I managed to "wash" my whites yesterday, but made the cardinal sin of leaving the clothes peg bag out on the line after I'd hung them out to dry.

"Oh dear, the neighbours will see my old ratty peg bag and what will they think of me?" asked Gran.

"I think they'll be more interested in my american underwear than your clothes peg bag, Gran."

"Well, you're probably right. They'll wonder what kind of toy boy I have now."
3:11:00 PM

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Today's a holy day of obligation, so I have to go to Mass with my Gran at 7.

God dammit.
3:10:00 PM

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The English are renowned for their patience, so I guess I'd better get used to it. I spent the better part of the day yesterday waiting for Argos to deliver the goods I'd purchased last week, and they finally showed up at 3. As Gran won't have anything to do with 21st century electronics, the microwave is now ensconces in the bedroom I'm using on the 3rd floor. I haven't set up the desk yet. That's tomorrow's task.

Today I've been sitting around waiting to hear from the Social Securities folks so they could gather information from me about my claim to benefits. They just called, and I now have an appointment with a real live person on June 10, and I think that will be a combo meeting to see if I qualify and to kick off the job search. I'll actually be doing much more on my own once the broadband connection is set up (due tomorrow).
3:09:00 PM

Tuesday, May 27, 2003
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I have to admit, grudgingly, that I missed the second walk yesterday because I mis-remembered which tube station the Ritz (our meeting point) is nearest. Still, it gave me a bit more time to wander & shop, and the weather was beautiful. In fact, I got a bit too much sun and was very tired & ached by the end of the long day.

Today wasn't nearly so nice, but as I slept half of it away that wasn't so bad. I found some Diet Coke at a grocery store here that tastes a whole lot more like american Diet Coke than the english Diet Pepsi did. Fish and Chips for dinner, and crap TV for the evening. Tomorrow I'll be indoors waiting for deliveries all day, and I have to attempt to master the 19th century clothes-washing contraption in Gran's kitchen.
11:13:00 PM

Monday, May 26, 2003
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You know you can't keep me away from a computer for too long. I'm in the EasyInternet Cafe on Tottenham Ct Rd, checking email and whatnot. I had a great morning, down into London by 8:30 in time for a morning London Walk -- "Shakespeare's London," with guide Shaughan. Very entertaining, as they always are. I had lunch at Jenny's, a burger place that used to be called Wimpy's, which wasn't nearly as good as I'd remembered. So far no sign of the two explosive devices the Al-Queda are planning to set off today, or so says the British Security announcement reported in yesterday's Express. I'm off to meet another guide for a second Walk, and then will do some shopping before heading back to Banbury on the train.

Today has been the best day so far for the weather; perfect walking weather and I didn't even bother to bring an umbrella.
1:15:00 PM

Saturday, May 24, 2003
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Rather a slow day, really. I got up late and went into town shopping. I had to think very seriously about two major purchases I made, which I'd planned for some time but which would be rather silly unless I were staying here awhile; I stepped into the Argos shop (a catalog store, like Service Merchandise) and placed an order for a computer desk and for a microwave oven. I wasn't sure what Gran would think about the 21st century addition to her 19th century home, but she seems to be guardedly interested. She won't touch it, but she knows it will be handy for me.

Just finished watching the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest on BBC1. I hadn't known much about it before, except that Ireland have won a record number of times, and fellow blogger Mike is in Riga this year watching live. I wasn't too impressed with a majority of the entries, and Terry Wogan's commentary was annoying and childish. The UK scored a big fat zero!
11:31:00 PM

Friday, May 23, 2003
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Gran had a visitor in last night for a couple hours and I wasn't feeling very social, so I made my way down to see X-Men 2 at the local cinema. The ticket was about $9 and the theater was really small -- nine rows of about 24 seats across at the widest point. Fifteen minutes of commercials before 10 minutes of previews, then the movie itself, which I enjoyed but wish I'd seen before Matrix: Reloaded. It's readily apparent that it's a stepping stone to future installments in the series.

Had fish 'n chips tonight for dinner, and a bit of sponge cake for dessert. Crap television - the premiere of the new series of Big Brother which most of the country is enthralled with - and I'm off to bed.
11:57:00 PM

Thursday, May 22, 2003
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"Well, what about 'shit'?" she asked.

