AND WE'RE OFF!!!!
Its finally here!!!!
Bhutan here i come!!!!!!
Saturday, June 02, 2012
Friday, June 01, 2012
Cross Country Country
So on the flight home to SF (still love being able to say that), I finally discovered what I do on planes when I'm not working. Apparently, my at-leisure modus operandi is to listen non-stop to Country music. There it is. I said it. I finally came out as a fan of Country and Western music. I blame the "Country Boy Meets Country Girl" tape cassette that Mum bought me as my first ever album when I was growing up. I've obviously been irreversibly patterned at an irretrievably early age (it probably also explains why I'm a hopeless romantic always destined to be unlucky in love – my dating history sounds like a Dolly Parton track). Anyway, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em I say, so – as my 40th birthday year approaches – I've decided on my first of (probably) many resolutions – before my 41st birthday, I will record my first album and it'll be a country music album. I've been meaning to do it for ages, so this is the year to make it happen!
OK. You can all stop laughing now.
No. Seriously. Miranda Lambert – watch out!! I'm a'comin' to git ya!
Sarah Holloway has Left the Building....
Whooo-hooo!!! School's out for Summer!!! So FINALLY after the longest slog to the finish line, i am done. Last bit of market research and work with the client completed by 10am. Work email shut off by 10.01am. Now in the airport, fully stocked up with crap gossip magazines to keep me entertained through the flight and looking forward to NOT WORKING!!! Gotta quickly pop into the office when i get to SF to do some adminny type stuff, but then its time to fully unplug, feverishly wash, launder and pack and then GO TO BHUTAN TOMORROW!!!
Whooo-hooo!!! School's out for Summer!!! So FINALLY after the longest slog to the finish line, i am done. Last bit of market research and work with the client completed by 10am. Work email shut off by 10.01am. Now in the airport, fully stocked up with crap gossip magazines to keep me entertained through the flight and looking forward to NOT WORKING!!! Gotta quickly pop into the office when i get to SF to do some adminny type stuff, but then its time to fully unplug, feverishly wash, launder and pack and then GO TO BHUTAN TOMORROW!!!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
One pitch down, one more morning to go....
Its been a whirlwind few weeks (months actually) and its almost done. Had our huge pitch this morning here in Chicago. Pitching is like dating. You think you've done great, you had really great conversations and the chemistry felt really good - but then its all about waiting to hear. And the post-date self-analysis that starts to creep in. Did they really like us (me)? Did i answer that question well enough? WHY, OH WHY, HAVENT THEY CALLED YET??
OK, OK - we only finished the pitch about 6hrs ago, but even still. Call us, already and just give us the damn business.
So, with only time to pause for a quick celebratory Express G&T with my fellow pitch survivors, it was into the Lincoln Town Car for what turned out to be an absolutely tortuously slow car ride to downtown Chicago. Although the client was only 40miles away from the market research facility, heavy rain, construction, accidents and diversion all conspired to turn what was a 40min ride from the airport on Tues to a nearly 3hr endurance marathon. I finally got to the research facility at around 6.30pm (better late than never, right?) and enjoyed the singular pleasure that only market research can offer, of sitting in a dark room, trying simultaneously to maintain interest in the 20th person's answer to the exact same question whilst avoiding the siren lure of M&Ms and avoid ordering a slab of Godiva cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory to give me something to live for.
So thats it for today. Only kicker was my room having been cancelled at my hotel due to a technical hiccup, at the start of one of the busiest conferences in the known universe (think Bethlehem, inn, straw, manger) - fortunately for me, divine intervention came in the shape of Ben, the hunky hotel manager who managed to somehow squeeze me into a room in a fully booked hotel and thus save me from having to go back to the research facility and kip on the sofa. Hallejulah. Numbers were also duly exchanged and drinks bought and promised, so it might end well yet. So, now am in the bar enjoying a VERY WELL DESERVED gin and tonic (seeing as i am apparently severely intolerant to wine - grrr) and reflecting on what has been a crazy assed day.
Tomorrow, we start at 7.45am (huzzah!) and there is just 3hrs of work between me and my once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Bhutan and 2 weeks of counting 40 years worth of blessings. I havent had any time to really think about my holiday, so i'm sure its going to come as a bit of a surprise to find myself on a plane, on Saturday, bound for a location other than New York and not having to work throughout the flight. I. Can't. Wait.
Its been a whirlwind few weeks (months actually) and its almost done. Had our huge pitch this morning here in Chicago. Pitching is like dating. You think you've done great, you had really great conversations and the chemistry felt really good - but then its all about waiting to hear. And the post-date self-analysis that starts to creep in. Did they really like us (me)? Did i answer that question well enough? WHY, OH WHY, HAVENT THEY CALLED YET??
OK, OK - we only finished the pitch about 6hrs ago, but even still. Call us, already and just give us the damn business.
So, with only time to pause for a quick celebratory Express G&T with my fellow pitch survivors, it was into the Lincoln Town Car for what turned out to be an absolutely tortuously slow car ride to downtown Chicago. Although the client was only 40miles away from the market research facility, heavy rain, construction, accidents and diversion all conspired to turn what was a 40min ride from the airport on Tues to a nearly 3hr endurance marathon. I finally got to the research facility at around 6.30pm (better late than never, right?) and enjoyed the singular pleasure that only market research can offer, of sitting in a dark room, trying simultaneously to maintain interest in the 20th person's answer to the exact same question whilst avoiding the siren lure of M&Ms and avoid ordering a slab of Godiva cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory to give me something to live for.
So thats it for today. Only kicker was my room having been cancelled at my hotel due to a technical hiccup, at the start of one of the busiest conferences in the known universe (think Bethlehem, inn, straw, manger) - fortunately for me, divine intervention came in the shape of Ben, the hunky hotel manager who managed to somehow squeeze me into a room in a fully booked hotel and thus save me from having to go back to the research facility and kip on the sofa. Hallejulah. Numbers were also duly exchanged and drinks bought and promised, so it might end well yet. So, now am in the bar enjoying a VERY WELL DESERVED gin and tonic (seeing as i am apparently severely intolerant to wine - grrr) and reflecting on what has been a crazy assed day.
