Greetings from York - I'm off to London again...

[curiouswombat]

Greetings from wet and windy York. I came over on Sunday, and brought D-d back after her half-term week at home, so I’ve had a couple of days to do some Christmas shopping, and hang out with my daughter, very restful.

Tomorrow, however, the excitement happens! I leave here on a train about 10.30 in the morning to go to London – arrive about 12.30 and go to a hotel just off Oxford Street, where I meet up with three colleagues from work – my ‘support team’! One of them, and I, plan a wander up and down Oxford Street, then I will toddle back to the hotel, have a wee rest, and then put on my glad-rags as it is the night of the Nursing Times Awards Dinner, at the Hilton on Park Lane.

I really don’t expect to win my class, but it will be quite an experience to go to the event. It is a dinner, the awards, and then dancing and ‘networking opportunities’ (Ugh!) till 1a.m. Then back to the hotel where we stay, grab a few hours sleep, and then the other three fly home on Thursday morning and I get a train back to York, back here to the Holiday Inn (only 500yards from D-d’s place) for another night, dinner with D-d, and then drive up to Heysham for the Friday afternoon boat home.

I really, really, hope the weather will have improved by then…

As for the posh-frock dinner… yes, there will be photos – I have even borrowed D-d’s camera as it fits into my small handbag better than mine does.

And I promise I’ll post to say how I got on.

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, have fun! Cannot wait to see pics!

And I love the fact that I know someone who uses the word "frock".

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you .

An oh - this is most certainly a posh frock, not just a dress...!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Oooh, good luck!! And have a lovely time. Fingers crossed for better weather...

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It should be one of those once-in-a-lifetime events - I'm not usually a posh-frock in very upmarket venues sort of person...

[jerusha]

Good luck! I hope you have a lovely time.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It should be quite a do - I am setting off expecting it to be fun, anyway!

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

Have a wonderful time! Can't wait to hear all about it...

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to it - I only have to work out how to get my pre-booked train ticket in the morning, and then get to The Mostyn where the four of us are staying - after that I'm leaving it up to everyone else to get me to the Event!

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Best of luck! Frocks and awards sound like fun, even if networking is indeed yuk. I hope you get a nice high up room with views of the park!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping the Director of Nursing, who is coming as one of my cheer leaders, will do any networking required and I can just sit and quietly drink too much wine.

If it is one of those rooms at the very top I'll have trouble going too close to the windows without feeling dizzy! Still, it'll be dark so a lot of lights should be spectacular without obviously being a long way up in the air.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah! It's just so cool that you're getting to do this. Congratulations again! Looking forward to the pictures!

Though I categorically refuse to think about it being time to do christmas shopping...

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Christmas shopping was how I justified a couple of days in York to myself... also cheaper to stay in a nice hotel here than in London and a much cuter and historic city centre - so better to shop here than have extra days in London to shop!

[wormwood-7.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I hope you enjoy the posh frock dinner.

[gillo]

Have a fabulous time - my fingers will be firmly crossed for you!

[infinitemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Good luck and have fun.

(You know there's a tube strike tomorrow, yes? I hope it's all posh frocks and taxis for you, but if it's not, the TfL website is worth a quick squint)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Fortunately I'd allowed myself plenty of 'wandering aimlessly around Oxford Street' time - so although the strike slowed me down it didn't have any serious effect - but thank you so much for thinking of it and pointing out where I could find information.

[kathyh]

Best of luck and have a wonderful time :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I had a good time - I've just posted some pictures.

[clodia-metelli.livejournal.com]

Oooh, how exciting! I hope you have a great time! Looking forward to hearing all about it. :D

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I've just posted some pictures.

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

Good luck! Dance that dress for all it's worth!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I didn't do a lot of dancing, to be honest, but had a good time - I've just posted some pictures.

[jay-of-lasgalen.livejournal.com]

Good luck! Have a great time, and enjoy the posh-frock dinner.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It was certainly a memorable event - I've just posted a few pictures.

[deborahw37.livejournal.com]

Ohh how exciting! Congratulations on getting to the finls, fingers crossed that you win

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Didn't win, but genuinely not upset - getting there was pretty cool!

Have just posted a few pictures.

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

According to the weather forecast, the winds should have eased a bit (12 - 15) by Friday and be accompanied by light drizzle.

Have an absolutely fabulous time in London and a lovely relaxing few days with The Daughter.

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

It's tomorrow and you should be safely back in York.

Looking forward to the picspam.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful time - win or not win. :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It was fun - I've just posted a few pictures.

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

Ooh er - the Park Lane Hilton, no less. I go past it every day on the bus but do not aspire to actually enter the portal. (And all the people who get off my bus to enter there are clearly the cleaners and waiting staff.)

Good luck with your award!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Very swish place - footmen by the acre and chandeliers the size of a small car!

My colleague made the mistake of going to one of the bars for a glass of wine - and then sat shaking her head and muttering "£9.50 for a glass of wine..." at regular intervals for the rest of the evening...

PS - didn't win, but a memorable evening for sure!

[shirebound]

I hope you have fun, and have great weather and a safe trip.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It was a really good trip - nice shopping and daughter time in York (one of my favourite places), and a memorable event in London - I've just posted a few pictures.

[lilachigh.livejournal.com]

Have fun!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I did!

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the awards and the networking!

(And I hope the food's good!)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I managed to avoid any networking - but did chat to some really nice lasses from Alder Hey - and the food was pretty good - especially the pudding! I've just posted a couple of pictures.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you - didn't win, but wasn't disappointed, to be honest. The food was nice, anyway, and there was free champagne...

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Have a wonderful time, and I'm rooting for you whether you think it's wasted effort or not. *g*

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I had a lovely time, and was not upset when someone else won - just enjoyed the atmosphere, the dinner, and the free champagne!

[evilawyer.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you - it was good fun - and there was free champagne...

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your daughter, shopping, your support team, and your special evening. I know your expectations are low, but, as they say, it is a tremendous honor being nominated.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I was really pleased to be nominated and reach the finals - and had a good evening - I have a feeling that actually winning might have generated more work!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

t was a very good night - I've just posted some pictures.