World Aids Day in the Big apple

The temperature has dropped since the summer and we are having a good rainfall here December 1st, World Aids Day.

Many buildings, including the Empire State Building, the JFK Control Tower, the NASDAQ Marketsite Tower in Times Square and Brooklyn Borough Hall will be lit in red to draw awareness to AIDS prevention.  The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum  will also be lit in red. For information, visit www.joinred.com.


 Lights on the Washington Square Park Memorial Arch will be switched off during a "Light for Rights" media event from 5:30  p.m. to 6:30  p.m to remember those who  have died of AIDS.  Fifth Ave. at Washington Square Park North.)
Such an amazing tribute by so many buildings, keeps aids in the minds of everyone, young and old, living with it, affected by it or not, it'd be good if we followed this example in London.
This day has always been important to me, as it has been a illness of our time as it were.
Finding out a good friend lives with it, has made it all the more important.
Wear your red ribbons today.

Back in the USA

Well I'm back into this land of Uncle Sam, as it is known. Back into NYC soil. The weather is MUCH cooler but the sun still shines.. I made it in time for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is the festival where the American's celebrate the early pilgrims who settled here making it through the winter with help from the Native American Indians- taught the settlers to plant, hunt fish etc, basically survive ...perhaps they even gave them a Turkey?

Mini Big Ben- at least that's what I call it

We had to do our food shop for the Turkey, Stuffing, Veg and Cranberry - traditional Christmas dinner I hear the Brits say, but no, this is traditional for Thanksgiving here, Christmas is a free for all apparently, though some do choose Turkey again.


The vibe was really friendly in the supermarket, if not incredibly crowded and no space at all for the shopping trolleys, but that's NYC supermarkets I've learned. Everything else in America is supersized, but not NY, apartments/flats and even the supermarkets are small but they have a fantastic parade of gi-normous proportions! Balloons as big as buildings, check out the picks and enjoy. Not really sure in what they pertain in regards to Thanksgiving traditionally but it was a lot of fun.

Again not sure what sports has to do with it?

We had enough Turkey for 3 days, and we chose a small one!

These ones were created by an artist from Japan, they were weird and scary

Shrek, comin through the crowds!

Have to mention the Cranberry, because it's so different from home, we have sauce, basically come pre-made in a jar and you stick a spoon in and help yourself- like a pickle or a jam, well here they buy it in a can, when you shimmy it out- carefully you have a mound of what looks like a jelly (UK Jelly). Then you're supposed to slice it in rounds and each person takes a round for their plate. No chunks of Cranberry in there, but it does the trick. (you can appently but cans with the chunks) but the point is all the Cranberry sauce comes in a can.

Gem of New York

So.. this is my final post for this part of the blog, as I'm three months in! and it is time to head back to English shores.. and I have to say, I was just getting used to it!!
There are things about New York that are very cool, and not found anywhere else in the US, like the fact you can order delivery from ANY restaurant, including places like Cipriani's, and a slice of Pizza from Joe's!
They'll come to you rain or shine, and quite late at night.. eating like that is cheaper than eating in, and given all the heat the kitchen gives off in a small apartment, in the heatwave it's better to order in..
Or take their 'Subway' (i keep calling it the Tube) runs all night.. they have to write engineering works posters from 12am-5am... when most Londoners wouldn't expect the tube to run anyway..

During this trip I've been quite ill, and so haven't been able to enjoy as much of New York as I might have wished.. but for now my gem in New York has been Central park.. every time I step in there, I find another wonder. First time it was little turtles popping their heads out of the green alge water, the second a Hawk -no kidding just perched high up on a branch looking out, apparently Central Park is the place where you'll find the largest variety of birds in the whole of the US. Then there's just the enormity and beauty of the park, the rambles where you can quite literally get lost.
Yesterday I got caught in the rain with no umbrella, and in the humid heat the rain was welcome, I took shelter by a tree, and watched another woman do the same..
As I watched the joggers continue past I started to see steam coming off the tarmac.. I know it sounds insignificant, but it was almost mysterious, and a little bit of magic..

Now that we have an apartment and settled, I cant wait to have people visit.. I'm looking forward to returning.. and continuing this blog.. there's so much more to write about!!
Adios for now Big Apple!

Footie Art

I did manage to check out some footie art here (above) at Columbus Circle, on the Sunday before I fell to the fever, check out the pictures, below is a painting of England 3 Lions, tied to the victory of 66. In the exhibtion it explained how us Brits had invented football, but find it hard to win. humm..

 

Nigeria shockingly knocked out so early and the hosts South Africa, always smiling..

Above the USA picture, presumably in choppy water and not on a pitch is symbolic?

The Netherlands and New Zealand below. Interesting &nice to see the US getting into the spirit,when I lived in California they insisted on calling it Soccer and had no idea or interest in a World Cup.