Spring

It's that time of year again when I start to hate the weather in this country. Don't get me wrong, I like Autumn, Winter and Summer, it's just Spring that doesn't take my fancy.

The reason is simple. How do you dress in the Spring? You wake up to beautiful sunshine so decide to wear a skirt and take a light jacket with you. At midday, it's snowing and when it's time to go home, you have to swim through the pouring rain. Grr...


There are good things about Spring though. Well, when I say things I mean thing. I love daffodils! They're the most improbable flower ever and I won't forget the first time that I saw one poking out of the ground of my high school. I'd seen the pictures, but couldn't quite believe they were true until I saw them in real life. Nice.

And daylight. After growing up in a country where the sun sets at the same time all year around (ok, there is about a half hour deviation) it's nice to have the sun set later and later during the spring. Gives you more time in the day and a spring (sic) in your step.

OxPEN 2006

Yesterday I attended the 2nd Annual Oxford Private Equity Network Conference held at SBS. As I've missed out on the Private Equity course this term, I thought it would be a shame to get an MBA without having formed an opinion about Private Equity. I'm very glad I went, it was a very interesting conference with an entertaining keynote speaker, Guy Hands, founder of Terra Firma and superb panelists.

The thing that did interest me was the thought that once a PE firm buys a company, one of the things that they do is look closely at the existing management and sometimes replace them. This means that there is a need for good managers who will go into a distressed firm, turn it around, establish new managers to take over from them and move on to the next firm.

A very appealing career prospect... hmmm...

Trinity

Well, back to the books. I had my first Negotiations class this morning.

Feels like I never left.

Guided tour

My friend Paul (who is also doing an MBA at Oxford) very kindly gave me a guided tour around San Francisco. I've always said that the best way to see a place is with someone who is local to the area. Paul has lived in SF since he was 16 so is pretty much as local as you can get!

The city of San Francisco is very local in nature. Like London, it consists of a number of different and distinct areas which have grown and become one city. Unlike London, San Francisco has managed to keep that very local, community feel in each area. Large franchises are barely tolerated and small shops are encouraged. Overt advertising is non-existent and everywhere you go is clean and well maintained. Have I mentioned that I love this place?

We did do a few touristy things as well. This is a picture of me with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. After touring the city, we crossed the bridge and drove around for a bit. It was amazing how close beautiful countryside was to the city and we even spotted some wild deer roaming around (you can just about see the deer on the picture so I didn't post it - but it was there, honest!).

Then around one corner, we happened across this...

I don't know about you but I'm going to be super careful the next time I say anything against the large, well known, athletic shoe manufacturer...

The day ended with a scrummy tuna steak and a trip up to the top of the tallest building in the city for a cocktail while we admired San Francisco at night. From the 52nd floor you couldn't tell the height of the hills of the city and you could see from Oakland to Alcatraz. Beautiful.

San Jose
Today I've taken four different forms of public transportation, a taxi, streetcar, underground metro and train (see picture below) as I headed to San Jose.


Tomorrow I fly out of San Jose to LA and then on to London and away from this great place. I can honestly say that I have surprised myself at how much I have liked it here. Hmmm....

The city that knows how

This week in San Francisco, they have been remembering the great earthquake of 1906 which totally leveled the city... not really something you want to think of when you're staying on the 17th floor of your hotel.

Being a tourist
I've had an interesting time so far in this city. Yesterday, after meeting up with a friend of a friend at a lovely cafe on Union St, I decided to take the cable car back into the centre of the city. It's a totally tourist experience but lovely none the less. The streets in San Francisco are just like in the movies and the cable cars go up and down these super-steep hills! The views were really incredible and beautiful - it was lovely to be in a city by the sea again.


It really does exist
This is a special photo for all those on the MBA course with me - and the store is pretty good too!

San Francisco

I really like San Francisco.

After a stopoff in Santa Clara in the middle of Silicon Valley (I saw where eBay and Yahoo make their home), I continued down Highway 101 to have my first sight of the city of San Francisco!

Just up from the Giants baseball stadium is my lovely hotel, complements of Marriott points earned in my previous job (I knew there were some benefits to being a Consultant).

As I was trying to find some parking for my car - impossible, I ended up driving around SF in the pouring rain. Those of you who know me well will be aware of my slight phobia of bridges, which is why I had a tiny moment of panic when I took this picture.

The San Francisco Bay bridge is not as famous as its counterpart, the Golden Gate bridge which I will attempt to see (though not drive over) today.

I had dinner with some friends of a friend from my course who is also in SF at the moment. It was so nice to meet some real people who live and work here and pretty cool to chat techie stuff with people who work in the Silicon Valley. Really great people.

I really like San Francisco.

Highway 1

So the plan for (what day was yesterday?) was to explore SLO for a bit then head up Highway 1 to Santa Cruz by nightfall.

