Whistle while you works:

January 26th 2014

So the Flat is overlooking the ocean, its a nice 2 bedroom place, with built in dishwasher/washer dryer etc.  and not to far from the office. Its decorated and set up like something from the Ikea display flood, speaking of floors it has heated floors so its always a pleasant temperature.

The first 2 days were spent in the office for 18 hours or so, each day, then finaly today i had my only bit of free time.

I work till around 2pm today, and then decided to go for a bit of a drive in the good weather we were having. The weather here is quite fleeting, and likes to change drastically every 30 minutes or so.. I wante to drive in the sun, and daylight so i could get more practice driving on the other side of the road..  Ryan had just been coming and picking me up so far.

I felt 100% on the road this time, and drove along the sea road, heading to a point that saw on the map,it was a nice drive, not to much traffic,  and some little villages along the way,  once i arrived at the point i hiked up to the top of a rock bluff and was greeted with an amazng view.  THe Wind was howling, but it wasnt raining so it was quite nice.   From that vantage point i saw another cool bluff overlooking a different bay so i went back to the car to find my way there. 

On the way there i encountered some off those Very thin 1 car only streets, and i still dont understand who has the right of way in them. I have his fear of going into a really long one, and then meeting someone in the middle and thn what. who has to back up..   Back in Canada we have lights and sencers that manage similar type situation..  On the way to the other lookout i saw a sign that said castle.. so i headed to check out this castle...

It was  a pretty run down castle that was closed to the public.. so i walked around it looking for a way in however it was all bared up.. LAME.   So i went back to the car and headed on my way to the other lookout.

It was even windery here so i left my hat in the car and hiked up a gavelt road. Turns out it was a coast guard look out thing built into the cliff.. 

  i explored a bit more before heading back to the apartment.

Have a meeting tonight, and then Monday its back to work at the UK office. 

Dutch homeland:

Jan 23rd,

Hanging out int he Schipol Airport, its a nice airport, its a bit older but it has lots of amenities. I wen to a could stores to sample dutch cheese, then went to hunt for the pizza place that i enjoy.

Siting here eating pizza and using the limited 30 minutes of free wireless internet they let you use.. thanks Cheap Dutch people.,  cant even give away free internet in your HUGE aiport..

Well the Pizza was good.. now to go find the resting area.. and nap.  After a breif and restless 45 minute nap. I decided it wasnt worth it some old lady was snoring way to loud, and i couldnt sleep.  Then i remember that i had to get Alfredo's wife a starbucks mug for her collection so i went hunting for that,  The only starbucks was way at the one end of the airport,  but i managed to snag a cool mug, also i passed more cheese sampling stores. so thats a HUGE win, Yummy Cheese.

So it was getting close to the time for my next flight, i headed to the gate, this one is called a city hopper so its at a ghetto gate in the basement, and you have to wait for a bus, and then the plane was delayed.. so i just stared at the wall for a while until it was time to go. The Ticket checking lady told me on these small planes they dont give out the exit row seats so when i get in the plane i can just move to any one i want.. YaY.

The Snack on this plane was called Gouda Crumples.. and they were awesome i had 3 bags of the wonderful crumples and then watched the clouds go by, for a bit it seemed like it would be clear, however as we got closer to Cardiff an evil looking wall of black dark clouds was there.  So no luck.

The Planed landed i filled ou my border card thing, got a new stamp in my passport and off to the car rental.  I had told them i didnt want to have a tiny UK car cause i wanted leg room so they booked m the biggest car in that smll parking lot, a 2013 Ford Mondeo TX sports or something like that. it was dark so i didnt really look at it that close. it was diesel 6 speed..Thats cool. so i got in, giving myself lots of reminders that i was driving on the left side of the road.. i didnt want any close calls.

So far so good.. but then things went south fast, the GPS kept wanting me to turn down these roads with big white signs, that have a black line through. Back home in Good ol canada, a sign like this would have ment no entry, so i avoid the first couple ones, then finally decided that the sign must mean something else, and started to follow it, the gps liked that so i felt like i was good.

