Travel For FOUR

So…don’t ask why (I dont’ know why), but yesterday I craved scones. The proper British scones with clotted cream and jam. So G stopped off on his journey home and picked them up. Well. Then, as our scones were heating in the oven, I began to get all other condiments ready for them. Skipping right to the point, I unwittingly threw out the icky yellow “crust” from the clotted cream. Apparently, it’s the best part of the condiment–I committed a cardinal sin in the eyes of the British, but who knew that the fat on the top of the contents would be the good stuff….

Ahhh…growing pains.

So. We weren’t sure at the moment, but we’re now nearly certain that we saw Kelly Osbourne and her friends at the canal-side restaurant on Saturday…this would make for our first celebrity spotting!

Hey. We’re just finishing another weekend at home in London–what a great one. We had amazing weather, went out and about to do a few things we had been meaning to and took a few photos to keep you all in the know. While last weekend was very social, this weekend was more low-key with a bit of catching up to do before leaving town for Switzerland next weekend.

First, I worked on my project at Starbucks on Friday. It was nice to get out of the house because sometimes a change of scenery helps me to refocus…more than anything I leave the house sometimes in order to get away from the only distraction we have at the flat–the Internet! It worked and I was able to enter dialogues from my latest BRP interviews and also add a bit to the latest draft.

Then, Saturday G and I took a long boat cruise along London’s canal system. It was fun to take the boat up to Maidavale, stop off for drinks and nibbles and then head back again.And today, we went shopping on Long Acre, Oxford and Regent Streets to update our travel gear and to buy a couple workout outfits for my new yoga class (my first one was last Tuesday).

The best part of today? One of my latest favorites–riding the #24 double-decker from Central London to Belsize Park. Today we snagged front row seats on the upper level…we had a great view over Camden Town as we ventured home.

Click here to see other photos from the weekend… 

G and I enjoyed a gorgeous weekend in London. First, we had an amazing dinner with G’s godparents, their daughter and her husband on Friday night. The mango lassi’s (a mango smoothie) kept flowing as the plates of delicous kababs rolled out. For anyone visiting London and wanting a little Pakastani food– Lahore Kebab House, Whitechapel.

Then, Saturday we visited Primrose Hill for a picnic breakfast and to dinner with friends in Sheperd’s Bush that evening. And Sunday was equally low-key as we, again, went out to Primrose Hill to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather with a picnic. (Wow. Are we stuck in a rut, or what?).

We’ve now allocated Sundays for travel planning and reading (when we’re in town). Yesterday’s focus was on our upcoming trip to Switzerland and planning a short little trip along London’s canal system while the weather’s nice. We’re hoping for nice weather next weekend so that we can give a longboat canal trip a go…

This week, I have a couple interviews with actual ad agencies (rather than recruiters) scheduled. As these will be my first interviews in a couple years, I’m putting some effort into preparing, but realize I’ll be a bit rusty especially since I’m not used to the UK interviewing style. Crash and burn is quite possible as the UK interviewing style is quite different. I’m warming up so that when the time comes to interview for the *perfect* agency, I’ll be on fire. 🙂

For anyone thinking of following us over, here are a couple tips for your CV:

• In the UK, they like it long! Go with a 2 page version of your 1 page US CV. Flesh out details and try to provide context for the firms. Many recruiters liken working for a US firm based in the Southeast, for instance, with a multi-national European firm. It’s difficult for them to undestand the scale of American firms.
• Recruiters! Definitely the way to go here for professional-level appointments. Though the Internet was adopted later here so many firms still have a dual recruitment strategy–running ads in the local paper as well as featuring listings online.
• Don’t put something fluffy on your resume without at least 3-5 examples you can use as support during your in-person.

As of now, the plan is to find a position to begin work this Fall (October/November). Timing is difficult because G’s sister’s wedding is in Louisville on October 27. I’m not keen to start a position and take a 1 week + holiday two weeks in, but firms aren’t likely to hire in November/December. Fingers crossed I’ll find the perfect firm that will understand the need to attend the family event and, at least, allow me to take the holiday without pay…we’ll see.