Blight

Working at the Big House

Now generally I don't like to write about my employer, and I only mention my job in bits and bobs... but I have to share the amazing manor house that he has out in the English country side.

Surrounded by forested groves, large sheep enclosures, murders of crows, and twisty little roads, this mansion is as full of history as it is impressive to look at.

Originally built sometime around 1720 (Wikipedia says: "built by William Heathcote between 1721 and 1724") it was remodelled and restored in 1902 to be what you see in the photo above. It has been used as a military hospital during WWI and WWII, and during WWII it served as the R&D birthplace of the Spitfire!

The Hursley House is an impressive place, although I can't imagine what someone could do to fill 3 stories and hundreds of large rooms. The heating bill must be pretty severe in the winter too, or at least it would be in Canada.

Despite the horrible jet lag I have been suffering for the majority of this week, I have had a great experience working with business partners from many different countries: Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland, England, India, etc. They were pleased when they found out that despite my accent, I am Canadian and not American. I can tell that G.W. has not done much to improve the image of the US abroad.

Tomorrow after my conference is finished I will explore Winchester and maybe check out the cathedral used in the Da Vinci Code movie.

Saturday morning sees me return to Toronto. Boy do I really miss my bed... because this one feels like a 500 lb man was jumping on it. Seriously, I'm rolling into the middle of the bed its so saggy. It's almost like being in a hammock.

But I'm so sleepy and tired now that nothing can stop me from catching my Zs.

Labels: business trip

posted by Blight @ 6:07 PM