I have been living in London now for almost 3 months, which seems totally unreal. I have been working for two of those three months and right now I am sitting writing on a train from Washington to New York. That’s right, I spent my Christmas in New York, and then came to Washington to visit my friend Paco who actually lives in New York, but is in Washington visiting his mom. I will talk about the trip a little later in this entry; first I wanted to tell you a little about my work in London.
(The picture is lunch with the team just before Christmas)
He works hard for his money As I have mentioned before, I accepted a job as Head of Conference Sponsorship for an international media house, much like Spintelligent, whom I worked for in Cape Town, except this is a much bigger company, employing some 300 staff in four offices around the world. The job is really very similar to the one that I did in Cape Town, with the exception that I am now managing a team selling sponsorship packages on
pharmaceutical conferences mostly in Europe. The people in this company are quite varied. There are a lot of expats from around the world, so this makes for a melting pot of varying personalities and tempers. There have been a few mini explosions caused by disagreements. It has been quite funny to be on the outside looking in on these and not being privy to the politics surrounding them.
My team consists of four English guys, who have been really amazing at welcoming me to the company. I expected animosity as would be normal with a new manager arriving. They have however been really supportive and have really come to the party with every task at hand. I am however told by a sceptic friend that new brooms sweep clean, and likewise do new teams. I really hope that’s not the case.
My immediate boss is on the whole a really nice guy. Guy, my boss, is from the East End of London and is a character of note. He has me in tears with laughter at least three times a day, which is weird because I am normally the one to make people laugh! I must say, I do feel only slightly jealous. He does have the tendency to be a bit like a school teacher sometimes, which drives me fucking mad. The only worrying thing is that his politics lean a little to the right― he belongs to an organization called “Republicans Abroad”. I first thought this was a joke, but this turned out to be for real, he is a card carrying member and goes to meetings. I really don’t know yet how to react to this.
It has taken me a while to adjust to the new job and its demands on my time. I get up at 6am to be at the office by 8. If I was living with one other person only, I would have had the luxury of getting up at 7am, but bathroom politics at Russia House involves a regimental timetable drawn up by Olga and allows me exactly 30 minutes in the bathroom starting at 6am. I generally don’t leave the office before 7pm, which means that I get home at 8pm and have to be in bed again by 10pm, so you can do the maths. So far this issue as well as the stress have been the only two things that I have resented about my job. I don’t remember being this stressed at Spintelligent. Stressed I have been, but not nearly as much as now, I don’t think. A friend reckons that I have been far more stressed when I first started at Spintelligent. In honesty, the stress and the amount of time I spend at work and on the tube are causing me to resent London a little. I did not envisage my life being like this. I just hope that as the time goes by, things will get a little easier and that I will finally begin to enjoy the London that I fell in love with the times that I visited.
My team consists of four English guys, who have been really amazing at welcoming me to the company. I expected animosity as would be normal with a new manager arriving. They have however been really supportive and have really come to the party with every task at hand. I am however told by a sceptic friend that new brooms sweep clean, and likewise do new teams. I really hope that’s not the case.
My immediate boss is on the whole a really nice guy. Guy, my boss, is from the East End of London and is a character of note. He has me in tears with laughter at least three times a day, which is weird because I am normally the one to make people laugh! I must say, I do feel only slightly jealous. He does have the tendency to be a bit like a school teacher sometimes, which drives me fucking mad. The only worrying thing is that his politics lean a little to the right― he belongs to an organization called “Republicans Abroad”. I first thought this was a joke, but this turned out to be for real, he is a card carrying member and goes to meetings. I really don’t know yet how to react to this.
