Day 30 - 25th July – To Galway

We rise late but are still the first up – Emma joins shortly after – others arrive from the sleeping quarters in turn – heads held – eyes bleary - the universal claim – “there was something wrong with that last drink” – this has been a great stay – off to Galway.

Day 41 - 6th August - Leaving Dublin

Departing Dublin

The other weather arrives – Dublin scurries to escape the rain – we gather at the Cox’s to rearrange our bags and to make space for Trudy’s shopping excesses – Graeme pretends to be cranky – Trudy pretends to be unconcerned about her expenditures – they both seem to have had a great time.

We head home via Bangkok - we will use the opportunity for some R&R. By the time I get home I will have been on the road from early April until early August save for a couple of weeks in June - the trip(s) were great but too long and too intense.

Day 40 - 5th August - Wicklow to Dublin

Wicklow to Dublin

We agree the plan for the day – a quick visit to Wicklow jail – back to Mary’s for a final cup of tea - then off to Dublin – visit the jail – a museum of the conditions faced by Irish prisoners before deportation - features Michael Dwyer a leader of the United Irish and a famous son of Wicklow - interesting – liked the role playing by the tour guide – loved the AV presentations – laughed at the display of wild creatures faced by the transportees upon arrival in Australia – Emily will be pleased we visited – she descends from Michael Dwyer now buried in Waverly Cemetery in Sydney.

Back to May’s - Mary is not to be denied – we must accept her tour of Wicklow including a visit to the original family home and the farms of her brothers – I was intrigued by the interplay between Mary as the eldest of the family and the sister in law who now occupy the family house – Mary is accepting of the traditions that see the family house pass to the male side of the family and equally the sister in law see herself as the custodians of the family home on behalf of all of the remaining family members. She sees it as the family house rather than just her home! – very special!

Family home is a sight!– built in 1840 – magnificent double storey dwelling surrounded on three sides by expansive lawns and trees and on the fourth side by a gravelled courtyard formed from white farm buildings with bright red doors. The farm buildings contain machinery relics including butter churns and rotating wheels driven by horses to propel early milking machines.
The house has generous sized rooms with the passages and corridors filled with photographs and memorabilia that have remained as part of the house long after the prior inhabitants have moved on.

The family home is surrounded, at very generous distances, by the homes of other family members including Mary’s brothers, nieces and nephews – the total land in the hands of the Delahunts seems to be in the order of 2000 acres.

As we tour the Delahunt farm lands we note the clusters of “Traveller” camps. The glamour of the Porsche four wheel drives clashes with the austerity of the mobile homes that they are parked between them within the camp – the camps are a mess – one wonders if this is not deliberate – a thumbing of the nose at the establishment.

We bid Mary and Anne farewell and head for Dublin - A final stint in the Royal Oak – a final dinner with Coxs – listen to Graeme talk about Ireland – off to bed – the trip is practically over.

Day 39 - 3rd August - Wexford to Wicklow

We rise at a respectable hour – I wander out to look at Nicholas’ thoroughbred colt – magnificent animal – takes an interest in me – head over the fence –what is in your pockets? - sniff all around – nothing? – here is a little nip to remind you not to forget something next time you come!

We are bundled into the back of Moira’s small Mercedes for the Whitty Clan tour – we visit the Whitty castles at Kilmore – the grave of Walter Whitty (1642) in the cemetery at Kilmore Quay – we visit the traditional lands of the Whitty’s – Graeme is forced to stand on the land and be photographed.

We lunch in the Whitford Hotel in Wexford – owned by Nicholas’ nephews and niece – meet and photograph Gerard Whitty.

We bid Nicholas and Moira farewell and we slowly and steadily head for Wicklow – the traffic is significant as people head back into Dublin after the long weekend.

Wicklow – not as sparkling as we remember it – its streets still narrow and pretty but its vitality seems to have waned – the Murrough where we once walked and walked and walked by the seaside is now a road construction site as the Tiger struggles to find a way to get larger and larger trucks down into the Port of Wicklow – progress? – probably not!

