Back in London!

Today marks the start of a 3 year work contract. The trip from DC to London was smooth overall, although the flight was a bit bumpy. I think it was the first time I didn't have to take my shoes off, or my coat or even take out the laptop at a major airport when going through security. I guess technology has improved?

I thought I had lost my work badge, but we found it at the last minute, which was quite a relief. After I landed, the very first song I heard was Katy Perrys "this is how we do, it's no big deal". Made me smile to put it in context of moving to London. 

I turned on my cell phone and I thought I wouldn't have a connection, but I got some kind of automatic wifi magic and it worked! Then I received an email from the carrier about an hour later saying "warning, over $100 in international charges". Great, so much for magic. 

I had my first great preferred hire car experience. I arrived at the site and my car was not only there and ready, it was parked in the very closest parking spot and it was an automatic, nice!

Once I got to the flat, I decided it was cold enough to turn on the heat. We have central heating but of course it's in Celsius, so I had to lookup a reasonable number. I went with 18, hope that's normal. There's also a programmable thermostat in the closest, I'm pretty sure I don't have to touch that though. 

I checked our mailbox and of course it was stuffed. A few bills, lots of junk. The council tax bill was pretty mean, they gave 7 days to pay it, then 7 days before a full year charge, then 7 days for a court summons! I paid it right away and called them, I think I only have a £20 fee now, but wow. 

I checked email and unpacked a bit. The dvr recorded Downton Abbey and X factor and Great British Bakeoff, so I was happy to see that. 

The welcome back to work was really nice. Lots of smiling faces and it's great to be back in the office to help plan and get things done.

Hard to say where this journey will take us, but here's to good times ahead! The phrase of the day (that I've heard at least 3 times in passing) has been "well done" in a nice English accent, so I'll hope it's exactly that.