Sunday, January 29, 2006

Xmas / NY 2005


Well this was probably the first official time that I have had to “host” Crimbo – Guests in attendance were cuz Tarlei & Mike who had come over from Australia for their Europe tour , Cuz ZZ… Jen and her dad joined us for brunch before heading off for a more traditional meal elsewhere…

My day started with another hangover, (as the previous seven days had!), ZZ lying in the bed next to me, Several phone calls, a few tears, and plenty of few laughs…Mike and Tarlei arrived just after 11 and then…. BRING ON THOSE CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS!

Well after 3 bottles of Moet, a truck load of wine, and a few tequila shots later, the day had almost gone… ZZ and I finished off the night with a Pyjama dance and then it was off to bed – this being my first xmas in London and done in true family style!


Fave gift would have definitely been the beautiful scarf given to me by Mum – has hardly left my body since!



For New Year I decided to get away from London for a couple days so took a train to the Lakes to see Jake, Jo and the kids– typical visit whereby I arrive at 4pm on New Years Eve and the drinking commences… after a few beers, Jakes baby (6 litre bottle of vino) was opened, then it was on to the most amazing brew of mulled wine I have ever tasted and then back to more vino (the more adventurous of us decided to mix a bit of whiskey in with our wine) – No tequila, but there was sausage roll jenga…


While there was not a lot of action on New Years day, I did get out the following day for a walk near the lake a and a final pint before hopping back on the train back to London….

Am really ready to put 2005 behind me and look forward to 2006 - have a great feeling about this year!

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

USA

November 2005

This particular blog has been a while in the making I know, but I will try to write a short (ish) overview of the wonderful 2 week adventure I had in the States just a couple of months ago…

It started with my arrival in Washington DC… I arrived mid afternoon on a Saturday and decided to head into the centre to catch the Washington Wizards play San Antonio Spurs (NBA) – On the metro I had a wonderful 1 hour conversation with a student from Bolivia (who had paid for my ticket due to my inability to work the machine!), and at the game sat and chatted with a young boy and girl along with their father, whom at the end of the game parted with hugs and best wishes for me – the kindness of these people was a very warm and welcoming entrance into this new city!




The next couple of days were filled with visits to war and various other memorials, The Smithsonian collection of museums (which could easily be the best in the world) and other various areas within the Washington district. I also visited Arlington Cemetery, for a few hours and I found this to be an incredibly moving experience, particularly the exhibition “Faces of the Fallen” which was a tribute to those that had fallen in this current Gulf War – I looked at every single face and read many notes that had been left, and couldn’t help but have a few tears to shed by the end – very sobering.

Was very impressed with Washington DC, not sure if I would want to live there, but I found it to be a very interesting city to visit with much to see of a very high quality - I had not expected to be so intrigued by all of the many things that I had not realised there was in Washington to experience.

After DC, it was off to NY, the place which had been such a major focus of this trip – wasn’t sure what to expect arriving in this big city that never sleeps but found it to be incredibly easy to navigate, never boring, very diverse, and completely crazy among other things!


NY was manic as I was always on the go doing something. Some of my escapades included, bus tours, harbour cruise around Manhattan Island, Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Central Park, Museums, NY Nicks, NY Rangers – my highlights had to have been Central Park, feeding a squirrel out of my hand in central park, Grays Papaya Hotdogs, The Rangers, and mouth watering steak (like I have not tasted since I left NZ - and possibly better!).

Met several people whilst here which meant that my evening entertainment was also taken care of - one guy, Grant, was from San Fran but had lived in NY before so it was great to have some local knowledge and someone to take me to the best spots… Below is a snap of me sampling the martini menu at a very classy wine bar...


Was absolutely shattered and ready to leave NY when the time came – decided I needed some R&R so made my way to Boston for a couple of days. I had not always planned to go to Boston but it ended up being quite possible the highlight of the trip – I simply fell in love with the people, the buildings and the atmosphere. I did a spot of shopping down Newbury St, did a trolley tour of the town, ate fish n chips at the harbour and enjoyed the most heavenly piece of carrot cake with coffee in a very cute little bookshop on Newbury St. I stayed in a gorgeous (B&B pictured below) and took a very laid back approach to the few days I had there – my time here was truly special and I am stoked that I decided to include this into my trip.



After Boston, I was off to Burlington, VT to have Thanksgiving with James and Rhonda, two of the kindest and special people one could spend it with. They also had the most gorgeous cat and dog, which of course completely did me in! On Thanksgiving eve we watched the traditional “Trains, planes and automobiles” over a few bottles of wine. I woke up on Thanksgiving morning to see snow falling all around their house which is surrounded by forest, everything was white and I honestly felt like I had died and gone to heaven – it was the most beautiful thing you could possibly imagine and I still dream about it! Friends came over for lunch, which consisted of extremely fine gourmet and it really was just such a special day that I was very grateful to have been a part of.



Was sad to leave James and Rhonda as I would have loved to have spent a couple more days with them and that is my incentive to return one day soon, but for now it was back to NY to spend my final wknd with the girls to celebrate Chloe’s birthday (which had been the reason I was over here in the first place).



Enjoyed NY the second time around for very different reasons as I was able to just go and relax and socialise for the last couple of days without feeling any need to be touristy. We all enjoyed some wonderful dining and good wine together and while Sinead and Janet hit the shops (something I had no desire to do) I took Chloe along to a Knicks game which ended up being a very adrenaline and entertainment packed event! My final hours in NY were spent strolling through Central Park one last time before heading back to the airport…



I do have much more detailed version of my trip for anybody that feels like reading it but I hope that this is still a good overview on my two weeks there. I cant wait to get back again – I really got just how big this country was and just how much I would still like to see and do in it!


P.S. Also have all my photos available on-line if anyone wishes to peruse the whole album!