Then came the next adventure, i was on a road that was only wide enough for a single car, so i had decided to myself that the sign ment one way, or something like that.. However boy was i wrong when i came accross another car heading the opposite direction. both cars stopped and i felt like i was the fool so i should back up, however new problem, I couldnt figure out how to put it in reverse. the pressure from this other car, and lack of sleep, i just couldnt get it in reverse. luckly for me i was on a bit of a hill so the ca rolled back enough for me to let the other guy past.

So i called my buddy in the UK and asked him about the reverse thingy, it was a simple lever i didnt know about so that was solved. Drove an hour to Swansea, met up with him and ended up at the Apartment or (Flat) as the locals call it.  

Liftoff

January 22nd  2014

(I wrote this Ben) 

Liftoff.

Today as the start of a new adventure, a trip some might call it, i however call it a long week.  I got up at my usual time of 5am, made a smoothy, double checked and tripple checked that i had all my bags packed and my gear that i would need. Kissed my lovley wife good by and went outside to wait for my ride.

I was car pooling today, since i didnt want to leave my truck anywhere, and i had got Phil to come pick me up, Phil  works at my office in sales, and he is from the UK, infact his family other there live very close to the office.  As we drove to the office we talked about real estate, and traveling, it was a smooth ride. Once at the office i was bombarded with last minutes tasks that would cause me to run around all morning.

Virus infections and new documentation kept me on my toes till noon rolled around then Brook pulled up, he was my ride to the airport. We stopped for gas and i was pleasantly surprised a that the husky has pay pass at the gas pumps, thats a feature i do enjoy, but back to the story of the day. On route to the airport we made good times, we took the South fraser perimeter road, and then highway 91, once on bridge port we got stuck in stop and go traffic for 10 minutes due to some construction,  but then we were through and arrived at the final destination for this portion of the trip.  

 Grabbing my bags i headed to the KLM checkin counter to see about getting my seat changed to something with more ample leg room. The elderly stewardess that was working the counter agree'ed with my situation and went to talk to the chief Stewart that was working the flight, when she returned she informed me that they were going to change my seat however i would have to wait till i was at the gate for the info.  Since that was settled i decided to go through security because you never know how long that will take, there are lots of crazy's out there.

It however was basically uneventful, aside from the guy win front of me who had a 1L bottle of some rum in his bag wrapped in newspaper, the Asian inspector was having none of his *I didnt know the rules* crap he tried to pass on her, and he had to leave it.. Sucker.. Learn how to travel.

It was almost 2pm by this time and i was hungry, Subway seemed like teh good options so i ordered a sub, and enjoyed that while watching a TV show that interests me on my laptop.  I just chilled for a bit till it was geting closer to boarding.

Eventlyy i heard my name being called so i went to the gate and was told that they were upgrading my ticket to the economy Comfort section, which is airplane lingo for 2" of extra space, and we get to charge you $100 extra on your ticket.  However it was a free upgrade and it ment i didnt have to be in the Cattle class with the rest of the Coal shovelers.

Boarding started, and i waited till the last second to go through the gate, only to find a line in the tunnel to the plane, Canada Customs agents were doing a Fun times Q&A session with everyone that was going on the plane.. Oh Joy.   When ti was my turn the asked me how much cash i was taking over with me, and why,  Umm im traveling,  Leave me alone,  go wast someone elses time. Finally i was on my plane, There was my seat nice and empty,  on the isle with plenty of legroom, however i was sitting one row behind the 2 brown families that had babys

. Oh well at least i could stretch. 

Beside me was a larger elderly lady, who infomed me that she was going to the Czech repuplic, and she wished she lived in Toronto not Vancouver cause the flight wouldnt be as long... Cry me a river. THen i spedn the next 10 minutes showing her how to use the onboard entertainment system, and how to fold her tray out of the arm rest. for someone that travels every year you think she would know how to do these simple taskss.

Byt this point we were cursing, and i watched the movie, had a rum and Coke, and settled in. THe babys have been quiet so far, and now im 6 hours away from Holland.  So i figured i would write in the journal so my lovely wife and all my other dedicated Fans know im alive well, and living the dream.  THis will continue when i get into Holland.

Lights are dimming ITs sleep tme.

Summery, KLM is great as usual.

The food is better this time, or mabe you get better food in this area, i dont know.