Tomorrow, we start at 7.45am (huzzah!) and there is just 3hrs of work between me and my once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Bhutan and 2 weeks of counting 40 years worth of blessings. I havent had any time to really think about my holiday, so i'm sure its going to come as a bit of a surprise to find myself on a plane, on Saturday, bound for a location other than New York and not having to work throughout the flight. I. Can't. Wait.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Since last time.....
Crikey, its been busy! I keep meaning to update this on a more regular basis, but it turns out to be a sporadic dump of whatever I can remember I've been up to the last few preceding months, rather than an uber-exciting page-turner minute by minute account of the minutiae of my life.
Which is probably a good thing.
Flying the Gastronomic Flag back in Blighty
So, to report - I have been doing a STACK LOAD of traveling over the last month or so, with much more to come in the next 6 weeks!! The biggest news recently is my surprise trip home to see the folks, piggy-backing off of a pitch in London which I'd been asked to cover at the last minute. The pitch itself was pretty intense but i'm happy with the effort we put in (despite the fact we didn't win *sigh*). It was also a lot of fun to be back in the UK for a few days - it was the longest i've been back "home" for at least 5years. I managed to fit in a long overdue trip to Marks and Sparks and spent a blissfully contented 4hrs in there, shopping away, refreshing my wardrobe, stocking up on pants (as you do) and enjoying my first cream tea in 5yrs. Scone, jam, clotted cream and properly hot cup of tea. Bloody lovely. I also did pretty well on the rest of the gastronomic front whilst I was there and managed to pack in quite a few Brit food favourites - full English brekkie (no beans, though - it was a posh one), fish and chips, a phenomenal bacon buttie so delicious that - for just a few glorious moments - you forgot just how carcinogenic bacon is, plus some kick-ass chips and garlic aioli. All extremely healthy, of course (calories don't count when you are abroad) and then supplemented, for good measure, with a KitKat and a cup of tea on the train to Stansted Airport. I did feel a little sorry for my slacker tracker trying to keep up with that lot.
Cyprus craziness!!!
After London, onto the main event - my Quadruple-Whammy "yey i got them all this time" Surprise Flash Mob trip home. Took a cab straight after the pitch to Liverpool Street, then hopped on the Stansted Express for my red-eye flight from Stansted to Ercan. Was the last flight out of the airport and was a fairly motley crew!
So i got Dad first. I'd taken a taxi from the airport so that NO-ONE KNEW!!! It was completely brilliant. I got to Villa Ten Ten around 8am, got the taxi man to drop me off round the side of the villa, hid my cases, then simply trotted round to the front door, as if i just happened to be passing! Was perfect timing cos Dad was just coming out of Ten Ten and walking across to JT and Mally's, so I just shouted out "Oi! What do you have to do to get a cup of tea around here?". Dad turned round and the look on his face was absolutely priceless. He was completely gobsmacked, as were JT and Mally! I mean - who would have expected me to just show up out of the blue at 8am on a Thursday morning?! Hee hee!!!
So then it was time to get Louise. She was actually out with Eren, having just dropped Thomas off to school. Dad phoned her up to find out what time she was coming back and to try and get her back earlier, but she sniffed a rat so Dad gave up that strategy pretty quickly. Instead, we went and sat round the back of JTs for a cup of tea and chatted, and i filled them in on my intense (and interesting!) week in London for the pitch. Then, after about an hour, Louise arrived back home, so i waited til she was inside Ten Ten 2 (everyone else was distracting Eren so he wouldnt spot me and blow my cover) and then scuttled over (in my heels, trying not to make too much noise) and plonked myself down in a chair in the kitchen. Just sitting, waiting casually like i'd just dropped by. OMG. Louise's reaction was even better than Dad's. First a look of complete incomprehension, followed by her going out of the room (she said she thought she'd lost the plot and was hallucinating!) and coming back in for a second look, before finally it dawning that it really was me, just sitting there in her kitchen, demanding tea! Her reaction and the look on her face will (and has) keep me smiling for a long time to come. So there was lots of squealing and hugging, Eren actually recognized me and said "Its Sarah!" which thrilled me no end, followed by more tea.
And then it was time for Mumsie. Loopy and Eren drove us round to Mum's and she parked up in the usual place, by the kitchen. I'd snuck out of the car a few yards earlier, so as Louise was keeping Mum occupied in the kitchen, i did a pincer movement (again, in heels, trying to be quiet) around the back to come in via the lounge. Again, as Mum was in the kitchen making coffee, I quietly slipped in and then just appeared, so that when Mum turned round from the kettle - BAM!!! There i was!! Similar reaction to Louise in terms of complete incomprehension at first - then shock (Mum dropped the sachet of cappuchino mix she was about to use - just like you see in films!) before complete delight and more hugging and WTF'ing!! And, of course, more tea followed by pressies. I had managed to bring out most of the stuff had had to leave behind in Feb, plus some additional gifts (slacker tracker, computer, various food bits and bobs), so it felt like a mini-Christmas!! So, we stayed round at Mum's for a bit, before heading back to Ten-Ten and then out and about to make the most of my short time home.
Finally, Thomas was the last victim to be Sarah'ed. He was in the kitchen having just come home from school - i had left a big stack of pressies in the kitchen on the table for him, so - as he was noticing them and saying "whats that?", i came round the corner and "Surprise!!". SSTTPOI!!! His reaction was immediate and incredibly touching - he cried out "Sarah!" and just flung his arms around me and gave me a huge hug. I think he might have choked up a bit too. So, the Quadruple Whammy was complete - well and truly mission accomplished!!
So i got Dad first. I'd taken a taxi from the airport so that NO-ONE KNEW!!! It was completely brilliant. I got to Villa Ten Ten around 8am, got the taxi man to drop me off round the side of the villa, hid my cases, then simply trotted round to the front door, as if i just happened to be passing! Was perfect timing cos Dad was just coming out of Ten Ten and walking across to JT and Mally's, so I just shouted out "Oi! What do you have to do to get a cup of tea around here?". Dad turned round and the look on his face was absolutely priceless. He was completely gobsmacked, as were JT and Mally! I mean - who would have expected me to just show up out of the blue at 8am on a Thursday morning?! Hee hee!!!
