"It's like Mecca.."

So, today Sam had to go into work, which left me in NYC on my own, well that was until I arranged to meet Nina.
I havent Known Nina as long as I have known Sam but she is a very good friend. We were to meet in Grand Central station at 10am, by the big clock. Apparently it is traditional to meet people here. Grand Central is an amazing train station, i was admiring the architecture when this strange lady showed up and just gave me a hug. It took me a couple of seconds to place, seeing as I had only ever seen Nina like, once before on Cam, that I can remember. So I was pleasantly surprised by the hug. I also secretly hoped that I was right else, if not, this strange woman was getting a good hug from a stranger, but as it turned out....

It was awesome to finally meet Nina, we were originally intending to spend thanksgiving with her but, seeing as those plans were made a year ago, things changed for one reason or another, so I had really hoped we had gotten to at least meet.

We decided to go get some coffee in Grand Central's coffee house just outside GCS. Where upon we had a great chat about my time in NY and I gave Nina her gifts, a panda puppet because she love pandas and some Dino related items for her son.

We had planned out day out a few days previously and our first stop would be the Museum of Sex, well, just because its there right? It meant a trip to the other side of town, which meant either an expensive cab right or, which was new to me, a subway ride. The subways are an experience, although much like the london underground, not much to tell there, truth be told.

The Museum had a bar! It served cocktails and, well we just wanted a taste but I ended up having two. The Museum its self wasnt bad, quite informative and we did have a chuckle on the way round, saw some rather interesting items on display...

These are ballet boots! Um although not sure exactly HOW one dances in such boots. I just thought they were pretty *chuckles* Moving along..!

I am not gonna say much about this next photo except, apparently they DO breed.... occasionaly, with a little visual aids.

Lets leave this part of our day now shall we?

Next, we headed to Senandipidy, however we thought we would get a pizza in a restaurant and just get a chocolate in Senandipidy. We wanted the trade mark Frozzzen hot chocolate but on reading the menu, i wanted this....

Yes that is a very expensive Sundae.  However i doubted Nina would lend me enough money for that and besides, i hadnt reserved 48 hours in advance so, what am i to do? We ordered two trademarked hot chocolates and some pie. These shortly arrived!

Yeh, needless to say, we never managed to get through eating all that. I nearly died through chocolate overdose! They were delicious though.
We were intending to go for a pony cart ride around central park, yes i know, sounds like a romantic day in NY huh? however the powers that be had other ideas and rained on us, so we decided not to take the pony ride and try to get back to the hotel.
However, like a dumbass and perhaps in my excitement of the morning, I forgot to make a note of our hotel's address, so we ended up at the wrong one.
We eventually made it back to our hotel, where Nina met Sam. After a wonderfully entertaining chat we headed off to a bar, we found a place called Tobacco road. It was close and we entered only to find the barmaids in Bikinis! So... not such a bad place after all.. *laughs*

After a few drinks, Nina had to go catch her train and get ready for work in the morrow.  I tried to persuade her to stay out a little longer but i feel, no matter how long she had decided to stay, I would of still asked for more. I was sorry to see her go, I set her off in a Taxi and was very sad to watch it drive away. I was pleased to have met her, I wish we had longer and I hope, one day, we can meet again. She is a wonderful woman.

A little sad, Sam decided i needed cheering up, so we took a Cab to a club called 'Sapphire', an expensive club where apparently your not allowed to take pictures... Im saying no more, except i was smiling when I came out!

It was past midnight and we fancied one last drink and a little snack. While wandering back to the hotel we came across The Albert Hall Tavern. It was a great little English styled town bar. Sam was impressed at my skills in finding such a wonderfull place which had great food. I told her it was easy, these types of pubs with the Union Jack flying outside are like our Mecca, you cant really go wrong and we some how seem drawn to them.

Just to make it even more homely, there was a lady there who was from Hampshire, UK. Turns out, she was from Winchester! Just a few miles away from Southampton. Small world and a slice of home.

We left to go to bed after that, I was tired and very happy. It was a great day. Also on this day, It is my Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary.  I would like to put a little note here to say thankyou to you both. If it wasnt for you both, helping me and keeping my mind on track, I dont think I would of actually made it here. So thankyou, you both mean the world to me and I wish you many more happy years together.