San Luis Obispo was picture perfect. The sun was shining, birds were chirping and there was spring in the air. So, California's thing is the prolifiration of Mission buildings - built by Father Junipero Serra, there are found everywhere along the Californian coast. The mission at SLO is still in use (there was a funeral that was just finishing when I went) and the museum attached gives you an idea of what life would have been like for the monks and others who lived there.


For the rest of the day, I'm going to let the pictures tell the tale (i.e. I am tired and I need to go to bed)
California has so many beaches!
Hearst Castle - not a real castle in the classical sense, but a castle none the less.
Bet you've seen this scene in at least one movie!
The wildlife are friendly.
Oops!

I did spend the next 5 hours going all the way back, almost to SLO before getting on another highway bound for SF. I don't regret taking the Highway 1 route though, it was a beautiful, memorable experience. One day I will see the Big Sur.

San Luis Obispo

Hi from Central California! I'm currently in the city of San Luis Obispo which is known affectionately by the residents as SLO (pronounced slow). I got here last night and booked myself into the Peach Tree Inn. A sweet little place which is clean and not too expensive and offers the all important free wireless internet access!

SLO is a beautiful little town which I can't wait to explore this morning once I've finished posting this so I'm going to be brief.

Driving up the coast
California gets more and more beautiful as I drive up the coast towards my destination, San Francisco. Here's a picture of the beach at Santa Monica.


Maps
I don't know why they bother to print maps in this country when they are so far removed from reality. I got completely lost yesterday in Los Angeles which is great when you're on holiday! I happened across the Warner Brothers and Sony Studios totally by chance - how often in your life can you say you did that? I also glimpsed the Hollywood sign through the pouring rain.

Other views from Los Angeles (aka Hollywood)

Marriott hotels
Having amassed an extraordinary number of Marriott points from my previous life, I am staying at one Marriott or another for most of my trip. I have now decided that Mariott hotels the world over are exactly the same. I don't know if it is to provide a sense of constancy for a business traveller or to freak them out when they wake up in the same room but different city.

California, here I come!

There are 7 hours and 13 minutes to go until I get on the plane to California and I can't wait! After 3 solid months of working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, it's time for a break.

The plan
This plan is subject to a total rehall at a moments notice :)

• Fly into Los Angeles, meet up with my friend Cat and stay the night.
• Pick up car in the morning and drive up the coast following Highway 1 (I have the Lonely Planet Highway 1 guide)
• Arrive in San Francisco on Friday afternoon
• Go to a party of a friend of a friend on Friday night
• explore San Francisco over the weekend
• Head to San Jose on Tuesday
• Stay night in San Jose
• Fly to LA then back to London on Wednesday

Next blog update?
My hotel in SF kindly offers free high-speed internet access in all its rooms so I'm hoping to get the chance to next update then. Look out for my Californian adventures.

6 hours 59 minutes to go...

THE boat race

Tens of thousands of people line the banks of the river Thames every year to watch the famous boat race between Oxford and Cambridge. I normally (sometimes) watch it on the telly however this year we headed into the Big Smoke to cheer our team on.


We were treated to a typical British spring day, and by that of course, I mean that warm bright sunshine followed chilling torrential downpours and the Thames seemed more swollen than usual.

All that seemed to work for rather than against the Oxford dark blues as they crossed the finish line in 18 minutes 26 seconds, 5 lengths ahead of the Cambridge light blues.

We are doing so well this year, go Oxford!

Catchup with friends
The race was a good laugh but the best part of yesterday was catching up with some friends in London who I haven't seen for some time. Seeing Kate who is almost 8 months pregnant for the first time... the next time I see her she will be a mother! Richard, Charlotte and Petra, thanks for coming out to meet me.

My brother visits
So, I was working in the library on Saturday afternoon and I got a call from my brother who said "hey, we're in Oxford, where are you?". Jean-Marc (my little brother) and a friend of his were in town so I met up with them and took them around some of the colleges then on to the Turf for some food where this picture was taken.

It's really nice to have close family in the same country with you, I haven't had that in a while.

Off on holiday
Tomorrow I fly to California for a much needed break from the bubble that is Oxford. I am really looking forward to spending some time in the Bay area. If you're there and would like to meet up then drop me an e-mail, I'd love to see you there.

Jamaica's First Woman

The swearing in ceremony of Jamaica's first female prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller took place on Friday, 30th March. She is Jamaica's 7th prime minister, 60 years old and a Harvard graduate.

I found a webcast of the ceremony on the Jamaica Information Service site - proof that Jamaica is moving into the 21st Century. It's quite a momentous occasion for Jamaica and the Caribbean. As a matriarchical society, women in Jamaica have always played a large part in the life and growth of the country. 70% of university students in Jamaica are women, and close to 50% of the workforce is female.

Have a read through some of the articles written on the event:

• Jamaica Gleaner
• BBC
• USA today

Portia even has a Wikki entry!

Well done.