Living in London

Earlier this week we made a return visit to the London Design Museum. This time we went to see a lecture on Typography. The speaker was Matthew Carter, one of the most prominent font designers alive.

Our thanks to the Comic Sans typeface for sponsoring this post.

I haven't mentioned much about my career search lately but I continue to work diligently to find a job in this great country.

A few weeks ago the media was abuzz with the news that Google was going to digitise some of the world's largest libraries, including material from the New York Library, Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford.

It would appear that Google and Oxford have signed an agreement and are moving forward with their plans. I have been energized by a job posting I found yesterday in the London version of Craig's List. They are looking for a Manager of Business Operations, Production and Logistics to lead the conversion of the Oxford library. This position is tailor made for me and I am moving forward with an application.

The commute to Oxford will be a bit brutal but I have already researched my options. I can catch an express bus called The Oxford Tube for a reasonable rate each month. The long bus ride each day will give me plenty of time to catch up on work and stay current on my podcasts .

Wish me luck!

Someone told me that if it ever snows an inch or more in London, don’t even try to get into work. Tonight we are having our first flurries . . . I am hoping for a SNOW DAY tomorrow!

Today we visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, another great British institution that stands in close proximity to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and Royal Albert Hall. While the outside of the building is still pockmarked with damage from the attacks during the Second World War, the inside is full of exhibits that stand up to reputation as the “world's greatest museum of art and design.”

We only made it through the first floor – there is just too much to see in one trip. We were particularly impressed with the Cast Courts. These are two huge rooms filled with plaster cast replicas of all kinds of different items: columns, sculptures, tombs, friezes, building facades, and a full size replica of Michelangelo’s David. It was fascinating to see the intricate detail and looming facades. It’s a weird Gothic ambience, but one worth seeing.

Well, we have arrived home to Kensington only to find that Charles has proposed to Camilla – the second proposal in 35 years! Apparently he also proposed in 1972, but went off to the Navy or something and she married someone else. Think of all the public angst that would have been avoided (or spent on someone else) if they had married then.

Anyway, in typical British fashion, the bookmakers have been busy takings bets on the colour of Camilla’s wedding outfit.

William Hill is offering odds of 33/1 against the future Duchess of Cornwall choosing a white dress, and make cream or natural the favourite at 1/3. Pink, pale blue and yellow are offered at 6/1, 8/1, and 10/1 respectively.

Particularly brave punters can also lay money at 66/1 on
her stepping out in a patriotic mix of red white and blue on April 8.

We wish them a long and happy union, and God Save the Queen if she should choose the red, white, and blue wedding dress!

Linda is en route to San Francisco today and I leave on the 9:50 AM flight from Heathrow on Wednesday. The buyer removed all contingencies from her offer last Friday and the deal is going through.

Yes, we have sold Oakondo, our townhouse in Oakland. The market was very good to us and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. Now we must rush home and clean out our possessions. Our plan is to rent an unfurnished flat in London when our current lease expires at the end of June. Hence, most of our belongings in Oakland will be packed and stored for a few months then shipped to London this summer.

The stuff that remains (books, pictures, our Christmas tree, a few dishes, etc.) will be either stored in a Door to Door container, sold on Craig's list, or given away. The next couple of days are going to be quite busy!