I was challenged with finding a nice photo of me for your anniversary for display in your picture frame at home, so . hows this?

"Hey look! That was easy!.."

Today was the day of the big, exciting train ride into NYC. You know what? it happened! After taking Skylar to the doggie hotel, we boarded the train at just after 11am and traveled into the big apple. Just over 2 hours later we arrived in Pen station, we ditched our bags and decided to jump straight in. Seeing as we couldnt check our bags into the hotel before 4pm, we took a bus tour of the city and here is where we started....

I will tell you, we have lots of photos and i wont be posting them all tonight. Our tour guide was awesome, incredibly funny and told us many a great fact, although, I'm a little unsure if all of them were..well... lets just say... entirely accurate. Further research is required, and if they are found out to be false, well.... be prepared to receive a letter my friend. *laughs*
We took the downtown tour and the first thing i noticed about new york is, well the second thing, because the first thing i noticed was how Yellow seems to be the popular colour for cars here... so the first thing I noticed was how tall the buildings were. They build high and they built ALOT!

We all know what building this is.. its so designed it has its very own air currents. When it snows, looking out of the window, it seems to snow upwards. Ill be climbing this beast very soon and be seeing the city from great height, that'll be exciting.
This tour was mostly to see the city but also for me to get my bearings and work out what sights I wish to see later this week. There is no way I am going to see all of this in one day, so I'm glad we took 5 days.
The tour lasted a few hours and in the end it got dark. We started the tour at time square and also finished it there but once we got to the end of the tour, it looked a lot different than when we started!

I also hailed my first New York Cab today, just stuck my arm out and he stopped, its very easy and incredibly entertaining. Guess I'm easily amused.
Our hotel room is on the 19th floor and this is about half way up the damn building its great, looking out and seeing ants below. I tried to take a photo of the height but it didnt come out so well at night, I'll try again during the day.
We found a small, posh and delightful Italian restaurant to have our first NY meal in just around the corner and then, headed back to the hotel for bed. Its been a long day and tomorrow, I have to try to navigate NY on my own, well, for the first part anyway.

Im very excited and incredibly pleased to be here, it really is fantastic, amazing and awe inspiring. Well, that's all for now, I have to drop 19 floors for a smoke before bed, so till tomorrow....

"They come from a vending machine?!.."

Today was Planning Day! Tomorrow we get the Amtrak Train into New York City, so we spent the morning planning the trip and ordering the train tickets online.
I dont want to spoil the surprise as to what we planned, you'll just have to wait and see.
To celebrate our accomplishment and organization skills, we went out for an all American breakfast in a diner. It was called, The Gateway Diner.

I had, what can only be described as, a damn fine breakfast. It had everything you needed to keep me going all day. Well, see for yourself!

All that for $20! I asked Sam why anyone bothers doing shopping for home at these prices. You can eat out for every meal. Anyway, it was delicious.
After breakfast, I needed a lay down but after that we went to go get a couple of movies to watch this afternoon and evening. Now here is where I was really impressed; you can get DVDs from freaking vending machines! Yes you read that correctly! Just press what you want, punch in your card and pin and it spits out the DVDs, its amazing. To return them, you just stuff them back in the slot and go about your merry away. Now that's handy!
We got back and a bit later I got my first up close peek at a Fire Engine..whoo hooo!

Exciting eh?!

Anyhooooo... another fairly quiet day but required. Got to just finish packing my stuff away tonight, take an early sleep and its up early and onto the train to visit the city that never sleeps! I hope I can get a nap at least though. Oh so exciting....

"I'm Knackered!.."

So in case you hadn't worked it out, I tend to write my bogs the morning after, yet theme them as if it was written that day, mostly. This is because by the time we get home, we are usually pretty tired or maybe a little tipsy. Today (or yesterday) is (was) one of those days. Except not because we were running about from here to there and everywhere.
The last few days of action packed adventure has finally taken it's toll. So today was a rather slow relaxing day. We spent the morning relaxing and watching videos, resting our aching bones and joints. In the afternoon, we were invited to another friend of Sam's for dinner. Another trip into suburbia and yet another huge house with wooded land, it somehow seems to be the norm here. They were a great bunch of people also a different type of people; a mechanic, former navy and construction manager and extremely friendly. We talked about cars and felt a little ashamed to admit my first car had less literage than their average moped but when I explained it was an original Mini, it was then somehow, Retro-English.
Dinner was great and I think a few people will be interested to hear that I may have over come my 'phobia' of Lasagne!
On the way home, we called into the Olde English Pub in a hope that we may wake up and get our second wind. After not managing to finish my second pint I think we gave that up as a loss and went home for a movie and an early restful night.
Not a long post today, not much to tell but next week the New York adventure really begins and I think we were experiencing the calm before the storm.

