to enjoy it with you all. I am assured that next year's version of this event will not be happening at the same time of year!
Right, I'd best be getting on with some packing, as I will be checking out tomorrow morning, taking my luggage with me to the office, and heading straight from there to the airport at lunchtime.
(No luck with the photos yet - will have to show you another time!)
Friday, 8 June 2012
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Wednesday
So, disappointing news today - something I ate yesterday disagreed with me, and I wasn't in a fit state for the 3 hour bus ride to the hot springs this morning. So I missed out on the trip and have stayed at the hotel for most of the day today.
Slept on and off this morning, and the around lunchtime wandered over to the local mall, where I had a bucket of coke and some cookies, sat on one of their comfy sofas, and finished off my book.
Watched TV at the hotel this afternoon - found a channel which is from South Florida, so have been watching the local news from Miami.
Hopefully I'll be back on form tomorrow (for another full day in the office!).
Slept on and off this morning, and the around lunchtime wandered over to the local mall, where I had a bucket of coke and some cookies, sat on one of their comfy sofas, and finished off my book.
Watched TV at the hotel this afternoon - found a channel which is from South Florida, so have been watching the local news from Miami.
Hopefully I'll be back on form tomorrow (for another full day in the office!).
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Tuesday
Wow, five comments for one day - thanks everyone - keep them coming, it's really good to hear from you all.
Tuesday has been fairly uneventful - another early start, on the bus to the office at 7.15 again with another full day of presentations and discussions. Exchanging texts with home, and keeping an eye on photos appearing in the cloud was great - I was sorry to miss the Round Wood street party, even if the weather did turn rather wet!
This evening I went out for tapas with one of the internal audit guys who I'd met in Brighton last year. He's helped me out with a few difficult questions on American Football, so watch out Jake, I've got a couple of tricky ones for you over the next few days!
We had to sign up for tomorrow's activities at Tabacon this afternoon, so I've decided to give the zip line a go. Will report back tomorrow, and will try to get some photos to share.
Get well soon Jake, and I hope you are well enough for your trip to the theatre tomorrow - have fun!
Tuesday has been fairly uneventful - another early start, on the bus to the office at 7.15 again with another full day of presentations and discussions. Exchanging texts with home, and keeping an eye on photos appearing in the cloud was great - I was sorry to miss the Round Wood street party, even if the weather did turn rather wet!
This evening I went out for tapas with one of the internal audit guys who I'd met in Brighton last year. He's helped me out with a few difficult questions on American Football, so watch out Jake, I've got a couple of tricky ones for you over the next few days!
We had to sign up for tomorrow's activities at Tabacon this afternoon, so I've decided to give the zip line a go. Will report back tomorrow, and will try to get some photos to share.
Get well soon Jake, and I hope you are well enough for your trip to the theatre tomorrow - have fun!
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Monday
Evening all, or morning for those of you in a more advanced time zone!
So, picking up from where we left out, we went out for a group dinner last night to what I think may have been a converted monastery at the top of a steep hill overlooking the city. The views were great, but sadly I hadn't taken a camera or phone with me so didn't manage to get any pictures of the views. Lots of people did, so I'll see if I can get someone to send a picture over to me so that I can show you.
We didn't get back too late, and I fell straight into bed and off to the land of nod. I only woke up once or twice in the night, and only long enough to check the time and go back to sleep. I'd set the alarm on my phone for 7.45, but only because it hand't realised we were no longer on Miami time - in Costa Rica terms, that was actually 5.45.
The early start was due to the plan to leave for the office at 7.15, which we all duly did in a couple of minibuses after breakfast. It was great to see home on FaceTime this morning before we left, and I've since been able to see Nicky's recent iPhone photos thanks to the wonders of clouds and wireless networks.
The day was spent in meetings in the office (well in what they call the "auditorium" at the front of their office building) before minibusing back here at the end of the day, and this evening we went to a Peruvian restaurant near the hotel.
Tomorrow is another day of meetings, and then on Wednesday we get a day out to Tabacon Hot Springs - check it out here and let me know what you think.
And to finish for today, here's a photo taken this morning out of my hotel room window.
