check, check, check

One by one, going through the list to prepare for the big day on Saturday. Although organizing a wedding in 3 months certainly has its advantages by making deadlines shorter and choices more limited. With support from family there has been less hassle than expected though there is still a number of headaches that we had to deal with; from the legal side of being in the country the appropriate number of days to working out what the German guests will do over the weekend!

Most things are now organized or done (from a stag/hen night to the decorations and even to a pre-wedding honeymoon!) and all that awaits is the big day itself.

Three weeks in London flew by with a lot of work and social engagements; a lot of decent beers; and a lot of consideration for the future. Some of the highlights include:

• Flying over London with the plan turning on the wing over which I was seated providing an amazing view of the Olympic Park, Canary Wharf, Millennium Dome and most of central London along the Thames.
• A BBQ on the evening we arrived with the long daylight hours and even some sunshine (the last sun we would see for about two weeks!)
• Getting to see a lot of my parents and my sisters, getting to know the new puppy, seeing my sister's wonderful new-ish house, and driving (for the first time in 18 months)
• Going shopping in real shops that have my size shoes and provide customer service that is helpful without being nagging!
• A fun treasure hunt and comedy night with old friends complete with plenty of alcohol though somewhat surprise and indignation at the behavior of many of the people that were at the comedy club and that wonder the bars of London at night
• Having a day by an outdoor pool in 30 degree weather (the 2nd day in the first 2 weeks to see the sun) and walking around great british countryside drinking great british beers (though i left London the day the great british beer festival started unfortunately!)
• Buying wedding rings - so much easier to buy an engagement ring for someone else to wear than it is to buy a ring for me to wear since i have never worn a ring in my life - and sorting out the details of there ceremony in both languages. 

And the low-lights? well, on the bright side there was not much pollution but there was not much sun. There was a convenient transportation system that was like having a burning cigarette in one's pocket (having a bus system with a standard fare no matter whether you go 3 stops or 30 stops seems stupid especially when the oyster card means the underground is able to work out a variable fare by distance).  And there was Ryan Air. Well, enough said. It's not cheap, it's not cheerful, it's just an example of how to make money every second of the entire customer experience from the orange juice radio advert as soon as you get on the plane to the newspapers you have to pay for and the litter that you need to pick up from the floor yourself and the insane luggage restrictions. If only i'd known beforehand!

On the other hand, the British rail system tends to get fixed before it breaks (though clearly it requires a lot of fixing) unlike the Chinese one, the British media do turn-up some interesting and meaningful stories (on page 19 or something) unlike the Chinese one, and the UK is so incredibly diverse and London so incredibly attractive and vibrant, unlike China.