Snarebrook Station on Central Line in East London Walthamstow
Another trip in England, or more specifically, London and Hampshire, as always.
East London – Olympics effect and refreshing my attitude
Talking about East London, my memory was merely Burberry factory store, and that used to be the only reason i came to this area of London, a decade ago. Hackney, White Chapel, these places are infamous because of poor security conditions and the renowned criminal cases. But i still chose here this time to spend five nights, apart from relatively economic room rates compared to central London or west part, the curiosity and exploration were the main triggers and above all, this is where Ben lives and from. i would like to know more about this area, thus to know more about him.
The view along train line
Recalling last year Alex and I met at Blackfriars train station, assuming that is a quite typical transit station for those living at outskirts of London. I travel here to Brighton – where Stuart lives
Seagull was very strong and rude – noisily over the city’s sky. With a cloudy and windy weather, seaside view was not very nice.
Street photographers’ heaven
It is a longtime since last i took a physical camera on travel. And do find London is an ideal place for street photographer. Not only the famous skyline or buildings, but in much details, also the weather – cloudy sometimes make the light easier.
Analytics – a maritime history
Visited Canary Wharf again, and West India Quay to the London Museum Maritime branch, used to be a warehouse. Intersting the ‘ledgers house’ beside it now become a very good pub place, spatial and providing breakfast and gaming machines.
The most impressive part of the museum was the facts of merchant shipping in the past centuries – where people are so passionate in exploring and earn money but at the same time make lots of innovations and science and technologies breakthrough creations.
Regeneration of Power Station
Battersea Power Station was only known to me for Pink Floyd’s album cover – Animal, but now i am aware how significance this power station had been to British and London people. At peak capacity it served 1/5 of London power including supply to Buckingham Palace and Parliament.
Fleet Street – Commercial centre out of maritime trade
The Strand Twinings flagship store is a signpost of trading hub back three centuries, when R Twining was a tea and coffee merchant – typical commodities from the east; the building next to them is a bank. Trade and Finance were always twining together and just opposite on the street was the Court of Justice. in a wider sense the entire Fleet Street, as also noted in Peter Ackroyd’s book, London – a bibliography, was busy commercial place. And from here, I walked just a few minutes to reach St. Paul which is in the City of London.
Community Football – Leyton Orient
Football is something never could be missed out in England. During the week i visited, three big matches with Tottenham Spurs, and UEFA Championship semi-finals are all on; but also a last week for England EFL Championship league that will determine the promotion seats to Premier League next season. And this is more genuine football.
Also accidentally visited Leyton – where i know this club locates, Surprisingly even such a small club’s tour visit was fully booked if not in advance I don’t have the chance to enter the pitch. Their fan store is open and is the only place i can look around. Interestingly the ‘set’ of fan souvenir though not as mega as those big clubs, still quite decent.
The town of Leyton was only included in London borough back in 1960s. A very typical rural London place, obviously it is different from London city centre, but also not resemble where I lived – Hampshire.
Andover, I am back!
Finally, I took my own way back to Andover, and right to where my home was – Garden Close. Seems the suite is now vacant, reflecting the recession and deteriorating condition of local commercial and prosperity.
Bus 85 along the way were so familiar views of greenfield, with solar panels that i had not noticed a decade ago.
Merchant Navy in the vine – Docklands and Canary Wharf
A heritage maritime from the memorial plaza at Tower Hill and it is the first time i carefully read the words there – the peoples and the ships they are on board – all have their names on the wall.
From here taking DLR 20 min i’ll be arriving back at Canary Wharf. Compared to last time visiting London, I start to like this place better even though the wharf area is so modern, with no hints of the london landscape as familiar by public. But the ever growing and evolving nature is exactly London and representing the future and DNA of this massive and vibrant city.
所以，相比“KPI驱动”性质的出差之余，更大的价值或许就在于走走看看，去体验不同的社会文化、自然地理，连接促进认知。驱车珀斯途中，Martyn聊起他的生活经历，出生在西澳、在美国居住了20年、苏格兰又是三五年、回到澳洲后又有一年每月往返一次日本等等；回程去机场途中偶遇了一位在上海待了27年的能化产业挪威人，蹭了免费的出租倒是不算啥，听他讲述在中国的经历更为有趣，也是为数不多我听到一个西方人说“与中国的Gov打交道特别容易”，说他已经完全适应了在中国做生意，一开始会有些摩擦，但当搞清楚“套路”便颇有一种如鱼得水的感觉。他也夸赞中国人很聪明、勤奋，但也指出相比欧美人更善于“大局设计”，中国人更关注细节。并且，中国人习惯于遵循别人告诉他们做什么，需要引导他们自发做主。可能从这个意义上，我就不属于特别典型的中国人，因为总是自说自话，do things without being told what to do.