Before I go, I heard this song on the radio the other day and it seems very appropriate for my trip...

Kaiser Chiefs - Oh my God

"He looks angry, he should write a letter!..."

The day after Thanksgiving is known as 'Black Friday'. Its a shopping holiday, so named because the stores go from being in the red, to being in the black after this day. However, we decided not to partake in this tradition of going shopping and instead furthered our whistle stop tour of Albany with a visit to some remarkable architecture. First on the tour was the State Education building. An impressive building with huge pillars.

It looks like the Parthanon! I think Greece is selling off it's buildings to recover some of it's debt, but Sam reassures me, it was here long before Greece thrifted away the Euro. We saw the state Capital building and took a little peeksee inside. Again, as always, I set off all the metal detectors and had to get patted down, I'm starting to get used to this 'special treatment'.

After this, we walked a little further down the road and, just to make something clear, this is NOT Teddy Roosevelt.... It's Sheridan. Ok got that Sam? SH..ER..I..DAN!

Across the street are the Albany branch of 'Occupy Wall Street' Not sure anyone was actually home but we did take a tour of the real estate. The market seems thriving!

Plenty of plots....

After lunch of Pizza in the park, we went to the NYS Museum. Very interesting, explaining the archeology of the state including the native people history and local wild-life. Such as....

the (chocolate) mouse and of course, for Duana, I found members of my family, although they were not to interested in becoming re-antiquated.

Further into the Museum there was an exhibit of 9/11. Housing many items curated from the landfill after the event. Some things were incredibly sobering, personal belongings of those lost and twisted, gnarled columns from the tower itself. Thick heavy steel, deformed and twisted as if they were nothing but cardboard and clay. One item really caught my attention and really, to me, said a lot about that day and those who put their lives second to those they needed to rescue. It was Engine number 6...

caught, crushed and destroyed as the tower fell upon it. A machine used to help others was, itself, not even immune to the devastation of that day.  I'm sure I will see many more symbols of that event when I actually go to ground zero.

The monthly Troy Night Out was next on our agenda. Troy is the birth place of Uncle Sam, who was a butcher, supplying the American Army. Sam will be so proud that I am retaining all of this useful information. Although, Randomly, we found a very angry Yeti. It's significance is yet to be discovered.

There was a fair amount of walking today, thankfully, I had many painkillers and there were plenty of benches. So when Sam suggested taking a tour of the Albany park Holiday lights, my heart sank at the prospect of even more walking, however, I was pleasantly surprised!

 

The quality of the video is a little low I'm afraid but because it was dark, the exposure wasnt brilliant, but I think you get the idea. I could not show you all the lights in the video, there were many many more. Its been a long time since I have enjoyed Christmas lights, seeing as I'm quite the Scrooge. I somehow think this trip to NY may change that. We visited the shop at the end and caught sight of some Reindeer, no doubt relaxing before they get bound to a sleigh and whipped hard enough to fly around the world, carry a fat man and delivering gifts.  The animal rights people really need to look into that. In the meantime, they seem quite content. 

We then went for a few drinks in an all American Bar. All part of the American Experience! I'm off to bed, rest my aching, painkiller filled body and I'll be back tomorrow.

"Happy Thanksgiving..."

So today is Thanksgiving, an American holiday to be thankful... well obviously. Its been almost a year ago when the plans for this day were originally made, although they have somewhat changed over that time, one thing still remained the same; I managed to save up enough money, pull myself out of my dark box of a room, away from my PC long enough to hop across the pond and visit a friend for this very day. I have to say, I wasnt disappointed... 

This day isnt something I guess too many Brits get to experience from the local perspective, the closest thing I can compare it to is Christmas, without the gifts and the decorations.


