Second annyversary of American adventure

It was November 24 2 years ago when I departed from Moscow to meet my colleagues at Conde Nast headquarters in London. I would love to have skipped this meeting, but , it seemed, my bosses in London learned all of my dirty tricks, so this time they had made all arrangements for me -- hotel, tickets, British visa, etc. There was no way out. I arrived late night and took a quick walk around the downtown. I made sure I know how to walk to VOGUE house at Hanover square to eliminate any possibility of being late next morning. For the sake of traveling lightweight I did not bring any coat which would comliment my dark gray suit, so the walk next morning had to be short and quick in just above freezing temperature.

After realizing that there was nowhere to buy any drinks I returned back to the hotel and tapped into refrigirator with insanely expensive drinks, which had a built-in sensor for every single can or bottle. I paid 12 pounds for 24 hour internet "speed" connection and called my parents by Skype.

That was also when I first learned that there was an ongoing scandal around poisoning Alexander Litvinenko. Obviously Russian press had suppressed the story. My friend Zhenia Yakovleva later found out that I took the exact same plane, which was used to transport radioactive material (Pollonium 210) from Moscow to London.

I prepared my suite for tomorrows meeting, made sure the shirt was not wrinkled and checked that tie knot was simmetrical.

It was time to sleep. I remember wondering why such an expensive hotel couldn't afford a good quality mattress.