Gran and I had quite an interesting conversation at breakfast this morning. She attempted to explain the difference between "bastard, bloody and bollocks," --which are only vulgarities-- and real swear words. I can"t say I saw the distinction. She asked me what words I use when I swear, and I was hard pressed to blurt them out to her. What about shit, she asked. I admitted, grudgingly, that shit was indeed in my vocabulary.
3:01:00 PM

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For as long as I can recall, there has been a hot dog stand in the High Street near where my parents used to live here in Banbury. The smells emanating from the stall do well to whet one's appetite. Yesterday as I passed by, though, I saw someone walking away with a recent purchase; hot dog with egg mayonnaise (egg salad).

Strange, but it actually sounds appetizing to me.
3:00:00 PM

Wednesday, May 21, 2003
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I've just signed up for ADSL broadband THANK GOD! I'll be 94 before I get any work done with AOL dial-up.
9:25:00 PM

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Forgive me for taking so long to update, but this is the first real chance I've had since arriving in country to sit down for a breather. I'm beginning to make my own niche here at 10 Crouch Street, but, as I knew would be the case, I won't want to be here any longer than necessary.

The flight over was uneventful; Dad drove me to the airport by 3:30 in time for my 7pm flight. As I checked in at the Virgin counter, I asked whether any exit row or bulkhead seats were available and I was told they were, but that because the flight was full, I could only guarantee/reserve one for an extra $75. I took them up on it, as I am absolutely miserable in squashed seats, having someone recline into my lap. I am usually unable to sleep on flights but the extra leg room was great, and for the first time ever I actually had an hour or so of rest.

I was a bit nervous about going through immigration and customs, as it was the first time using my Irish passport. I breezed through, though, and was out the door by 8am, looking for the bus departure bay for the trip to Banbury. I'd reserved a coach ticket for 11 'cclock, thinking I'd be longer through customs, and I was unable to change it to an earlier bus, so I bought the paper & sat down for a full English breakfast & a cup of tea.

The coach out to Banbury was very crowded, and the seats were very narrow so I was off the edge for most of the hour & a half. It was very warm, too, and I had on several layers in addition to all my carry bags. I think I snoozed once or twice. I got a very cheap taxi from Banbury bus station up to Crouch Street, where Gran had lunch waiting for me.

I went out with her to do some grocery shopping after, and then unpacked a little, had dinner, and was soon in bed. I had 14 hours of sleep that first night, well and truly needed.

I was busy most of yesterday doing my own grocery shopping (delivered for free since I spent over a certain amount), visiting the Job Centre, looking for a cheap desk and chair, unpacking more odds and ends, and getting the online situation sorted. I'll have another day or two before seriously looking for jobs, and may go down into London this weekend (Monday is a holiday here too).
8:57:00 PM

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You might have heard me grumbling last week about all the details and last minute tasks before the move. I'm glad I left on the Sunday and not the Saturday, as the extra day came in handy after working up until the last minute. All went well with arrival at Dulles, but I was having some serious second thoughts while I was on the plane -- what the hell am I doing, picking up and moving and starting over in a foreign country?? I was also anxious about using my new passport & going through customs and immigration.

It all turned out in the end, though. An awful storm quickly blew through right before I went to bed, leaving behind an amazing double-bowed rainbow. Quite an auspicious start, I think.

9:51:00 AM

Sunday, May 18, 2003
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OK, I'm off. See you on the other side....
5:18:00 PM

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Well, I can finally update my sidebar; Dad and I went to see The Matrix: Reloaded this afternoon, and it was exactly as good as I hoped and expected. Go see. And then go see one more time, because there's no way to catch everything in one showing.

That and a trip to the Post Office and the end of the packing took up the rest of the day. I'm ready to go!
6:22:00 AM

Saturday, May 17, 2003
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Well, that's it then.

I'm done with work. I didn't think I'd have to stay the whole day but I did, as I had two tasks assigned right at the end. We had a break in the afternoon and the floor gave me a card and we had cake, so that was nice. Funny how nice people are to you once they find out you're leaving.

I got to see Margrete S. on the way home; we'd both been busy during the last two weeks and hadn't had a chance to get together for a meal, so it was nice to stop by the Bank and say goodbye.

