This week, I have been mostly driving …

This 4 wheeled piece of awesomeness …

It fills a US parking space and I actually had to use the sideboards to get into it. You must sit at least 1m off the ground! Glad to have the Impala back now though.

Do not adjust your monitor settings …

I just fancied a change of layout. However, I made the wise decision of using some web based fonts and, with my pretty poor internet connection, they don’t always load properly instead displaying an ugly mess of Times New Roman. Hopefully you won’t get this problem with a proper internet connection…

This week we had some fresh snowfall, and with it some really low temperatures …

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once again though the local area hasn’t really been affected by the snow. Yes there are clips on the news of cars sliding down icy slopes (the sort of things we see on You’ve Been Framed) but in general people seem to get on with life. I love seeing the golf buggy’s zipping about the apartment complex, complete with miniature snow ploughs on the front, moving all snow from the pavements and parking areas.

Nothing much more exciting has happened in the past week. Been out with friends for some food in the evenings as well as lunch during the week. This weekend I’ve had some light reading … a guide for tax assessments to ensure that I meet both US and UK requirements. There’s no way I’m messing this up; they’d like my accent too much in prison.

There appear to be some rumours on the net that Arsenal are going to be embarking on a US tour this summer. I don’t even need to say how awesome this would be; I’m there already!

This morning I had a bacon roll; HP brown sauce makes all the difference. So glad that I brought some back with me; American bacon is otherwise sacrilege to bacon sandwiches.

Right now I’m watching one of the NFL Championship games that will decide who is going to the Superbowl. I still don’t think I’m any closer to understanding the rules of American Handegg …

I’m back …

Firstly a Happy New Year to you all. If 2010 wasn’t very good for you then 2011 can only be better. If 2010 was actually very good for you, then fingers crossed for an equally good year; just don’t rub it in. As I write this almost 2 weeks into the New Year there really isn’t any point in talking about resolutions, as they have probably already been forgotten. Or, if you’re like my mum, they’ll “start tomorrow” etc etc.

It’s been around a month since the last entry; I apologise for the delay! It’s been a crazy month or so; my visit back home over the Christmas holidays including NYC visit, and then the return trip back to Indianapolis and adjusting back to the different routine. But after several emails, IM’s, and texts regarding the whereabouts of the latest entry, I decided it was time to write it. You had better appreciate it …

My last post talked about my trip home that was, hopefully, happening (pending the weather). Other than a slightly slippery trip to Indianapolis airport, the weather didn’t really affect my travel. Had I been travelling a few days later however, it would have got messy. A couple of colleagues travelling back to the UK had disruptions, one having a several day lay-over in Chicago and the other diverted to Glasgow due to the heavy London snowfall …

I had a couple of days in New York to do some sightseeing. It was absolutely freezing, the wind seemingly blowing from every angle imaginable. I stayed in a hotel in East Midtown on 51st Street, a few blocks from Times Square. I avoided using taxis and the subway, opting instead to walk and see as much of the place as possible. I did so much walking, especially when I walked all the way down to the southern most tip of Manhattan to board the ferry for Liberty Island. It was a very busy couple of days, but a fantastic place to visit. It was awesome with all the Christmas lights and trees in place. If you’re interested in seeing my photo’s from the visit, then click the image below.

 

Back home it was great to see everybody and I had a fantastic couple of weeks. I ate so much, but home cooking can’t be beaten. I had a couple of trips to London; one to see an Arsenal match that was called off for snow (didn’t find out until I got to King’s Cross!) and another for a belated birthday present. This included a great meal at Gordon Ramsay at Claridges; a far cry from anything I’ve experienced before (US or UK). My whole trip home was a great mixture of family, friends, food and fun. I’d go as far as saying it was the best Christmas ever, perhaps just the fact of seeing and being with my family making it perfect.

So without going into to0 much detail, that pretty much sums up my trip home. Even though it was great to go home, the thought of coming back to the US wasn’t a downer. Things a really interesting at work at the moment and I have made a lot of friends here. Of course, I’m looking forward to my next trip home and for visits from whoever wants to come to Indiana or the States in general! Whilst in London I picked up loads of souvenirs to bring back to the US … as much for me as anyone else. The office is now full of London Underground mouse mats, Union Jack pens, and I (heart) London mugs. Back at my apartment, I’ve also tried to make it a Little Britain.

Since I’ve been back it has been sub-zero temperatures most of the time, and snow has been around for the past week. It’s cold, but I brought a warm coat, snow boots, and long johns (!!) back with me to keep me warm. On the instructions of my nan, I’m also wearing my vest (sometimes).

 

Finally, a new KFC has opened up on the strip mall not far from my apartment. It’s on the way back from work so this could be a bad sign for my health … especially as they do a 60 (SIXTY) piece bucket for $50. I’m in no doubt that this will feature in a future blog post, closely followed by a recollection of a day spent on the toilet or a claim on my medical insurance for hospitalisation. Perhaps.

I also brought back my Arsenal shirts with me to wear around the office on Fridays when the others are wearing their Indianapolis Colt’s tops. However, since the Colts have lost their play-off tie with Jets, they won’t be playing anymore this season. I’m still wearing my shirts round the apartment though, and they seem to be bringing luck to the team.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday; I’m off to cook myself some dinner.

Best of British.

Goodbye Indiana … for 2010.

This weekend has been my last in Indiana for 2010 … mid morning tomorrow I head for the airport and begin the journey home.

That is, of course, assuming that my flight isn’t cancelled or delayed due to the weather. Most of the State is under a Winter Weather Advisory and today we had another 2” of snow; it’s like a winter wonderland outside. Very cold too. The forecast has just stated that tomorrow could see temperatures as low as minus 20 Celsius … I may have to use my suitcase as sled to get to my car!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow …

Much like the UK, we have had a good amount of snow this past week. Temperatures have generally been sub zero (Degree Celsius – I’m still trying to understand Fahrenheit) and about 4” of the white stuff has dropped on the area.

The main difference that I’ve noticed with the US and the UK during snowfall is how the roads are constantly being cleared. Pick up trucks have ploughs stuck on the front and drive around clearing the highways. However, every other driver on the road still continues to drive as they normally would (as close as possible to the car in front), so maybe there is a false sense of security instilled by the plough trucks!

This weekend I went to a bowling alley that had 80 lanes; I swear you could actually feel the curvature of the Earth’s surface …

I also sampled a Dairy Queen Blizzard … then felt sick at the amount of Oreo Cheesecake flavoured ice-cream. I  will go back for more though.

This weekend has also been my penultimate one in the US before I fly back to the UK for Christmas. By the time I fly back I will have been out here for 3 months; I really can’t believe how quickly the time has gone.