I've finally managed to get the pics uploaded (by deleting a bunch of photos of Harry - you know, we've got squillions the same from when he was a baby). So, cast your mind back to a couple of weeks ago and I was off to New York...
Since David's mum had gone out, we couldn't drop Harry off as planned so he ended up coming with us to the train station.* H was totally cool with it and I was surprisingly okay too. I only had a little cry, honest. And then a laugh when I found Harry's Thomas the Tank plastic camera in my coat pocket.
In leaving Harry, I hadn't really thought about the journey, but I had my books and my iPod so I was fine. I got the train to Manchester airport and then waited for my flight. Which was delayed. I was supposed to take off at 7.40, we actually took off at 9pm and then couldn't land at Heathrow and so had to circle for half an hour. Anyway, finally I dragged myself up to the door of the Jurys Inn and knocked...
And there was Lisa! We've been emailing for a while, but had never spoken, but I swear, we started talking before I was through the door and didn't stop for five days. She was taller than she looks on her blog (!) but apart from that she was just as fabulous as I expected.
The following morning we got up at stupid o'clock and a mere 12 or so hours later we were in New York! We checked into the hotel - which was the nicest hotel I've stayed in in New York (the pic at the top is from the rooftop bar and restaurant) - and then wandered up into "town". We were about four blocks from Bloomingdales, but we didn't actually make it in! On Friday night we spent about two and a half hours in Barnes & Noble and then got some dinner, before falling into bed (separate beds, that is!) at 9.30pm.
The following day was walking day and we were surprised to find we were simply given maps and left to our own devices. Fortunately they were pretty easy to follow and so we spent the rest of the day following them! The route took us out onto the Brooklyn Bridge and then past loads of sights and areas of interest, so it was actually a great way to see New York, as well as being the thing we went to New York for!
Exhausted, we fetched up at the hotel at about (I think) 5.30pm and then Lisa went out with the guys from Fred Flare. I was too tired and spent the evening relaxing in front of Scrubs and Will & Grace and reading Meg Cabot's Size 14 Is Not Fat Either. I did argue with myself at one point that a drink in the rooftop bar with two cool gay guys would be a better use of my time than basically doing the same thing I do on a Saturday night at home, but I was just too tired and I actually fell asleep at 9pm!
Sunday me and Lisa did a bit of shopping (mainly in the Hershey's store) and then I met Diane and her mum up at the Rockefeller Centre. After a delicious and hilarious lunch we headed for Top of the Rock. Now I've been desperate to go there since reading about it a couple of years ago and it didn't disappoint. In fact, it was so good it's getting a post of its own tomorrow. With movies and everything.
Sunday evening was the Gala Dinner with the rest of the walkers and this took place on the Spirit of New York harbour cruise. I was looking forward to this so much (I actually squealed when I found out we were going on it) and it was so good. There was cheesy entertainment, good food and cocktails - what more could you want? We sat with a really cool couple of women and spent the whole evening laughing. We were definitely the raucous table, particularly when it came to singing New York, New York at the end of the cruise.
As we drifted past the Statue of Liberty, the PA was playing America the Beautiful and I had a little weep. And I'm not even American! I did try to take a photo of the Statue of Liberty, but it was so cold out on deck, that all I managed to get was a green blur.
Monday morning, Miss Lisa had a flash meeting, so I waited for her in Borders (picture on the right - coolest Borders view ever!). I know it seems crazy to spend so much time in bookstores in New York, but it was actually my fifth time there and I've done (almost) all of the touristy things I want to do so I was happy looking at books and drinking a chai latte while making planning notes in my new Sesame Street notebook (Virgin Megastore, Times Square).
When Lisa got back from her meeting, we spent another happy hour perusing the YA fiction shelves and gossiping about books and authors. See, that's my idea of a good time!
After a completely fabulous lunch at a diner near the hotel (I had a turkey burger on rye! On rye!), we picked up our cases, hopped on a coach and headed back to the airport. I do so hate to leave New York. It was easier this time because I knew I had Harry waiting for me at home, but it's still hard to watch that skyline recede...
So flight to Heathrow, which was (hurray!) early, except (boo!) that meant I had even longer to wait for my flight to Manchester. How did I spend the time? Reading, drinking hot chocolate, eating pastries and checking my emails, of course. And then, finally, I was in Manchester and running into the arms of my cute little boy.
Me: Harry!
Harry: Middy! Elmo's World?
* I just wanted to say something about all the plans and pondering relating to me leaving Harry for five days. Maureen left a comment that I should have just sneaked out in the night and, although I think it was tongue in cheek (!), it is something I feel strongly about. Me and David always tell Harry exactly what we're doing whether we're leaving him for a couple of hours or a night or five days. We did try the sneaking out thing once or twice when he was little, but we didn't feel good about it and we'd never do it now. Imagine if you woke up one morning to find that your partner had buggered off to New York for five days without telling you. Why not extend the same courtesy to a child as you would to an adult?
Plus, it's self-defeating anyway since it just makes them insecure. Harry can trust us that if we say we'll be back in a couple of hours, we'll be back in a couple of hours and if we say we'll be back Tuesday, we'll be back Tuesday. It's important to me that he feels secure and it seems to work really well since whenever either of us goes anywhere, he just takes it in his stride. Although I do think he'll permanently associate Tuesdays with airports now...