So then it was time to get Louise. She was actually out with Eren, having just dropped Thomas off to school. Dad phoned her up to find out what time she was coming back and to try and get her back earlier, but she sniffed a rat so Dad gave up that strategy pretty quickly. Instead, we went and sat round the back of JTs for a cup of tea and chatted, and i filled them in on my intense (and interesting!) week in London for the pitch. Then, after about an hour, Louise arrived back home, so i waited til she was inside Ten Ten 2 (everyone else was distracting Eren so he wouldnt spot me and blow my cover) and then scuttled over (in my heels, trying not to make too much noise) and plonked myself down in a chair in the kitchen. Just sitting, waiting casually like i'd just dropped by. OMG. Louise's reaction was even better than Dad's. First a look of complete incomprehension, followed by her going out of the room (she said she thought she'd lost the plot and was hallucinating!) and coming back in for a second look, before finally it dawning that it really was me, just sitting there in her kitchen, demanding tea! Her reaction and the look on her face will (and has) keep me smiling for a long time to come. So there was lots of squealing and hugging, Eren actually recognized me and said "Its Sarah!" which thrilled me no end, followed by more tea.
And then it was time for Mumsie. Loopy and Eren drove us round to Mum's and she parked up in the usual place, by the kitchen. I'd snuck out of the car a few yards earlier, so as Louise was keeping Mum occupied in the kitchen, i did a pincer movement (again, in heels, trying to be quiet) around the back to come in via the lounge. Again, as Mum was in the kitchen making coffee, I quietly slipped in and then just appeared, so that when Mum turned round from the kettle - BAM!!! There i was!! Similar reaction to Louise in terms of complete incomprehension at first - then shock (Mum dropped the sachet of cappuchino mix she was about to use - just like you see in films!) before complete delight and more hugging and WTF'ing!! And, of course, more tea followed by pressies. I had managed to bring out most of the stuff had had to leave behind in Feb, plus some additional gifts (slacker tracker, computer, various food bits and bobs), so it felt like a mini-Christmas!! So, we stayed round at Mum's for a bit, before heading back to Ten-Ten and then out and about to make the most of my short time home.
Finally, Thomas was the last victim to be Sarah'ed. He was in the kitchen having just come home from school - i had left a big stack of pressies in the kitchen on the table for him, so - as he was noticing them and saying "whats that?", i came round the corner and "Surprise!!". SSTTPOI!!! His reaction was immediate and incredibly touching - he cried out "Sarah!" and just flung his arms around me and gave me a huge hug. I think he might have choked up a bit too. So, the Quadruple Whammy was complete - well and truly mission accomplished!!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
New friends, awesome hikes!
Me, Lori and Jamie on an afternoon's hike in Land's End. Let the adventures begin!!
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
It was good to be back, good to be going home
So am on the plane on my way back to SF, and its been a fun few days back in NYC. For the first time being back, since I moved West, I felt vaguely nostalgic about my time in NYC and kinda missed the familiarity of everything. Wandering around the office and my old neighbourhood, I know where the Sephora is. Where the drug stores are. Paragon Sports. All within a block or two of each other. I guess its inevitable, after so much change in such a short period of time, that a little familiarity feels comforting so i'm not freaking out about it, just observing it with interest. I know that that will come with SF and its already starting to - it will just take time. I really do think i have the best of both worlds in terms of being able to come back and enjoy NYC whilst living in one of the most spectacular cities in the US.
Work-wise, I definitely did miss, this time, being part of the bigger group - it was such a luxury to be able to spend a good couple of days with my colleagues, sharing ideas, knowledge, issues and complaints. It helped me with the sense of isolation i've been feeling recently - to be back and to feel valued again. I need to figure out how better to retain this back in SF and to use my colleagues more effectively as the support network i need. It was obviously less of an issue in NYC - just seeing folk to talk to makes you feel less isolated. I do miss the camaraderie. BUT with my election to the Board of Directors of the SF Chapter of the HBA (whoo-hoo), maybe this will help feel that need too.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Frankly, a little disappointing
So, am back in NYC for a work mtg (3 days of strategery) so came straight in from the airport, dumped stuff, got changed and headed back out to meet the posse for dinner and drinks at the long-awaited WD-50. Ironic that it was somewhere I kept meaning to go the whole time I lived in NYC, but never made it, but finally get to go on a visit back! So, met up with Lisa, Stephanie & Rachel (Komal was sick) and, whilst the company was great, the food, frankly, was a little disappointing. Here's the menu we dined from - between us, we tried a range of stuff but honestly, it was just OK. For the money, it was overrated. But we did get to meet Wylie Dufresne and have a look inside the kitchen but was it worth the $120 each for that? No. But, at least its now ticked off the NYC gastronomic bucket list. Have decided that, every time I'm back, i'm going to check off one restaurant or foodie place that I didnt make it too whilst living here in NYC, so I'm still glad I went. Not quite what the Weight Watchers points for a WD 50 meal are though.....
 |
Sweet potato soup, scallop ravioli, kalamansi, hazlenut .... 18  |
Smoked cuttlefish, parsley root, fuji apple, parsley oil .... 19  |
Corned duck, rye crisp, purple mustard, horseradish cream .... 16  |
Eggs benedict .... 17  |
Cold fried chicken, buttermilk-ricotta, tabasco, caviar .... 20  |
Aerated foie, pickled beet, mashad plum, brioche .... 20  |
Peekytoe crab roll, salt ‘n vinegar chips, celery mayonnaise .... 18  |
Bay scallops, cauliflower, caper, preserved lemon .... 21  |
 |
Mediterranean bass, artichoke, forbidden rice, white chocolate-green olive .... 34  |
Duck breast, black sesame dumplings, red cabbage, parsnip consommé .... 33  |
Wagyu chuck steak, black-eyed peas, fig, rutabaga .... 37  |
Dusting off and plugging in!