I came home and packed up four more boxes to go out tomorrow. Two more for Sunday and we're through!
4:53:00 AM

Friday, May 16, 2003
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Weather for BANBURY, UK OX16 9PP

5:45:00 PM

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My brother has resurfaced!

He has largely been pre-occupied by his Master's course and work, but rang today to tell me he was done & was drinking a beer. It wasn't a Bud, t.g.
3:46:00 AM

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Where's Superman when you need him?

I'd like him to fly around the earth a couple times, not to reverse time but just slow it down a little. The week is just zoomin' by.

I had an excellent dinner at Don Pablo's with Beth on Tuesday, and we wound up sitting and talking far longer than either of us realized. It's so nice to have such a variety of friends with different interests and perspectives. I had purposefully not made a big deal of saying goodbye at the Boivins on Sunday, so we continued in that vein when she dropped me off at my dad's, as I know I'll be seeing her again soon, and there's always email and the blogs until then.

Yesterday I was supposed to meet up with Steve F and the others for the Matrix early opening, but I just was on the wrong day of my mental calendar & didn't realize until too late. I did have dinner with my ex-boss from D A R P A, David, and that was another long, varied conversation.

Today we interviewed two candidates for my position in the a.m. and then the tech group took me out to lunch at TGIFriday's. I had my usual, as Nicky can attest. Quite the diverse group, and not nearly as stimulating a chat as the past couple meals. Tomorrow should be an easy, easy day -- it better be, as it's my LAST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT in the US!

Late evenings have been busy with yet even more sorting and packing. I think I've sent about a dozen boxes overseas now, with about four more to go. The USPS absolutely loves me. Too bad I can't get frequent flyer miles or something. I'm trying to get everything done by tomorrow so I can relax on Saturday and perhaps spend my last day in DC.
3:41:00 AM

Tuesday, May 13, 2003
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I'm not meaning to sound as if I'm bragging, but I've got three things going on at once; the laptop is burning a DVD backup of my hard drive before I ship it, the mac is ripping my CD collection, and I'm using my dad's pc to bang this out.

Less than six days, and counting. I've got a lot to do still but it's getting there. It was really nice to take a break yesterday, though; the Boivins had invited us over for a farewell to Tim/Mother's Day/Kelly's B-day bar-b-que. Despite the weathermen's predictions, the weather cooperated & we got to break in their new patio furniture. Much food leftover, as usual, as you never go hungry at the Boivins. Most of the evening was taken up by the finale of Season 6 of Survivor, which I have not been watching but which was easy to fall into, and not at all something I'll miss.

The Boivins and Kelly gave me a huge gift certificate at Amazon.co.uk, which I may have already spent as I have items listed in my Wishlist already. :-) That will be nice to spend when I get over there, and was very generous of them.
2:54:00 AM

Monday, May 12, 2003
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Last week, I started to think there's something to this vegetarianism idea. I had ordered the only chinese dish I like, Sweet & Sour Chicken. Unfortunately the breaded chicken pieces looked a bit too much like ... chicken. And not the best parts. I've gone off it. I'm going to have to find another chinese entree, as I'm sure London has one or two chinese restaurants. Maybe three.

Which is why it was fairly interesting to take Jimmy N. to a place called The Sunflower Cafe on Saturday, to thank him for driving me up to the Merrifield Post Office (twice). It's a vegetarian restaurant serving mostly vegan Chinese and Japanese dishes, but it also features several soy and tofu "meat-resembling" dishes. I had the Sweet & Sour Sensation, which tasted "just like chicken." But not enough
9:32:00 PM

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A fairly productive day, so far. I've:

written & mailed a letter to my gran
had two suits measured for alterations
gone to the bank (twice)
sold the last item on eBay!
mailed the second-to-the-last eBay package
initiated a claim on a lost UPS package
paid my bills online
had a haircut

It's amazing what you can do when you're not in a rush to get your work done.
9:24:00 PM

Friday, May 09, 2003
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Seems I've picked the worst time to emigrate:

On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee approved a $350 billion tax-cut measure after GOP moderates refused to accept more. It is expected on the Senate floor as early as Monday. Overall, it would cut some taxes by $421 billion over the coming decade while raising others by $71 billion. The biggest tax increase is $35 billion that would come from ending the $80,000 U.S. income-tax exemption for Americans on salaries earned overseas.

