This is summer... really?

Seriously, on sunny days here it has gotten a little warm (25C or about 77) but overall its still chilly at night. Its kind of crazy but its England. This weeks prjected high will be about 76 (about 25) and lows at night will be in the low 50s (low teens) and windy... And rain is an ever present threat, well more of a promise. Four weeks in the US in July and August will probably have me wishing I was here in the relative cool.

So things have been fairly quiet lately. Work has had me running around random bits of England for the majorith of the last 4 weeks. I spent a few days in places such as Wigan and Pinxton (basically hours north in the middle of nowhere) and a little training at our facility in High Wycombe (more about that in a second) and most of two weeks in Portsmouth (a poor man's Norfolk, VA). Also I was lucky enough two have two friends from UNC come through town and was able to catch up with them. Holiday wise I am at the mercy of work, until my schedule is more concrete for the next few weeks, I am hesitant to plan anything. Which, of course is drastically reducing the opportunities before I return to the US.

Our training facility, with the hig brow, posh name of Bradenham Manor, is also in the middle of nowhere about 30/40 minutes north of London in High Wycombe. Its a beautiful, old manor house where they have built some decent housing in separate buildigns in the back. It is a National Trust building that teh company leases to use as a training center. It's got the stereotypical English features, gardens, outdoor chess (almost life size?) a little chapel and great views of the countryside. So its pretty boring. I managed to get lost in the local area when I went for a run and tried to take the bridle and foot paths back... Thankfully the manor is tall and I finally saw its chimneys and roof, right as I was starting to run by it. But all in all its not a bad place, but for more than 2 days - I might go crazy.

Work had me down south west of London in Portsmouth. Its a seaside town with a very large Royal Navy presence. There are several bases and other installations. I did get to go out and visit one of them as a friend from my tour in Egypt was stationed there from the New Zealand Navy.

I did have two friends from UNC come through London. One with work and one with his wife for a family wedding. It was good to see them both and hopefully showed them a good night out with dinner and a pub or two.

I know I have been remise with pictures... not sure when I posted any was, but I haven't really taken any lately. Once the internet at my flat is resolved, I will attempt to rectify that.

In other news the British and Irish Lions have started their test series (best of 3 games) against South Africa. After winning all 6 of their warm up games they lost the first of the series 26-21. Cricket is all over the tv as the summer tests and 20/20 matches are played and unfortunately soccer is still everywhere, I think its the world cup qualifiers but I am so tired of hearing about soccer I try to ignore it most of the time.