In the morning, we watched the New York Thanksgiving Parade on television. I kind of wished I could of been there but we cant be in two places at once. It was fantastic, huge floats all decorated out with themes and HUGE inflatable balloons of cartoon characters, mascots and the like. Ronald MacDonald was there, floating through Times Square. Even Picachoo the yellow Pokemon... thing. There were bands and dancers, it was quite the spectacle. 

Afterwards, We were to cook Pumpkin bread. This was going to be an edible gift for the people who's house we were 'invading' for thanksgiving, later that day. While the bread cooked, me and Sam sat at the same table and had a quick game of Warhammer. It was funny, having heard Sam on mic for so long while we played to now sitting opposite watching her play and her watching me. Although, on a laptop, things got 'interesting'. I dont think i'll ever roll my eyes again when Sam makes a boo boo. Its difficult on this small thing. So the bread cooked and the result was rather yummy looking...

Luckily, we had enough mix for 2 more loaves, so hopefully I get a taste of that later.

We arrived at Sam's friends' house, a little after three and my first impression of the place was I thought I had just waked onto the movie set of Home Alone or Uncle Buck, this so called 'average American suburban house' was huge. The estate it was on was wonderful, all wooded, just like you'd often seen in movies, it was EXACTLY like that.
There were four friends there and us made six. They were the friendliest people you'd ever wish to meet and Rocky, the friend Sam had known since she was 21 (i think she said) was hilarious. He 'claimed' to BE Italian, yet never been to Italy *chuckles*. Thats something Americans, especially Italian Americans do alot; they have 2 nationalities, American and then their heritage or linage, such as Italian or Irish or whatever. I like it, they have open pride about their ancestral roots. They are all very proud of who they are and where they come from.
I somehow think, also, I am a Met's fan now. I dont know how this happened, maybe something to do with when Rocky showed me his Memorabilia from the old stadium and we had quite the long conversation about his time watching the games. I almost feel compelled to become a fan too. *laughs*
When it came to the dinner I was reminded of the family christmas dinners, a lot of preparation and effort went into the creation of it. Rocky's wife really is an amazing cook. Although i was surprised to see  Mashed Potato on the table. Its traditional apparently and this was the fluffiest, whitest mash i had ever seen. The trick is, apparently, to boil the taters in small chunks, use a lot of milk and the beat them, not with a potato masher but a cake mixer, set on high and you get what can only be described as a cloud on a plate! There you go Mum, next time you cook some Bangers and mash, give it a go the Old American way.
The turkey is the traditional meat of the day, or one of them and a picture of it is required, so here you go..

Myself and Rocky with the delicious looking bird. Now, apparently, every year Sam has to 'reteach' Rocky how to carve such a creation, so for educational purposes, here is how to carve a turkey..

We also had Green Bean casserole and sweet potatoes, which of the like, i have never tasted but delicious none the less. Maybe something I can add to the Christmas dinner table back home. So here is me and Sam sat at the Thanksgiving dinner table, ready and waiting for the delicious spread laid out before us to pass over our taste buds and fill us...

Its traditional to say what you are thankful for while sat at the table, so with this picture in mind, I'd like to say I'm thankful for Sam for inviting me to the USA, Rocky, his wife, Lori and their son Chris for inviting me into their wonderful home for a wonderful thanksgiving dinner and Erica for entertaining me with a new game from Indonesia about beans and holes, I forget it's name but it was most entertaining. So I will end this post with a simple...

... Thankyou.

"Flag!..."

