I got yet another meeting invite and clicked accept. It came from the Head of Risk's secretary so you don't ignore. For some reason I read it and my heart sank - it was a management on-site in London. Now I am not really a fan of these sessions anyway - lots of blue sky thinking outside the box etc - but this was scheduled for during my parents' trip to New York.
Before you say it, I know they are not coming to see me but it is Harriet's birthday week and I want to be there too.
Salvation came when something I'm working on got a new project manager. She wanted everyone to block out their diaries and work on this solidly to address issues we have been going round the houses on for months. Everyone is in Singapore or London except yours truly so I was asked to come to London. Yes I said if I can get out of the on-site.
Deal.
So here I am. This was always a risk when we moved to New York. I can manage the odd 5am call to Asia but sometimes there is just no substitute for meeting people outside a structured setting.
I said I was going to take the subway to Kennedy Airport (only outsiders call it JFK) until I started out dragging my bag behind me. Waiting outside our building there are always cabs and my resolve cracked immediately and I jumped in one.
The cab driver explained his concerns about getting there in time and back to his depot. So he drove like a madman - not quite as terrible as our last experience in San Francisco but not far off. In and out of lanes we weaved for each little bit of perceived advantage.
Still we made it well within his designated time. I checked in and crashed in the lounge. The plane leaves at 7pm and gets in at 7am - thanks to the five hour time difference that's not as long as it sounds. I needed to sleep in order to survive the next day. So for once the business class was really justified but it's still not a lot of time in the air to be asleep. The uber disciplined frequent flyer might sleep as soon as the plane's in the air but I still wanted my dinner!
The attendant woke me just before breakfast. I had slept so it was ok.
It was a long day but actually having something to do helps. Word got around that I was back and my calendar was back to back.
You want to catch up? Really? Like really, I've only been gone a month!
I have been trying to wind up my colleagues by using American terms (using Math drives them up the wall) but it hasn't been that long. Still my old desk has gone and I am using an office of someone who is in New York this week.
I have only been gone a month but it seems that's all it takes. My team is happily working away and they even went for lunch without asking me!
It seems that they've moved on. I didn't expect the place to fall down or for them to be weeping with joy at my return but I could tell that it was different. Well alright, it would have been nice if they had collapsed in a grateful heap even if they didn't mean it. Someone even talked to me on our instant messaging system even though I was sitting 5 meters away!
So London feels different in some ways but then in other ways it seems things have not changed. I met Martin on Monday and we followed the same routine just as we always did: drink in a bar and then pizza. We talked about the usual things (especially my delight in our political affiliations now being in coalition although Martin seems less keen on the 'Dems these days).
This evening is a bit quieter but at least I can discharge my most important duties. Six boxes of Brooke Bond choicest blend - check!