And, the "Strong Dollar" policy created by former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and ostensibly continued by his successors ceased to exist the moment George W. Bush moved into the Oval Office; The dollar has declined more than 8 percent since the start of the year on a trade-weighted basis against the currencies of U.S. trading partners, and is more than 21 percent below a 20-year high reached in July 2001. Today's exchange rate is around $1.61 = £1.
9:02:00 PM

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OK, enough with the tornados. I met up with Todd after work on Wednesday but we didn't go far for dinner, as a storm hit DC just as rush hour started. We were both soaked, even with umbrellas, but had a delicious meal at Primi Piatti, not far from his hotel. I only found out when I got home that the storm had spawned several funnel clouds, none of which thankfully touched down.

Yesterday I got home and rang my mom as I usually do. "Oh," she mentions casually, "we've just had a tornado pass by." She had a job herding the cats into the bathroom, and then her dogs, husband & a radio into the other bathroom, after the warning sirens went off. It passed by a mile from their house, with no damage to the home, but ... still! 140 people were injured and about 300 homes destroyed or damaged in an eerie repeat of the May 3, 1999 tornados there.
4:29:00 PM

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Stolen from Jonathan, this web site will dialect-ize any web address you throw at it. You can try "Elmer Fudd," "Redneck" or "Sweedish Chef." Here's the first part of my last entry in "Cockney":

Anuvver of the top four or five most embarrassin' muments from me life:

Me bruvver were, right, even as a yungster, right creative and quick and talented. If I remember correctly, he won a Poetry contest at school wiv an entry 'e scribbled dahn one mornin' wile stuffin' 'is Nanny Goat Race wiv Frosted Flakes on 'is way ter class. He got a plaque and evryfink. Skipped a grade, too.

I didn't win many orards in school, but I were always a right good student.
4:23:00 PM

Thursday, May 08, 2003
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Another of the top four or five most embarrassing moments from my life:

My brother was, even as a youngster, very creative and quick and talented. If I remember correctly, he won a Poetry contest at school with an entry he scribbled down one morning while stuffing his face with Frosted Flakes on his way to class. He got a plaque and everything. Skipped a grade, too.

I didn't win many awards in school, but I was always a good student. When I was in sixth grade, I decided to enter into a spelling bee. The participants were given weeks of advance study time, and notes and strategies to do well. I spent many many afternoons and weekends reading dictionaries & vocab books. By the evening of the actual event, I was more than ready. I knew that you didn't have to spell right away, that you could ask for the word to be repeated, and that you could ask for the word to be used in a sentence. You were required to say the word, spell it, and say the word again.

On the actual evening of the event, held in one of the classrooms in the elementary school, parents and teachers anxiously assembled to see how the kids fared. The students nervously sat on the skittles-colored plastic chairs, waiting their turn in front of the microphone.

I blew it on the first word I was asked to spell: acknowledge.

This is how I remember what happened next: my brother stood up from his seat in the audience and said, "I can't believe you couldn't spell THAT word! What a dummy!" I don't remember much after that, as I was both enraged and mortified.

Of course, I've never misspelled the word since.
10:07:00 PM

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Hey, in case you hadn't heard, I'm moving to the UK in 10 days.
9:53:00 PM

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A first, as far as I know, for me. My site is now actually listed in a stranger's blogroll.
9:52:00 PM

Wednesday, May 07, 2003
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While I was busy selling my life online last week, my dad and I watched the three-part Manor House on PBS. Done in the same style as the previous 1900 House, Frontier House and 1940s House, I thought this one was not as educational or entertaining as the 1940s house. I'm not sure that the family members who were recruited to fill the rolls of the stuffy Edwardian Lords of the Manor behave any more civilly in "real life."

