Memorial Day

It's quiet as I write this, so very quiet. Harriet is in the bath and she is absorbed in something so there is not even the familiar sloshing of water on the floor. We've had a couple of military fly-pasts today but there is not so much as a helicopter visible. There are neither police cars screaming nor youths shrieking.

Unusual. No complaints though.

It's been an all-go weekend. On Saturday morning we first travelled up to the midtown to see the navy ships that are here for fleet week. Then we walked down the river to our usual park on the pier. It's summer now so the fountains have all been turned on. Which is just as well because it's roasting. I mean really, really hot and little consolation though it is to the UK, it is a pain to have to apply all the sunscreen.

Harriet loves the water, obviously. She loves the sand (a delightful mess when the two meet) and she loves the slide. All of this takes place against the backdrop of the Hudson filled with passing cruise ships and yachts, watched over by the skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty.

After a quick brunch in the Village (H spark out from all the fun) we returned home and took Pip out. Back to the Hudson but now on the grass of pier 45 with our picnic blanket and a few 'sodas'.

Harriet was not keen on the idea of sitting on a blanket and took herself off to meet and greet some of the other groups. One couple, Portuguese and Belgian, were soon dancing to her tune. Whatever you might have heard New York is an easy place to get chatting to people especially with a little girl who shouts 'I'm shy' over and over till she gets a response.

On Sunday we went to the larger park at pier 25 for the meet-up group. It was yet more fun in the water and a chance to meet another couple with a fifteen month old boy. Another quick brunch in the village (New York's best meal) and we were off to the Upper West Side.

Samara's mother's place is amazing. It has roof top access with unobstructed views of Central Park. They had set up a paddling pool for the kids but I definitely had to paddle to try to cool down just a little. Harriet had an amazing time with the other children and Pip was having the best time ever lounging around on the roof deck and hoovering up anything that fell from a plate.

The best part of the day came in the evening when the sun goes down and the city lights up. It's finally cool enough to relax and stop hunting the shade.

Monday has been a much quieter - a perfect end to a perfect holiday weekend.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Good Times

Writing the Sarah blog is hard because it means admitting that it is over and it's also difficult working out where to start. So, let's keep it simple.

In the beginning was JFK again. I knew there would be trouble when I arrived and saw that a Pakistan Air flight that had arrived two hours earlier still had passengers coming through. Sure enough Sarah sent a text to say it would be some time before she would be out. So I amused myself in the bar, watching on the TV, as everyone did then, stories about the Royal Wedding.

Sarah eventually showed up and we caught the subway back to town. The A train runs quickly to W4 street and is nothing like the Piccadilly line in case you think I took leave of my senses.

The first few days I was at work but in the evenings I saw a common pattern emerge. They were shattered from walking so much, particularly in the nearby Hudson river park and also in Central Park.

"There are not so many fashions on display in New York as London" said Sarah.

I had to point out that she was saying this at 8.30pm while she and J were already in pyjamas. Perhaps, just perhaps, the hipsters go out past 9pm and didn't spend all day at the swings and sand-pit?

On Friday the Royal Wedding came and went. The enthusiasm for this was remarkable in the household and at work. Indeed a couple of weeks later a colleague and I were amazed that we had not spotted a trade earlier and concluded that it must have slipped through while she was glued to the wedding and I was pretending not to be glued.

Sarah went off to Connecticut to spend the weekend with relatives. Saturday was quiet for us but then on Sunday Matt and Bryan arrived in Penn station.

Matt eschewed my advice to take the subway and put his life in the hands of a New York taxi. We took the train to his hotel and half an hour later they showed up somewhat shaken. Despite the fact that he has known me for the scary total of 14 years or so Matt has not grasped that fundamental truth: I'm right, I'm always right (except when I'm not but that isn't important).

We had not met Bryan though so our first chance was lunch in an Italian in Little Italy. It was touristy but hey we were all newish to this town.

They called on our place that evening and after they left I checked twitter and the first news about bin Laden was filtering through. How many more major events would coincide with Sarah's visit?

Sarah was back on Monday and we all went out to Shade on Monday evening. Alas it wasn't possible to stay out too late because Harriet's days of going quietly to sleep are over.

The boys were only in town for a few days but we did get to have a farewell lunch at Katz's. We did not have the table where Harry met Sally but we did have a great lunch. Since Matt has now visited me in Edinburgh, London, New York and San Francisco I will definitely have to make the effort to see him on his home turf. Remember guys, you promised me the Twilight tour. Team Jacob of course.

The weekend was the big event for me because I was off work at last. On Friday we took the B train down to Brighton beach and walked along the boardwalk to Coney Island. After a quick bite to eat at the curiously named 'Paul's Daughter' we went to the New York Aquarium.

I noticed such a difference in the way Harriet looked at everything. She was so interested in it all. It meant that sometimes she would even be frightened such when the walrus swam towards us and touched the glass.

The walruses were the highlight for me. So enormous, yet so graceful. There were two of them swimming in circles like submarine super-tankers. There are amazing photos of Harriet, Sarah and I just standing agog by the glass.

The sea-lion show was great too - just long enough to hold Harriet's attention and full of feel-good humour. We finished with the Happy Feet show and returned exhausted to Manhattan.

The following day we had planned to go to the museum but the weather was too good so we decided to go to the zoo. It was a long subway ride to the Bronx but it was going to be an amazing day.

We began with the monorail that showed off the big Asian animals. The biggest pleasure was to see the male Siberian tiger stalking through his enclosure. Most of the time you just see big cats lying around in zoos so this was special. Harriet again was fascinated and happy to do the elephant sign and roar as we passed.

After the lions and the bears we found our way down to the main tiger exhibit. There was an ice cream cart outside and Sarah bought one. I was next in line and overhead the vendor say to a colleague "Man, that accent was hard." "British" agreed the woman. They then did their best impersonations of the Queen (or Hyacinth Bucket, I'm not sure).

My order passed off with incident, so complete is my grasp of the lingo.

At the monkey house we used J's iPhone to call Gran and Grandad before they left on holiday. That was a revelation because it was much better than I had expected.

Next up was the amazing fairground ride with all the bugs and last but no means least the gorillas. It had been another stunning day.

On the Sunday Sarah took the Circle Line tour. We went to Central Park for our meet-up group. It was such a hot day and we were going to have a picnic. We met some amazing people including a couple who had a 15 month son and had used the same agency as we had.

The highlight for Harriet was playing with Taylor, her six year friend. However beautiful the photos the reality was even more so - Harriet hero worshipped the older girls and they were so good to play so inclusively with her. Pure happiness is the sight of two little girls spinning in the sunshine of Central Park.

Alas that was my last day so I didn't get to go on the next big trip to the museum of natural history. So this time I just had the photos. The biggest impression was the show at the planetarium - Harriet talked about the show and the stars for days and days.

It was a holiday to remember, although it's probably good to take a little break now otherwise it would be sensory overload. Next up will be Lynsay and then Gran and Grandad will be back state-side. It's going to be a great summer.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]