Trip & Back to ol'blighty!

I imagine you're all wondering if I was ever going to finish this thing off!
Well here is the final submission.. (as well as I can remember it all)




The Trip

This was the single most amazing trip I have ever taken. Quite literally I saw hundreds of new things, met an incredible group of people (largely german, 1kiwi and 2 american bus drivers, oh and a few brits, including a particularly entertaining scottish trio). In short, I think I should have stayed a traveller for ever!


I travelled from New York to San Francisco, saw hot springs with baths,canyons with navajo tribes, deserts (plus an evil horse), forests with bears and taranchalas, mountains I climbed using only a chain not to mention vegas baby!Rollercoasters, neon-lights and all.

I biked the golden gate bridge, swam in rivers with turtles and saw a skunk chase an old lady up a hill.


There was a roadrunner a-top a surfboard and I camped in the open air on the edge of a cliff. Camp fires, circus shows and New Orleans jazz filled my days and I slept top-to-toe with an array travellers on a giant bus-bed.

I had a robot-dance-off with a bus driver in a San Francisco club, and discovered a secret room on the roof of a hostel filled with tequila.
I did shots with a kiwi and 3 germans in the back of a camper-van outside a chinese restaurant and learnt german rap songs whilst hiking a navajo trail. I was thrown from a horse in the arizona desert, and discovered oyster shots, 'hurricanes' and the horrors of mexican service.

There were bats, caves, underground rocks formations and hodoos resembling indiana jones movies. I jumped from sand dunes the size of mountains and competed in a 3-day connect4 championship.

There was shopping, hiking, swimming,sight-seeing,cycling,(in some cases running), jumping, bum-boarding, diving,falling and singing. There was a church with gospel singers, jazz bands, pink chevys and a wailing preist, there was much Corona and thus merriment. I travelled the smokey mountains by foot and found houses worthy of horror films. There was Kareoke in New Orleans, and culture in Texas, bruised noses in Vegas and a 70's hair-do nobody could explain. There were feather masks, inexplicable aprons and barbie t-shirts, outdoor cooking and 'have you ever...'
I saw the liberal side of america, showered in the open-air, took a boat across the mississippi and met a guy with a really big fish.
There was 'nearly naked monday,'push-ups for Obama,' and the joys of 'buddy check.' Phrases like 'the miracle,' 'where's brian????' and 'we win again' will always be a reminder.
In short it was awesome!



Back home, well New York first (it seems like home) - I met up with old housemates and had one last look around. I took 5 planes, 2 taxi's and a train back to ol'blighty where everything looks lovely. Everything is green and peaceful, central londonis like a quiet summers day (if it wasnt for the rain!) Red phone boxes, black cabs, british accents, queues!!!! Regular food once more, familiar faces and the weather - ok so i didnt miss everything.

I have friends in germany, new zealand, all across america, canada and almost every town in england! (sofa surfing opportunities galore!) Now all I have to do is stay in touch!

I leave you with some pictures to help you imagine the craziness....

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving toda.. er.. soonish

Dear all,

The last week has been chaotic. Not only was it my last week of work, and thus co-workers, it was also the last week of living in my lovely apt with that lovely view!! Oh and of course my last week in NYC!!

Therefore I had to drink a fair bit this week!Horay! But before that I had to pack! Booo... oh yes and collect and train my replacement before they would let me out!

So, Wenesday at the ungodly time of 7.15 and went to collect newbie from the Wolcott hotel (where I was once a newbie- aww.... pause for sentitmental moment). Newbie seemed happy enough, she was still there atleast! Newbie's name is laura and she's from the Wirral (I'm not sure if this an equal replacement for me - but enough norhtern rivalry..)
After going through all the basics of the illogical switchboard, co-workers etc etc.. she seemed prepped enough so I took her out for drinks in the evening to celebrate my leaving and her beginning!!! Many office folk came too and the night was indeed merry.
Toward the end of the evening I spotted Mayer and his work folk in the same bar and discovered he was also celebrating his levaing and his replacements taking over. We introduced our respective newbies to each other and then proceeded to drink the night away! Good times!