So, i thought it was about high time I dusted this old blog off again and started capturing my adventures since my move to San Francisco. After literally years of effort and persistence with no luck, things just fell into place in the easiest possible fashion when I was offered the chance to transfer with Sudler back in August out to our West Coast office. Talk about providence! So, of course, I leapt at the chance and so moved out here last August. Since then, its been a whirlwind of moving, buying, settling in and resettling in, but now i'm in my fantastic place in King Street and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, so its now time to start chronicling my adventures again!!
As a very condensed potted recap of some of the stuff I've been up to so far:
Lived in One Hawthorne for a month in corporate housing
Rented 3 months Noe Valley in Daniela's old house
Bought my place on King Street
Joined Urban diversion, a local social club
Ski-share in Tahoe (to date, only been once so far!) and bought first ever set of skis, boots and poles
Camping in Costa Noa
Murder mystery dinner party
House cooling party in Noe
Joined Costco
Bought a car!! A Chevy Equinox
Trampolining at House of Air
Dinosaur date night at Academy of Sciences Museum with dino burlesque!
Maharaja exhibit at Asian Art museum
Sunset sail under Golden gate bridge
Ghiradelli chocolate festival (cop's number!)
BBQ cooking class one summer Sunday, where all the dudes hang out
Singing lesson at Blue Bear School of Music
Multiple bad and not-so-bad dates
Helicopter ride under and over Golden Gate bridge with Thomas
Segway ride through town
Duck Tour where got to steer the boat out in the bay near AT&T Park
Team building baseball game
Ross with Mum
Jeremy's with Ashley
Talk on particle physics at the Jewish museum
Houdini exhibit
Am sure there is stuff i've forgotten but am going to start keeping better track now, especially with some fun travel coming up!! Next trip is to Joshua Tree next month, then a food truck tour in Portland and THEN my once-in-a-lifetime amazing luxury trip to Bhutan for 2 weeks for my 40th birthday. Its going to be absolutely spectacular and I can't wait!!!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
39 and feeling fine!!
Birthday yesterday - the last one before the Big One. Fortunately mid-life crisis averted by the decision to accept the offer to move with Sudler & Hennessey to San Francisco!! When I go is up to me, but I'm thinking to move out around end of July - so about 6 weeks to get everything sorted out!! Fortunately Mum and Thomsk are coming out in a couple of weeks, so they will be here to help me with the move to! So, lots to do and to think about - its gonna be exciting!!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Day 3 – White water rafting on horseback
Had a nice relaxed morning this morning – got up around 9.30am and headed down to the gym to do my stint on the treadmill. Got back up to the room, showered and treated myself to a room service breakfast of hot oatmeal, fruit and banana bread – yummy!! Then it was time to get my cowgirl on, so on came the boots, jeans and check shirt (alas, I had to leave my cowboy hat at home as I didn’t have enough room in my luggage!) and head on over to the Warner Stables for my 5hr back country trail ride. The weather had been looking fairly murky and threatening all morning and, by the time I got to the stables, was a full-on rain!! Ugh!! Got there by 12.30pm as instructed, ahead of a 1pm start – however, it was just me on the trail ride so needless to say the checking in process didn’t take very long!! One of the wranglers took pity on me (or maybe was trying to chat me up?!) and offered to lend me his slicker (no rude jokes, thanks very much) – which I absolutely accepted (all I would have needed would have been my cowboy hat to really have looked the part!). Then it was time to meet Vince, my guide for the ride and Flash, my trusty steed. I soon learnt that Flash was a complete misnomer as there was nothing speedy about my horse – he would lumber along at the slowest walk imaginable, then break into a short trot to catch up with the Vince’s horse in front! After five hours of that, certain parts of my anatomy were feeling a little saddle-sore!!!
So the route we were taking was around the base of Mt.Rundle, through the Spray Valley along the banks of the Spray River. It was fun to be on horseback again (its been a while) but everytime I do these walking treks, I re-realize that I actually like to go quite fast and, after a bit, just walking can be a bit dull! But the scenery was absolutely stunning (although, if truth be told, after a couple of hours of just walking through pine forest, it did get a teeny-weeny bit boring!). Fortunately, to spice things up a little, we embarked on a little equine river rafting as we dropped down from the forest trail right to the side of the river and proceeded to cross and re-cross at seemingly random intervals. All good fun, though, as you sat perched on the top of your horse wondering how good his footing was or if he was one of the clumsy ones!! Fortunately, both for my uninsured arse and also my camera kit, my horse had his wits about him and didn’t dump me off into the river – I’m not sure how happy they were about this turn of events, though, as the water looked pretty bloody chilly!!
After about 2.5hrs of trekking and wading, we stopped for a rest break and a cereal bar in a meadowy bit, before turning round and basically heading back the way we came. This was the first tour that Vince had done for a while so I don’t think he quite got his times worked out cos I think the last hour of the ride definitely felt like “let’s just wander around for a bit so I don’t get back to the stables too early!”. It was fun, though, as we rode past some cool waterfalls and also in the grounds of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (so now I can say I’ve been there and can tick it off the 1000 Places to see before I Die list!) – all the little kids we passed were very excited to see horses, so I did feel a bit of a rock star as I waved and said hello to my adoring public!
So, got back to the stables at quarter to six and decided to head straight into town for dinner as the evening was lovely and sunny, so I thought I’d find a terrace or rooftop bar where I could enjoy the sunshine in a well-ventilated area (ie that wouldn’t mind me reeking of horses!). At the recommendation of the taxi driver, I went back to the Elk and Oarsman, but unfortunately their roofbar wasn’t open, so I eventually ended up in a place called Saltlik instead. Had to try the Alberta beef, so I had a steak and baked potato and it was yummy! Started off outside but moved in cos it got pretty cold pretty quickly (and also started raining too!). Got back to the hotel around half eight and just chilled out in my room, reading and watching a bit of telly before turning in around 10pm. Tomorrow’s adventure is a hike around Lake Louise – need to be up reasonably early to pack ready for my transfer at 8.45am.
