Rick Rollin’ Life goes on

Home
I am happy to report the bathroom is complete, and the Kitchen is 95% complete. It looks really good, although I don't think I would put in another wooden benchtop as although it hasn't been stained or damaged yet - I am afraid it will be. And as for the last 5% - I am looking for excuses not to do the work, but I am running out! I am very proud of it, and a huge word of thanks needs to go to Corde and Abby who helps massive amounts. It went in easier then I thought and I saved about 2500 pounds by doing it myself.

I have started biking to work, it was a method of getting fit - but I have found I really enjoy it. You would hope so given I spent about a 1000 pounds on the bike. But in typical half arse English style, the roads are pretty average. They don't ever seem to be able to actually finish and road works, leaving mounds of tarmac and divots all over the road.

Crude Trader
Just in the nick of time, not a moment to soon - I got a new job. Although I loved the Gas and Power Trading role, I was starting to get a little bored and the shift work was starting to get to me a bit. So when an internal crude trading role popped up, I applied for it and got it. I started shadowing my new role a couple of months ago while still covering my old job - but actually started in a couple of weeks ago. Its not directly trading physical oil, although I will be popping in and out of physical forwards - it focuses on the derivatives around crude, mainly CFDs and DFLs. On top of that there is a lot of speculative trading which the world hates us so much for ;) I am still amazed I got the job - to the point it may be one of the last jobs I do for a long time!

I am still assembling the photos of my last couple of trips - laziness knows no bounds. But I will get them up and a quick few words about them asap. Thats last xmas (!) trip to bath, Hawaii and a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Not much planned going forward as I want to focus on my job, but with that being said - Corde is trying to rope me into another car rally across Europe through the *stans almost to China for next year.

Safari Photos

Hawaii

The main reason for the trip was to see Nigel and Arliene get married in Hawaii, but obviously we extended that to catch some rays, swim in the ocean and check out the sites. After a remarkable easy flight, we dropped into LA for a couple of nights and caught up with the majority of Abbys friends for their 'Taco Tuesday' tradition. Down to the local Mexican restaurant for some a taco and a beer - we were sitting on the roof. The weather caught everyone off guard as it was quite cold but we grabbed some thick table cloths and used them as blankets. Few brews later we were stumbling home to get ready for the flight to Hawaii the next day.

We were all staying in the same hotel as the bride and groom, so it was easy for us all to catch up in the morning at breakfast or on the beach. First couple of days we just hung out on the gorgeous beach, some people surfing, others just lapping up the sunshine but all sucking up the cocktails.

Nigel and Arliene's wedding day was ideal, sunshine and a cloudless sky. It took part in the local catholic church on the beach, and was a simple and quick wedding. I was a basic affair and I think most were keen to get back to the hotel for the reception. The food and booze flowed easily. The reception was outside in a court yard, surrounded on three sides by the hotel and on the fourth by the beach/ocean. As night feel they lite candles on each table giving us a little light - but people started to return from the beach and retire to their hotel rooms with darkness. What they didn't realize was that we could all see straight inside, so every time someone naked came near their window - a cheer would go up from the now rowdy crowd.

Over the next couple of days, we did the touristy things as required! Pearl Harbour was interesting, it is very over the top american as you could imagine. Red white and blue everywhere, flags etc. But the trip over the sunken boats was interesting and it was good to see some history to break up the lazing on the beach. Next was the Dole Pineapple Planation, and views over the coffee and banana fields.

More site seeing took in various movie/tv sets and beaches. Extinct volcanoes and sea blow holes. I really did enjoy Hawaii, as it is just what it says on the package, relaxing and calming. Afterwards, we flew back to LA to catch up with Nick and Jade before flying back to London.

Thirty by thirty

A bit of mile stone around my work is hitting thirty countries before turning thirty yourself. As of the last wee weekend away I have just clocked it up as well as 186,652 km plus or minus. Although the Western Sahara is a bit of a dodgy one and could be argued that it isn't really a country. So thats leaves roughly 163 to go, better get a move on :)

Australia Austria Cook Islands Egypt England

France Germany Netherlands Hungary Ireland

Italy Luxembourg Malaysia Mauritania Monaco

Morroco New Zealand Portugal Russia Scotland

Senegal Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland

Thailand The Gambia USA Wales Western Sahara

Where I have been Worldwide

Amsterdam

While on trading weeks, I actually get public holidays. Its a nice feeling of normality to get and be able to use holidays, So Abby and I flicked through some last minute options and decided to go to Amsterdam for Easter. In an airport ordeal only Heathrow can provide, I was happy we had only carry on luggage. A 55 minute flight took a total time of about 8 hours from house to hotel. Mental note: be prepared to pay a little more for the Eurostar in future.