It has taken me a while to adjust to the new job and its demands on my time. I get up at 6am to be at the office by 8. If I was living with one other person only, I would have had the luxury of getting up at 7am, but bathroom politics at Russia House involves a regimental timetable drawn up by Olga and allows me exactly 30 minutes in the bathroom starting at 6am. I generally don’t leave the office before 7pm, which means that I get home at 8pm and have to be in bed again by 10pm, so you can do the maths. So far this issue as well as the stress have been the only two things that I have resented about my job. I don’t remember being this stressed at Spintelligent. Stressed I have been, but not nearly as much as now, I don’t think. A friend reckons that I have been far more stressed when I first started at Spintelligent. In honesty, the stress and the amount of time I spend at work and on the tube are causing me to resent London a little. I did not envisage my life being like this. I just hope that as the time goes by, things will get a little easier and that I will finally begin to enjoy the London that I fell in love with the times that I visited.
A quiet birthday
My birthday came on December 15 and I invited a few friends old and new to drinks in Soho. The affair was sedate; much unlike my usual large birthday bashes in Cape Town. Although it was really nice and everyone who was there made a real effort, it was just not like being in Cape Town. I missed having a big party with limos or 1930’s themes or loads of presents of course! I spent most of the time worried that people were comfortable, because we couldn’t get a booking so 10 or so people were hanging around the bar waiting for any available seat. I ended up getting really drunk and dancing at a seedy gay club till the early hours of the morning.
My birthday came on December 15 and I invited a few friends old and new to drinks in Soho. The affair was sedate; much unlike my usual large birthday bashes in Cape Town. Although it was really nice and everyone who was there made a real effort, it was just not like being in Cape Town. I missed having a big party with limos or 1930’s themes or loads of presents of course! I spent most of the time worried that people were comfortable, because we couldn’t get a booking so 10 or so people were hanging around the bar waiting for any available seat. I ended up getting really drunk and dancing at a seedy gay club till the early hours of the morning.
(In the picture are Rory, me and Adi at my birthday drinks)
Our company Christmas party happened on Wednesday December 19, and this also went by completely uneventfully. Unlike the Spintelligent Christmas parties that involved two day cruises, or fabulously extravagant themed parties, this had a bowling theme and took place in a bowling alley. Whilst bowling was really nice, that was it. There were a few other games, but I have never really liked games of any kind. I know I sound like a real cry-baby right now, but I am suddenly sitting back and seeing how different my life is and I don’t really like it. That is to be really honest. I know I will take time to settle and that in a year’s time I will probably be laughing about how silly I have been. Well I am naturally impatient, I am all for instant gratification. For now I find peace in the fact that “this too shall pass”. As my friend Margo always says, “Adventures are never comfortable when you’re in them”.
(Times Square)
New York again
It transpired on payday, December 21 that I had some money spare after saving some and paying my bills, and I had previously seen some really cheap fares advertised for return flights to New York. I also had to fly a total of 3000 miles in order to maintain the gold status on my frequent flyer program. So I did the most impulsive thing I have ever done and booked a ticket to New York to depart three days later. I would spend Christmas in New York and take the train to Washington, DC later in the week to visit Paco and return to New York for another day or two in order to fly back to London on December 30.
(Gotham City)I am now approaching the end of that visit. I arrived in New York on Monday and spent four glorious days there mostly on my own. I am staying at Paco’s place which is pretty central in Williamsburg, just outside Manhattan. This has allowed me to move in and out of the city with ease. I took an open top bus tour of Manhattan on Christmas day, which turned out to be one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done. I have been to New York so many times yet I have never taken a real tour. The next few days were spent shopping and museum hopping. I saw a wonderful exhibition at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), went to the Top of the Rocks, the observation deck on the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Centre. The views from the top were absolutely exquisite, and reminded me again of how much I love New York.
(Central Park in the background) 
I have made two wonderful friends in New York, thanks to Paco. I met Dawn earlier this year when I was en-route back from a conference I did in Texas. I had taken a few days to relax in New York before embarking on a business trip elsewhere in the USA. Our first meeting was arriving at Dawns house in Queens where she had whipped up a cocktail concoction with grapefruit vodka and cranberry juice which we aptly christened “Ruby Dawn”. We were supposed to meet my friend Elize, who was also in New York at the time at a Greek place in Queens called “Opa! Opa!” and because of the amount we had to drink, we forgot about Elize, a first-timer in New York, at the restaurant.We arrived over an hour late, but had a wonderful time nonetheless.