Had a nice relaxed morning this morning – got up around 9.30am and headed down to the gym to do my stint on the treadmill. Got back up to the room, showered and treated myself to a room service breakfast of hot oatmeal, fruit and banana bread – yummy!! Then it was time to get my cowgirl on, so on came the boots, jeans and check shirt (alas, I had to leave my cowboy hat at home as I didn’t have enough room in my luggage!) and head on over to the Warner Stables for my 5hr back country trail ride. The weather had been looking fairly murky and threatening all morning and, by the time I got to the stables, was a full-on rain!! Ugh!! Got there by 12.30pm as instructed, ahead of a 1pm start – however, it was just me on the trail ride so needless to say the checking in process didn’t take very long!! One of the wranglers took pity on me (or maybe was trying to chat me up?!) and offered to lend me his slicker (no rude jokes, thanks very much) – which I absolutely accepted (all I would have needed would have been my cowboy hat to really have looked the part!). Then it was time to meet Vince, my guide for the ride and Flash, my trusty steed. I soon learnt that Flash was a complete misnomer as there was nothing speedy about my horse – he would lumber along at the slowest walk imaginable, then break into a short trot to catch up with the Vince’s horse in front! After five hours of that, certain parts of my anatomy were feeling a little saddle-sore!!!
So the route we were taking was around the base of Mt.Rundle, through the Spray Valley along the banks of the Spray River. It was fun to be on horseback again (its been a while) but everytime I do these walking treks, I re-realize that I actually like to go quite fast and, after a bit, just walking can be a bit dull! But the scenery was absolutely stunning (although, if truth be told, after a couple of hours of just walking through pine forest, it did get a teeny-weeny bit boring!). Fortunately, to spice things up a little, we embarked on a little equine river rafting as we dropped down from the forest trail right to the side of the river and proceeded to cross and re-cross at seemingly random intervals. All good fun, though, as you sat perched on the top of your horse wondering how good his footing was or if he was one of the clumsy ones!! Fortunately, both for my uninsured arse and also my camera kit, my horse had his wits about him and didn’t dump me off into the river – I’m not sure how happy they were about this turn of events, though, as the water looked pretty bloody chilly!!
After about 2.5hrs of trekking and wading, we stopped for a rest break and a cereal bar in a meadowy bit, before turning round and basically heading back the way we came. This was the first tour that Vince had done for a while so I don’t think he quite got his times worked out cos I think the last hour of the ride definitely felt like “let’s just wander around for a bit so I don’t get back to the stables too early!”. It was fun, though, as we rode past some cool waterfalls and also in the grounds of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (so now I can say I’ve been there and can tick it off the 1000 Places to see before I Die list!) – all the little kids we passed were very excited to see horses, so I did feel a bit of a rock star as I waved and said hello to my adoring public!
So, got back to the stables at quarter to six and decided to head straight into town for dinner as the evening was lovely and sunny, so I thought I’d find a terrace or rooftop bar where I could enjoy the sunshine in a well-ventilated area (ie that wouldn’t mind me reeking of horses!). At the recommendation of the taxi driver, I went back to the Elk and Oarsman, but unfortunately their roofbar wasn’t open, so I eventually ended up in a place called Saltlik instead. Had to try the Alberta beef, so I had a steak and baked potato and it was yummy! Started off outside but moved in cos it got pretty cold pretty quickly (and also started raining too!). Got back to the hotel around half eight and just chilled out in my room, reading and watching a bit of telly before turning in around 10pm. Tomorrow’s adventure is a hike around Lake Louise – need to be up reasonably early to pack ready for my transfer at 8.45am.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Day 2, Part Bleugggh: The Revenge of the Chocolate Turtle
Oh dear. I think the post-prandial chocolate almond bark and caramel square put me over the top and sent me spinning into a calorie coma. I got the bus back to the hotel, got up to my room and promptly crashed out for 2hrs! My poor little tummy was not very happy with me, so I thought sleeping it off was probably the best strategy. I did feel better when I woke up and – true to my word – I headed down to the gym and got my lardy arse onto the treadmill, stat! Plugged in my “You on A Walk” and started to undo some of the astronomic gastronomic damage from earlier! After a good half hour’s fast walk, I felt much better and sufficiently invigorated to do an hour’s weights. Did enough to make both my arms and legs shake, so thought that was probably good enough (I am on holiday after all!), then went for a quick wander outside – it was so quiet (especially after Bat Out of Hell blasting full volume on my earphones!) but again, quite chilly, so I only stayed out for a few minutes before scuttling back in for warmth. Back to the room, to shower and get Malandrino-ed up for dinner. Had the Weather Channel on in the room whilst I got dressed – they have very entertaining weather reports here in Canada! I loved the weather advisory about the hail “the size of nickels” as well as all the crazy names of arse-end of nowhere places that make you wonder just how they came to be named as such (Pickle Lake, anyone?!). I had to say I felt a little sorry for poor old Saskatchewan with its 100mm of rain. That sounds like a shed load of wet to me!!!
Anyway, am now back down in the Larkspur lounge, listening to a different pianist tinkling the ivories this evening (I’m still one of the youngest people here!). It is a bit weird sitting here in the bar on my own writing my travel blog on my PC (I’m pretending I’m a journalist working for a Sunday newspaper lifestyle column), but nobody gives a shit and its better than a pack of Marlboro Light to keep me company. Tonight’s tipple of choice is a Raspberry martini concoction, made with frangelico, raspberry vodka and white Godiva liqueur – it’s a bit weird, but the barman was really keen for me to try it, so I don’t want to hurt his feelings and tell him I didn’t really like it!! After chatting with the barman, I can now confirm that the Aussies are, in fact, in total control of Banff and that they are in cahoots with the Scots. I think I’ve met about 3 Canadians in total since I’ve been here! I’m really looking forward to tomorrow as I’m going riding for 5hrs – should see some stunning scenery and hopefully get some good pics. Hopefully won’t fall off!! (especially as I forgot to buy travel insurance - oops!)
