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My last day at work and I have to say it really doesn't feel like it. It doesn't seem as though I won't be coming back here on Monday, it doesn't seem as though this time next week I will be in London. Having said that, when I first came to Germany it was hard to believe until I was here. The first couple of years here were fantastic, it was like being in another world. Maybe the first couple of years back in the UK will be like that too? Who knows? There are still things with the UK I detest but hopefully the area I have chosen to live in a few of these things will not exist. Time will tell...

posted by keith @ 09:46 Comments: 3  

Once again it's been a while and once again I am on an aircraft. This is (hopefully) my last business trip with my present company. As I have explained before, flying on a weekly basis may seem a glamorous job, indeed I have had people saying 'ooh, you jetsetter you', however the reality is far from glamorous. Getting up at 0500, staying in hotels, living out of a suitcase, eating room service food half the time and then getting home at around 0100 - sound glamorous? I thought not.

I am certainly having no second thoughts professionally about the move. I see this as a forward step and am looking forward to it immensely. Another plus point is that this is the first time in 5 years I have had that 'work wind down'. You know the sort I mean - last few weeks and although I will do my job until the day I leave there is just a little less stress, enough to make your job fun. You spend a lot of time discussing your move with people in the corridors, people who would probably not usually even acknowledge your existence.

The only second thoughts I am having are personal ones. I have made some great friends since I have been here in Munich. Some of them I know I will see again, some of them I will strive to take with me to my new job and some I may see again. With close friends it is easy to stay in touch, with more casual friends you tend to drift apart. Sad to say I know but fact. I believe you only make 3 or 4 real friends in your life, I mean friends who you could truly depend on and who will keep in touch. I would say I have made 1, maybe 2 of them in Munich. There are a handful of people who I would say are good friends but do not fall into the above category. I am afraid to say I will not miss many of the German people. I don't think it is the German people per se, perhaps just the Bavarians. They can be incredibly arrogant, bigoted and lazy. My parents were based in RAF Laarbruch up North on the Dutch/German border and the people there were nothing like the people here. They had fun there - here, you look around and see miserable faces, fur coats and BMWs (don't get me started on BMWs).

Finally my references are sorted out. A big thankyou to Annie who more than helped here. Cheers mate. That said I should get my contract within a few days and then I am ready to go. Need to book the tunnel, buy some new travel boxes for the bunnies and that should be that.

posted by keith @ 17:56 Comments: 3  

For anyone who has the possibility of watching British television Big Cat Diary is one of the best programs about. It started again this week for what I believe is the 3rd installment. The people doing the filming are so clearly besotted with these animals that you too become incredibly involved. Watch the 3 families of lions, cheetahs and leopards get through some fairly tight scrapes. As you would expect from animals with 9 lives they come through pretty much unscathed!!

posted by keith @ 19:30 Comments: 1  

No new year resolutions as such. I did give money for the tsunami disaster, as do I suggest everyone to - they really need it. You can do just that right here .

Back to work tomorrow. Not really looking forward to that after pretty much 2 weeks off. Oh well, I am on the wind down now! :o)

posted by keith @ 19:59 Comments: 3  

Well, it's been a while. I had a lovely Christmas. Very relaxing. Met up with some old friends as well which was great. I came back on Tuesday and then flew to the UK again on Thursday and then back again Thursday night. It was one of those 'first flight out, last flight back' days. 22 hours and very tiring. But I did achieve what I set out to do and that's find a flat. It's in Docklands, right here in fact. Very nice 2 bedroom, balcony, river view, on-suite bathroom in a new building with gym, underground parking etc. Very happy with it indeed.

Since then New Year was very quiet. Stayed home with a good friend of mine and watched a couple of movies, looked after the animals (as they really don't like fireworks and Germany turns into Beirut at New Year) and have an early night. Only had a couple (literally) of drinks so woke up nice and bright this morning.

Now, footy time!! :o)

posted by keith @ 12:44 Comments: 2