MyGreek Olympics: IET 1

Setup for IET1:

We had issues with the hard lines at first, so David decided to use a wireless system, so we bought the routers and switches and got the hubs and the modem. Twenty five air cards and two transmitters later, the wireless was up. The video wall was installed and configured, tables assembled and workstations installed. Within a few weeks the MOC was up and running. I did a lot of crimping and running wire, trips to the electronic store and long nights getting things to work. David set goals to meet and I met them.

IET1:

We started the finale IET-1 prep and had the wireless network running along with the hard lines. The video wall worked fine as did the other systems, we were ready. On the scheduled day all the company shit heads showed up and the customers as well. We did the presentation and answered the questions. Jay spoke and then Menolis from Q&R spoke, it was not planned and some were upset. He spoke on and on and would not shut up and I could tell Jay was pissed. I didn't have to show any modeling yet and that was good

I drove the computer and video wall, not one else did anything. The corporate shits just stood in the back and watched. The "twig" had originally planned on bringing sandwiches and salad, bought at a store to server for lunch. Jay and the "crew" thought that was stupid, so we arranged to take everyone to Poliathina for lunch. I think this cemented our relation with Vecili and the staff. They must have spent at least 500 Euro on lunch.

I thought it was a bit rocky, but everyone seemed happy at the end. Lots of talk and the committee all seemed to except the test, but this was just an out of the box exercise so we would pass easy, the set up was the hard part. We passed the IET-1, this was the only IET that was passed, no other exercise met the requirements and all others failed. But we got the job done, and this called for a celebration, London style.

London:

A few days after the IET, David and I flew off to London for a long weekend. We got a good hotel near Piccadilly Square and we flew out on a Thursday night, arriving around 9:00pm. David had it all worked out and a list of places to go and things to do. We flew out on an Olympic airliner and I got my first look of what wonderful planes they have. On takeoff, a section of the ceiling luggage compartment came loose and fell part way, the flight attendants didn't seem to care.

Once we landed in London Heathrow, it was through customs and out to get the train into town. David said it was cheaper than taking a cab so off we went. A nice ride, but I couldn't see anything out the window since it was so dark. We arrived at Boddingtons Station and grabbed a cad to the hotel. We wanted to make last orders at a pub so we were a bit worried we wouldn't make it. The cab pulled up to the hotel and to our relief, a pub was across the street.

We checked in and left the bags at the counter, across the street and in a minute had a pint in hand. We had only 20 minutes till last orders so we ordered a second and one for the bar keep. Replenished, we went back to the hotel and settled in. The next day we were going to do the walking tour for the spy tour of London. Up at a normal time, we had some food and went off to meet the group at Piccadilly Square.

The group was the usual sort of holiday types and the guide was a typical elder English type with a suit and a hat. At the start we went off around the corner and he started to talk about people I didn't quite know who they were, David filled me in and then it was clear. The tour wound around the embassy area and ended in a nice little park were the secret documents were changed hands. A nice little pub was near and drinks were in order. We were joined by a few others from the group and we spent a nice hour or so there. Back to the hotel, David needed a nap and I was hunger, though I couldn't really find a place for food that I liked. We were going to get Indian food then take the tube to Hampstead Heath to meet a friend of David's.

We ate at a place off Piccadilly, I ordered Shrimp Vindaloo and the guy was a bit shocked when I said I wanted it really hot. The food arrived and it was hot, really hot. I ate it all and was kind of wishing I didn't get it that hot, but the waiter was impressed that I finished it. Off to the tube and I was glad David knew where to go because I was lost, we found the right tunnel and in about 20 minutes were walking in Hampstead. A drink at a pub, which I couldn't believe David knew was there, and then off to meet his friend. Several pubs later and many pints, a taxi was in order, no tube for the ride home.

The next day we walked down to St. Paul cathedral and across the Millennium Bridge. We climbed to the top of the church had a nice view of the city, the weather was very nice, no rain or clouds. Also we walked around Big Ben and went into the Abby, we thought about going on the big eye, but the line was long and it took one hour to go around.

That night we went back to Hampstead and had Indian food at a place there, not that great and the first pub was not very good. We did find a nice pub or two and had many pints. We stayed out late and the tube stopped running, so we had to get a taxi back. The bad thing was the pubs close at 11 and when we got back, there was nothing to do or drink.

The next day we did the Greenwich walk and took the boat down the Thames. We saw the Cutty Sark in its dry berth and of course this was before it burned. The walk was interesting and the weather was nice for it. We went up to the observatory and looked around and saw the Longitude line. A big crowd was there and lines to go through and see everything, I was surprised how small the place was, but I guess they didn't build large building back then.

We took the tube back to the hotel and of course had one last night of Indian food, the next day we were going back to Athens and back to the fun of the project. The last night was again in Hampstead, this time we met one of David's friends at a pub, many pints of Fullers past our lips. We took a taxi back to town and we managed to get one last pint in at the pub. We flew out in the evening on a late flight and took the train back to the airport, we got back to Athens late, but found the Metropolis open, and drinks finished the trip.