Greetings to you!

Well it snowed this week and boy was it cold. It was great to wake up to the calm of the snow and it was quite a surprise. I thought it was only going to snow in the north. Depending on who you talk to...it either gets tons of snow and the temp drop to -10 or the flip side states that it just never gets too cold.

I have found the downfalls of having a slightly larger flat, it is rather difficult to heat...one small radiator, a wall unit fire place and a heater in my room. Who knew that the vents in my room actually pumped in heat. It really good to find out the morning after it snows! I'm now a big fan of the Japanese heating toilets. Not that I have one, but it would sure be nice as I walk into the bathroom with it 4 ft drafty window. Now I know why they were actually invented.

Work is starting to move along. I finally got out of the office and was able to network and begin establishing my contacts. I had my first off-friday and spent it with Torrance City Attorney, John Fellows. We managed to good pub crawls, one along Euston station closer to my stomping grounds and then another on the south side of the river, next to the London Bridge (the new one remember!) My next off-friday I am headed to Bristol and Bath. I am meeting up with two of my girlfriends for the weekend. It's the start of the 6 nations rugby...not that I'm too interested, but people will be descending into the area. I should have some pics to post too.

Family update, Ted and Joni are having another little girl. Hannah is starting to walk which my mom forgets every once in awhile. My dad had his debut on You Tube... which I found hilarious. And the Trifecta is still going strong and crazy fun.

Talk soon.
Laura

Happy New Year!!

Alright, so the 12 days of Christmas have come and gone. The fireworks along the Thames dissolved to dust. The long holiday curbed with moving and starting work, a real paying nearly 40 hours/week job.

So, I'm no longer a student. The dissertation is done and dusted and now graduation is pending. I am waiting for the dissertation grade and hoping to at least get a distinction (only on the paper; let's all be very realistic!) My new flat is big, bigger than the beach pad. Kitchen, it's bigger than Long Beach. Slowly but surely, I'm moving back into the wage earning world that affords a normal home, a running shower, heat producing radiators and windows that keep the snow out.

Work is going well and I am in fact putting my new MBA skills to use. Look out! Despite not taking a negotiations class, I did manage to bargain once again the lovely Torrance 9/80 schedule. I figure the 3 day weekends will allow for some travels to the continent a little more often. Those travels I'm very much looking forward too.

I have started the visa application process. The thought of becoming an illegal alien here in the near future is of growing concern. Hopefully the paperwork will come together or I may be in New York during Easter. Laura Toner, Illegal Alien at large....not so much.

Oh, and if enquiring minds wanted to know. The soaps have since ceased their international travels. They have been regifted to none other than my mother in her stocking at Christmas. I did in fact purchase 3 more. Yeah, she wasn't too happy about that story. And I'll refrain from repeating the expletives of the phone exchange. I will have you know that I did not receive one bar of soap this year. See, all it ever takes is just a little open communication between people.

Alright, I'm done. I'll be the proud new owner of a 2 in1 washer/dryer tomorrow morning. A dryer...say goodbye to jeans drying for 3 days! Ya-woo.

Happy New Year! Looking forward to another year of adventure.

much love, Laura