Return to Blighty and work ‘in-person’!
Saturday
Today is the day. Time to check that we have everything and do a quick clear out of the fridge. We’re only going for about 10 days so really just the milk etc to worry about. We also put the food out for Jonny and Cressida so they can feed the cat from time to time and dropped off the new house key – it’s great having friends so close and kind to help us out. Soon it’s time to hit the road and head up to the airport. Lots of rainbows on the way and we even found that you can be in a rainbow which was pretty cool.
It seems that there is some festival of lights with some rather odd looking animals etc on the airport roundabouts. The lounge at Toulouse still isn’t open but we managed to find a couple of beers and some food.
Some new link up airline thing going on
Back in London and definitely overdue for a takeaway – first night Chinese, just as good as I remembered it. Since there are no jobs to be done on the house it’s time for us to just sit back and relax.
[4 December 2021]
Sunday
First day back in London and since most people appear to be in isolation for one reason or another we figured we’d finally go and have a look at the Geffrye Museum which has recently reopened. I’ve had drinks on the lawn and been to a cheese fairs etc but never made it inside.
Old Alms houses of the museum 
Million ideas of what this could be used for – looks quite Mars Attacks 
Go Jane! 
Important point, now women (for the most part) are expected to do it all 
I could do with one of thee 
Maybe we also need to get one of these
Since we’re here, we’d been hoping that they would turn the adjacent building into a nice new pub and since they have we are obliged to go in and give it a try. Much like many of the other pubs nearby they do like their craft beers, which really aren’t my thing, but they have a couple of pilsners so we’ll manage. We did however get distracted by their decor, how they’d done the wainscotting and the colour of the radiator.
Back from the short sojourn to the pub it was time to have dinner before Matt is off to the hotel at Heathrow airport to meet Brandon as they have an early flight tomorrow morning. Dirty chicken baby!
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With Matt off to the airport we’re going to do a break away at this point for two parallel timelines – I’m pretty certain his will be more interesting than me working all week so feel free to skip ahead at this point the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix post…
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With Matt off the airport I’m left at home alone (Simon and Jolanda are away somewhere). First job was to clean the bathroom and then work out how the moths got into the box with all my clothes in – looks as though most of my good work trousers are now throughly moth holed, which incidentally is going to rather limit my wardrobe over the next week or so. [See, I warned you!]
Anyway not much to do but a bit of work and relax in front of the TV in a cozy house.
[5 December 2021]
Monday
First day back in London and before I go anywhere it’s time for a lateral flow (LFT) and PCR test – the LFT is a standard requirement to go onto campus and the PCR needs to be done every 2 days, since I was on a plane a couple of days ago it’s best to do the first one now to pick up any possible trace. Before you know it I’m dressed up nice, make up on and in the office. It’s been a long time since I last did this anyway this will be most of my life for the rest of my time on this trip so will just focus on the brief highlight reel.
[6 December 2021]
Tuesday
Busy start to the day to get everything done early. Today I’ve been invited to the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Estates and Facilities team lunch, a few of the old Laing familiars making up this team.
Later in the evening it was off to my second Christmas dinner, thanks to a very kind invitation from Overbury (they’re a law firm). Peter should have been coming too but post heart attack I think one dinner is quite enough so he was back off to Oxford and I was sat with his boss for the night. It was a lovely dinner but would have been 100 times better with Peter at my side.
[7 December 2021]
Wednesday
Work and testing.
[8 December 2021]
Thursday
Work and testing. End part of the day was a trip with Dan from Southwark and Roger from British Land to go and look at their Canada Water site. Ok, maybe a 3.5 hour tour isn’t that exciting to most but it included the Printworks (currently a cultural and club venue) as well as some nice pictures of London. Also met up with Tonia for a drink and dinner afterwards in London Bridge.
[9 December 2021]
Friday
Work and testing, but then met up with Lee and Vicky for drink in London Bridge, and this guy.
The guy who took the pictures 
[10 December 2021]
Saturday
Lee and Vicky may have kept me up till rather too late last night and today I’m due to go wedding dress shopping with my mum and sisters. Another test before I left of course. First we had a nice lunch then off to David’s at Stratford, but unfortunately most of the pictures are under wraps, sorry.
[11 December 2021]
Sunday
Spent the day in bed. Matt will be back tomorrow and I need to rest after a long week of work and catch ups.
[12 December 2021]
