2 members of my team decided to take a year off work to follow up with some of their dreams.
Joris is starting an MBA in September and Eugenie will study and travel the world to understand how technologies can empower women with her Little Miss Plugged In project.
Joris left last Thursday and Eugenie's last day was today. While I'm happy to see them taking a leave of absence and explore new horizons, it's sad to see them going. Team will certainly miss them.
So guys, good luck with your projects and see you soon!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
1 day trip?
Today I'm going to Geneva for some meetings. I'm doing it as a one day trip, i.e. leave the morning and come back the evening. Why spend the night over when I don't need it?
This said, our new travel agency at work, decided that 1 day was not enough and moved my return flight to Aug 19th!!!! I discovered it when I arrived at the airport trying to check in both flights.
The confirmation email was saying Aug 10th, but the ticket issued last night said Aug 19th. Quid?
Luckily I could change my return to tonight, but what kind of travel agency is that? How hard is it to book on the requested dates?
Given this unpleasant surprise with my first booking with them, I fear the worse for complex trips.
This said, our new travel agency at work, decided that 1 day was not enough and moved my return flight to Aug 19th!!!! I discovered it when I arrived at the airport trying to check in both flights.
The confirmation email was saying Aug 10th, but the ticket issued last night said Aug 19th. Quid?
Luckily I could change my return to tonight, but what kind of travel agency is that? How hard is it to book on the requested dates?
Given this unpleasant surprise with my first booking with them, I fear the worse for complex trips.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Packing nightmare
I realized in the past couple of days that the weather in California is not as sunny and warm as I thought. Naively or cheated by all the Hollywood movies, I assumed that California was a weather paradise.
Based on the latest weather forecast, for this trip, I will have to pack:
- Sweaters for San Francisco... cooler than Brest but sunny
- Short and sleeves-less T-shirts for Las Vegas, maybe even a swimming-suit
- Trousers and T-shirts for Los Angeles
- Flees jacket and coat for Yosemite as in September it might snow and even if it's warm/hot during the day, temperatures drop at night.
In a nutshell, or actually in one suitcase, I need the full range of clothes.
Need to check how many kgs we can bring with us...
Based on the latest weather forecast, for this trip, I will have to pack:
- Sweaters for San Francisco... cooler than Brest but sunny
In a nutshell, or actually in one suitcase, I need the full range of clothes.
Need to check how many kgs we can bring with us...
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Macarons by Marcolini
This afternoon, tea time, Alice came over so we could watch all the photos from our vacation and see what she has done in the extra week over there.
She surprised us with a box of macarons from Marcolini. Here is what we found inside:
Some traditional:
- chocolate "macaroon shell, cream with chocolate from Venezuela"
- caramel "macaroon shell, light cream flavoured with salted butter caramel"
Some more to be eaten only if you are older than 18:
- Mojito "macaroon shell, delicate cream laced with white rum and fresh mint"
- Punch coco "macaroon shell, cream flavoured with white rum and sprinkled with grated coconut"
- Vodka melon "macaroon shell, cream with vodka and fresh taste of melon, with a hint of mint"
Absolutely fantastic. Of course all depends of which cocktail you prefer, but I have to say it's a pretty good idea to make macarons with cocktail flavour.
She surprised us with a box of macarons from Marcolini. Here is what we found inside:
Some traditional:
- chocolate "macaroon shell, cream with chocolate from Venezuela"
- caramel "macaroon shell, light cream flavoured with salted butter caramel"
Some more to be eaten only if you are older than 18:
- Mojito "macaroon shell, delicate cream laced with white rum and fresh mint"
- Punch coco "macaroon shell, cream flavoured with white rum and sprinkled with grated coconut"
- Vodka melon "macaroon shell, cream with vodka and fresh taste of melon, with a hint of mint"
Absolutely fantastic. Of course all depends of which cocktail you prefer, but I have to say it's a pretty good idea to make macarons with cocktail flavour.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Improving life
After 8 months in the apartment it was time for a few changes:
- we finally went to Brico to buy a wooden board and everything else to put it on the wall. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a shelf on top of the washing machine. No more crap lying on the floor... well less of it.