Today was the first full day here in America. Sam was at work which left me with a morning on my own, acclimatising to this wonderful new land. So, what did I do, i hear you ask. Well, i'll tell you! I done DIY!
Yes you heard me correctly, I flew half way across the world to do household construction. Sam had mentioned that her stair handrail had broken and she needed a hand to mend it, needed two people, so someone can hold the other end. After I had woken up and had, what I can only describe as some REALLY strong coffee, I thought I'd at least make a start, to make the chore easier for when Sam got home. To cut a long story short; I ended up finishing the job. So when Sam got home, the handrail was up, secure and operating within normal perimeters.  Needless to say, she was really pleased and surprised I had done this for her. I didnt tell her I had done it cus i was fed up with crawling up the stairs and needed the support. It was a totally selfish act.
We then had to go to the Vets, not for me, before anyone says, but for Skylar, Sam's dog. While we were on the way to the vets, we took a whistle stop tour of Albany, where everything was new and interesting to me. Everything is so different yet so familiar. Even in suburban America. We were talking about how its seems, no other country is so different yet so familiar. I think anyone in the world (with access to a television at least) would recognise  America, even down to those Blue bins on street corners... or..post boxes. American life is just pumped into our living rooms via Hollywood or other media forms, I just found it very interesting. Something else I observed and had to point out to Sam, because to her, its the norm, and that's... flags. The American flag is flying eveywhere. On the porches of houses, the forecourts of petrol (gas) stations, at schools.. literally everywhere has an American flag flying. We rarely see a Union Jack flying at home, so much so that it actually turns heads when one flies anywhere other than outside Buckingham palace. There is a sence of pride here, by flying the flag on your porch or whatever, shows they are proud to be American. We turned it into a game and had to shout out "Flag!" every time an American flag is flying. It's becoming a form of terets when we are out and about, having a conversation in the car and randomly inserting "Flag!"

After our whistle stop tour of Albany, we were due to meet a couple of Sam's friends in a bar for a few drinks and something to eat. On the way to the bar we found...this...

It's a chuffing huge Tulip! Albany was founded by the Dutch settlers and this ridiculously massive plant is a nod to the origins of Albany. 

So, we continued to the bar and this is it...

The old English. I assume Sam thought i was home sick in order to take me here. An English theme pub. Once inside, it was like i was transported back to England and into a village pub! It was amazing. With pictures you'd expect to see in an English Pub, even wooden beams on the ceiling, tobacco stained walls. I was expecting a taccy bar with union jacks all over the place etc, however it was incredibly accurate! I felt really at home, even with the huge painting of Winston Churchill hanging over the fireplace. I had to explain who it was to One of Sam's friends... the British bulldog. We had Fish and chips for food which was delicious! and they served fosters in proper pint glasses. Other visitors were ordering beers such as "Old Speckled Hen", "Bombaider" and other English brews. I bought Sam a mint Aero, she had never had such a thing and seemed to want more! Well who wouldnt? It was a truly wonderful night and we really enjoyed ourselves. 

Tomorrow is thankgiving and I'm looking forward to witnessing that. 

Thankyou to everyone who commented, they really made me laugh and FYI, I didnt ALWAYS top up the drinks in the drinks cabinet with water, that was my sister's idea. 

"Welcome to America..."

So here we are... the reason this blog was created, the year of saving and expectations finished and the adventure begins. What an adventure the first day was, I can tell you! Bearing in mind, I have never traveled long haul before, the furthest I have been on a plane was to Ibiza, a 1 hour flight in a WWII bomber, or at least, it felt like that! Before that, a plane to Germany when i was knee high to a grass hopper.
The taxi turns up at 8am after I was awake from 6am. I was on skype with my friend Debbie right up to the moment I had to leave the house, so I'm sure she heard the excitement and apprehension in my voice. The traffic wasnt too bad, we made good time to Heathrow and after I was dropped off I checked my baggage and sat out site chain smoking till my head was a little light. With sufficient nicotine coursing through my veins I sought out the assistance desk. They were very helpful, sat me in a chair and wheeled me right through to security. That was pretty painless, although i do love setting those metal detectors off and then explaining "oh yeh, that'll be because I'm half man half machine, sent from the future too...." "Just outstretch your arms sir and let us pat you down!" "Oh, yes..of course, sorry." After which I was sat in departures and an hour later, wheeled onto my plane.

The flight was hardly booked, so although I booked an isle seat, I managed to get a window seat and spread out over both, which was nice. The flight was 7 and a half hours and it wasnt until i got over Canada did I find the 'moving map' of the flight. So I could watch my progress over the northern states. It was great, this time of year I could see snow and even sea ice forming at river mouths. Small towns (or so they seemed, they were probably huge cities from that height mind you) and rivers, roads and mountains all laid out below. I was transfixed to the window, pressing my nose tip up against it like a kid looking through a window into a Toy store. I'm sure it was obvious I'd never done this trip before. Overall the flight wasnt too bad, apart from chewing nicotine gum vigorously every couple of hours, I really didnt have that much trouble.