Oh dear. I think the post-prandial chocolate almond bark and caramel square put me over the top and sent me spinning into a calorie coma. I got the bus back to the hotel, got up to my room and promptly crashed out for 2hrs! My poor little tummy was not very happy with me, so I thought sleeping it off was probably the best strategy. I did feel better when I woke up and – true to my word – I headed down to the gym and got my lardy arse onto the treadmill, stat! Plugged in my “You on A Walk” and started to undo some of the astronomic gastronomic damage from earlier! After a good half hour’s fast walk, I felt much better and sufficiently invigorated to do an hour’s weights. Did enough to make both my arms and legs shake, so thought that was probably good enough (I am on holiday after all!), then went for a quick wander outside – it was so quiet (especially after Bat Out of Hell blasting full volume on my earphones!) but again, quite chilly, so I only stayed out for a few minutes before scuttling back in for warmth. Back to the room, to shower and get Malandrino-ed up for dinner. Had the Weather Channel on in the room whilst I got dressed – they have very entertaining weather reports here in Canada! I loved the weather advisory about the hail “the size of nickels” as well as all the crazy names of arse-end of nowhere places that make you wonder just how they came to be named as such (Pickle Lake, anyone?!). I had to say I felt a little sorry for poor old Saskatchewan with its 100mm of rain. That sounds like a shed load of wet to me!!!
Anyway, am now back down in the Larkspur lounge, listening to a different pianist tinkling the ivories this evening (I’m still one of the youngest people here!). It is a bit weird sitting here in the bar on my own writing my travel blog on my PC (I’m pretending I’m a journalist working for a Sunday newspaper lifestyle column), but nobody gives a shit and its better than a pack of Marlboro Light to keep me company. Tonight’s tipple of choice is a Raspberry martini concoction, made with frangelico, raspberry vodka and white Godiva liqueur – it’s a bit weird, but the barman was really keen for me to try it, so I don’t want to hurt his feelings and tell him I didn’t really like it!! After chatting with the barman, I can now confirm that the Aussies are, in fact, in total control of Banff and that they are in cahoots with the Scots. I think I’ve met about 3 Canadians in total since I’ve been here! I’m really looking forward to tomorrow as I’m going riding for 5hrs – should see some stunning scenery and hopefully get some good pics. Hopefully won’t fall off!! (especially as I forgot to buy travel insurance - oops!)
Day 2: Bumming around Banff
Ah, luxury. For the first time in ages, I was not woken by the sound of my Blackberry alarm shrieking at me but instead took my own sweet time to come to. Bliss!! Had a pretty decent night’s sleep – no dreams about franchise optimization or forecast models so hopefully that’s a good sign that I’m leaving behind the stresses of my work life! Getting up, I pulled back the curtains and was greeted by that most glorious of sights – sunshine and clear skies!!!! Obviously my call in to the God of Spontaneous Wildlife Spotting last night also managed to connect with the God of Clear Blue Skies for Decent Photography as it was a beautiful morning! I hadn’t made any definite plans for how to spend the day but the weather made my decision for me, as it was too good an opportunity to waste and almost demanded that I take the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, stat!! So, I took a quick shower, got dressed in some reasonably sensible walking gear, packed the camera and lenses, slung my tripod over my shoulder and headed out for my first morning at large in the Rockies!! By sheer happy happenstance, my hotel The Rimrock Resort, was a 5min walk from the base of the Gondala, so it was perfect!!! Not even I could get lost!! Walking the short walk along the road up to the base, I got my first real taste of being outside and the full spectacle of the mountains and the amazing scenery. I stopped to take some pics (the first use of the rented wide-angle – huzzah!) but even the best picture is a poor facsimile of just how deeply impressive the views are here.
So I got to the gondola place and went inside to get my ticket. Now, its not often – even in New York – that you see a Starbucks staffed by a stuffed grizzly bear. But that’s the joy of being in the Rockies! So I had to stop and pay homage first to the Bear and buy a beary coffee before getting on the gondola. Got my ticket with a minimal wait, then 5mins later I was up, up and away in my own little private gondola, trundling up the mountains with the full panorama unfolding beneath me. I first got a brilliant view of my hotel then, as I climbed higher, the full Bow Valley with the castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs visible in the distance. Simply breathtaking.
After about 7-8mims, I got to the top and hopped off (weirdly, the whole Gondala set-up seems to be staffed by Australians) and walked out onto the wraparound viewing balcony. Holy shit. It was bloody FREEZING!!!! It might appear sunny but bugger me if it wasn’t as cold as hell!! The main bits that suffered were my poor hands which instantly froze cos I’d forgotten my gloves – matters really weren’t helped by my lugging around my photo tripod – the carbon fibre legs instantly sucked all warmth out of my fingers! So, I wandered around for about 20mins, taking pics whilst watching for frostbite, before deciding that enough was enough and heading inside, to the sanctuary of the restaurant and a very welcome cup of black coffee. Here’s where the first Sarah Clumsiness Index seemed to make a triumphant return after a long absence, as I managed to walk into the door, drop my coffee cup and twat myself in the mouth with my tripod all in one easy, fluid motion. I blame a complete lack of co-ordination brought on by partial deep freezing of my prefrontal motor cortex – my body was just an innocent by-stander. I think the Japanese tourist behind me was probably just as shocked as me – I dazedly scuttled off to the café to recover both sensation and dignity. 30mins, a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll later, I was feeling much better – also credited to the restorative effect of gazing out at the mountains and thinking mildly esoteric existential thoughts for probably longer than is healthy. So, enough of that bollocks and time to head back down the mountain. As the gondola car pulled into the base station, I realized just how fortuitous my decision to come early had been – where just a hour and a half earlier, I’d waltzed in to the station, bought my ticket and hopped on within 10mins, now there was an ENORMOUS queue that snaked out of the station and wound all the way round the back, so WOOHOO-HOOOO for avoiding that one!! I reckon it was probably at least a 40min wait – and it still really wasn’t all that warm, so it would have been a right pain in the arse! The car park was also stuffed full so I felt suitably smug as I walked the short walk back to the hotel, thinking “YEAH! Been there, done THAT already!!”.
