Just in case I had forgotten the things that are great about being here, I got a reminder of four of them in my first week back!
1st – we spent last Sunday by the pool, enjoying some very warm late summer sun and catching some freckles.
2nd – we hailed a cab to go to brunch and got a whole lot more than we bargained for.
The guy had little spot lights stuck on the ceiling of the cab and a microphone and speakers, all of which he switched on as soon as we were settled in. He then proceeded to serenade me with Italian love songs for the whole journey.
It was so surreal.
The only thing that spoilt it was that he asked for money for the singing, which I thought was all wrong, as we would have given him some anyway when we paid, but instead it felt compulsory.
3rd – I saw a guy roller skating down Broadway in a shiny blue jump suit with long silver streamers flowing behind him in the wind. And no one batted an eyelid.
4th – realizing Simon must have really missed me, because he bought me a gift voucher for a massage. It was pretty brutal, the lady even had to climb onto the couch to sufficiently pummel me, but it was also wonderful.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
God Bless
Oh America, America, the land of opportunity.
In one man's case the opportunity to wear:
Mauve checked shirt - fair enough I guess
Mauve cashmere jumper - thin and fitted, like a girl's
Pink shorts - falling just above the knee with a lovely hem, complete with belt and buttoned back pocket for keeping his wallet in
Brown, shiny, tassled loafers - a very slim cut on his his fairly small feet
The best part was he had pretty slender calves so with the pink and the shine of the shoe he looked like a very hairy drag queen!
And this was on the train on Tuesday, on the way home from work...
In one man's case the opportunity to wear:
Mauve checked shirt - fair enough I guess
Mauve cashmere jumper - thin and fitted, like a girl's
Pink shorts - falling just above the knee with a lovely hem, complete with belt and buttoned back pocket for keeping his wallet in
Brown, shiny, tassled loafers - a very slim cut on his his fairly small feet
The best part was he had pretty slender calves so with the pink and the shine of the shoe he looked like a very hairy drag queen!
And this was on the train on Tuesday, on the way home from work...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Back!!!
I’m back! After such a long, long break that I hardly remember what this is all about.
Anyhoo, I can safely say its good to be back.
I admit I was worried about how I’d feel, having been home and surrounded by loved ones and all things familiar for a month.
But as I crossed the bridge into Manhattan I experienced a welcome sense of belonging.
And of course, waiting for me on the other side of that bridge was the most loved one, who I was so keen to see I would truly have gone anywhere.
Anyhoo, I can safely say its good to be back.
I admit I was worried about how I’d feel, having been home and surrounded by loved ones and all things familiar for a month.
But as I crossed the bridge into Manhattan I experienced a welcome sense of belonging.
And of course, waiting for me on the other side of that bridge was the most loved one, who I was so keen to see I would truly have gone anywhere.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Things that are better in America - shock horror!
I know it may seem unlikely, but there are truly things that have made me wonder why we don’t have them at home.
Duane Reede – its like Superdrug, but you can buy beer there!
Air con on the subway – amazing.
Right filter at red lights – actually really clever and helps keep traffic going. But apparently it only exists in a few places.
Target – ah Target, what can I say? I love it. Its wonderful. My life without it would be empty and meaningless. Or at least I’d have less new clothes about which I can say “I got it in New York”.
This is it for now, but I am sure the list will continue at some point.
Duane Reede – its like Superdrug, but you can buy beer there!
Air con on the subway – amazing.
Right filter at red lights – actually really clever and helps keep traffic going. But apparently it only exists in a few places.
Target – ah Target, what can I say? I love it. Its wonderful. My life without it would be empty and meaningless. Or at least I’d have less new clothes about which I can say “I got it in New York”.
This is it for now, but I am sure the list will continue at some point.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Sun worship
In addition to drinking on roof tops, I have been making use of our building’s roof terrace to sunbathe.
Its only on the 7th floor, so its quite noisy, and its on the wrong side of the building so the penthouses block the sun for much of the day.
But for a couple of hours you can lie out and catch some sun without being surrounded by nine million other people, which is exactly what I did this weekend.
Its only on the 7th floor, so its quite noisy, and its on the wrong side of the building so the penthouses block the sun for much of the day.
But for a couple of hours you can lie out and catch some sun without being surrounded by nine million other people, which is exactly what I did this weekend.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Rise
One of my favourite things about NYC in the summer is definitely being able to eat and drink outside.
And because of the nature of the city, there are plenty of roof terrace bars.
Last night we went to Rise, on the 14th floor of the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park with sweeping views from the newly installed “art waterfall” in Brooklyn, over Lady Liberty, to Jersey.
We sat up there for two hours watching the sun set, despite gale force winds, because the view was spectacular.
Sadly the prices are also pretty spectacular so I wont actually be able to go there ever again!
And because of the nature of the city, there are plenty of roof terrace bars.
Last night we went to Rise, on the 14th floor of the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park with sweeping views from the newly installed “art waterfall” in Brooklyn, over Lady Liberty, to Jersey.
We sat up there for two hours watching the sun set, despite gale force winds, because the view was spectacular.
Sadly the prices are also pretty spectacular so I wont actually be able to go there ever again!
Monday, July 14, 2008
July 4th
I’d had high hopes for July 4th, but it was about as much of a wash out as bank holidays in England.
There was apparently only the one parade, which is odd because they seem to parade every weekend for other stuff, and it was in Brooklyn so we didn’t go.
And then it rained when the fireworks were on so we didn’t bother going out and just watched them from our window.
They were good, but a bit too red white and blue for me.
On Saturday we headed out to Long Island to keep Vicki company, thinking we could hit the beach, except it poured with rain all day.
At 6 when it stopped we whizzed to the beach for a quick beer and then went back to hers for a BBQ.
It was a nice weekend, but nothing crazy.
I sort of wish I had stuck to my plan of walking around with lots of little Union Jacks, sticking them in the ground and re-claiming the land in the name of her majesty.
There was apparently only the one parade, which is odd because they seem to parade every weekend for other stuff, and it was in Brooklyn so we didn’t go.
And then it rained when the fireworks were on so we didn’t bother going out and just watched them from our window.
They were good, but a bit too red white and blue for me.
On Saturday we headed out to Long Island to keep Vicki company, thinking we could hit the beach, except it poured with rain all day.
At 6 when it stopped we whizzed to the beach for a quick beer and then went back to hers for a BBQ.
It was a nice weekend, but nothing crazy.
I sort of wish I had stuck to my plan of walking around with lots of little Union Jacks, sticking them in the ground and re-claiming the land in the name of her majesty.
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