Good times

So, I had a pretty good week at work last week. The main reason for this was that I got to go on a semi-junket to San Francisco, which as a work destination is far, far better than Slough, Bristol and Elstree & Borehamwood (which had been my previous best work destinations). The fact that I was getting pummelled by emails on my Blackberry from multiple different time zones was only a minor annoyance because there's no better excuse than a long-distance flight to avoid answering emails. I have to admit that I made the flight over with some trepidation, as I was expecting to attend a meeting at which our side was going to be shouted at and humiliated and, in shameful style, would have to suck it up and take it. However, as it turns out, everyone at the meeting was lovely and we were welcomed with open arms and cream cheese bagels. Result!

After some brief exertion at the meeting, we were able to spend the rest of our short stay wandering around San Fran, checking out the extensive China town, eating seafood at Fisherman's Wharf (which we found only after asking some confused locals where we could find the Fisherman's Dwarf - Blackberry e-mail mix-up) and trying to avoid the smell of sun-bathing sea lions. Also, I was lucky enough to get prime tickets to the baseball, watching the SF Giants see off the Washington Nationals in a match so exciting that my companions had to explain at length that baseball wasn't normally this exciting and usually it was OK to ignore the game itself and just spend the whole time talking and eating corn dogs. Anyway, I quite like the version of baseball where the home team wins by hitting a two-run homer off the last pitch of the match.

Without even the meeting to worry about, the trip back was pleasant indeed and I have to say I was very impressed with the service on Virgin Atlantic. In fact, I was reminded of one of my favourite Seinfeld episodes where Jerry is upgraded to first class, where he gets to sit next to a super-model and choose from a wide selection of French wines. "More of anything?" asks the stewardess of Jerry. "More of everything!" replies Jerry. I did indeed have more of most things - including two desserts and two breakfasts, which is my idea of a good time. Unfortunately, my day-to-day life now seems quite dull and I'm pining for the excitement and cheerful nature of West Coast America. Fingers crossed I'll get to go back sometime, meanwhile I'm just going to have to put up with Moorgate, London. Luckily, I'm going to get to trade in this dull existence once again this weekend, as I'm heading to Paris to take in the French Open tennis. More updates on that later!