I have made two wonderful friends in New York, thanks to Paco. I met Dawn earlier this year when I was en-route back from a conference I did in Texas. I had taken a few days to relax in New York before embarking on a business trip elsewhere in the USA. Our first meeting was arriving at Dawns house in Queens where she had whipped up a cocktail concoction with grapefruit vodka and cranberry juice which we aptly christened “Ruby Dawn”. We were supposed to meet my friend Elize, who was also in New York at the time at a Greek place in Queens called “Opa! Opa!” and because of the amount we had to drink, we forgot about Elize, a first-timer in New York, at the restaurant.We arrived over an hour late, but had a wonderful time nonetheless.
(Me and Dawn)
My meeting with Dawn this time was just as alcoholic. We had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant in Manhattan which was wonderful. The food was simply orgasmic, but it was the conversation between Dawn and I that turned all attentions to our table. The restaurant was full of Asians, and the ones in hearing distance were all either totally horrified or snickered in very polite Asian way at the very sexually loaded but funny conversation Dawn and I were engaged in. No wonder the waiter were really rude to us. I am sure that we must have upset their very delicate Asian disposition. Dawn and I went in search for a seedy bar to try and pick up unsuspecting straight men, but no luck. We found the seedy bar, but no luck at finding unsuspecting straight men! 
When I told Paco at the last minute that I was traveling to New York he was very kind to put me in touch with his friend Angela, the other lovely new friend I had made in New York. Angela was so lovely she arranged for me to meet her and Melora, Paco’s neighbor and friend for lunch to pick up Paco’s keys. Later that week we went for drinks at this trendy bar in Brooklyn and spoke about Cape Town all night, as Angela and Melora had been to Cape Town about two years ago. We were supposed to meet for breakfast the next morning, but I woke up with a terrible flu and she was sweet enough to bring me medication and breakfast!
(Angela on the left with her friend Pollyanna,
who was visiting from Manchester)
(Angela on the left with her friend Pollyanna,
who was visiting from Manchester)
My trip to Washington, DC was to see my friend Paco at least while I was 
there. This trip has been the first that was not attached to business. Every time I have been to New York it has been either en-route to or on the way back from a business trip around the US, so I wasn’t always 100% relaxed, and Paco was always the perfect host. Paco’s mother lives just outside DC, and he was visiting her for Christmas, hence my decision to visit him there. I had a wonderful time. Spent the two days wondering all the Smithsonian museums and eating wonderful lunches and then even more wonderful dinners prepared by Paco, who is the original foodie.
there. This trip has been the first that was not attached to business. Every time I have been to New York it has been either en-route to or on the way back from a business trip around the US, so I wasn’t always 100% relaxed, and Paco was always the perfect host. Paco’s mother lives just outside DC, and he was visiting her for Christmas, hence my decision to visit him there. I had a wonderful time. Spent the two days wondering all the Smithsonian museums and eating wonderful lunches and then even more wonderful dinners prepared by Paco, who is the original foodie. (My dear friend Paco)
This trip to New York made me realize again how much I loved that city. And I have to admit that there is a part of me that regrets a little bit not taking the job in New York. I can sit here forever writing about what I love about New York and hate about London and I will be busy for a very long time. Who knows, I might actually end up in New York still some day. For now I have to love where I am despite the challenges, and make peace with the fact I will be dancing next to the beat for a while.
For now, dear friends, I bid you adieu. Thanks for reading and thanks for loving.
Love Gerald
Love Gerald
(One of my favorite pieces of architecture, the Chrysler Tower)
1 comment:
oooh you are just fabulous my dear friend gigi. i miss you madly. xxx
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