So, here we are. Jane writing a blog. I'm shaking my head as I type....can't believe it myself...It's amazing what you can get up to when taking some time off work to be at home!

I seem to still be recovering from the trip to NY with Natalie - well at least my ankles are. Like balloons. Must be old age. Put tight socks on in bed last night. Made no difference.

Anyway, back to New York....you can check out the full photo album on facebook. This is my favourite photo of Nalatie in the hotel bedroom - all smiley and excited about being in New York!

It wasn't until we got back home that I realised how much we'd crammed into the trip. It didn't feel like we rushed about, but check out this schedule!!

Friday:

• Arrived at 2pm, had lunch in hotel. Fantastic boutique hotel - I definitely recommend it. www.hotelrogerwilliams.com
  
• Walk to Subway on 33rd, train down to Civic Hall.
• Walked down Fulton Street to the South Pier. Cool place - lots of bars, pedestrianised, good atmosphere.
  
• Shark Speedboat trip round the harbour, taking in the Statue of Liberty, the Waterfalls, and the NY City Panoramic views. All to backing music by James Brown, Run DMC......Brilliant! We were drenched.
  
• Walked West along Fulton Street over to Ground Zero. The viewing platform wasn't there any more. Crews were getting ready for the Sept 11th anniversary. Very sad aura.
• Into Century 21. Shop. Shop. Shop. Natalie did very well.
• Taxi to hotel. We're knackered. Dinner in hotel

Saturday:

• Jetlag not too bad. Woke at 5.30am.
  
• Cab to Ritz-Carlton for breakfast. Have to get Eggs Benedict. Overlooking Central Park.
  
• Pony and trap ride in Central Park. The horse was a bit naughty ( called Billy) so that's why Natalie chose him.
• Time to see what's happening in the Plaza. The old buzz is no more. Very quiet. Went to the loo, and the attendant put rose petals in the basin. Very posh.
• Sat by the fountain to work out our day.
• Walked down 5th Ave, heading for Rockerfeller Center.
• Elevator up to the Top of The Rock. could have done without them lighting up the lift shaft through the ceiling. Too scary.
• Brilliant view, if a little cloudy.
• Walked over towards Times Square, popping into Pret-a-Manger for lunch.
• Went to Longacres Theatre to see "Boeing Boeing" matinee. Great play! We were laughing all the way though it. Loved Gretchen and Robert. Hilarious.
• Rickshaw down to Macys. More shopping. Wanted to get some V&B bowls. They didn't have the exact ones, but I got 4 to add to my collection.
• Taxi to Marriot Hotel for Dinner in the Revolving restaurant. Great to see the city at night.
• Taxi home

Sunday:

• Walked to Madison Park whilst Natalie went for a run.
  
• Subway to Little Italy for lunch. Great atmosphere - they closed the road just as we arrived. Nice of them to do that.
• Had lunch outside watching the world go by. Very sunny day.
• Walked down to Chinatown. Veteran karaoke in the park. What a racket. Just an old bloke wailing his head off in Chinese.
• Walked through Greenwich Village, with artists lining the streets. some were really good.
• Headed up to the Flatiron building. Big billboard of David Beckham in his underpants next to it. Bizarre.
• Had to go back to the hotel to get passports for our helicopter trip.
• Taxi to helipad. They kept us waiting, so then gave us a free upgrade which meant that we got to see the whole city, not just the harbour. Natalie was in the front next to the pilot. I know I keep saying brilliant. But it was. Brilliant.
• Taxi to Les Halles French brasserie for dinner. Mediocre. Poor Service.
• Walked back to hotel and bed

Monday:

• Need to chill out today.
• Breakfast at Sarabeths - highly recommended.
• Walk through Central Park.
• Chill out near Strawberry Fields, opposite the Dakota Building. Listening to guitarists playing and singing Beatles songs. Quite moving, actually.
  
• HOME!!!

So now it's Friday, and so far in this "chilling out" week, I've watched 2 movies (Mamma Mia, The Dark Knight), gone to the company Summer BBQ (and I have bruises from the VolleyBall), been out for a curry, done some shopping, had a pedicure, and done a little bit of work.

However, I am most definitely NOT going to read any more emails until the day before I return to work on the 15th Sept.

Getting organised for tomorrow now...

....an early Samaritans shift ( I start at 7am, so need to be up at 6. Already not going to get my 8 hours!!)

Then it's panic as I'll have an hour or so to get everything ready for the Cycling Endurance Race which starts at 12. Now pick yourself up off the floor. I'm NOT cycling. I'm cooking the food and giving moral support. So the bolognese sauce has been in the slow cooker for 2 days now, and I have to cook the pasta, do some shopping, and sort out chairs, clothes, etc, then be on my way at 11am. Forecast is RAIN. TORRENTIAL RAIN.