:: aGentX did London in 24 hours ::

i was in london for just one night on a rather tight schedule, and for the time first, i think that i have finally given in to the idea of traveling for work really sucks!

here was my agenda:
monday (17 march)
0900-1300 hrs - work from home
1430 hrs - amsterdam airport
1530 hrs - depart to london heathrow
1545 hrs (uk time) - arrive london
1645 hrs - check in hotel
1730 hrs - quick shopping at the abercrombie (i know i'm a sucker, more story of that later)
1830 to 2330 hrs - meet up with uk colleagues for drinks and dinner
0030 hrs - back in hotel, sleep

tuesday (18 march)
0830 hrs - check out hotel
0900 hrs - arrived at work
1000 to 1630 hrs - meetings whole day
1735 hrs - heathrow express finally leaves (one trained was delayed)
1755 hrs - arrived at airport, missed the 1810 hrs flight
1920 hrs - flight delayed, stuck at airline lounge
2040 hrs - finally flight leaving to amsterdam
2300 hrs (netherlands time) - arrived at airport
2400 hrs - arrived at home

and back to office here the next day....well, you got my point.
it seems that london love having me around so much that this is my second trip in a row that i have a flight delay

ps: i'll be doing this kind of turnaround trip again next week....wish me luck!

:: back to the dutch workday ::

the first day of being back to the office is nothing short but non-stop activities - i officially ended my day at almost 5 am in the morning.

i met up with 2 new colleagues finally face-to-face. i have spoken and conducted job interviews with them over the phone before, and its good to finally put the face to the voice.

one of them turned out just as i expected - a big momma laughter, braided hair, english-african accent and full of joy to talk to - i didn't regret my choice and was happy to hand-over my job to her.

i had a 'team appreciate dinner' at a posh hotel in the hague - hotel des indes. the food was a bit pretentious for my liking and so was the dress code, but what can i say - the service crew were gorgeous and their attention to service and details were excellent.

the photo is blurred to protect the innocent, except me of course!

the irony is that i was the only non-team member of that particular team, but some sort of a guest (who used to be part of that team, but has been involved still in their projects - long story!) - so it was kinda odd as my group dynamic was not as 'tight' as compared the rest.

but i guess after much food and drinks, that doubt was all cast aside. as the only one who live in the hague, the rest of my colleagues wanted to party the night away (as they flew in from the UK that morning and hardly know anything fun about what to do in the hague). even though i am not dutch, but i felt as a 'host' to the hague, it was my responsibility to show them how to have a good time (as all my dutch colleagues have since gone home!)


undeterred, i brought them to one of the sleaziest clubs in the hague, but it was the only one that was opened until 4am and it has poles on an elevated dance floor..what more could you asked for?

and i have to say it that we all had a wonderful time, even though i was freezing my ass off cycling home at almost 5 am in the morning - with all my cough and cold still at bay!

and of course, with a perfect excuse to stay at home the next day :-P

i should stop doing late-nights...x!