Setting the Scene

In March 2009 I received a phone call from HQ asking if I would be interested in a transfer to London.  While being based in the UK I would have responsibilities for part of our Eastern European and CIS (Commonwealth Independent States or the old Soviet countries) business.  I didn't have to give it much thought and was pretty sure that my husband would share my enthusiasm.  I had always been interested in working outside of NZ/Australia, particularly in the London market and this combined with the opportunity to travel throughout Europe was extremely exciting for me.


Little did I know that saying "yes" was the easy part.  There was the interview with the regional president and HR.  Then we waited.  I was told there was planning and thinking to be done. There was a suggestion of an offer - we waited. Finally a letter of offer and the mandatory negotiations that always seem to accompany these positions.  Once that was finished the decision about how best to enter the UK, the visa process and more waiting.  It went on like this for about 8 months - our life on hold.  


We finally arrived in London about 6 weeks before Christmas and right in time for winter with headlines like "Arctic weather continues to create chaos across the UK in what some are saying is the coldest winter since 1963". For us at least it was something quite lovely.  Living outside of London meant a couple of days working from home when the trains didn't run but more particularly a beautiful winter wonderland - we are lucky enough to have the 1,000 acres of Knole Park at our door step in Sevenoaks, Kent. 

I got one trip in before the New Year - a 4 day trip to Moscow.  Then Helsinki, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw over the first two months of 2010.  I experienced -23 in Helsinki, an ice covered Danube in Budapest and the Walt Disney scene that is Prague Old Town in winter.  I was looking forward to doing it all again as it warmed up.  (If you are interested in seeing some photos visit me at kiwicorrespondent)


As an aside, you might recall that the "Global Warming Conference" was held from the 6-18th December 2009 in Copenhagen with representatives from over 170 countries.  Am I the only one asking the question - "...is it possible that all the hot air created by the politicians in Copenhagen that week upset the weather patterns so much that Europe experienced its coldest winter in recent times."    I vote that they hold a conference every year!

 

THEN, after 2 months of persistent rumours it was announced at the beginning of March that the company was to undergo major changes and amongst other things the countries I was responsible for would be rolled into a "super" region which consists of all EU countries - effectively meaning my current role would disappear.  Six months have since gone by and again life is on hold - more of a "hurry up and wait" situation while the company sorts itself out.  
It has meant that all the travel I had planned for the summer months has been put on hold so excepting for our own holidays opportunities travel into Europe have been limited. 


So in the meantime, you are likely to hear from me more about the frustrations and tedium of commuting to London than the excitement of travels through Europe.  I am unaccustomed to the daily commute having always enjoyed breaking it up with a bit of travel.  Coming up with a commuting story each day might just be the therapy I need...