Clocking on

Today was the first day on the job. We've been fortunate in that I've had two good weeks to settle the family and find a home before needing to work.

So it was off to London this morning for a customer meeting. In preparation last night I studied the southwest trains and London underground network maps and timetables. The most direct route suggested was Windsor-Eaton Riverside (station on the Thames and next to the Castle) changing at Richmond for the "Underground" at then on to Holborn. This journey takes a little over 1:15 mins and leaves Windsor at 7:20am.

The colleague staying with me in Windsor picked me up at 7am. We had arranged this earlier as the forecast for the next four days was rain. As it turned out this morning was clear blue sky. A little ironical but then again England has very changeable weather.

Its only about a five minute drive to the station. On foot its about 10 minutes so I'll be legging it most times.

Arriving we purchased an all day Travelcard. This allows travel from Windsor to London and then all day travel on the London metro network of Underground and buses. But at 18.50 GBP its not cheap. (Just don't convet to Aussie dollars are you're OK).

An advantage of Windsor is that its a terminus. So the carriages were mostly empty. The seats are well designed for longer journeys and have small fold down tables that can be used to perch your laptop on. Handy. Leaving on time we headed for Datchet. Not long out of Windsor we're passing through fields. I noticed a lot of rabbits munching on grass under trees.

Although we planned to get off at Richmond we decided to go all the way in to Waterloo. The idea being that there are lots more route options from there in the event that there are tube problems. So we arrived at Waterloo on time at about 8:20am. This is an international terminal. Three Eurostar trains were lined up at platforms.

changing to the tube was very easy. Although the underground it a web each line is colour coded and you quickly get used to the subterranean navigation. And at peak there are plenty of services - and plenty of people! The only hitch was a breakdown at Holborn causing about a 10 minute delay on the line. We were running a little ahead of time so we didn't let it bother us. Arrived on the customer site at exactly 9am. Not bad!

The meeting was successful so we headed for some lunch and then in to one of many company buildings in and around London. As it turns out this was is the new HQ and I can say it was very swish.

We wrapped up in town about 4:30pm and headed for the tube to beat the rush. Arriving back in Waterloo we just missed the Windsor train. Its about a 30min wait for the next one. I think next time we'd head to Richmond as this it further out and lets us catch up with the earlier train. And it seems that the Windsor trains at this time of day are not crowded.

We approached Windsor through the fields with a lovely view of the Castle lit up in the afternoon sun. Alighting the train at 6pm we walked back home circuiting the Castle. Its very relaxing to be in a place like Windsor after the bustle of London. But then that's why we were attracted here.

My day doesn't stop here. Its some more work tonight and then off to Bracknell tomorrow morning.