Obviously known for its red light district and 'coffee' shops - I was pretty impressed with the place as a whole. Amsterdam is a stunning city, a city which was planned at every step and not just sprawling out weed through organic growth. Canal after canal and the trams make almost every street post card perfect for photos. People tell you of the bikes in Amsterdam, but you just don't understand, they are everywhere, people riding them, bikes locked up everywhere, millions of them. Shame is was snowing most of the time, would have been nice to hire some bikes bike the city.

We ended up at a mystery hotel which turned out to be a 5 start hotel in the top end of town. So it was a bout 10-15 min tram trip to the center of the city where all the excitement was. First on the list of things to do was Van Gogh’s museum. This was more for Abby’s benefit then my own as its not really my cup of tea. IT was recommended that you get there for opening, which we did and there was already a queue. 3 hours later when we came out there was an even longer queue and the museum was almost packed. It was interesting, but art is art in my eyes - either like it or not. From there we went to the Coster Diamond center.

We strolled through the red light district twice, once during the day and again late one night on the way home from going out. The B-team dominates the day time activities, and that is being nice - maybe it would be better to call them the C or D team. The narrow little streets are package with tourists, stag and hen parties and a few locals no doubt. All the girls are behind glass, looking extremely bored and half of them strung out. Not shy, people just tap on the glass, it opens, a curtain is drawn and the rest goes to your imagination. Amusing to wander around.

Other thing Amsterdam is known for is the legalized 'Coffee' houses. Which we had to take part in. In what could only be described as a Bill Clinton affair - we both don't smoke, so between coughing and not inhaling it was time to get out of the smoke filled hippy commune. We strolled the streets, checked out the flower markets, bought some bulbs for the new garden, went to the National History Museum which was a great into to the history of Amsterdam.

With a day left, we jumped on a bus to the Hauge, a miniature city, the Delft pottery factory (where I was talked into buying egg holders??!!), past some fields of flowers, some wind mills before heading back to Amsterdam for our flight back to London.

Snowboarding in Les Arc, France

It is winter again, which means its time to hit the slopes. After returning with a tan from Africa, and missing the free trips provided from brokers etc through work - I was keen to get in some snow time - having cashed out for new gear last year. A group of twelve (Abby Aaron John Josie Brett Silvia Nick Darren Heidi Ryan Lisa Nigel) of us hired out a whole chalet at les Arcs 2000 in the French Alps. Place was cozy, warm and even came with a little helper who cooked us a full breakfast each morning and a three course meal each night. Food was amazing and the free house wine was even good enough to drink this time. Was good to have a place to ourselves with pubs and clubs just a small stroll away.

Only getting up once or twice a year meant most people were at the breakfast table early and ready to go for first lifts everyday, only returning at dusk and the mountain closing. Absolutely wasted, heavy party nights were pretty limited with most opting to pass out in front of the fire, beer in hand. Mountain had a good range of runs, and we found it easy to find a challenge. Buying a helmet to protect the ole noggin - we hit the snow park a few times for some attempted air time, no comment on how that turned out. But the helmet was a good investment and gives a lot more confidence esp. when doing some of the harder black (DD) runs. Not alot eventful happend as such, but had a great week boarding, getting up everyday. There was no excuses - wind, snow or aching/cramping legs.

New Home!

It took a while, with this incompetent UK system of buying / selling houses, but I finally completed on my place. It is a 2 bedroom, through living / dining room (i.e wall between them knocked out), kitchen, bathroom - mid-terrace in London. Happily located in Zone 3 - about 6 minutes walk to the Underground, which makes it perfect for going out and for commuting to work. It has a small courtyard behind the house with room enough for a dozen people to sit, drink and munch on sausages in summertime when the BBQ is fired up!

Overall I am happy with it, but it needs a little love and attention, and I plan on pretty much redoing every surface, walls, floors, ceilings etc, needs a couple of new double glazed windows, new front door but that is all pretty easy stuff. Just time and effort.

Got the important things already, new microwave, big king bed, and of course, the full high definition 42 inch big screen tv to play the Wii on. It is a great feeling to be walking in the front door of your own home :)