Bright lights of New York....

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Well I am now back in blighty and will confess that I would have done anything to avoid being here....

Having left Quebec behind I landed in Newark and made my way to my hotel in Manhatten. Having dropped off all my bags I made my way onto the streets of New York to meet up with Mum and Dad who were shopping in Macy's. The walk down Broadway from Times Square was a mad one due to the traffic and the people and it was such an antithesis to Mont-Sainte-Anne that my head struggled to cope with it. I was duly met by Mum and Dad who, I think, were glad to "see my ugly mug"!!

We spent the next four days doing the usual sightseeing in and around New York. We had a great time although I think I walked Mum and Dad to death. I can honestly say that whilst New York is a city that you have to see to believe. It is not somewhere that I feel the need to return anytime soon and it just confirmed that I am country girl at heart and the big cities are good for a night out or a visit for a few days but thereafter I need to escape to peace and quiet.

We left Manhatten in true style and got a limo to the airport. We had ordered a taxi however the stretch limo rolled up and provided us with much amusement although Dad and I had to have my ski bag on the floor by our feet since limos don't have a large boot (trunk).

The flight home was delayed by three hours due to a huge electrical storm however we eventually landed in Manchester at 9am Monday morning. After a few hours sleep life was back to normal and the unpacking and washing started.

"Normal" unemployed life has now started although I don't seem to have had much time to sit and watch tv. My first true day at home was spent doing paperwork. Yesterday I had to briefly go and sort out my house in Ramsbottom although that did give me an excuse to go and spend the rest of the day with H and the kids - Auntie Andrea was home and needed her Jessica and Jacob fix. A chilled night with Rachel, a visit to the dentist, lunch with a few friends and a haircut have also been slotted into the last 24 hours.

It seems that my time is very much in demand and I am currently wondering how I am going to fit visiting everyone in as well as preparing for the next leg of my trip - only time will tell if I am ready on the 4th May or if I leave with things in disarray behind me with various requests for Mum and Dad to help me out.

The next big event is being a bridesmaid at Tim and Janes wedding in Newcastle on the 19th April - bless them the date was arranged around my travel plans. I think Jane is just grateful that I have come back with no broken limbs and my bruises will have disappeared by the wedding and my brother i think is just glad that I decided to return to the country rather than stay in Canada.

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Photos

The view from my hotel window
The white light on the left hand side of the picture is Times Square