Thursday
Was my final day at work. This was sad. It was also painful due to the nigth before- but I soldiered on.(que music of 'soldiering on..') Newbie, Maryam (old-newbie) and I went for thai food at lunch time and then I said my goodbyes arounf the office. I got a nice card signed by the majority of folk and a starbucks mug (ah, how well they know me!) After the drawn out goodbyes, pics and hugging I finally left work later than most days, but atleast I knew I didnt have to answer the phone anymore!
The evening I met up with Nic, Ban & Justine who all left on friday. We visited a few of our most frequent bars for one last time then headed home around 3am to pack.

Friday was a hard day. We had to pack everything we owned & clean the entire apartment before 4.30 in a post-alcohol state. Thus, before any activity of this type could be attempted I went for brunch with Justine, nick & ban one last time, which was just as well as they were all in need of it too!
After the good byes AGAIN, I went back to pack, only to discover Suba and Vicky were both asleep and ahdnt achieved anything near packing. I packed, cleaned and went for coffee. Some time near 4.15 they both jumped up and began screaming like crazy people trying to clean and pack in time. hohoho....
Maryam met me after work and I headed to the Hostel on 118th where I am now waiting for my trip to begin. It's very new and lets me pass my time on the internet as you can see! I've one more night here, and then it's off to the bus!

The pics of this week are coming soon, keep reading for random en-route updates!
xx

The Kooks!!!

Theatres, Concerts & Dinners

This week was the leaving dinner at Battery Gardens. Dinner, drinks and of course the dreaded speeches. The view was nice even if the food was questionable. The open bar obv. helped with this issue over the course of the evening and generally it was a fun night! Michael Billet's (head of the programme) speech was entertaining, quite a lot of naming and shaming went on, and the slide show, kindly prepared by some of his chosen few also carried on this theme. Happily I only featured in one or two of these pics, mostly dressed up as various seasonal things such as a bumble bee. :)
The night went on and Nerys, Justine, Kaife, Satna and I enjoyed watching the 'committee' fall over and make fools of themselves..hoho..
The after party was in Chelsea, however the queues were LONG and I was tired so I decided to catch the train home with Rich. OF course when you go anywhere with Rich you never get there, and so we ended up in a bar in Hoboken until about 3.30am.

Thursday was a very painful morning for me. Having gone to bed around 4am and started work at 8.30am my body was in protest. Needless to say I didnt do much on Thursday Evening.

Saturday I met up with Banico and headed to Coney Island! For those not in the know this is an amusement park at the most southern point in Brookl;yn with one of the oldest (and most dodgy looking) wooden rollercoasters still in use.
Then it started to rain. Since Hurricane Gustav hit, we have been expecting some horrendous down pour and it chose to happen whilst I was at the wrong end of Brooklyn without an umbrella on a rollercoaster!
Needless to say, Ban & I grabbed corndogs (which are horrible I dont recommend them) and then literally sprinted to the nearest indoor place- an aquarium.
Not a bad one either. Giant Turtles, sharks, jellyfish and a fish that looked incredibly like Nemo.
We did some posing under a waterfall, and then decided to get back home ASAP due to impending storms. Gulp..

Sunday I met up with Maryam, who is currently observing Ramadan and is therefore always starving, and went to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. The effects were both brilliant, such as when Mary flew off into the audience guided only by an umbrella, and terrible when she pulled out her fold-away lampshade from her bag of tricks. Of course the americans loved it all and naturally as we have come to expect now there was a standing ovation because... well there doesnt seem to be a reason not to anymore. The half-arsed british accents were painful to listen to at times and Mary's "Speet spot' was cringe worthy, but all in all it was entertaining. Afterward it was dark enough outside for Maryam to eat, so we went for 24hr brunch at the Waverely at 9th street and ate omlette and drank tea. Yes it was 10pm.

Monday I received my certificates and bonus from the nice ol' folk at Mountbat! Horay!
Tuesday was the long awaited Stereophonics gig at Webster Hall, so Justine, Dan and I sprinted home from work in order to make the front-ish row for the concert at 7pm. Ok, so its impossible to make the ACTUAL front, but I was close enough to see them without leaping in the air or zooming - an achievement! All the classics from 'Mr Writer,' 'Have a nice day' and 'Las Vegas' were played- Awesome! (too american? ok REALLY GOOD!!) The venue was really small, and tickets cheap as most american folk have never heard of them- it's their loss really, we benefitted from the mass of british folk (The welsh in particular waving their flags) in a small confined space and a band who we couldnt afford to see on an intern wage in our home country! Bargain! The drinks flowed and the atmosphere was amazing!

