Great news, I just got my passport back from the UK Border Agency and I’ve been approved for the ‘Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)! This means I’m now legal to reside and work in UK until 11 September 2011 (freaky expiry date, non?). The programme is not tied to my current job at BHF, but rather it’s a points system based on your education level, past work/salary, etc.Shaken, not stirred
Speaking of work the BHF is going well. We are in crazy preparations for our move to a great building in the Camden area of London (closer to home!) The V&A lists it as one of the best examples of art deco in UK. I’ve been putting together a fun guide to the area for employees and will soon put on my Annie Leibowitz hat. I’ve been tapped to take all the employee photos for our new ID badges. Even more potentially exciting is an Ian Fleming James Bond gala on Oct 5 that is in support of the BHF. Fleming died of a heart attack at age 56 and his family are huge champions of the Foundation and are planning a huge centenary celebration with lots of stars Read all about it here. Needless to say I am salivating over covering the event (fingers-crossed). For those in the London area, we’d love to see you there!
We Cam, We Saw…..
After suffering through the dampest, dreariest August in UK history (seriously!) the sun finally came out, conveniently for my day-trip to Cambridge! Talk about picture perfect weather! My UVA flatmate Lynne (now also in London) and I had a fantastic day doing a two-hour walking tour followed by a relaxing 45-minute boat ride on a put on the River Cam (pic above), topped off by the most tasty tea and scones! It doesn’t get much better than that! The city and colleges are just beautiful, with many of them backing up along the river. It’s a bit smaller, less ornate than Oxford, with a bit warmer feel (and shorter train journey from London!) But after having done three summers at Christ Church, I think my heart still belongs to the “Ox” of “Oxbridge.” Gorgeous Cambridge photos are online here.
Holding out for a Hero
Saw an interesting production of Romeo & Juliet a few weeks back. It was performed in Middle Temple Hall (think Harry Potter dining hall). Costumed all in white, the actors had full run of the place (one critic likened it to watching a tennis match as they ran back and forth!). I liked, didn’t love it. Juliet was played by Juliet Rylance (daughter of Mark – former artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe and now Tony Winner for Boeing Boeing). She was a bit miscast to be honest, coming off very confident and assured and not a lot of passion. Romeo was played by Santiago Cabreras (the painter Isaac from TV’s Heroes!). He got some negative reviews, but I thought he was quite good and natural.
Also good ? Jonathan Demme’s documentary about Jimmy Carter – “Man from Plains” Think this was out in the US a few years ago, I caught it at the BFI. Give it a very strong thumbs up – one of the best documentaries I’ve seen. He follows Carter on a book tour and the schedule that the 83-year old former President goes through would run someone half his age ragged!
In Search Of....
Last week I saw one of the best productions I think I’ve seen in London – Pirandello’s “6 Characters in search of an author” with Ian McDiarmid (Emperor from Star Wars films) playing The Father. OMG, the writer and director of this production twist the show all around and do so many creative things in the second act, it literally took my breath away! As it also did the critics, who are raving about it. If you’re in London, run, don’t walk to see it! And who did we see at the theatre that night? None other than Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman, with director Marc Foster (who directed Hoffman in Finding Neverland and Stranger than Fiction and who’s now putting the finishing touches on the new Bond film). My flatmate and I kept bumping into them before, during and after the show (including Stu seeing him in the ‘loo!) Hoffman is very short (and looking his 70+ years). Alas I did not have my camera with me!
We’ve also been in search of a pub quiz victory after coming in second the last two weeks in a row. I give us first for best quiz team name though. We play at our local, The Nobody Inn, and so we are now known as “Team Nobody Inn their right mind would vote for Sarah Palin!” Nuff said! Needless to say I'm now doubly glad my visa came through because if she and McCain pull off the election, well, I'm staying put across the pond!