We landed in JFK slightly early and was met off the plane by a porter with a chair. He was great. The first American I held a conversation with and he whisked me right through to baggage claim, re checked it for me and then on to Immigration. I have heard s many horror stories about this part and was worried that my forms were not filled in correctly. As it happened, there was hardly even a que, he looked at me, my passport, then me, my passport again, asked for my finger prints, smiled and welcomed me to America. Ha! they never suspect the disabled guy! my evil plan is coming to fruition mwhahaha! :p
The porter, who's name I forget but, for all intense and purposes, we'll call him.... Daryl, then took me outside and let me have some time to smoke again. We sat in the cold, watching yellow taxis come and go while, once more, i replenished my nicotine levels.

 

 (working out how to rotate pics on a Mac so bear with the skewed angles for now lol) 

We then went through security for the internal flight. That was interesting; i was asked to practically get undressed, wanting my coat, boots, belt all off and then once more went through the metal detector.."I'm half man half... oookay, i'll just stand here yes?" I was patted down, Vigorously! by a plastic gloved security officer. I'll admit, seeing hm put those plastic gloves on made me.... a little nervous to say the least! Luckily, they are not THAT paranoid! However, his gloves were swabbed and I was made to show my artificial leg, which was also swabbed and checked by some form of snifferdog in a metal box type machine. Security is tight, even for internal flights, it seems.

I was then left in gate 25 awaiting the connection to Albany. Here is where my luck...ran out!

Things were going so well, everything on time, everything like clockwork, until the connection. First of all, we were waiting on the air hostess and the flight crew to arrive from a previously delayed flight. Then once they arrived, they informed us the plane had too much fuel. Something to do with the shortness of the connecting flight and weight limits on landing and too much fuel made the plane too heavy.  So they had to change planes, this plane didnt have enough fuel, so needed a top up. The ground crew, once again, put too much fuel on it. It was eye roll after eye roll. Although when they asked if there were 4 volunteers who'd be happy to take a flight tomorrow, to help save weight, I think they crew got the idea when the whole plane out right laughed at them. "I fear thats a no!" So the fuel truck returned to suck out some fuel. I thought "Gimme a length of hose and a mint, I'll get out an help!" By this time I had been up 20 hours and just wanted to get to Albany. Finally we started taxiing, only to hear because of our initial delay, the taxi que was larger than expected and we'd be sat waiting for a further half an hour. To make matters even worse, some old woman had sat next to me, in a seat previously booked by a very attractive young lady and when i though my luck had changed, it turned out they decided to just swap seats and save getting up. She turned out to be most chatty with the person next to her and i was left grumbling at a sleeping old lady, who had stolen the seat of a potential date while i was in Albany. Hey! I know what our thinking but who knows eh? *laughs*

Eventually the plane took off and we were in the air only about 20 mins before we landed in Albany. Where I waited for the other passengers to get off, got another chair and was wheeled, alongside another wheelchair passenger to the arrivals lounge. I was looking around, looking for Sam, who I had hoped had remembered to pick me up, but I saw no one. Until... From behind the corner, a crazy lady in a bright red jacket seemed to jump out, pointed at me and screamed "AHHH!" and i thought to myself "Oh there she is". Of course that is my interpretation of events, others may remember it differently.

It was awesome. Seeing Sam and hearing the voice I had spoken to so many times but now finally able to put little facial quirks, body language and other such actions to her words. We hurried to the car as it was raining and we jibber jabbered the whole time. It was dark and wet so I didnt get to see much of suburban America. We got back to her house and I gave her the gift I had been working on; 5 witch elves.....

For those who dont know, Me, Sam and a few other friends, play an online game called Warhammer, which is based upon a British firm's table top war strategy game. I purchased these models and hand painted them myself. Each one is only about an inch and half high and takes between 3-5 hours to paint. We both have Witch Elf characters in the game and named them accordingly, also naming one Diehealer, for Debbie's Witch Elf. Sam really seemed to like her gift, as I had hoped she would. 

After jumping on skype to say hello to Debbie, we called it a night, I had been up over 24 hours and I needed sleep; my first night in the United States!