Which brings me to tonight!Tonight is the final summer stage concert in central park. It also happens to be the Kooks who are playing it, and I just so happen to have tickets!!!! Horay! Pics will follow!
Laters x

So do we all like the new layout?

Dear readers,

I have gone all pink! Well, I thought I would try it out.. thoughts??

Anyway, news.

I took a few days off last week to gad about the city and do a few things I had yet to complete.

Thursday I shopped on 5th Ave, walked about, photographed and attended the absoulte final seminar, this time on jazz. It was suprisingly good for a MB seminar. Held in an old(er) building in the west village it was less formal than the microsoft building we have most of the classes in. The guy, named Bob, was as simple fellow. Armed with a Ipod and a record player he told us about the history of jazz in new york, Duke Ellignton and Louis Armstrong featured. We learnt the joys of a 12 bar rhythm and then I went for pizza with Justine, Nerys & Angela.

Friday was all about culture. I went to St Patricks Cathedral and watched the americans photgraph all the copied architecture from the cathedrals in Europe. There is always a service in progress here, so you can just stand at the back and watch. I video'd this of course in true tourist style!
Then I headed to the Museum of Tv & Radio. A marvellous place. As you walk in you are instructed this museum does not have any artifacts or exhibits and you will will spend most of the time by yourself in a room with headphones. This is the ideal place should you have a day off whilst everyone else is at work and you have nothing to do! I selected 2 films on the Duke Ellington (suprisingly) from the great reams of film, advertising and radio they have on file and was issued with a room, tv set and headphones. Here you can sit all day watching almost anything you can find!
I also watched a documentary on women in the work place and about an hour of family guy on repeat- there is an entire room devoted to family guy.
I left the museum arounf 7pm jsut in time for Banico to call and make plans for the evening. I emt Ban & Nick in Bar 13 at Union Square for drinks and from then we met up with Nic's Irish cousin & Flat mate in town for one night only, followed closely by a very drunk Justine & Jen- who were parading around warnings they had received for jumping the turnstiles at the subway station in their haste to reach the bar! No comment. I photgraphed the drunken fools and then sent them to the bar from which they never did return. The nigt went on and the rain came down. Unfortunately I didnt dress for the weathe rhaving been out all day, Thus around 5am on friday you would have seen, nic, banico and I running down broadway to the only subway stations still open, soaked through and slightly merry, Fun times.....




Saturday I slept. I interneted a bit and generally didnt do a lot. Oh Suba's friend arrived from England.
Sunday I met up with Nerys and we headed off the Cloisters. A collection of medieval art and arctitecture collected from around europe and gatehred in upper Manhatten for the NY's benefit. The artifacts ranged from tapestries, crockery, furniture to herb garden and several foutains. All very pretty, if a little disjointed as none of these things would ever have been together before now..
Set in a nice 10 acre park the trip did make a nice cahnge from the city.

On our way out we found a baby squirrel on the ground no bigger than a mouse, its eyes not even open yet. We concluded it must have falled out of a tree and at that very moment a woman came by and announced her husband ran a squirrel hospital uptown and began to call him. She then promtly went over what she should do with said squirrel with him and then popped baby squirrel into her bag and walked off! She assured us squirrel (whom we later named alfi) would be released into the wild once he was bigger enough to survive.

Afterward, we headed back to the West Village for frozen yogurt and were just settling down in a street park when a man with a piano and another with a drum kit strolled up and began playing rigth in front of us. It was a good show,mostly jazz and blues very entertaining.
As Nerys and I were heading back to the station we came across said legendary bar 'fat cats' and thought we should really pay it a visit. During the day it seems to be an underground gaming warehouse. We played pool beside a sleeping dog and then chess for about 3 hours. Yes I know this was an odd sunday.
Following our games we needed food again so grabbed a pizza slice at 'johns'- its on bleeker street its amazing.

Monday was labor day. I dont know exactly what this day is for but I didnt have to go into work and thus we celebrate it :) However, I mainly cleaned etc today. Ah well.

Tuesday I went back to my old friend the gym.

Wendesday is today and tonight is the leaving dinner at Battery Gardens. There are promises of free bars and various prizes, a Rap by none other than Billet himself and of course a year book. Tomorrow does not look to be a pleasant morning!
Pics coming soon xx

SO Art History is dull. No scrap that, Art History seminars are dull. I imagine the subject itself is probably quite interesting, but taughte by a tutor who doesnt speak in complete sentences and has trouble sticking to a point it becomes quickly annoying to learn.