- for the past 2 weeks we've been sleeping downstairs, in the guest room, behind a closed door. While for me it doesn't make a difference - I sleep as bad up or down :( - Wolfram sleeps much better. So we moved the bed down and the guest room is now in the study which is now in the attic. In case you're lost, just think musical chairs and you will have an idea of what we've accomplished today.
Next steps: lighting and TV furniture.
- we finally went to Brico to buy a wooden board and everything else to put it on the wall. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a shelf on top of the washing machine. No more crap lying on the floor... well less of it.
- for the past 2 weeks we've been sleeping downstairs, in the guest room, behind a closed door. While for me it doesn't make a difference - I sleep as bad up or down :( - Wolfram sleeps much better. So we moved the bed down and the guest room is now in the study which is now in the attic. In case you're lost, just think musical chairs and you will have an idea of what we've accomplished today.
Next steps: lighting and TV furniture.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
We need a miracle
As we are getting ready for our trip to California (only 20 days to go!), I realized that we will need some serious help.
Plan is to go to Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. Like in Malaysia, accommodation in the parks is limited. Fortunately I managed to book us a "cabin", i.e. a permanent tent, in Yosemite. Beside camping, there was no other options. Believe it or not, almost everything was full :(
Grand Canyon is the same, and potentially worse, story. We could book accommodation in a lodge in Grand Canyon Village... only for 90$ a night... what can I say, it's the trip of a lifetime to Grand Canyon, so we pay.
Now if you want to go down in the canyon, it takes 2 days apparently and you have to sleep down there. They won't let you go down without confirmed accommodation. 2 options: camping (not really our cup of tea) and one lodge, the Phantom Ranch.
Phantom Ranch is of course fully booked... apparently one should book it at least 1 year in advance :(
Our only hope is to keep trying by sending a request every day hoping someone would cancel their room right at the same time they are processing our request.
"Thank you for your Reservation inquiry!
Please note that this is a request only and does not guarantee a reservation. If we are able to confirm the reservation(s) requested, we will charge your credit card the applicable deposit and email you a confirmation. If we are unable to confirm your request, we will notify you via email accordingly.
Please allow up to 72-hours for processing, response times may increase during higher demand periods."
We really need a miracle there and all your positive thinking!
Plan is to go to Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. Like in Malaysia, accommodation in the parks is limited. Fortunately I managed to book us a "cabin", i.e. a permanent tent, in Yosemite. Beside camping, there was no other options. Believe it or not, almost everything was full :(
Grand Canyon is the same, and potentially worse, story. We could book accommodation in a lodge in Grand Canyon Village... only for 90$ a night... what can I say, it's the trip of a lifetime to Grand Canyon, so we pay.
Now if you want to go down in the canyon, it takes 2 days apparently and you have to sleep down there. They won't let you go down without confirmed accommodation. 2 options: camping (not really our cup of tea) and one lodge, the Phantom Ranch.
Phantom Ranch is of course fully booked... apparently one should book it at least 1 year in advance :(
Our only hope is to keep trying by sending a request every day hoping someone would cancel their room right at the same time they are processing our request.
"Thank you for your Reservation inquiry!
Please note that this is a request only and does not guarantee a reservation. If we are able to confirm the reservation(s) requested, we will charge your credit card the applicable deposit and email you a confirmation. If we are unable to confirm your request, we will notify you via email accordingly.
Please allow up to 72-hours for processing, response times may increase during higher demand periods."
We really need a miracle there and all your positive thinking!
Monday, August 2, 2010
1 week
It took me 1 week to recover from the jet lag. Last night I finally did not wake up at 3:30am! (only at 5am, but we're getting there)
It took me 1 week to get back in shape after catching a cold in the "cold" weather of Belgium.
It took me 1 week to go through the 700 pictures or so I took in Malaysia and update the blog. It felt like a full time job over the weekend.
That was for only 10 days of vacation.
I wonder what it's gonna be with 3 weeks in California...
It took me 1 week to get back in shape after catching a cold in the "cold" weather of Belgium.
It took me 1 week to go through the 700 pictures or so I took in Malaysia and update the blog. It felt like a full time job over the weekend.
That was for only 10 days of vacation.
I wonder what it's gonna be with 3 weeks in California...
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