So naval gazing aside, how has it actually been? Well other than it being London, it's being ok. The employer is clearly a very nice place to work (they certainly have the money to be so), and thankfully the cafeteria is both very heavily subsidized and of very good quality. So while I'm in work I'm nicely isolated from the things I'm finding unpleasant. Work wise I've hit the ground running, proving to myself once again that I am good at adapting to new situations and also getting the satisfaction of actually knowing what I talk about. Very important considering the poorness of my memory, and my fear that I've forgotten most of the skills I've acquired. So far I've asked a whole load of good questions and I'm now in the stage of scoping out what it is they want me to do, and how big a job it will be. I also actually know what I've been taken on to do which is plus. It's basically performance testing, scripting the tests, determining and creating load balances and as they don't actually have any performance requirements ultimately being part of the decision of what performance is good enough. There have been a few PC headaches, but their tech support are quick, helpful and not condescending which is good; the problems of course all stem from the fact they only found out that I was due to start 12 hours before I was due to, which was at the same time I did for definite; just after lunch on Monday of this week. I've also thanks to being all by myself (well technically working with the competitor who one the bid for this particular piece of work off of us), the bank operating on true flexitime and ultimately being confident enough to just ask got it agreed with my boss at the bank that I can do long days 8.5 hour days Monday to Thursday and then finish early afternoon (1-2pmish) on Friday. As long as the work is getting done he doesn't care when I turn up, and if I have work I can do on the train back to Bath he is more than happy for that to count towards my working time too. Still the work will be done, because I'm going to avoid them having any (unpleasant) reasons to try and keep me after my 15 days are up.
Travel wise the tube in rush hour is less horrendous than I feared though not something I'd want to have to deal with as part of a day to day permanent job. My train to London on the first day of course ran late, delayed by another trains engine troubles. Still even getting into Paddington 20 minutes late only meant getting to where I needed to be 6 mins later than I was expected (of course I had called ahead by this points). Morning commute and return to the hotels has been fine, though I'm guessing the whole Bank-Earl's Court (well actually Monmouth Street-Earl's Court is where I've been getting on/off at, because a short walk to skip two stops seems worthwhile) probably isn't as busy a section of the circle/district/underground generally than you might well face. I'm still finding my stress levels rise whenever I have to leave work/hotel to actually do the commute, but until I get used to, if I get used to it, it's just something I have to cope with.
Hotel wise the Abcone was somewhat run down, but perfectly adequate, breakfast was simple but cheap, and I lucked out by being directly below reception and so able to use wireless from my room. The Best Western Shaftesbury is a much nicer hotel, though breakfast is 5 times the price, however they do have a worrying tendency to attempt to fob off guests who book rooms in their hotel with rooms in affiliated much much lower quality hotels instead. Thankfully as another IPLer was staying here Monday night he was the one who hit that problem. First being told his room wasn't available here due to maintenance, then sent somewhere else that said the same thing, before ending up at a real dive. So the next day he sets our employer to action who end up getting the original hotel to provide a room in their premises, plus free breakfasts and taxi's to make up for the mess. So my employer does do things right occasionally. It seems from the way my room number has been crossed out and rewritten on the paperwork I received, that I've ended up with a better room in the bargain too. Looks like I'll be here from here on out, though I'll be making sure to emphasize to my employer that this place is only worth using if you bully them into giving you what they've sold you. Otherwise I can see the hotel attempting to repeat the trick next week.
Penultimately I have to thank Rachael for being amazing by organizing a little working in London survival kit consisting of chocolate, snacks, books and games. Of course nothing would actually compare to getting to go home to her each evening instead.
Finally as I am in London, I'd quite like to meet up with people who are here. If nothing else than because eating meals by yourself in restaurants has got to be one of the most depressing things you can do. Plus if I have to be here, even if I can't really go see any of the sites, I can least try and make the most of it. So far I've had a meal with my younger brother and had a very long conversation. I've also skipped the opportunity to go to one of his stand up gigs due to simply being too tired to face navigating unfamiliar areas of London (not that any of it is familiar) late Wednesday evening.
So yes all offers of company are more than gratefully received.
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