So, back in the hotel, I made a couple of calls to confirm my trips over the next couple of days (tomorrow’s adventure is a horse ride through the Valley), dump my digitally-challenging tripod and catch the complimentary bus into town. I had a good wander round town, with the obligatory stops in the gift shops, before settling in to the Elk and Oarsman pub for lunch, which consisted of a pint (or two) of perfectly chilled cider and a plate of beer battered haddock and chips. Only felt a mild twinge of guilt (sorry, Lacey!) as I’ve made an agreement with myself that I’ll be spending this evening in the gym burning it all off again! Which is where I’m at right now as I write this. I’m off next to go and find the free internet café, perhaps a coffee or the chocolate shop. Toying with the idea of buying some gloves, but I can’t quite bring myself to spend $40 on a pair that I already have at home!! So my hiking socks might just find themselves employed for another use tomorrow on my ride….. After finishing my shopping (have to get a mug for Mum), then I think I’ll head back to the hotel for a quick snooze (ah – such luxury) before heading down to the fitness centre and spa before dinner this evening. So far, so good!!
Ah, luxury. For the first time in ages, I was not woken by the sound of my Blackberry alarm shrieking at me but instead took my own sweet time to come to. Bliss!! Had a pretty decent night’s sleep – no dreams about franchise optimization or forecast models so hopefully that’s a good sign that I’m leaving behind the stresses of my work life! Getting up, I pulled back the curtains and was greeted by that most glorious of sights – sunshine and clear skies!!!! Obviously my call in to the God of Spontaneous Wildlife Spotting last night also managed to connect with the God of Clear Blue Skies for Decent Photography as it was a beautiful morning! I hadn’t made any definite plans for how to spend the day but the weather made my decision for me, as it was too good an opportunity to waste and almost demanded that I take the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, stat!! So, I took a quick shower, got dressed in some reasonably sensible walking gear, packed the camera and lenses, slung my tripod over my shoulder and headed out for my first morning at large in the Rockies!! By sheer happy happenstance, my hotel The Rimrock Resort, was a 5min walk from the base of the Gondala, so it was perfect!!! Not even I could get lost!! Walking the short walk along the road up to the base, I got my first real taste of being outside and the full spectacle of the mountains and the amazing scenery. I stopped to take some pics (the first use of the rented wide-angle – huzzah!) but even the best picture is a poor facsimile of just how deeply impressive the views are here.
So I got to the gondola place and went inside to get my ticket. Now, its not often – even in New York – that you see a Starbucks staffed by a stuffed grizzly bear. But that’s the joy of being in the Rockies! So I had to stop and pay homage first to the Bear and buy a beary coffee before getting on the gondola. Got my ticket with a minimal wait, then 5mins later I was up, up and away in my own little private gondola, trundling up the mountains with the full panorama unfolding beneath me. I first got a brilliant view of my hotel then, as I climbed higher, the full Bow Valley with the castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs visible in the distance. Simply breathtaking.
After about 7-8mims, I got to the top and hopped off (weirdly, the whole Gondala set-up seems to be staffed by Australians) and walked out onto the wraparound viewing balcony. Holy shit. It was bloody FREEZING!!!! It might appear sunny but bugger me if it wasn’t as cold as hell!! The main bits that suffered were my poor hands which instantly froze cos I’d forgotten my gloves – matters really weren’t helped by my lugging around my photo tripod – the carbon fibre legs instantly sucked all warmth out of my fingers! So, I wandered around for about 20mins, taking pics whilst watching for frostbite, before deciding that enough was enough and heading inside, to the sanctuary of the restaurant and a very welcome cup of black coffee. Here’s where the first Sarah Clumsiness Index seemed to make a triumphant return after a long absence, as I managed to walk into the door, drop my coffee cup and twat myself in the mouth with my tripod all in one easy, fluid motion. I blame a complete lack of co-ordination brought on by partial deep freezing of my prefrontal motor cortex – my body was just an innocent by-stander. I think the Japanese tourist behind me was probably just as shocked as me – I dazedly scuttled off to the café to recover both sensation and dignity. 30mins, a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll later, I was feeling much better – also credited to the restorative effect of gazing out at the mountains and thinking mildly esoteric existential thoughts for probably longer than is healthy. So, enough of that bollocks and time to head back down the mountain. As the gondola car pulled into the base station, I realized just how fortuitous my decision to come early had been – where just a hour and a half earlier, I’d waltzed in to the station, bought my ticket and hopped on within 10mins, now there was an ENORMOUS queue that snaked out of the station and wound all the way round the back, so WOOHOO-HOOOO for avoiding that one!! I reckon it was probably at least a 40min wait – and it still really wasn’t all that warm, so it would have been a right pain in the arse! The car park was also stuffed full so I felt suitably smug as I walked the short walk back to the hotel, thinking “YEAH! Been there, done THAT already!!”.
So, back in the hotel, I made a couple of calls to confirm my trips over the next couple of days (tomorrow’s adventure is a horse ride through the Valley), dump my digitally-challenging tripod and catch the complimentary bus into town. I had a good wander round town, with the obligatory stops in the gift shops, before settling in to the Elk and Oarsman pub for lunch, which consisted of a pint (or two) of perfectly chilled cider and a plate of beer battered haddock and chips. Only felt a mild twinge of guilt (sorry, Lacey!) as I’ve made an agreement with myself that I’ll be spending this evening in the gym burning it all off again! Which is where I’m at right now as I write this. I’m off next to go and find the free internet café, perhaps a coffee or the chocolate shop. Toying with the idea of buying some gloves, but I can’t quite bring myself to spend $40 on a pair that I already have at home!! So my hiking socks might just find themselves employed for another use tomorrow on my ride….. After finishing my shopping (have to get a mug for Mum), then I think I’ll head back to the hotel for a quick snooze (ah – such luxury) before heading down to the fitness centre and spa before dinner this evening. So far, so good!!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Day 1: Rocking the Rockies – NYC to Calgary to Banff
I now find myself faced with the biggest decision of the day –Espresso Martini or the Coco Martini? Am sitting in the Larkspur Lounge at the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, gazing out of the floor to ceiling windows at the majestic Rocky Mountains and thinking that, all in all, life is pretty good. There’s the obligatory pianist tinkling the ivories (I think I’ve lowered the average age in the bar by a good 20yrs or so) and the whole place has a mildly Art Deco, Rennie Mackintoshian feel. Possibly linked to that is that the place seems to be somewhat overrun by Glaswegians (maybe it’s a mountain thing) – one of them is currently leaning against the back of my leather wingback chair, moaning about her daughter and some ruckus at a recent family wedding, so fairly standard really.
