London calling (January 2016)

I had a short work trip to London in January.  Short because I had to squeeze the trip in between my Tuesday and Thursday lectures.  So I left on Tuesday afternoon and returned on Wednesday evening.

London calling, right?

Workwise, the trip was ok but not great.  I received good feedback at my talk, and I met briefly with the director of the center (where I presented) and with some of the graduate students there.  But I didn't get a chance to meet with any other researchers / faculty, so I didn't spend much time at LSE.

That being said, I still had an enjoyable trip.  I had an enjoyable dinner Tuesday evening at an Indian restaurant.  Graduate students / research assistants may not have a well-developed research agenda to discuss, but they appreciate a free dinner!

View from just outside the Tate Modern

Wednesday morning, I walked over to the Tate Modern.  To be honest, I was disappointed - too modern for my taste.  I like SF MOMA, so I thought I liked modern art.  Still, I enjoyed the works by Piet Mondrian.  Best of all, ORBJ tried to copy / imitate one of his works the next week at school, so I could tell her that I saw one of his paintings.

Quality Parenting right outside the Tate Modern

 Whenever LBJ have a questionable parenting decision (ex: trying to push FABJ in the swing while balancing the stroller with ORBJ, leading to ORBJ falling over in the stroller getting a face full of sand at 9 months old), we call it "QP" for quality parenting.  Apparently parents in London have a place for such parenting (or parents, I'm not sure which).

view of Trafalgar Square from the National Gallery

After the talk, I went to the National Gallery to admire the impressionists and post-impressionists before getting a train to the airport (which was so full that I had to stand!).  Even saw Buckingham Palace on my walk to Victoria Station.

Slightly blurry picture of Buckingham Palace

So I'm glad I visited even if I had hoped for more work-related meetings.  On the other hand, they invited me back to visit again.  I think that June or July is a good time, say when there is tennis going on nearby ...