The view of the University of Barcelona courtyard from the math department, where we are currently meeting.
Tag: travel
I can’t go home
At least not tonight.
Flight got canceled, woohoo! To make things even more fun, apparently Barcelona is hosting several large events/conferences this week and hotels are booked solid. The easyjet staff were walking up and down the queue of already happy people informing them that, yes, they could wait to get to the head of the line, but there was no guarantees that easyjet would be able to find them a hotel room by then. If we could find something on our own, we could get it reimbursed later.
I am SO happy that I finally got a corporate credit card just before my trip to Brussels. It’s already proven to be worth its weight in gold for occasions just like this. So now I’m I a very-nice-but-overpriced hotel room for tonight and I’m hopefully flying back tomorrow at noon.
I want to go home
Project mid-term review done. The project is seen in a very positive light within EIT circles. Positive initial feedback, good explanations, clear need, desirable, consortium seen as responsive. We will get the full feedback in a couple of weeks. I spent the afternoon walking around La Rambla and areas.
I’m at the airport now, but my 2050 flight has been delayed twice and is now showing for 2300. I’ve had fun, but I want to go home now.
Braindead owl
When in Belgium
Getting ready
When wifey goes on a wine tasting tour of Piedmont
The road to health is still bumpy
I’m in Barcelona for work. Work-wise, it’s been going very well, with many details sorted out and progress visibly happening. We’re in a really nice meeting room at the University of Barcelona and the mood is generally positive.
Food wise, I found that lunch is generally the easiest meal of the day. Monday I had some grilled iberico pork and potatoes and today I had swordfish and potatoes. Both went down very well. Dinner tends to be more problematic. On Sunday, I was only able to eat about a third of my ramen before feeling over-full. Last night, I had yakitori and rice, and that was ok-ish but one small (but really appealing) tuna maki put me solidly into blockage territory and I had to get back to the hotel toot-suite to be sick. Felt better afterwards, but still not ideal.
I still think the trip was a success, food-wise, because it does show me that I can function (mostly) OK when I’m not home, but I still need to be careful.
Ben goes to Canada
Ben had a week-long school holiday at the end of February, while I was on medical leave. Initially, my mom had offered to come over but, after discussion, we decided that it would be easier to ship Ben to Canada on his own. He arrived in Montreal and spent the night there. He, Nat & the boys were all supposed to go to my mom’s place on the weekend for my cousin’s wedding. The weather turned for the worse though, so they ended up with only Ben being dropped off/picked up in Hawkesbury. He then spent the week skiing, snowshoeing, sewing and shopping. Nat and the guys came the next weekend, so my mom had a full house for a couple of days – before Ben and Nat had to go back to Montreal for the return trip.
Rather proud of the child
Ben has boarded his solo flight to Canada. He’s excited about the trip, a bit anxious about the exact process, and is looking forward to seeing his cousins, aunts, grandparents and new dog. I’m rather impressed with doofus. He’s seriously grown up in the last couple of years and becoming more and more confident and independent. He can still be a right pain in the backside, but at his core, he’s a good kid and we done good. For the flight itself, as long as he has food, drink and a movie, he’ll be happy.
He just sent this to Katy. We still need to work on his English spelling, lol (his French is getting remarkably good).