England on Business

So work sent me off to Europe to investigate two chemical companies. A week jet setting through European nightclubs, museums, and beaches? Actually, it was rather a slog, first to a town outside of industrial Birmingham and then over to the Continent to see a tiny company in a medieval university town. I flew out from Montreal overnight, landing in London in the am. Then I slept, almost all day. I was met by two work colleagues for a pint and dinner in Russell Square. Later the next day in Birmingham, our party grew to four. I was the technical lead to find our way through the chemical plant.

I had returned to London, once my home from 1994-5, now fifteen years long ago. I don't remember the city much, although I did gravitate one evening this trip to the Strand. I had worked as a temp secretary nearby on Fleet Street for Arthur Andersen, now defunct due (I think) to the Enron scandal. In 1994, I was too young and poor at twenty-one to savour properly London. From then, I remember walking tours through London's neighborhoods, train trips to surrounding cities, BBC television, and my two college classmates -now roommates- who enjoyed bickering.

As for free time on this business trip, I did have a morning in London to check up on my bank account, long since closed. Afterwards, I sauntered the British Museum, remembering the layout and lingering by the stoic but lonely bearded Assyrians.

Two of my colleagues on the train from London to Birmingham. We left London early to visit a chemical supplier.

An odd Birmingham sculpture I spotted marching between Birmingham train stations.

The Midlands ain't all bad.

Every wee English town needs a pub and a brewery.

Little river that streams past the brewery and the train station

Destination of our visit: a chemical plant. Glory be.

Back in London- the narrowest store, a Twining Tea shop, on Fleet Street.

Scenes of London with faux Tudor mixed up with modern and everything else.

Fleet Street, once home to law offices and the London papers. I once worked a few blocks from here.

The Temple Bar, a totem that signifies The City of London and a barrier through which the Queen cannot cross.

Gateway to one of the four Inns of Court

The Gherkin peers over the London skyline looking east down Fleet Street.

One of the older spots of the city: the Round Church, a resting place for Crusaders and a Dudek tired from walking.

Venturing back to the bustle of evening London. With the warm spring, everybody was tipping a pint back on the sidewalk.

London Eye, Sphinx replica. I take a walk down the Embankment.

Glorious weather so high time to have a drink after work.

I peer across Trafalgar Square at the National Gallery.

The Nelson Column for whom Trafalgar Square was honorable named.

Nelson stares at Big Ben, perhaps taking watch over Parliament.

Building near the hotel.

A statue stolen from Easter Island, now housed in the British Museum.

Some of my favorite works in the British Museum are of the Assyrians.

I like the huge statues with wings and beards, often covered with cuneform script.

Glory be: an empty gallery early in the morning on a weekday in the British Museum.

Bits of the Elgin marbles from the Parthenon. The Greeks did get a shwarma wrap in return.

The Harris chessmen, probably carved by Norwegian vikings out of walrus tusks.

Two of my colleagues on the train from London to Birmingham. We left London early to visit a chemical supplier.	An odd Birmingham sculpture I spotted marching between Birmingham train stations.	The Midlands ain't all bad.	Every wee English town needs a pub and a brewery.	Little river that streams past the brewery and the train station
Destination of our visit: a chemical plant. Glory be.	Back in London- the narrowest store, a Twining Tea shop, on Fleet Street.	Scenes of London with faux Tudor mixed up with modern and everything else.	Fleet Street, once home to law offices and the London papers. I once worked a few blocks from here.	The Temple Bar, a totem that signifies The City of London and a barrier through which the Queen cannot cross.
Gateway to one of the four Inns of Court	The Gherkin peers over the London skyline looking east down Fleet Street.	One of the older spots of the city: the Round Church, a resting place for Crusaders and a Dudek tired from walking.	Venturing back to the bustle of evening London. With the warm spring, everybody was tipping a pint back on the sidewalk.	London Eye, Sphinx replica. I take a walk down the Embankment.
Glorious weather so high time to have a drink after work.	I peer across Trafalgar Square at the National Gallery.	The Nelson Column for whom Trafalgar Square was honorable named.	Nelson stares at Big Ben, perhaps taking watch over Parliament.	Building near the hotel.
A statue stolen from Easter Island, now housed in the British Museum.	Some of my favorite works in the British Museum are of the Assyrians.	I like the huge statues with wings and beards, often covered with cuneform script.	Glory be: an empty gallery early in the morning on a weekday in the British Museum.	Bits of the Elgin marbles from the Parthenon. The Greeks did get a shwarma wrap in return.
The Harris chessmen, probably carved by Norwegian vikings out of walrus tusks.