My parents had arrived all ready for snow but snow there was none. Seriously, there was a time when Pip and I were climbing over several feet of snow while diggers loaded it up into containers.
Still, they did get to experience the cold and the epic wind chill factor. A few days were wet and cloudy but a few more were piercingly bright. Sadly, they left on Thursday after a week that passed all too quickly.
I know that they had a great time but more than that I know Harriet had a wonderful time. Whether it was the rides at Chuck E Cheese, the slide in Central Park or just doing ring-a-ring-a-roses in the apartment didn't matter; she was so happy. It was such a good way to make up for Christmas when Harriet was ill and also had to be passed around lots of different people.
Typically, however, two days after they left the weather changed. Today was my birthday and we thought we would risk a walk down to the Hudson if the wind wasn't too bad.
When we got there the problem wasn't the wind but the heat. Off came our winter jackets and in t-shirts we struck out into the pier.
One of my favourite views in New York was along 23rd street as I exit the subway station at 6th avenue and walk to work. I love it not because it is a beautiful street (not a big fan of discount electrical retailers, fast food and parking lots) but because it seems to stretch on forever. It presumably hits the East River but I prefer to imagine it heading out across the Atlantic with the next land point being Tilbury Docks, all jellied eels and rhyming slang.
But I've changed my mind. I'll keep 23rd street as a special place but that pier on the Hudson in the warm sun is something else. It takes two or three minutes to get there from our building's front door and as you reach its end you cannot take your eyes off the harbour. The towers of Battery Park stand on one side, the towers of Jersey glinting on the other and Lady Liberty floats in the middle.
Turn your back on this sight if you can or if you have to because Harriet is off, and you will see a great view of the Empire State Building as consolation.
Pip, J, Harriet and I headed off down the river path to the play-park. It was mobbed - full of joggers, cyclists, dog walkers and assorted nutters. But actually the park was too busy and Harriet was tired from walking so we circled back and dropped Pippin off home.
We had lunch in a little bar on West Third. We had great sandwiches followed by divine crepes (thumbs up from Harriet too). Best of all was a lovely Riesling that was sweet but not too sweet.
Feeling stuffed we walked uptown to Union Square to Harriet's favourite park. It was crazily busy but Harriet still had a great time in the sand pit - a lovely person shared her bucket and spade with her.
She is growing so quickly and mastering complex sentences. For poor J this means receiving orders: 'Let's go to the park, yes? Let's get my coat'. For me though it is just the good stuff like today.
Of course it's sad in a way that we are all getting older. She's not the baby she once was and I am, well let's move swiftly on there is nothing to see. But when you are as privileged as we are it is not the count of the days but how you spend them. It's been a perfect week with Gran and Grandad and a perfect birthday.
