So Sunday Monday and Tuesday were all uneventful working half of the 3 sessions a day (3 every 2 days). The Australian Seniors and Women made it to the Round of 16 on Wednesday only to exit at that point.
Wednesday and the 07:30 Eurostar to London - a 1.5 hour very relaxing journey. I arrive at St Pancras and buy my 7 pound day pass which proved valuable as I did 6 trips during the day. Danielle has asked me to go to TopShop and buy some maternity wear. Note to self not all TopShop stores stock maternity clothes. Anyway I finally get what she wants and head to Ravenscourt Station where I am met by Espen Helen and the kids. So good to see them again as we go to the local Greek Restaurant for a lengthy lunch and catch up. They are moving to a six bedroom home in Kent and are urging to to come and visit offering me a bedroom with ensuite - it will happen.
I head back to Oxford/Regent Streets for a wander where it starts to drizzle but not enough to be a problem. Finally back to St Pancras for the train back to Lille where I have to change and go to an IBPA/WBF dinner with about 150 people at the local highly regarded seafood restaurant and a very nice meal.
Nothing much happens for the ensuing days other than work, a meal with Michael Wilkinson and Tonje and a lovely Thai meal with some bridge friends. The finals start on Tuesday with Poland facing Sweden in the Open (Sweden wins) Russia facing the English in the Women (England wins) and Hungary facing USA in the Seniors (Hungary wins).
I pick up my car on Monday not for any reason other than the two week rate is less than the one week and four day rate. I manage to get a 135 Euro fine but a trip to the Hotel de Police office has, I think, managed to get that cancelled.
A staff dinner on the Wednesday night at the Terrase de Rampart which is excellent (Melon/Parma and Veal) in a delightful restaurant located on the former rampart of the city and adjoining viaduct.
Closing ceremony on Thursday and I ready myself to depart the next morning. Having completely unpacked involves a lot of packing to get ready carefully separating those items I will need during the coming 12 days from those that can be left in the car.
Gastro during the past 5 days has been unpleasant but not unbearable. With a 10 day cold and gastro this is the first trip I can recall which has been upset by any illness of note. Mercifully it isn't as bad as a few years ago when a sinus infection meant I couldn't taste any food which in France isn't very pleasant.
Interestingly I get paid for China and Lille and work out that the pay I have received is more than the $A4,000 I have spent during my five weeks away from Australia making this a VERY cheap holiday although I expect next week may be a little more expensive as this is the first hotel I have booked - Chateau de Brou but even that is only $A180 a night.
Expect lots of photos over the next few days including perhaps some nice photos of dishes in restaurants.
Have very much enjoyed the bridge and being Lille. I have been in better locations for bridge than Lille but again I have been in worse. The work isnt very hard at all but speaking for 5 hours a day and concentraying on the hands and trying not to make a fool of yourself (sometimes unsuccessfully) can be very tiring sometimes.
So turning off my bridge and onto my relaxation for 12 days and then back to the reality of work, home, walking the dogs and impending grandfatherhood.
Love to all
Keep well
XD
Nothing much happens for the ensuing days other than work, a meal with Michael Wilkinson and Tonje and a lovely Thai meal with some bridge friends. The finals start on Tuesday with Poland facing Sweden in the Open (Sweden wins) Russia facing the English in the Women (England wins) and Hungary facing USA in the Seniors (Hungary wins).
I pick up my car on Monday not for any reason other than the two week rate is less than the one week and four day rate. I manage to get a 135 Euro fine but a trip to the Hotel de Police office has, I think, managed to get that cancelled.
A staff dinner on the Wednesday night at the Terrase de Rampart which is excellent (Melon/Parma and Veal) in a delightful restaurant located on the former rampart of the city and adjoining viaduct.
Closing ceremony on Thursday and I ready myself to depart the next morning. Having completely unpacked involves a lot of packing to get ready carefully separating those items I will need during the coming 12 days from those that can be left in the car.
Gastro during the past 5 days has been unpleasant but not unbearable. With a 10 day cold and gastro this is the first trip I can recall which has been upset by any illness of note. Mercifully it isn't as bad as a few years ago when a sinus infection meant I couldn't taste any food which in France isn't very pleasant.
Interestingly I get paid for China and Lille and work out that the pay I have received is more than the $A4,000 I have spent during my five weeks away from Australia making this a VERY cheap holiday although I expect next week may be a little more expensive as this is the first hotel I have booked - Chateau de Brou but even that is only $A180 a night.
Have very much enjoyed the bridge and being Lille. I have been in better locations for bridge than Lille but again I have been in worse. The work isnt very hard at all but speaking for 5 hours a day and concentraying on the hands and trying not to make a fool of yourself (sometimes unsuccessfully) can be very tiring sometimes.
So turning off my bridge and onto my relaxation for 12 days and then back to the reality of work, home, walking the dogs and impending grandfatherhood.
Love to all
Keep well
XD
No comments:
Post a Comment