Too much

I am just too excited.
In two short hours the number of Oundle girls in NYC is going to go up by 200%!
Yay!

Catskills

In Autumn, so many people go to see the leaves change colour in certain parts of the states that the locals have a name for them – leaf peepers.
So Simon and I decided to go for a peep of our own and I am so glad we did.

It really was spectacular.

I would be the first person to point out that we have Autumn in England too, and the leaves change colour and we are marvelous, but really, this was so much better.
The leaves were so many different colours, from lime to pink, and because the sun was shining they literally looked neon in their brightness.
From a distance the hills looked like they were on fire.

Here is where they fall down. They are called the Catskill Mountains, and I’m pretty sure we climbed up a couple of them in an hour or so, so not really mountains.
But the leaves distracted me from any complaints, they were totally worth the trip.

We stayed in a guest house called Breathe Inn, which is a bit overly hippy for me (we had breakfast all together, at one table, yuck) but was lovely.

As well as several lovely walks up and down hills, along streams and even up a waterfall, we pootled through the little villages, going to Antique shops and flea markets, which is pretty much all that was there!

We went to Woodstock, the actual original one, which was unsurprisingly full of hippies, and Saugerties, where we found an excellent restaurant called Miss Lucy’s.
It was so good that we had to share a pudding, despite being far too full to really be able to eat anything else.

I really have to apologise to America. I always thought it was crazy that so many people here don’t have passports, and half of them have never even left the state they live in.
But we were only in upstate New York and it was like being on holiday.
Even NY, which isn’t a very big state, has everything you could possibly want.
There are lots of beautiful beaches and it gets hot enough to be like being in the South of France, there are hills and pretty countryside for city escapes and there is of course NYC, all within about 3 hours drive.

I can see why people never leave!

Begging

Realising that its only 10 days until my birthday means accepting that its only 9 days until the presidential election.
And that is a frightening, frightening thought given that the only thing people are talking about today is Sarah Palin's ridiculous response to suggestions that spending $150k on her wardrobe is somewhat excessive, especially in this economic climate.

I'm not really sure I can write anything about that woman without laughing because really, are we meant to be taking her seriously??

Anyway, I watched the final presidential debate last week and there are just a few things I need to get off my chest about it and people's reactions to it.

Why is everyone so stuck on this idea of the president being "a man of the people", or "just like me", or "someone I could have a beer with"?
Why on earth would you want to elect a leader who is just like you? You might as well just do the job yourself.
Surely the whole point is that you want your leader to be more than you, better, more eloquent, more intelligent?

So why does McCain keep saying Obama is eloquent as though that is a bad thing?
That should be one of the first things they ask before they even let you run.
Can you string a sentence together? No? Oh sorry, that's the end of the line for you.

Why, given that her son is only 5 months old, is Sarah Palin "more qualified than anyone in America" to know what its like to raise a child with disabilities? I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who have been doing exactly that for years who have more insight than she does.

And don't even get me started on the whole abortion issue.
Since when did pro-choice become pro-abortion? As though its something that we think all women should try just once in their lives, just in case they like it?

I just cant imagine how anyone with more than one brain cell could have watched that debate and come to any conclusion except that they must vote for Obama.

Please America, do the right thing.

Peace out

Reading the paper this morning, I have been reliably informed that old, conservative, white voters have "made their piece" with the idea of a black president.

Well, thank heavens for that.

Flat packed fun

We went to Ikea this weekend, because Simon needed some shelves for work.
I know, its almost too exciting.

But then, it actually was!
There is a brand new Ikea in Brooklyn with a free ferry which runs from the end of our street directly to the shop!!

Much more exciting than trying to deal with the traffic in Pearly Way, Croydon.

Obviously we didnt actually buy any shelves, but we did buy lots of other random bits and pieces we hadnt known we needed until we got there.

And to top it all off I had the world's best sticky bun as a reward for all my hard work shopping.
It was from the horrible canteen on the way out of the shop and I only had it as I was experiencing a severe drop in blood sugar, but it was DELICIOUS.

So from now on, whenever I want a treat, I will take the free ferry to Ikea for a sticky bun.
Living the high life in NYC!