Sorry I didnt update my blog yesterday, but I really was tired. This week, I'm looking forward to some suburban American life, things the average tourist wouldnt see and of course, I'll report upon as much as I can...or dare! *chuckles*

As an FYI, my American phone sim card doesnt seem to be working, so thats a task to try to sort out in the next few days. 

"I'm so excited, my pee is fizzy..."

Its finally here! The day before the big flight. Only a few hours left before I take on my epic adventure into the unknown, to the new world. I wonder if Columbus felt this excited? or was he just worried about Scurvy?

The housework is all done, the final check pack all done and the boarding passes printed. That was another key moment in my trip, holding my faded boarding passes in my hand (the printer ink is low...). I been bouncing around the house most of the day with my 'New York' playlist blaring, I'm sure the neighbours are tired of hearing a muffled Frank Sinatra.

The cats, I think, are going to miss me. I know I'm going to miss them. I wonder what they think of all this.....

They seem to be happily sleeping on the bed right now. Scamp? You gonna miss daddy for two weeks?

Right.. um. Ok. What about you Bumble? What do you think of me leaving you for 2 weeks?

Yes! you'll be getting fed. *sighs* well they seem to be ok with being alone for a couple of weeks. My Mum is gonna drop by to make sure they are fed and cleaned every few days. In the meantime, Rob is popping down every day to drop out some dry food for them.

Thanks for that Rob, its much appreciated.

Its going to be a very long day tomorrow, that I know. I leave my house at 8am in the morning, to catch a 12:50 flight from Heathrow. Landing in JFK at 16:10 local time. Then I change at 19:10 to fly to Albany and arrive there at 20:35. Thats...1..2...3.. ALOT of hours without a smoke! ARGH! I'll be met by Sam... Now, don't you forget to meet me else there's gonna be a rather tired and peeved Englishman turning up at your house with a farrowed brow.

Just one last thing to report before I head off. The hotel we're staying in while in NYC has changed. Here is the link to the new one...

New Hotel

That's it for now, my next post will be from the United States, which is somewhere in America!

"Round of applause..."

Hi everyone. Yes Its getting close now, just over two weeks and I fly out to America.

So, it was time to go get this mullet I call a hair style chopped and hacked away to something more presentable.
Its been over 4 years since I went to a hairdresser, having long hair is easy, snip 2 inches off the bottom of the pony tail; job done!

I walked into the hairdresser and they told me to sit down, they would be with me in a few minutes. Its a small hairdresser, one I used to go to all the time. An old friend from school works there and he said his hellos on the way out for a smoke but had to stop, do a double take and exclaim "How much hair?!"

When called up onto the barbers chair, the girl asked how much she was taking off, I think she suspected me to ask for a trim and a tidy, until I pointed up to one of those usual hairdresser advert pics of a man with short, slightly spiky hair and said "Enough to look like that!" (and yes before you say it, i KNOW she was a hairdresser and NOT a plastic surgeon, so keep your cheap jokes to yourself *laugh*)  I was asked twice to confirm this is what I actually wanted. *Uncertain nod, uncertain nod*. She vanished for a moment and another girl turned up with the words "Your lucky she's doing it, I'd refuse to cut that off, its gorgeous!" Oh yeh way to reassure me.

My hairdresser returned and after confirming for a third time that I really did want to loose my long hair, she took out the scissors and started slowly cutting at the ponytail. There were a couple of other customers getting their hair done just to the side and once the tail was 'amputated' one of them chirped up "Well, that deserves a round of applause for being so brave!" cheers and claps ensued, and my cheeks flushed red

"snip..snip...snip"

I left the hairdresser feeling lightheaded and the wind whipping round the back of my neck but somewhat pleased with the result. It will take some getting used to and I still try to reach behind to run my fingers through it when thinking or to tighten the hairband because it 'feels loose'.

I got back to my mothers and she started making me lunch, finding it hilarious to mock me, until she said "Awww did you loose your hair?" and I quickly produced the tied pony tail from my pocked and waved it at her with a smug "Nope!", that made her squeal.

For those of you interested, here are a couple of 'before' and 'after' shots in the hope you will appreciate my pain and loss...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

That's all for now, see you soon America! with my smart new do!