9 Things I Had Forgotten About Working in London

I was very excited yesterday to start work with a new client, who have some interesting challenges around a rapidly approaching website relaunch. While I usually work with more local companies, this one meant me travelling further afield from rural South Oxfordshire into the City, and working in an open office environment instead of in my home office.

It’s a while now since I have been in a London office, and while it was lovely to get back in the saddle, there were lots of things I had forgotten about working in London which were making me smile as I reflected on the way home.

Some of those things you will recognise, dependent on how and where you work, here’s my list:

• Other people’s armpits – busy tube trains and it wasn’t even Summer!


• Comedy ties – a lovely herd of comic cows on a fellow homebound traveller


• Daft office banter – such an important part of the day but a potential distraction when you have a limited time and a lot to do – keeping my head down and not joining in quite a challenge


• Disorientation – I didn’t visit London until I was 19 (being from Manchester I really didn’t need to), so I don’t understand the geography, I get to where I am going but don’t know where I am


• So many people – even when Watlington isn’t on half term I wouldn’t see that many people in a month or even 6 months


• Realising halfway through a meeting I am using a Disney pen and the person I am talking to has just noticed – too much working from home!


• Running to catch a train that didn’t let me on – I’m sure they closed the doors just as I was about to step on it on purpose


• The only interesting content in a free paper is the adverts


• Time taken to get there and back – this was the downside, car, train, tube, tube, walk and then reverse – luckily I was well looked after with tea on the table and cuddles when I got home

By the time you read this I will be head down focused on adding as much value as I can in the time I have with this client, smiling as I plan out my time at home and my next trip out of my comfort zone.