Hurricane Irene and not being in NYC

Hurricane Irene, tropical storm approaching Miami

 You may remember last year in the very hot, humid summer in New York, Manhattan, I was diagnosed with Bronchitis, but with all the blood I coughed up my UK Doc told me it was more likely Pneumonia, and as an asthmatic that can happen too easily when it's all too humid mixed with pollution: just as the movie 'In America' shows,
when Samantha Morton is finding it hard to breathe- also an asthmatic- and her endearing husband, drags home an air conditioning window unit, hook or by crook through the streets of NY.




This year it worked out well then, that this summer we have travelled a lot, with our new base in Miami, Arizona and also to Northern California.

Its hard to see but it's pouring of rain and windy, but very warm

Thanks to serendipity, Hurricane Irene just gave us in Miami a bit of a whipping on the Thursday before it hit NYC, as my pictures show, by way of a tropical storm
But New York got hit by a category one, which was so much stronger, fellow blogger based in NY state, Clintondale, who lost power until today has posted this on You Tube as the streets were ripped apart by Hurricane Irene.

Thank heaven this hurricane has passed now, and hurricane season is almost over! Though it's pretty scarey with the anticipation, even when it's not as strong as they thought it would be.

Sunshine in Central park, turtles, racoons, Uma Thurman and the fallen child

Anyone in New York will tell you, the weather has been awful for this time of year, the rain poured and I mean torrential, on Saturday night for hours, even parts of NY state were flooded.

So as Sunday beamed into a sunny day, windy, but sunny, we went to the park! After a nice long walk past the boats, and the little turtles who seemed too, to be trying to soak up a little sun.

 

Four on a log, the first one looks like his shell may have been out in the sun a bit too long

Like most New Yorkers, the turtles share a small space

We sat leisurely on a bench, watching the remote controlled boats or 'model sail boats' float around the large pond/conservatory water. (not pictured, we were just soaking up the sun)
Sunshine on our face, and a very busy park, we were dreaming of summer... suddenly, I hear this skid, and then an abrupt stop, I look to my left and a small child has fallen face down the slippery, dirty dusty path.

Of course we're expecting her mum or dad to walk up at any moment and pick, her up, and she lies there a split second too long.. the tears and wailing begin and some ladies about to walk past, run to her aid.
One lady, quite tall, bends down to pick her up.
Now I could be a bit paranoid, but I think she looked at us- split second kinda look- that said 'aren't you going to help this kid/child!' such disdain..tisk tisk..
Anyway her father came rushing down, pushing the other child along in a push chair/stroller, and scooped his child quickly back 'are you all-right sweetie??' thanking the lady, but very clearly showing she was no longer required.
So I looked up at this good samaritan who seemed to be over her disdain for me and boyfriend and saw that it was Uma Thurman!
Mad! How New York is that?!

The boyfriend, had stopped looking until I told him who'd just past us, then commented on how he should fall down.
The mum meanwhile came down the hill, to her little girl and exclaimed 'You just got picked up by Uma Thurman!!' I couldn't help but lean forward and nod to confirm and join in the incredulous scene. Love that about being here, when the pot melts, it welcomes everyone in the discussion, this family were from Australia, but my UK instinct to not say too much relegated me to a beaming smile and nodding head. Sometimes I am so English..
'Mum', was really funny and told her daughter 'fall again, fall again!" While 'Dad' sauntered past us  more non-chalantly stating it was "one for the scrapbook"

It all happened too quickly for me to get you a picture, sorry about that! But hope you enjoy some of the day's pictures and the Racoons (yup, I finally saw them) we saw hanging about  in a tree near the 86th Street park traverse.