May 16 - Wrapping it up

Just thought I would throw a quick post up about my work space here at IH (international headquarters) in Woking before I head out. (and yes, I actually got my tickets today...my visas are another story).

My desk. Note the picture on the right...Franklin of course! There is a guy here who says he's ugly so I don't talk to him anymore. Plus his cat's name is rosepetal or something sissy like that so what does he know? Also note the Tim Horton's mug. A classy touch of home. Thanks Martha!

My fair team-mate (note: the American Express headset was staged and HIS idea). Check out the windows behind him. We have the best office in the building.

The new folks who moved into our space are great but I was sufficiently freaked out by this...
Seriously, how far away do I have to be to get away from Ottawa U??

All I have to say right now is GO SABRES GO simply because I will NOT be able to take the razzing should my team pull a 'Sens' in this series!

hugs to all of you...even the Sens fans.

May 15 - Ya...I know...don't say it...

I realize that my Sabres are down 3-0. Suprisingly enough I get that news here. Canada may have blown up or seperated and I wouldn't know but I am aware that 1) Tony Blair has stepped down and 2) my Sabres are getting beaten badly by the chokers!!!

Oh well. Countdown to Africa = 6 days. Amazing. Now all I need is a plane ticket and a visa. That's right, ever prepared Tina is without travel documents and within a week of her tour d'Afrique. Trying not to freak out. Really.

Tonight I am heading into town to visit with Martha and see MARY POPPINS!!! I am so super excited that my whole day of Contingency Planning for the project isn't seeming dull at all!

Just for fun here's anothe pic of the adventures of Tina and Martha on Sunday...anyone know what 'Franked Mail' is?

May 14, 2007 – MarthaG and Hockey…what could be better?

To say I was overcome with emotion when the coach containing my friend Martha pulled up at the Woking train station would be an understatement. The moment I saw the bus I realized just how much I miss home. It was so tremendous to welcome Martha to Woking!

We had a low-key day on Saturday just wandering the city and shopping for food goodies. I showed Marth the martian and the mall and…well there isn’t much else to see around here. She even got to meet the other ADPers, Laura and Houman and Laura’s bfd Bryce. We chatted and napped and made delicious dinner and watched my current favourite tv show (the search for the new Joseph on London’s West End complete with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber) and then sat through the sometimes painful Eurovision song contest. Some songs were tremendous…some were tremendously hideous. The countries perform and then the viewers vote. The trick is that you can’t vote for your own country. After hours of revealing the votes country by country Serbia took the crown. A very interesting experience and a perfect day if you ask me.

Sunday morning we got up bright and early to head into the rainy city and find Martha’s hotel. We checked her in and wandered around the city including Soho, Camden and Covent Garden. It was a lovely ‘agenda free’ day complete with fun purchases (polka dot Wellingtons for M). Our only plan was to get to the Maple Leaf bar to watch the hockey game from the night before.

The Maple Leaf was tremendous. A bar full of Canadians (Sens fans!), Canadian beers (Sleeman and Moosehead) and Canadian food (poutine and pancakes)! Carefully trying to avoid reading texts from Jay regarding the game’s outcome we cheered the Sabres on through the game and an OT period. Unfortunately I had to head back to Woking so we left after that knowing deep down that the Sens would win by one despite the first Sabres’ goal was called back (hmmm….can you say cheap?!!? and yes, I am just like Mr Ruff!).

Made it home and happily to bed. Dinner with Marth on Tuesday and then perhaps another hockey game on Saturday before I pack up for my journey to Africa…and yes, I am nervous!

May 13, 2007 – A week in reflection

My apologies for a week without a post. It’s been a busy one that included a lot of recovery from a tremendous weekend. The Road Trip bus tour was a FABULOUS experience and a great way to see an area if you are okay with regressing a bit back to university days which I was more than happy with. We got to Newquay late on Friday night and settled into our hostel, Bellushi’s. I met Laura’s friends from Australia and a learned whole boat load of new words (flick, pash, aw yeh!, etc). Thanks for a wicked weekend gals!

I’ll keep this short but if you ever go to the South-West of England do the following:

Eat a Cornish Pasty or two, three or four: Yummy dinner in a pastry pocket pronounced Past-ty rhyming with nasty but they are far from.

Go to Eden Project: It’s difficult to describe but imagine an old clay mine that was converted to a thriving gardens depicting the relationship between humans and plants. Two HUGE biomes including a Humid Tropics and a Mediterranean dome. Wow!

