Now I could complain about customs and the new regime or the lack of luggage trolleys.  But, come on, how often do I complain?  Hey, you there in Alexandria, I saw that smirk!  I did have a great drive in from Heathrow, from Addison-Lee.  The gent that drove was great fun.  We chatted about politics, Boris, the Big Orange Head, Maggie Thatcher, Obama, the Clintons, Maggie Thatcher and, of course, Brexit.  On a brighter side we talked music and music history and found we shared an interest in classic Raggae, particularly Yellow Man, who he had actually seen at a small impromptu concert in Jamaica. 

As first days go, this one was typical in one regard.  The concierge on duty at Clare Court was as friendly and welcoming as ever.  He helped me with my luggage and I was soon off to the land of nod.

After unpacking and determining that, yet again, my collection of “current converters in drawers in Alexandria and Naples” would get even larger (in other words, once again, I didn’t bring enough), I went out to get some provisions in from the local Waitrose Supermarket.  Oneonta friends will be pleased to know my reusable Brooks Barbecue insulated bag came with me.

I picked up the necessary, took stuff home and then headed out for a bit of a walk and a quick cup of coffee at the local Caffe Nero, Starbucks better looking, better cooking Italian Sister.  As I went to sit down with my latte, a lady directed me away from my chosen seat and into  one next to her.  My chosen seat, it seemed, was reserved for her son who was outside on the phone.  It turns out this lady and her husband who was sitting across from the empty seat, were from Las Vegas.  Se asked if I had been there.  That, of course, led me to explain that I had been there for work many times for NRC. She explained that they got to Vegas via Buffalo, where they had lived in the Italian neighborhood, originally, renting for two years from an Italian lady who was like a second mother to her.  The lady and her husband were Chinese-American.  We ended up chatting for an hour about the similarities and differences of Italian and Chinese cultures, our careers, our lives, etc.  Her son finally came in and we talked some about the Yucca Mountain Repository project.  I shall also always remember this lady fondly because she told me I did not sound like I had a New York accent.  I’m proud of being a New Yorker, and I know a bit of the greatest American accent stays with me, but I think I must have been using my NRC public speaking accent with her.

Anyway, that was a pretty good first day.  I’m going to try and post a link to Facebook now.  We’ll see how well I do with blogging this time around

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