Anyone in London, wanna do lunch?
So how did I go from getting a free trip to Paris with Kaj through his work to being in London by myself you might ask? For several years his company sends him to Paris and for all those years I've refused their offer as "I can't leave the animals". People thought I was crazy to pass up on offers of a free trip but I have my priorities!! Sadly during this time Kaj's mom passed before I had a chance to meet her. A few months ago, his stepmother also passed. Kaj's family is in Amsterdam. This year I decided to go as his dad once again asked if he could meet me. The undertaking to find all the appropriate people to look after the animals has been nothing short of HUGE. I took photos of all the pets, wrote writeups, visited the vet to get their health checks, made sure innoculations were all up to date, visited prison several times. (I'll explain that later). It has taken me over 2 months to make sure everyone was on board in regards to meds,care, walks...ect...Unlike previous years his work did not offer to pay for professional pet sitting due to cut backs. I had lots of offers from friends but I know stuff happens and wanted a professional company to stay in my home who were bonded and insured. They also have many staff to cover each other in case an emergency happens. There are 5 people involved looking after my pets...work load is huge. Hey I do the work of 5 people! The unexpected fee has blown our budget but it's my first vacation in 10 years and the flight was free and supposedly so was the hotel.But...... Kaj is leaving today, I leave next week. Then we find out that the place where his work activities are being held are not in a hotel as was in previous years. Instead it's being held outside of Paris in a huge private home. Egads - going all that way and having no access to the city and worse being stuck with computer geeks from all over the world. It's a fate worse than 10 visits to the dentist! What to do? I try to contact a relative in Paris and ask if I could stay with her as we are on a budget. I haven't seen her since she was 15 when she stayed at my place and don't receive a reply. Our plan originally was to stay in the "hotel" where Kaj's work activities were taking place, then head to Amsterdam to visit his relatives and then head home. It means our original flight is from Vancouver- Amsterdam- Paris and we return home the same way. Oh no! I realize I'm arriving late at night in Amsterdam, have a 4 hr layover there before a flight to Paris and now no where to stay. I'll arrive in Paris in the wee hours of the morning. That it'self isn't scary but I would have to make my way into the city as only the high end hotels offer shuttle. I want an inexpensive place but those places are only in notsosafe areas of the city and I'll be by myself. I'm also feeling a tad uncomfortable about the language barrier even tho i was born in France and understand it 100% my speaking skills are only passable as I haven't spoken the language in 10 years. Okay i'm stupid I admit, as I've been so focused on arrangements for all the pets I didn't have time to focus on me until this week. You are all probably thinking the same thing I bet!  In my defence, Kaj's work made all the arrangements in regards to our trip and I was oblivious to it as I was focused on arrangements for our home and pets. I thought I'd just hop on the plane and make my way to his hotel when I arrived.I know! I can head to London, stay in a B and B then can avoid the 4 hr layover and arrive at a decent time. I won't have to worry about language barrier and I can visit London to see the Queen. Thinking that London prices were a little less than Paris and I haven't seen London since I was 18. Besides will still have a weekend in Paris with Kaj when he finishes his work.So far so good right? When Kaj finishes his work I'll head over to Paris to meet up with him before we go to Amsterdam. The travel cost from London to Paris is the only thing I have to add but I would save on cost if comparing Paris hotel to London price. (So I think) I visit travel agent book the tickets, pay in advance for everything so that I'll feel secure that I will be picked up and have a place to stay. Whew! I use to love adventures when i was younger. I arrive home and there is an email from my relative..of course you can stay at my place.  oops too late now as I've already pre-paid for London but can do lunch with her in Paris later in the week. So I'm going to be in London for 5 days on an adventure ...anyone in the London area wanna do lunch? Lastly, (why can't life be simple?) I had applied for another job that had more hours to hopefully offset the cost of our trip. I received an excited call from HR - you were successful in your posting!! Whooo hooo! But......it starts the day after spring break and not April 10th as was mistakenly placed in the postings. Yikes! I was taking 3 additional days off and won't be home. Sigh. Ah well....Thinking of the ole antage that nothing in life is free...as my "free trip" is not so much free. LOL |
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| They won't let you start a few days late? That's horrible. I have one word (to start) about lunch... Kimmieeeeeeeeeee! Maybe you can have lunch with Carl and Steve and the whole group!  |
I hope they log on and see this and don't have to worry about some stranger wanting to stay at their place! Don't worry have that covered and paid for already so I won't be following you home. But lunch or even a meet would be nice! (I'll pay for my own too  )Ron, I raced to the school to get permission to ask the principal there if I could start later. he wasn't there but I met the staff whom I'd be working with. Of course perhaps- it's meant to be as i found out during my visit, they also made a mistake on the posting and the job is temp due to medical and not permanent. Sheesh someone in HR wasn't doing their job! If I had known all that I wouldn't have bothered posting in the first place. I'd hate to leave my job to go to a temp one which may only be until June at the latest. So in a nutshell I think after mulling it over I'm going to tell them I'm turning it down. C'est la vie as they say in French.  Marianne |
| Hello, If I had seen this sooner I would have met up. Its about 4 hours on the train but it would have been lovely to meet you. if you head up north give me a shout and we can do lunch then! Enjoy your trip |
| I don't think you're too late!!??!! |
| Hi, Nope not too late as I'll be arriving Sunday but (sleeping) due to time change and over 15 hrs of travel. However, I'll also be there Mon, Tues, Wed, Thursday, and leaving Friday morning. 4 hrs via train is a lot and it's during the week :O( Would have love to have met you but perhaps I can arrange a train trip somehow once I find my way around there. What train is it from London and would it be from Paddington station to ? Marianne |
If that had been last year, I would have met you for lunch!  I spent 10 days in London, revisiting my grad school haunts and finding old friends. London is much changed from "my day" and very expensive. Worth every penny!  Good luck!  |
| Oh Lynda! That would have been so much fun! Ah well I'll just hang out with Kate and help her with her final wedding plans.  |
Sorry marianne I thought you werehere when I answered this and things have been hectic so I haven't been on much lately!  Apologies and hope you had a good trip! |
| Hi, No problemo . I realize life gets busy and I Did have 5 days in London. Nemesis Deacon (Ru's/Roo mom) asked if I visit her after her work one day but sadly I had booked one of those cheesy tour rides around London. I enjoyed visiting the sites of the city and walked miles daily. People were impressed with my stamina but I can attribute it to daily walking of 4 dogs. Next time! Marianne |
I wish I had known sooner, would have loved to meet you & Ru wanted to give you slobbery kisses so you didn't feel homesick. Hope you enjoyed London!  x |
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