Hike up to the Minack Theatre: No words of photos can describe this place. An amphitheatre chiseled out of a woman’s backyard right on the coast. Up about 200 cliff-side stairs, the site of this place was breath-taking!

Although not SW Eng specific…go to a Walkabout: We spent two nights dancing the night away at this bar full of young Aussies. Tree Tousand at least! It was wicked fun and really reminding me of the old Engineering conference days. (I have photos but you'll have to ask me directly!)

The work week was motivating as we prepare for next week’s trip. Interesting calls to get office to agree to be our Pilot offices including Burkina Fasso, Ethiopia, Australia, Spain, Sweden and the US. I love my job!

Friday was Conor’s good-bye party so the ADPers headed into the city. Good times were had by all. Not nearly as fun as my many parties (thanks guys!) but a good time none the less. Now I just need a nap! (photos of this event to come!)

May 4, 2007 - I'm Off!

Well the good news is that I survived three weeks here and what do I get for it? A long weekend. :)

Laura (ADPer from Chicago also working at Plan and living in Woking who I met at our ADP training in Feb) and I have decided to play backpackers and hit the road with RoadTrip Overland Tours to the south-west coast of this jolly island.
Here's our itinerary:
Friday: Depart 18.30, Early morning Saturday(approx 1-1.30am) - arrive Newquay.
Saturday: Day of relaxation and time outOptional trip to the Eden project Optional surfing / sea fishing activity Evening BBQ and games Night on the town/sleep
Sunday: Breakfast Tour of Cornwall including;St Ives, Lands End, Penzance (St Michaels Mount)...I am the very model of a modern major general... and a finale of an open air theatre performance at the Minac (with a picnic tea provided). Late evening - Return to Newquay. Evening out/sleep.
Monday: late morning depart from accommodation - Trip to Tintagel castle, legendary birthplace of King Aurthur. Return home to London.

Sounds pretty neat and busy. Unfortunately it looks like the rain is on its way but I am sure we'll still have a ball. We've convinced Carolyn (of ACN and previous post fame) and some girls Laura met on a previous bus trip so it promises to be quite the romp.

Anyway, details on Monday with pics. Have a great weekend everyone! Miss you.

May 2 - The Plan ChildData Team

Just in case I get going on work stuff here's the break-down of my team. I'll get more photos eventually promise!

The overall team:
Susan (Woking) - Project Manager: Ex-ADPer who I worked with in Toronto. She's Canadian but has lost her 'outs' from all her time here.
Nicki (Woking) - Business Lead
Khalila (Nairobi, Kenya) - Technical Lead
Paulina (Equador) - Process/Functional Design Analyst
Nair/Ness (Mumbai, India) - Outsourced Development Team
My team:
Marte (Norway, need to figure out where) - Functional Change Co-ordinator
Nana (Freetown, SLE) - Technical Change Co-ordinator
Conor (ADPer, Woking) - Test and Training Analyst

L-R: Durba (who recently left the team but was WICKED), Susan, Nicki, Paulina, Khalila and Nair

There are other players in this crazy game including representatives from all our Sponsorship (i.e. fundraising) nations (NOs) and all of our support regions (ROs and COs) so this is truely a global team.

These folks really do rely on technology to do their jobs from Video Conference to Skype and MSN to Web-x. Sometimes connections are good and sometimes communications follow suit but they manage to get some amazing things done around here. More details on our work to come.

May 2 - Imagine being that dedicated

First, a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my MOM!!! Don't worry folks, I called her, emailed her and sent her flowers like the good daughter I am.

Second, there have been a couple of interesting things happen in this country this week. They have made me think a bit about my dedication to ... well ...anything. Take a look-see:

1. On the light side: The Kate Moss collection came out at Top Shop this week. Big deal...perhaps but it's still just RW&Co price-ranged clothes that are fit for a waif. Anyway, there were people lined up OVERNIGHT for this stuff. Seriously. That's some pretty high levels of dedication for clothes that they will make more of. Makes you wonder.


2. On the heavier side: Our office here is now adorned with a protestor who is on a hunger strike. He is disgruntled with the management here at Plan and has lost his job in a re-org. Anyway he is protesting the way Plan is handling something. Imagine being so dedicated to your work that you would go on a hunger strike. I can't. I love my work (why else would I do this crazy stuff) but if they let me go I am not sure I would think twice let alone starve myself. Makes you wonder.