There were somekind of prints of Marilyn Monroe on silk which gradually faded - good in them selves althought the explanation as to why we had to study them for 35 minutes is a mystery to me. The guy clearly loved his subject to the point he couldnt form coherent sentences without needing to start the next one- basically I have no idea what he was saying. ??

This week I also discovered I had passed the final Cambridge management module! Horay!

It was Tarnasia's last day at work on Friday and Maryam went to Florida for the weekend. What does this have to do with me I hear you cry? Well, with Maryam away I have to spend my entire day on the reception thus I was in need of a stif drink to recover from this immense boredom. Tarnasia's last day was the event which would allow this! Horay!

Sue, Erin, Tania and I headed to South Street Seapport for drinks, this went on for a while and then Erin and Tania left. Sue and I were on our way home when she got a call from her friend who had been set up with some bloke who was pretending to be british for no apparent reason. Sue thought it would be hilarious to bring me along to meet said guy and thus prove him an idiot. I agree his would be a fun practice. Stupid Americans...

We met up with her friend and said idiot who immediatley stopped being an idiot and looked stupid when I asked him where he 'thought' he was from. Anyone who replies 'er... britain' needs a good slap.
The night went on and we met with so more friends before heading to 'off the wagon' - MB hangout. Strangely there wernt any MB's to be found this evening - which is probably a good thing since I was out with the american folk... particularly in spite of the idiot one. Sue continued to think the whole situation was hilarious. I drank my free drinks quite happily whilst the idiot one kept trying to mimic every word I said. - I'm not sure why tis wasnt more annoying in hindsight... Anywho. Turned out to be a very random but fun ol' night- got in around 5.30am. Long day.!

Saturday I met up with Justine in Doriens, we had food then hit the Cinema to see Mama Mia!. This was very funny. Cheesy funny. I laughed alot.. apart from moment when Pierce Brosman tried to sing, then I, as did everyone else in the theater, winced in pain not unlike nails on a chalkboard. Ah well.

Sunday was mainly gyming, shopping, laundry and the like.
Next week I have a Jazz seminar so that should be much better than the weird Art History one.. and a 3 day week!!!! I'll keep you posted xx

This one is for my dad... (everyone else look away now)

It seems they too managed to escape the padded cells..

Pics

Nearing the end..

This week it dawned on us that there are only 4 more weekends to go!! eek!

In light of this I tried to fit in as much as I could to this week /end.

Tuesday I had a Theater seminar with an excentric braodway veteran who told us all about the history of braodway, both the road and the shows associated with.
Turns out broadway (which runs diagonally from one end of Manhatten to the other) exists as it was a dirt track ye olde times and runs along a natural ridge in the earth. Well that IS useful info isnt it?
Afterward we all took a little ol' stroll down to St James' Theater to watch Gypsy. It was one of the best shows I've seen this year. Obviously we still had to contend with the americans insistence on a standing ovation at the end of every show rehardless of quality (must be similar to the tipping malarky).- althought atleast this show was somewhere near decent.
Being mere interns we were given the very back row of the galleries to sit in whilst the MB staff interestingly managed to get an entire front row booked- strange ay? So to enjoy said good show I spent most of my time lent sideways to see over a ginger girl in front of me. Inspite of this I enjoyed the experience. The main actress was very good and deliberately sang off key for dramamtic anger effect.- I think. It worked anyway.

Wednesday we went to a boat party off Chelsea piers for Dans (one of the flat folk)'s birthday. I went with a girl called Sarah and another whose name I forget who were just sitting in my apt when I got back from work. They claimed to be some friends of vicky, so I took them with me. Nice enough. Both Scottish Art students.
The bar on the boat was very picturesque. Drinks were cheap and all were in good spirits. It was also a guy called Tim's birthday so we celebrated his aswell. All was going well until Suba called to demand to be let in as she had (once again) forgotten her keys. However, seeing as Vicky (+ friends), Dan (for his birthday), James and Andrew(also in attendance) and myself were at the boat party she had to wait an unfortunate 3 hours to get in. Poor suba...

Thursday I woke up fairly sober. An achievement I think. At work I began shortlisting suitable folk to replace me when I leave- I always enjoy this procedure. Maryam and I selecting based on which law school they attended and whether they share out intersts. A very fair system I assure you. By the end of the day we were down to 3 potentials.