今天收到了DFDS的反馈，虽然SCC和我已经关系不大，但见到这些日子以来的没有放弃，有一些正面反馈，还是有些欣慰。我和Matthew说真是一个漫长的对话啊，他说Ben和他提过，”let’s make it worthwhile!” 他说的是事实，或许我比Matthew更对这个CASE有感情，因为DFDS才认识了Ben，非常遗憾他的离开，但看到他现在在新公司过得还愉快，哪怕那是我们每天都在说的竞争对手公司，我依然高兴。
最近关心我这块业务的客户多了起来，仔细想想，名称变了又变了，最终大家要的不就是maritime and trade，当时的部门名称已经明明白白。内心依然感叹，资本就是喜欢折腾，而在折腾中，只会流失一些宝贵的东西。现在回想过去四年，真是有太多太多的变化，不经意间。又来只有新人笑，又一年的TPM落下帷幕，热闹的背后，有多少看不见的落寞。
过去一周，MI那边风起云涌，陆续有人被laidoff，听说两周内裁了四百人。人人自危的时刻。周五晚上，收到邮件Tim也被离开公司，并且生效很快，只会待到两月中旬。虽然大规模裁员的确不是新闻，然而听到这个消息的时候，回想起过去不经意间流逝的四年，和Tim作为上下级、却始终如朋友般相处的种种，仍旧悲伤；第二天大清早还在被窝里就给他发了消息，他说的确是很艰难的一周，但I’m glad for one it’s here，并且马上约了下周Catchup，忍不住有些眼红。虽然CI暂时已经结束了这种大规模的动作，今年看上去业务也会比较繁忙。但见到自己曾经的部门如此，特别是招我进入IHS的上司如此，百感交集。
去年我要转岗，他很支持，但我知道他说起“今后我要把你再招回来”，我其实很乐意。他曾经不止一次说过 你是我最喜欢的同事 you are my favourite colleague, my most susccussful recruit。我说你们美国人习惯了夸张直接啊。但依然很感激，也是值得付出。哪怕换组之后，也保持着时不时的交流。哪怕是上周，还在说起他终于拿到了预算，第三季度能够来亚太。只是变化太多，我们都只是公司的棋子，不应该的年代，都无法摆脱人世间的悲哀。
和BP隔三岔五还是会聊聊天，距离在伦敦的那个时候过去了半年，却好像一个世纪，也许是这段时间发生了太多事，过得跌宕起伏，才会如此怀念那种温暖和心有希冀的感觉吧。他说，新同事很nice，但none like you，哪怕是故意说的好话，也是心领而让人高兴了。有时候不知道是想念他，还是想念那段充满希望的日子。只确定，我现在的确真心在支持托特纳姆热刺。
如果用工作为维度，今年正好可以分为两半。上半年在市场财智，下半年在大宗商品。其实工作的内容很大程度上一脉相承，当然侧重和方式会有些不一样。但一以贯之的都是航运和贸易。只是原本Stuart领导的业务部门被拆分了，我自然有些遗憾。但正如他说，很多事情没有办法“have to be”，也是一丝无奈吧。其实换岗的确纠结，但很多选择也许都是一种对当时情况的隐藏不安，或许远离之后距离产生美，会时不时怀念，但也许人挪活，依然坚信当下感受到的挑战终究会被纠正、和那“应当如何”的情形终究会实现的吧。而上半年在MI的忙碌和混乱，很大程度上也来自于2023年是第一个合并后业务开始整合的年度，尤其是当ECR和MT合并、斯图亚特离开后，不仅直面的人员变化需要磨合，产品和销售模式也在摸索中，而又是疫情后市场活动报复式复苏的阶段，的确很累。同时，Tim那边的供应链产品，尽管我知道自己很容易上手，也是种特别感兴趣跨国企业的供应链，但无奈大环境和我所在的位置，很难实际去支持更多的客户，或是开启那些有关“供应链转移”的话题。只是希望今后仍有机会，和Tim继续共事，因为供应链不仅仅有他们在设计产品之初关心的那些User Case。而当终于在忙忙碌碌中匆忙结束在MI的工作，下半年换到大宗商品后，任务也更为繁重，更有一种“孤军奋战”的感觉，也更有对比地感受到在两家公司合并后，彼此之间尚存在很多很多难以调和和摩擦，某种程度上有些“互相看不对眼”。好在就我个人而言，这种感觉并不陌生，当时金桥和闵行同属ABF但文化迥异、互相有很多猜测，后来EP和AOC恩怨情仇，各种风格环境中待过许多次。一以贯之地是，当意识到无论周边如何、无论IHS和PLATTS有多不同，依然坚持用自己的方式“做自己认为对的事”，不去多纠结，也就渐渐坦然了。只是比较少有时间去如过去2年那样写一些Insight，也是有些遗憾，希望明年能够有一些静下心来的时刻，继续这一我能够沉浸入心流的工作。
