Bits and pieces

Half past nine, and it's cooled down to a mild and balmy 91F.  Yeah.

People are strange, the world over.  We went into Barnes and Nobles earlier - not at all taking advantage of their air con, oh no!  Now, we're all used to seeing browsers in bookshops, leafing through the books and magazines.  Some shops now even place armchairs for them at strategic points.  That's fine.  There were guys sat in B&N against the wall, with laptops out, using the textbooks!  Barnes and Nobles, replacing Uni libraries the world over! 

Then when we went for dinner, there was a mother, her son and his friend in the booth behind his.  All was peaceful until apparently mum did what mums all over the world do, and teased her son once too often in front of his friend!  Cue very loud, choice language from him, as ever just as the chat around went quiet.  She threw her drink over him, paid the bill and stormed out.  Leaving her son to borrow off his friend for the rest of the bill, and lament that he should have waited til he'd got money off her before insulting her!

Took a wander along to the Hudson after eating - we're about half way between the Hudson and Central Park.  Spotted an open air performance of Cyrano de Bergerac,  wandered past Grant's Tomb and saw some lightening bugs.  Lovely view across the Hudson to New Jersey, too.

Theatre tomorrow, off to see Cage aux Folles.

102F in the afternoon!

Taken from Broadway, looking to the south-west corner of Central Park.  I love air conditioning!

It's too darn hot!

Arrived last night, into the middle of a heatwave!  Temperatures today are threatening over 100F!

The flight was ok - not the best cabin staff we've ever met on Delta though, and we had to wait ages to get into the immigration hall.  On the plus side, Chris's leg had the same effect as last year, getting us fast-tracked to the head of the queue!  And it was a huge queue - several planes all arriving at the same time!

Bit disappointed with the car service we booked - we waited where we were told, they didn't show up, but phoned half an hour late saying where were we and did we still need the car?!  The taxi queue opposite was empty, so we told them to stuff it, and got a cab!

The hotel is fab - clean, well located, staff are courteous.  Only disappointment is that the diner next door that they rave about - closed for renovations!  We found one of their other venues a few blocks down for breakfast today.  Oh boy, that was good!

Shopping?  The usual suspects so far.  Haven't gone down to Century 21 yet, but since the Queen is in town for a 9/11 memorial today, we figured it might be a bit hectic down there!  I found Michaels craft shop last night - no stash yet, but will definitely be going back and going mad there before we go!

No pics yet, not even Chris's traditional thumbs up.  They'll follow eventually!

We're on our way!

The holidays are here!

We're currently sat in the Radisson Blu hotel at Manchester airport - early check in tomorrow, so less hassle.  Big room, comfy bed, fab shower and great food.

Flight is 11am tomorrow, so we'll be over at the airport nice and early and the weather looks set to be scorching hot all week.

Getting Closer

Six weeks today, we'll be on the train to Manchester Airport!  Booked into the Raddisson overnight, then fly out 11am Monday.  That's the plan anyway, Delta keep emailing us with changes of flight times, so some time Monday morning we'll be flying!

So, trains, flights, hotels, baseball, broadway, harbour cruise all booked.

Twitter account set up - @mochrisny - just in case we see any suspiscious packages round Times Square.

Just need to pack and change our spending money now!

Booking ahead

Plans are coming along nicely. 

Baseball tickets should be on sale this month - we're planning on going on Jersey Thursday, for the free baseball shirt - and a chance to run the bases after the game - and then the following week for Weiner Wednesday and a free bobblehead! 

I spotted an ad for Hidden harbour Tours, which are limited, but we're lucky enough to be there at the right time.  Takes us round places we wouldn't otherwise see, and finishes with a sail past the Statue of Liberty.

Finally, my inner Diva will get an outing, as Chris has just bookeed tickets for La Cage aux Folles with Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge.  I wanted to see it in the West End with John Barrowman, but missed it.  Yes, we could have waited and tried the TKTS booth, but we did that last year with Rock of Agges and missed out.

So, four nights planned, and just over 3 months to go!

Oh, and run the bases?  Maybe a gentle stroll!

The countdown begins!

The hotel is booked, the flights are booked, and we're just waiting on the Cyclones' tickets going on sale... can't wait to go back!