Friday I recived a phonecall from my boss instructing me to call the potentials and interview them. I mean do I have to do everything here???? I called up two of the potential three and had a nice ol' chat. Maryam and I chose a nice sounding one from the Wirral named Laura,then informed the boss of our choice. Easy.
Friday afternoon I had my exit interview- this is my opportubnity to tell the powers that be my thoughts. :)
My interview was with Yogini- the head of the educational side of the course. She seemed generally pleased by what I had to say and even agreed with me on my thoughts on toad man (aka the careers teacher). Following this little chat I took myself to the main New York public Library to see the infamous 'reading room.' In order to locate said spectacle I had to ask an information desk man for directions. Of course you cannot merely 'ask' someone something here, if you have a british accent. Oh no. they must ensure that you know that they have recognised you as a foreigner. I was then engaged in a 20min convo on how amazing Eastenders is and how the 'golden years' are broadcast on channel 21 at midnight every wednesday. Apparently America has nothing as fantastic as this! I fear this may be true...
The reading room was worth a visit. It is a very large and orante room with desk lamps and long tables surrounded by bookshelves on various levels. I sat for a while reading my latest book on Hilary Clinton (please dont shoot me) before heading back to the sunshine in Bryant park.
In the park an Italian man asked me for my thoughts on the Hilary Clinton book- which seems to be a bestseller here as I had sat for a moment of two to finish the chapter.- In my defence I just borrowed any old book from vicky as I had run out of reading material.

Satrurday I met up with Hannah and a few of her crowd for her birthday gathering. We headed over to Long Island to P.S.1 (a new contemporary art gallery) for an outdoor music & BBQ event. Was v. good! It was Uber hot and sunny, the beers flowed, the food was good. A live band played for some of the time and a strange calm vibe was to be found through their chilled indie type music.
I took sometime to look around the gallery, which housed such exhibits as an up-flowing waterfall, a 'divers room' -it was dark, there were old fashioned divers suits hanging from chains and at inpromptu moments they came to life- freaky! Some of the exhibits were less scary like the video of a classical choir singing a hymm-like song based on the compliants complied by a council over the last year- funny in an odd kind of way.

After this arty-ness we moved on to Water Taxi beach. This is a bar on an artifical beach on Long Island. The views over Manahtten are spectacular, especially as we arrived just before sunset. The pics will follow- but it was tres pretty.

I headed off just before 9pm to meet Justine, Nick, Banico and Paddy in the city for the evening events. They were having drinks on the upper west side with Paddy's 2 sisters who had just flown in. We stayed there a while and then found ourselves in an Irish pub with another live set going on. There were two guitarist who also sang everything from the beatles to Take That. - Oddly well done.
I got in around 2.30am. A good day!

Sunday I went to Bancio's & Nicks to watch the Man U v Newcastle match. Hurray!!! 1-1 was the result! OK so we didnt win, but we didnt loose! And Man U arnt so brilliant as they claim!
I saw a film on sunday night called Tropical Thunder. A spoof of a 'Nam film with Adam Sandler. It was ok, not amazing- but I laughed. Go if you just want to not have to concentrate much.

Which brings me to today. Tonight I have an Art History seminar. I wonder how that will go..

Later!

Rajs last few days in NY

Guggenheim drinks & Raj's last week.

These past two weeks have been busy.

They began with drinks at the Guggenheim with Raj for 'first friday of the month.' In the entry line I met a guy from Mexico who was doing his masters at Newcastle Uni. We chatted about the Quayside, the horrors of Blu Bambu and so forth and then split. The event itself was pricey- given all the entrance got us was entrance. Drinks came after this. We could have looked at the art work whilst we were there, but there was a line to go upstairs and the closed it fairly early. After this we headed to 2nd Ave fro a few more drinks before heading home. A fair few MB's were in tow which we found along the way. Generally a good night!

Other things this week:

I passed by business module with a merit! Horay!