I now find myself faced with the biggest decision of the day –Espresso Martini or the Coco Martini? Am sitting in the Larkspur Lounge at the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, gazing out of the floor to ceiling windows at the majestic Rocky Mountains and thinking that, all in all, life is pretty good. There’s the obligatory pianist tinkling the ivories (I think I’ve lowered the average age in the bar by a good 20yrs or so) and the whole place has a mildly Art Deco, Rennie Mackintoshian feel. Possibly linked to that is that the place seems to be somewhat overrun by Glaswegians (maybe it’s a mountain thing) – one of them is currently leaning against the back of my leather wingback chair, moaning about her daughter and some ruckus at a recent family wedding, so fairly standard really.
The journey here was pretty smooth, if a little long. The day seemed to naturally break into 2.5 hr increments today – up at 7am to leave the house by 8.15am to get to Newark. Cabbie didn’t give me the usual amount of attitude today that a request to go to Newark airport usually seems to generate, so that was good. He was also awake enough on leaving the turnpike, taking the exit to Newark, to avoid a crazy-assed driver actually coming the wrong way! Obviously an accident-in-waiting - fortunately today was not my day for my number to be up!
Had a couple of hours to kill at the airport, so hung out in the Northwest lounge for a bit, then went and had an omelette in a restaurant that must have been made from freshly laid eggs hand-collected from hens in Devon, the length of time it took to arrive! Got chatting to a couple of pilots whilst waiting at the gate – they’d also been in the same restaurant but had given up and left when all the waitstaff seemed to get distracted in participating in a noisy, protracted kitchen argument, fully audible to all us starving customers waiting on our orders outside!
The first leg of the trip was a 2h 15min flight from NYC to Minneapolis – it was fine, suitably non-bumpy for a change (hurrah!) although I’d been assigned a window seat, so had to keep disturbing the chap on the aisle when I needed to use the loo (which I hate doing, btw – a product of my English heritage of not wishing to cause a fuss!). At Minneapolis, had to get off the plane for about 20mins, then tromp back on and reclaim the same seat, this time minus the passenger next to me, so unimpeded aisle access!! Huzzah!!
Another 2 and a half hour flight and several mini-bags of honey-roasted peanuts later, and we were landing in Calgary. Coming in to land, I was struck by a couple of things – one, just how insanely green everything was and two, the super abundance of improbably fluffy and exuberant white clouds that enveloped the whole landscape. It reminded me of Patagonia and especially those days in Torres del Paine spent gazing at the distant mountains, wreathed in cloud, wishing for it to clear to reveal the rugged beauty hidden underneath. Fingers crossed I get at least a little bit of clear skies whilst I’m here (I don’t want to have rented that wide-angled lens for nought!). My bags were so quick off the plane, I think they must have taken an earlier flight, so I was out through customs and the baggage hall in no time at all – then it was time for another 2.5hr chunk, this time in waiting for my transfer from Calgary to Banff. After a quick mosey through the shopping mall (I decided it wasn’t quite time yet to buy a carved marble bear or some native American art), I did what everyone ends up doing with protracted waits in airports – eating mediocre food in the Food Court and realizing that Canadian dollars don’t seem to go as far as they once used to! (I’ve just realized that staying in nice hotels has a consequence on the wallet when you’re staying on your own dime, not on a corporate card ie suddenly you notice that breakfast costs you $15 for a cup of tea and a slice of toast!!!).
Finally, it was time to meet the guy for my transfer to Banff – this time, slightly less than a 2hr drive – I had the mini-bus pretty much to myself as there was only 1 other passenger. The scenery got steadily more and more spectacular as we left Calgary (which took bloody ages as it’s a big sprawling place, bigger in sq ft terms than New York despite only having a million inhabitants) – even though dusk was falling as we drew nearer to Banff, it was still light enough to be awed by the amazing landscape. For some bizarre reason, the Rockies remind me of tree-covered chunks of Toblerone, with bare capped tops and verdant slopes. Maybe that finger of Twix I had on the plane triggered some latent chocolate longing. About an hour in to the drive, it was WILDLIFE ALERT!! My first spot of native flora and fauna – a deer skipping around in the forest that ran alongside the road – hopefully a sign of lots of beasty sightings to come! Justified all the myriad of exotic wildlife warning signs by the roadside. A short prayer to the god of spontaneous animal spotting – please let me see a bear! After five and a half years of living in a continent apparently thronging with the furry buggers, I still haven’t seen one yet – if I don’t see one on this trip, then potential drastic action is called for (ie an excuse to go to Denali National Park in Alaska for salmon season!).
Btw, I’ve just changed the time setting on my Blackberry (very very happily not checking email as I did so) and I love the way the time zone is called Mountain Time out here – it sounds so much more evocative and appealing than boring old Eastern Time.
So, now the martini (Espresso won out, btw) has now been replaced by a rather nice glass of Cabernet Shiraz and I’m very much looking forward to the next 9 days and the opportunity to simply sit back, relax and reflect on what’s been a whirlwind 5 months. Time to think and to process one of the most significant changes to have happened to my life for the last 11yrs (even moving to NYC felt less of a significant change than the one I’ve recently undertaken) and to take stock mentally of where I am right now and what might be next. I’m not looking to make any decisions but simply to recast my future thinking given that I actually did what I’d spent the last 3yrs thinking about doing (ie leaving Pfizer). Being at Pfizer was such a huge part of who I was for so long, I guess I’m in the process of carving out a new identity and finding a new place for myself in this brave new world I’ve catapulted myself into! Well, I did say I wanted a change!!! Its true what they say - be careful what you wish for!
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