Dusting off the blog...
I've posted on this blog a grand total of ten times this year, which I've got to admit is pretty weak. Especially considering all kinds of exciting stuff has been going on. I've been updating pretty regularly on facebook and twitter, but LJ always tends to get left behind, mainly because it requires actual effort.
As many of you will know, I was lucky enough recently to spend a month in India with work - the project I'm working on at the moment is extremely complicated with many moving parts and so I got the chance to go work with our team in Pune ("the Oxford of the East") on the basis that I'd be able to make more of an impact in situ than I could from 6,000+ miles and four-and-a-half timezones away. Looking back on things now that I'm back in Blighty, I really really enjoyed my time out there and I'd go back in a heartbeat if I was asked. As for my impressions of the country, it's very hard to know where to even begin.
My memories of my time in India are of a country of unexpected contrasts - both exotic and familiar at the same time. I would walk home from work in the evenings in thirty-five degree heat under tamarind and palm trees, but passing by billboards advertising western products and services, all in English. Without exception, the people I met were friendly and welcoming and to my dismay I have to admit that as an uptight Brit it took me a long time to let my guard down and open up but once I did I had a whale of a time. I even ended up dancing at one point. Yes, me. Dancing. Thankfully I don't think anyone recorded it for posterity so we shall be spared that, at least.
I stayed in an apartment in Koregaon Park and had my own kitchen, which was nice - sometimes I would get home quite late from work and I'd just fling something together before heading to bed, but a lot of times I'd go out in the evenings - I found a few places that in time became pretty regular haunts, for example the Shisha jazz cafe and of course The Ship, a bar on Central Avenue in Kalyani Nagar. Everyone ends up at The Ship sooner or later and I was no exception. Pretty much everyone in the office in Sheffield had recommended it and I think I must have spent at least four or five evenings there, after work, drinking Kingfisher and watching the cricket. Cricket is pretty much everywhere and although I'm really not usually that interested in sports of any kind I found myself getting drawn into the IPL and keeping half an eye on how the Warriors were doing.
When I first found out I'd be going to India, the first thing I did was a spot of googling, trying to find out as much as I could about Pune, and one of the first things I clocked was the climate. More or less every day I was out there the temperature was in the high 30s / low 40s, baking hot and blazingly sunny. The first few days I was there I felt pretty sure I was going to melt, but I adjusted pretty quickly. After a week or so I had acclimatised and the 40 degree heat of midday felt more like 25 or 30. Hot, but comfortably bearable. I've been back in the UK two weeks now and I've still not adjusted back, it's bloody freezing here and I wish summer would hurry up and get here.
Since I got back, work has continued apace, still complicated, still hectic, but I've also managed time to find time to head out on the Sheffield Folk Train to Edale at the end of last month with soul_rider and my friend Pat from work which was great fun, we've been out to Roberto's new restaurant in Barnsley with friends, been to (most of) a christening and we met up with sandra_lindsey for the first time in ages (lovely to see you again, hon!)
Today we decided to take advantage of the bank holiday and slept in, then wombled off down to London Road, where we had lunch at Noodle Inn and I managed to get in some quick shopping at the "Ozmen" supermarket for some more unusual bits and pieces before coming home. soul_rider took E swimming while I stayed home and looked after T. That's about it, really, and if you'll excuse me I have a rather nice-looking bottle of wine trying to get my attention so I shall be off. TTFN.
As many of you will know, I was lucky enough recently to spend a month in India with work - the project I'm working on at the moment is extremely complicated with many moving parts and so I got the chance to go work with our team in Pune ("the Oxford of the East") on the basis that I'd be able to make more of an impact in situ than I could from 6,000+ miles and four-and-a-half timezones away. Looking back on things now that I'm back in Blighty, I really really enjoyed my time out there and I'd go back in a heartbeat if I was asked. As for my impressions of the country, it's very hard to know where to even begin.
My memories of my time in India are of a country of unexpected contrasts - both exotic and familiar at the same time. I would walk home from work in the evenings in thirty-five degree heat under tamarind and palm trees, but passing by billboards advertising western products and services, all in English. Without exception, the people I met were friendly and welcoming and to my dismay I have to admit that as an uptight Brit it took me a long time to let my guard down and open up but once I did I had a whale of a time. I even ended up dancing at one point. Yes, me. Dancing. Thankfully I don't think anyone recorded it for posterity so we shall be spared that, at least.
I stayed in an apartment in Koregaon Park and had my own kitchen, which was nice - sometimes I would get home quite late from work and I'd just fling something together before heading to bed, but a lot of times I'd go out in the evenings - I found a few places that in time became pretty regular haunts, for example the Shisha jazz cafe and of course The Ship, a bar on Central Avenue in Kalyani Nagar. Everyone ends up at The Ship sooner or later and I was no exception. Pretty much everyone in the office in Sheffield had recommended it and I think I must have spent at least four or five evenings there, after work, drinking Kingfisher and watching the cricket. Cricket is pretty much everywhere and although I'm really not usually that interested in sports of any kind I found myself getting drawn into the IPL and keeping half an eye on how the Warriors were doing.
When I first found out I'd be going to India, the first thing I did was a spot of googling, trying to find out as much as I could about Pune, and one of the first things I clocked was the climate. More or less every day I was out there the temperature was in the high 30s / low 40s, baking hot and blazingly sunny. The first few days I was there I felt pretty sure I was going to melt, but I adjusted pretty quickly. After a week or so I had acclimatised and the 40 degree heat of midday felt more like 25 or 30. Hot, but comfortably bearable. I've been back in the UK two weeks now and I've still not adjusted back, it's bloody freezing here and I wish summer would hurry up and get here.
Since I got back, work has continued apace, still complicated, still hectic, but I've also managed time to find time to head out on the Sheffield Folk Train to Edale at the end of last month with soul_rider and my friend Pat from work which was great fun, we've been out to Roberto's new restaurant in Barnsley with friends, been to (most of) a christening and we met up with sandra_lindsey for the first time in ages (lovely to see you again, hon!)
Today we decided to take advantage of the bank holiday and slept in, then wombled off down to London Road, where we had lunch at Noodle Inn and I managed to get in some quick shopping at the "Ozmen" supermarket for some more unusual bits and pieces before coming home. soul_rider took E swimming while I stayed home and looked after T. That's about it, really, and if you'll excuse me I have a rather nice-looking bottle of wine trying to get my attention so I shall be off. TTFN.