Friday I spent the night in with Suba watching movies.
Saturday Raj announced she was leaving!!!! Cue tears and sobbing...
We (Vikram, Banico, Nick, Justine, Suba, Raj and I) went out to meatpacking satrurday night for her farewell drinks. However, we were all very poor, and the clubs were busy so most of us ended up not going anywhere! :p
Raj had a good time tho- she, suba and Vikram staye dout until 6am.
Sunday we attempted a more low key send off. Doreins being the pub of choice. This was much better for all- and the drinks of course were cheap! Rich C put in an appearance, as did Sachit, Paddy, Adam M, Justine, Nick, Banico, Kaife, Mark and of course Raj. The pics will follow.
She left today (monday) on an early flight- but we have all made plans to meet up once we reach the homeland in October.

This week I have lots planned. Theres a broadway show, a birthday party, seminars and exit interviews. The weekend also looks to be busy.. I'll keep you all informed stay tuned for the pics!

H x

Comedy, Summer Stage and Philly!

Yes, they ARE bagels....






















Dear Readers,

Sorry it's been a while let me help you catch up!

The week before last on a friday Raj and I set out to witness our first American comedy night at 'Stand up NY'. We booked for the earliest show starting at 12am!! The drinks were cheap and atmosphere good- however the jokes... well lets just say I wont need a second dose to 're-live' the joy. The jokes consisted of such complexities as 'i met a guy the other day from great britain, so i replied 'hi i'm from fantastic america' - [cue americans rolling on the floor in stitches...]

Follow these complex incites some of the comics joined us for a few drinks in the bar next door before moving on to a few more. An hour or so after this we began the shots. Yes you can see where this is going. A few of the folk from the club, plus comics and few other straggles we picked up on the way headed to the 'saloon' - this resulted in much drunken dancing. Muchos funas. We got back around 5am.

Saturday we had planned to visit philly, however that wasnt going to happen with this incredible pain in my head and asured everyone was not at all related to the night befores events.
I wandered newport with Raj recovering. We got smoothies and sat in the sun most of the day. Not wastes rays atleast :)

Sunday, Justine, Raj and I met up for brunch at 9th street before heading to central park for the summer stage concert. The park was literally over run with people. There was a huge array of random musicians including a group of checky shirted white bearded men playing guitars around Strawberry fields (cough cough - you know the reference) a 300 year old looking lady with a harp, a jazz band and many more (see pics). The roller bladers were out in full force also. There was some kind of all-age roller contest taking place outtside the grand stand and the skateboarders were trying their luck too.
The music was good, we found a spot on a hill remotley near the stage (which you couldnt get near - despite the bouncer offering us entry for a mere $60 into a free concert- it was FREE people!!!!) The music was a mix of all types & syles, we ate snow cones and tanned. Good day!

Monday I handed in my final report of my experiences here. My final report ever for this course! HORAY!!!
Wednesday I had a play reading to attend. (all tho there's no more assignments I still have a few odd classes). This wasn't soo bad. 15 of us and a retired actress named Angela read 'Six Degrees of Seperation'- if anyone has seen this its the film with Will Smith as a very young havard dude. -apparently. I played several parts including a great one of a character called Tess. Highlights included screaming -' im getting married and moving to Afghanistan'... repeatedly. Funny times...

I finished a really good book this week called 'Those who save us' - very intertesting insight into germans during the war and their Jewish neighbours.
As a result I was in need of a new book and have opted for a historical one this time 'Persolpolis' one girls autobiography in cartoons strip format of a life growing up in Iran. I'll let you know how it goes (Thanks to Laura for this recommendation).

This weekend I headed to Philly with Raj on the early china town bus. Had a fab day! We ate philly cheesesteak, took a bus tour, ran up (and down) the 'Rocky Steps' and around the liberty bell and Independance Hall. The city has a very french feel, which the tour guide explained is a result of architecture modelled on 18C france. The city hall is a very grand white building with courtyard and turrets?- is that how its spelt???. We also bought cookies in the historic 'Reading terminal' market - where the Amish folk have a stall aswell..
They have some new buildings too, including one dubbed 'the USB Tower' as it look oddly like a huge USB stick. There was a Zoo and a HUGE hot air balloon visitors could go in and up over the city for birdseye views!! (It wasn't operating this day as it was too windy- but I enclose a pic so u can pretend I went on it!!!)
In the evening we had a few cocktails in the hard rock cafe before jumping back on the bus to NYC - getting back about 2am.

The whole of this week has also been stupidly hot- on wednesday it was over 100F!
Yes I did still have to go to work- yes it was horrible, yes I did have to use the subway trains in this heat- luckily i survived - Thanks for the sympathy cards tho *cough cough* grr...

Right more next week folks!!