Parent Week

Dear readers,

I know you have all been desperatley awaiting the parent week blog entry. The week in which the parents visited the ol' apple, and thus, I had to entertain them!
(if you are reading this mum you know I am joking... or maybe you dont? hmm... well its hard to tell sometimes ay? ..)

Anyway, prior to the parents arrival, I had to attend my six month reception on Wed, at Mountbatten. So I turned up prepared for some useless attempt at a gathering, paper cups and the odd staff member. Turns out it was actaully well attended-horah!- for the first time ever apparently( probably something to do with promises of free food). The free wine, and canapes went down very well, there was a photo competition and speeches about how we are all progressing blah blah.. not too bad an evening. After this, Mayur, Basil, another person I dont really know and I went to Bryant Park as it was such a nice evening and ate ice cream. I arrived home around 10.30pm.

Thursday the parents came! I collected them from airport. They did a good job of not looking too toursity most of the time-to begin with. There was the odd occasion when they were almost run over for looking the wrong way when crossing the road! (ha ha novices!) Other highlights included Dad discussing how to bake an apple with my housemates for 25 mins.., him not remembering to walk on the right- to avoid on coming herds of americans and an inpromptu pennsylvnia choir performance led by a guy from Durham in Central Park - which was quite good.

SO the run down.
Friday was a very hot day. I mean hot, as in the sunglasses were out people. I managed to turn my face a nice red walking about in the sun all day.
We did the tour of Grand Central, introduced parents to Snapple (an amazing drink!), wandered central park taking ka-trillions (this is a real number) of pics, then headed off for dinner at the vegetarian Indian place on 30th and Broadway. Dad was not pleased by the lack of meat, but mum seemed to enjoy it :)
Then Dad fell asleep (typical)
Mum and I went to the roof top bar in the hotel they were staying in, and (of course) we met some Mountbattens there. Rich D, Patrick, and the like were all there drinking away. You cant get far in this place without meeting the british folk...
It was a nice bar anyway. Views of the Empire state building. Barman with dreadlocks. Interesting.

Saturday, I collected them from the hotel and we took the subway to downtown where we went over the Wall Street stuff. The office, the stock exchange, starbucks etc..
We took the Staten Island Ferry over to Staten Island (where else?), passing the Statue of Liberty on the way. We witnessed the Heliport where the presidential Helicopter lands from time to time, and visited south street seaport. Dad seemed to like all the ferries and views over the Hudson etc. Mum was happy with the shops.
In the evening we went to see 'Rent' on Broadway. (oh did i mention we ate pizza on the way- this seemed to be an important thing). The show was good. It was about young people living in an old studio, trying to make neds meet whilst attempting to become film makers etc,.. all very musical.
Following this we (all three this time) went to the roof top bar again. Dad happily chatted away to the dreadlock barman half the night. Mum and I pretended we didnt know him. :) It was a nice night!

Sunday we headed to Hoboken, NJ. Had lunch and then on to Newport. Parents inspected the apartment, views, mall, etc etc.. (I gloss over this as its nothing great to me- I'm sure it was more interesting than I make out). I have a nice view of the NY skyline from my Apt window, and the flamates were all present and sober (which is quite rare) so I think I got away with the inspection. We headed back to hoboken for dinner. (Dad had been demanding meat ever since the vegatarian meal- so we went to a steak house and he had a HUGE steak to compensate). Mum and I had steak also. It was quite nice- but couldnt be done very often. After this I sent them home on the train (yes I know alone... ) they managed to make it back wihtout getting lost - I think.

Monday it was raining, a lot. I dragged a suitcase full of things to Manhatten for the parents to take home and got drenched. humph.
They had a nice ol' time in their hotel eating there free breakfast and waiting for me...
After this we hit the shops as it was such a horrible day. First to Macys', then Bloomingdales, pause for lunch at a diner on 65th st, then, Dylans the candy store. Dad was getting tired of the shopping so we took him to Roosevelt Island on the cable car which he enjoyed and wandered the island for a while. It seems to be a very old fashioned place. A 70's relic of sorts. Peaceful though.
We took the subway back to the hotel and dad fell asleep (again)
Mum and I went out to do some last min souvenir shopping and ate dinner. Then I headed back to Newport.

Today I am back at work. :( Parents are out doing a few more sights before their flight back tonight. The Product Fair is 2moro and my marketing project is due next monday, so I shall be hard at study the second they jump on the plane. 2moro is also the beginning of the new interns job to replace Louise who is going back to London. (Louise and I share the job in our firm) - so I will have the joy of training said new girl over the coming weeks -yay! It is also move weekend this weekend, as old interns leave and new ones replace them.- Thus I am spending the next few days cleaning and moving all my stuff to another room.(again). Could this GET more exciting???!
Pics of all this excitement (the events, not the move you understand) are pending.
bye! x