So, picking up from where we left out, we went out for a group dinner last night to what I think may have been a converted monastery at the top of a steep hill overlooking the city. The views were great, but sadly I hadn't taken a camera or phone with me so didn't manage to get any pictures of the views. Lots of people did, so I'll see if I can get someone to send a picture over to me so that I can show you.
We didn't get back too late, and I fell straight into bed and off to the land of nod. I only woke up once or twice in the night, and only long enough to check the time and go back to sleep. I'd set the alarm on my phone for 7.45, but only because it hand't realised we were no longer on Miami time - in Costa Rica terms, that was actually 5.45.
The early start was due to the plan to leave for the office at 7.15, which we all duly did in a couple of minibuses after breakfast. It was great to see home on FaceTime this morning before we left, and I've since been able to see Nicky's recent iPhone photos thanks to the wonders of clouds and wireless networks.
The day was spent in meetings in the office (well in what they call the "auditorium" at the front of their office building) before minibusing back here at the end of the day, and this evening we went to a Peruvian restaurant near the hotel.
Tomorrow is another day of meetings, and then on Wednesday we get a day out to Tabacon Hot Springs - check it out here and let me know what you think.
And to finish for today, here's a photo taken this morning out of my hotel room window.
Monday, 4 June 2012
Costa Rica
I have arrived at Costa Rica. It is 5pm local time, and so midnight back home. I've got a little while to myself to unpack and relax before meeting people downstairs for a drink at six before we head out for our Sunday night group dinner, in advance of the main event kicking off tomorrow morning.
The flight from Miami was uneventful. Before leaving the hotel I had some time to kill and so was typing up some impressions of the place, which I will cut and paste into here at some point. As you will see they weren't overly glowing, but my thoughts on Miami Airport improved when I got airside in the AA area which was shiny and new (and by the way so large that there was a "sky train" on the roof of the building shuttling people between different areas of the building - and it had four stops - and this was just for the gates for on airline!).
Before I made it airside, I had to go through security, laptops out, shoes off, and then into a little booth where I had to stand on the marks and put my hands above my head - I think it was one of the new body scanners (don't know whether it was one of the ones that "sees through" your clothes or not!), and after stepping out, the security guy still wanted to wave his wand down my right hand side - I don't think I've had a hip replacement that I've forgotten about!
Once I'd wandered up and down the AA area airside for a while to waste some more time (didn't make it end to end - just too far) I went into a cafe and had a pain au chocolat and an apple juice. I should have taken a picture of the pastry really - it was a proper American one - lots of chocolate on the inside, and almost as much on the outside as well.
Then to gate D22 for a short wait before boarding our flight. I shall never cease to be amazed by the size of the bags that American's consider to be "carry on" luggage. Thankfully I was the first one to my row of seats, and so there was still some space in the overhead locker. Flight was uneventful, if a little bumpy on the way down, and I was glad it was only two and a half hours - a combination of unfamiliar bed last night and economy seating (albeit with decent legroom) has left me with an aching back.
Waiting for my bag at the caroussel, one of my American colleagues came over to say hi (I'd met him at the Brighton meeting last year) and to introduce me to a couple of others I'd not met before, and we shared the arranged transfer to the hotel.
And here I am. And now I shall sign off, with some more to follow tomorrow.
By the way, if you're reading this (and don't worry, I'm under no illusions that my readership is extremely small), do me a favour and leave a comment. Nice to hear from home when I'm this far away!
The flight from Miami was uneventful. Before leaving the hotel I had some time to kill and so was typing up some impressions of the place, which I will cut and paste into here at some point. As you will see they weren't overly glowing, but my thoughts on Miami Airport improved when I got airside in the AA area which was shiny and new (and by the way so large that there was a "sky train" on the roof of the building shuttling people between different areas of the building - and it had four stops - and this was just for the gates for on airline!).
Before I made it airside, I had to go through security, laptops out, shoes off, and then into a little booth where I had to stand on the marks and put my hands above my head - I think it was one of the new body scanners (don't know whether it was one of the ones that "sees through" your clothes or not!), and after stepping out, the security guy still wanted to wave his wand down my right hand side - I don't think I've had a hip replacement that I've forgotten about!
Once I'd wandered up and down the AA area airside for a while to waste some more time (didn't make it end to end - just too far) I went into a cafe and had a pain au chocolat and an apple juice. I should have taken a picture of the pastry really - it was a proper American one - lots of chocolate on the inside, and almost as much on the outside as well.
