New York, I think, has a similar (although far newer) vibe to it. I remember the first time I flew over Manhattan. I was so excited. If you have never been its just like in the movies. Everyone should go to New York at least once in their life. Steam really does rise from the ground, the cab drivers are nuts, NYPD do eat Doughnuts (yes I saw it with my own eyes), you never get bored of looking up at the Empire State building (although its not my fave – The Chrysler and Flat Iron Buildings are New York to me) and Times Square really is frenetic, crazy. I have a lot of good memories of the City too.
The first time I went was with a friend of mine, Harnet, who now lives there. It was -15 degrees and the news reporters were telling people not to go out, as there was a risk of developing frostbite. H and I were never going to be deterred by that. No way. It’s New York for crying out loud. We put on 3 pairs of socks, polo neck jumpers with vests under, bought the only woolly hats left in New York (and boy were they dodgy) and we manned up. Times Square, Top of the Rock, Empire State, Grand Central Station, Saks, Macy’s…A&F. There was no stopping us once we started, and we walked god dammit. Of course New Yorkers in shops were laughing at the crazy brits with the dodgy hats but we loved it. In fact she loved it so much she moved there. Literally.
The next time I went was with my Mum for a mother daughter trip (we normally have one of these once each year). This was a bit special from the off. I am lucky enough to have been able to fly Business Class a fair few times with work for long haul trips but my Mum never had. So when we booked I used my miles to upgrade us to Club. It was brilliant. She loved it. That is when you really appreciate the whole Club World thing. When you have someone with you is just excited by it all, the bed, the food, the duvet (ok its me who loves the duvet). We had an awesome trip. We went in November and they were just getting ready for Christmas. We watched Mamma Mia on Broadway, did the whole horse and carriage round central park, shopped till we dropped and even got upgraded to a limo for our transfer home. Mum enjoyed the whole ‘club’ experience so much on the way home she couldn’t face breakfast when she woke up. My Dad still takes the piss now. He collected us at Heathrow and my Mum looked grey and just kept repeating the phrase ‘I need water, I am dehydrated from the flight’. Yes Mum that would be the flight, along with the red wine you drank before we boarded and brandy you polished off 6 hours ago before passing out on your flat bed. If you get the opportunity do the whole club world thing, just the once. It’s bloody brilliant. Be nice to the cabin crew though, there are some really rude people who think that just because they can afford to fly business they can talk down to the Cabin Crew. Not cool at all. We have all read Airline Babylon. And if they haven’t well, the really should.
The last time I went to New York was in 2010, February. I was in New Jersey for work and then some of the girls I work with came out and we went to NYC. We stayed with H and made a holiday out of it. H lives in Hoboken, over the Hudson from Manhattan. It’s not far on the ferry or the path and you look straight across the river to the Empire State. Hoboken is quite a cool place to live if you are not in the City. Typically for us when the others arrived from the UK we got hit with a massive snowstorm. It was so bad they actually closed some of the shops in Manhattan. The first day we couldn’t even get to Manhattan. Instead we stayed in Hoboken and went to this really cool bar in our Ugg boots, ate good food, drank cocktails and then went back to H’s and passed out watching ‘The Hangover’ on her massive TV. The next day, we made it to the City, and then the shopping madness began. The trip was just brilliant. It was one of those times when you laugh so much your stomach hurts. We were packed into H’s 2-bed apartment, sharing beds and giggling like 12 year olds on a sleep over, in our 30’s. We had to buy more bags to come home because we had bought so much. There was one moment when we worked out one of the girls (who will remain nameless) had spent £50 on M&M’s at the big pick n mix store in Times Square. She came back to us trying to work out how much it was in pounds, looking all disgruntled. I, helpfully, couldn’t stop laughing. They were peanut butter ones but still… £50! (now I like shopping but I still cant believe she actually forked out for them, even I would have put the damn things back). I reckon I could make them myself for less than that...
So New York holds a lot of good memories for me. This year I was looking forward to going back, on Good Friday, and spending Easter and my Birthday with my buddies. I have only ever been to NYC in the winter. It would be nice to go when I don’t have to wear scarves and gloves. As it transpired I had to postpone my trip. Post the 18-hour day in Belgium I decided to head out for a run the following morning. I have no idea why I did this as I was seeing Rich, my demon trainer, later that day. But it was a gorgeous day and I felt like a run. So off I trotted, in my mind I was listing out what I had to do before my trip on Friday. I knew I was tired but running wakes you up, makes you feel alive. On the way out I felt a bit clumsy (well clumsier than usual anyway) and recall not judging the pavement right. All in all it was a slow but good run. That was until I stopped. I got to my front door and realised my butt/pelvic area was hurting. I spent the next 30 minutes stretching like a mad man but to no avail. It just felt worse. And it felt bad. As much as I wanted to see Rich and work out even I knew that was daft. So I cancelled him and opted for ice and nurofen. Needless to say it didn’t work and I found myself in the doctors waiting room the next morning in a lot of pain.
I was prescribed strong anti inflammatories, tranquilisers and rest. None of which are conducive to 6 days in the NYC, particularly when you had a bone density condition. So I called BA and I postponed my trip. At the time I was gutted but I knew, from recent experience that there is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable or in pain than when you are away from home. To add insult to injury BA had only gone and upgraded me on my flight out (see all this travel really does have its perks!). Regardless, I moved the dates, as the lady at the exec club said, you might have a nice flat bed but that’s not going to help you when you are laden with shopping bags traipsing round the City. Of course she was bang on but I was a tad disappointed.
As it happens Easter in England, well it could have been a lot worse. 26 degrees in my back garden, fantastic friends who came round and cooked for me, garden fairies who came and mowed my lawn and perhaps best of all rest. I hate to say it as it makes me sound old but I really think I needed to rest. Normally I fly round the place like some kind of army major. Get up run, shower, train to work, tube, breakfast, meetings and or travel, home, more work, or PT or drinks etc. Weekend really is like a military operation trying to fit everything in. I had forgotten how to chill. There is not much else you can do with a bad lower back/pelvis really.
(Besides everyone knows they can’t make chocolate in America – so at least staying here I got to eat a few of these these…;)) Rich is so going to whip my butt when I am fit again…. :S
So New York you will have to wait a few more weeks for me. And when I come, you had better be sunny and warm and there had better be an almighty piece of Vanilla cheesecake waiting just for me….
Belated Happy Easter folks x
Laterz taters ;) x
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