I abandoned my Stonehenge plans - there's really not enough time, especially since I was just told tomorrow's meetings are on Domino and not Protector. It's research time - I have to become a DAOS expert overnight. (Here's what I know so far: DAOS strips and stores attachments from Domino databases. If you send 37 people a copy of your great presentation, only one copy gets stored on disk. This is much less costly in disk space. Cool.)
Somehow, my colleague is on the "bed and breakfast" plan and I'm not - which probably means I picked the wrong column when I booked the room. His breakfast is included, mine would be £17.50. I'm not spending that much of my meal allowance on a meal I usually skip. (It did look pretty good - a traditional British breakfast.) I had coffee which was better than the instant coffee in the room.)
Saw second Microsoft "Windows ... Life without walls" billboard. If there are no walls, what's holding the windows in place?
On the Piccadilly line, bound for Piccadilly Circus and the Bakerloo line. I love the tube.
Almost an hour on the tube. Heathrow is a long way out. We will need to take the Heathrow Express train tomorrow to make better time into the city.
It's really too warm for a long-sleeve shirt.
Walked through St James Park to Buckingham Palace. Was not invited into the palace. Watched many tourists walking into each other's photos (bad) or into traffic (very bad.) My feet are starting to hurt.
Walked back across the park in search of sustenance.
Stopped for a pint at The Chequers. Sitting near Bullshit Corner. I want this sign. Pub grub for lunch - sausage and onion baguette with chips.
I didn't see a tube map at the station and I need one.
Just passed a store that has pre-owned Patek Philippe watches. How freakin' expensive are they new if there's a used market?
You can see a lot of London while looking for an AmEx ATM. This is unfortunate, as my feet are killing me and I have money.
Stopped at The King's Head to rest foot. There seem to be quite a few pubs here. Seeing if Fuller's London Pride ale cures blisters.(It does not.)
No matter what time you enter a pub, you will not be the only customer.
Now, for the dramatic (and bitchy) conclusion to the day. To my colleagues that know who's with me, just pretend you don't.
After wandering around with no real plan, it was time to head back to the hotel on the tube. Found the Piccadilly line, and dozed all the way back to the Terminal station.
We took a bus from Heathrow to the hotel since you have to pre-book a cab, and we hadn't. I would have just gone to the terminal to get a regular cab, but colleague seemed to be in a huge hurry. He tried to call the hotel, but couldn't get connected. I remembered the front desk told me this morning the U3 bus went from the hotel to the airport, so we got on it when it pulled in. I never saw the hotel, and pretty soon we seemed to be going into the neighborhoods. Colleague asked driver where the Holiday Inn was. Driver said the second stop. We were at the twelfth stop. Oops. So, we got off, walked across the street, and waited for the bus going the other way. I considered it an interesting tour. Colleague was not enjoying the ride. Apparently, it's my fault, as much bitching ensued, directed at no-one, but aimed at me, and yes, I am sensitive about this.
Colleague now in charge of navigation since I am obviously a dumb-ass. He gets off the return bus three stops early and then walks two and a half blocks in the wrong direction to the Sheraton. Unfortunately, we're in the Holiday Inn. He looks at me and says "Now, what?" So, now it's my problem? I thought I was a dumb-ass. Why are you putting a dumb-ass in charge? I mentioned he might have gotten off too early, and he looked at me like I had two heads. Back-tracked. Went into a Chinese restaurant to ask directions. The Holiday Inn is a "ten-minute" walk in the other direction. Oops. I think that means I was right. We walked back to our hotel. I lost him near the end since I couldn't keep up. My feet are killing me. I may be a dumb-ass, but when I was lost, I was riding in air-conditioned comfort.
So, lesson confirmed today: when on a sales project, when it goes south, you were in charge (whether you knew it or not). You will be berated when the mistake is discovered. If they screw up, it's never mentioned, you'll just get put in charge again. When you're right, you're ignored and they'll abandon you in the end.
You can also blog whatever you want about it because none of them understand blogs or Facebook.
I'm ready to go home. I never thought I would say that I was ready to leave London, but I'm done. I was not meant to be in sales. Fire, Aim, Ready just makes no sense to me, and I can't get any of them to Aim, anyway.
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