Then to gate D22 for a short wait before boarding our flight. I shall never cease to be amazed by the size of the bags that American's consider to be "carry on" luggage. Thankfully I was the first one to my row of seats, and so there was still some space in the overhead locker. Flight was uneventful, if a little bumpy on the way down, and I was glad it was only two and a half hours - a combination of unfamiliar bed last night and economy seating (albeit with decent legroom) has left me with an aching back.
Waiting for my bag at the caroussel, one of my American colleagues came over to say hi (I'd met him at the Brighton meeting last year) and to introduce me to a couple of others I'd not met before, and we shared the arranged transfer to the hotel.
And here I am. And now I shall sign off, with some more to follow tomorrow.
By the way, if you're reading this (and don't worry, I'm under no illusions that my readership is extremely small), do me a favour and leave a comment. Nice to hear from home when I'm this far away!
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Miami
Blogging to you from Subway at Miami Airport.
Flight over was fine - Upper Class is rather nice. Took lots of photos. We landed at about 4.10, and one of the benefits of being in the posh seats is that you're first off, first through passport control, and your bag appears on the conveyor first, so I was checked in to my hotel before five.
Called home and then went for a wander to get the lay of the land - I know whereabouts I'll be checking in tomorrow now.
Minor panic in room when one of the dials on a padlock wouldn't budge but eventually got it spinning and into my luggage.
Watched some of the CBS and NBC news and the good news is that the Queen's Jubilee is getting some coverage. One station even mentioned that she went to the durby today!
Right, I'm off to see if I can get a hot chocolate from Starbucks, and then it's off to bed.
Night night all.
Flight over was fine - Upper Class is rather nice. Took lots of photos. We landed at about 4.10, and one of the benefits of being in the posh seats is that you're first off, first through passport control, and your bag appears on the conveyor first, so I was checked in to my hotel before five.
Called home and then went for a wander to get the lay of the land - I know whereabouts I'll be checking in tomorrow now.
Minor panic in room when one of the dials on a padlock wouldn't budge but eventually got it spinning and into my luggage.
Watched some of the CBS and NBC news and the good news is that the Queen's Jubilee is getting some coverage. One station even mentioned that she went to the durby today!
Right, I'm off to see if I can get a hot chocolate from Starbucks, and then it's off to bed.
Night night all.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Clubhouse
I am posting this from the rather splendid Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow. I am trying to upload a photo from my phone to show you, but it doesn't seem to be playing ball at the moment, so may have to do that a little later on.
The Clubhouse is pretty impressive - there's a restaurant, a few lounges, a big TV area (with the golf on), a salon and spa, bar, and even a pool table! There is a full menu of goodies in front of me, but I am being restrained and have just asked for a Coke - probably don't want to get on a transatlantic flight with a few cocktails on board!
Despite dire warnings of holiday weekend traffic, our journey from home went very smoothly - we set off as planned at 7am, and we were here, parked, and checked in by half past eight. We had breakfast together before the sad farewells, and Nicky and Jake should be on their way to see Henry now.
I was told on the way into the lounge that they should be calling our flight at about 10.45, so hopefully we'll be getting away pretty much on time, and so I will be blogging some more from Miami later on.
The phone upload has just come through to flickr, so here's a picture of the lounge - I'm currently sat on the little white table on the right of the photo!
The Clubhouse is pretty impressive - there's a restaurant, a few lounges, a big TV area (with the golf on), a salon and spa, bar, and even a pool table! There is a full menu of goodies in front of me, but I am being restrained and have just asked for a Coke - probably don't want to get on a transatlantic flight with a few cocktails on board!
Despite dire warnings of holiday weekend traffic, our journey from home went very smoothly - we set off as planned at 7am, and we were here, parked, and checked in by half past eight. We had breakfast together before the sad farewells, and Nicky and Jake should be on their way to see Henry now.
I was told on the way into the lounge that they should be calling our flight at about 10.45, so hopefully we'll be getting away pretty much on time, and so I will be blogging some more from Miami later on.
The phone upload has just come through to flickr, so here's a picture of the lounge - I'm currently sat on the little white table on the right of the photo!
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