I wonder whether "Regency House Party" and "Colonial House" will be as popular.
3:36:00 PM

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I found parts of this hilarious: a spoof blog, for Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.
3:29:00 PM

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I had a wonderful lunch with Ginette yesterday at El Chalan, a Peruvian restaurant on I Street. The food was excellent and I always enjoy her company. We used to work together at ICSID, and I was surprised to hear about how much it has grown since I left in '94. Ginette will be traveling through London later this year, and we made plans to meet up so I can "show her around town."
3:14:00 PM

Tuesday, May 06, 2003
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Nicky sweetie darling just called me from the loo. She was having a slash & flushed the toilet.
9:54:00 PM

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Perhaps I was spoiled by living only four-minutes from work for the past two years, but I'm really TIRED of spending the better portion of my day on the bus. Last night I waited half hour in the rain for the bus to arrive, and it took two hours to get home. Same thing happened this morning, without the rain. How do people do it day in, day out?
5:31:00 PM

Monday, May 05, 2003
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I have scheduled lunch with Ginette tomorrow, dinner with my ex-college roommate Todd S. on Wednesday, a bar-b-que at the Boivins' on Sunday, and dinner with Bethie Beth on Wednesday next. Some time between now and next Saturday I need to pack all my things into boxes; I've decided not to go with the movers, as they aren't open on Saturday and I'd have to rent a cargo van to get my stuff there & would have to take a day off work. It'll be cheaper (but I'll take less "stuff") to mail a few boxes through the US Post.

Other things on my "to do" list:

* Get passport photos and send in application for International Drivers Permit
* See about broadband availability in Banbury
* Order study guide for Apple certification exam
* Get a mother's day card
* Finish ripping my entire CD collection onto my laptop, so I don't have to ship them
9:57:00 PM

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I shouldn't have bothered waiting for David, as he didn't purchase an iPod. I got the 30GB model, though, and took it home to charge while I attended to packing and more eBay. I was able to grab one of the free iPod t-shirts left over from the Apple Store's event the night before.

Sunday I made a trip up to Merrifield, the fifth post office I've visited in the last four days, trying to find the free Priority Mail boxes they give out, in a particular size. All the clerks said I'd need to order online or via the phone, but as I've done that already (and not received them) I'd hoped to get some first hand. Merrifield, the largest post office in the DC area, also didn't have any. Still, it was nice of Dad to drive me the 1 1/2 hour round trip.

Sunday, more eBay & then dinner at Outback with Jenn S. & her husband Rob. We went early and avoided the huge crowds, and I enjoyed my shrimp & chicken fettuccini. It was great to catch up with Rob & Jenn, who are expecting their first kid in September, and sad to say goodbye.
9:48:00 PM

Saturday, May 03, 2003
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I guess I was too busy to write earlier this week about Apple's big announcements on Monday. I went to the Apple store after my lunch with the TS guys at Chevy's, as Steve Jobs was announcing Apple's new Music Service, iTunes v4 and the new iPods. The Apple store was showing the satellite broadcast. I was ready to buy one of the new iPods on the spot, as mine has made its way to my ex, who as of today has yet to either return it or to pay me the money offered for it. (In case you don't know, the iPod is an audio player like a walkman that lets you play thousands of songs).

Steve indicated the iPods wouldn't be for sale until tonight, though, at big Apple events across the country. They'll have DJs at the stores, and will be giving away posters and t-shirts to iPod buyers. Dave S. and I made plans to go after work, but he realized today that he wouldn't be able to make it, so we'll try again tomorrow, early.
3:43:00 AM

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This certainly was the weekend for goodbyes. I saw Patti and Nancy for the last time on Friday at the dinner cruise. Sunday's brunch with Linda T. and Vivien R., lunch with my old colleagues at D A R P A Monday, dinner Wednesday with Jimmy N., and lunch with sweetie darling Nicky yesterday. And believe it or not, sometimes my impending departure just sneaks up on me; I only just realized that I have only two full weekends before I go. The good news is that I've found a shipper and will be busy this weekend getting all my boxes ready for them. They charge by volume, not by weight, and deliver to my "home" in the UK, for about what I was expecting to pay.

Lunch yesterday with Nicky was bittersweet. We had planned for some time to meet at Kinkead's in 2000 Penn, as Nicky had never been before and I had been impressed with their food and service. We weren't disappointed; I had New England Clam Chowder to start, and we both had Cod Cakes in a nice sauce with snow peas & beans, and we split the Chocolate and Caramel Sampler. Service was very good, and the meal was only marred by an errant fire alarm. Nicky gave me a lovely framed print of the photo of the two of us I posted earlier. I couldn't really say goodbye at the end, as I know I'll be seeing her again.
3:41:00 AM

Thursday, May 01, 2003
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The magic number is now