Mary greets us – this delightful lady is thrilled to see us – she has waited a long time to be able to return the hospitality that Bernie showed her and Anne when they visited Australia – she treats us to high afternoon tea – to an evening meal of the finest quality lamb – she is universally crowned “Queen of the Roast” – even Graeme concedes and seeks advice on the minutia of her approach to lamb preparation – her family have been summoned to meet the Australians and all duly arrive – brothers and sister-in-laws – a wonderful, close family who delight in each other’s company – the Irish are masters of the late night and we struggle to stay awake as they depart slightly after the midnight hour.

Day 38 - 2nd August - Cork - Waterford - Wexford

Cork to Waterford to Wexford

We rise late – the trip is becoming tiring – we pack and restore Peadar’s house to an acceptable state and head off to off for Wicklow through Wateford and New Ross.

Trudy and Graeme take the Waterford tour - Bernie and I coffee, sit, talk - talk about the size of world - see those people over there! - they look like the Egans from Wagga - sure enough - chat with them about old times and the size of the world.

We arrive at the Whitty “Estate” at Wexford – is this the right place? – cars everywhere – people everywhere – Bernie ventures to the front door – out comes Moira – they are having a pattern - A pattern? – the blessing of the graves – an opportunity to families to meet to remember their departed – the Whitty clan has gathered after the blessing to remember Nicholas’ brother – we are welcomed and introduced, introduced some more and welcomed some more – where have you been? - where are you going? – are you going to Kilarney?

Gradually the patterneers depart and we join the Nicholas and Moira for the evening meal – we are entertained by Nicholas and his stories of horses and farming and family. We marvel at his plans to convert the central heating of his house to firewood – Graeme offers advice on the refinement of the prototype log splitter mounted on the hydraulics of Nicholas’ ageing tractor – We listen as Nicholas joins of the chorus of the Irish as he bemoans the worsening arthritis of the Celtic Tiger – the poor old Tiger is well past his best.

Day 37 - 1st August - Back to Cork

Bernie and I rise early and drive around to our old haunts – the lifeboat house – Roff’s – the view to Bear Island - all bring back fond memories of times gone by – we note the development on parts of the foreshore but also note the half finished projects that must have had designs that could not accommodate the special needs of the geriatric tiger.

Leave Baltimore – we vow to return once again in winter – we stop in Skibbereen – 10,000 people die in the famine – visit the Famine Interpretative Centre – thought provoking – how much of this is still going on!

Skibbereen to Union Hall to Glandore – we remember and remember – the pictures cannot do the area justice – a visit to West Cork must include this drive – take it slowly – stop often.
Onwards towards Rosscarberry – turn right to the Dromberg Stone Circle – Druids – what were they upto? -

Home to Cork

Day 36 - 31st July - to Baltimore

Sun is shining - as usual the good weather travels with us - its cousin only delivers rain if we remain stationary too long.

Into West Cork - pause at the picture card that is Rosscarberry - natter with locals - photograph them feeding the white swans - anticipation grows - we pass through Clonakilty and move on toward Skibberine - much smaller than we remember - traffic chaos hasn't changed - onto towards Baltimore.

Deviate to Lough Ine - it remains a mystical place - a sea lake in an inland environment - access it along twisty and very narrow hedged roads past the Well of St. Brigit - cast our eyes around the environment - remember the hours spent walking, climbing and wandering its environs.

On to Baltimore -

We park the car on the cliff top – we revisit the descent that we so enjoyed during our 12 weeks at Baltimore in 2000 – the 43 steps to Bushes Bar – down the lane – view the old O’Driscol Castle – round the corner – Bushes Bar – has not changed a bit save for the hordes of tourists hovering inside and out – it is as delightful as ever – still I wish the tourists were not here – I yearn for winter when the town returns to be itself.

We walk to the Beacon – Graeme impressed – Trudy impressed – the harbour waters calm and serene – the Atlantic – windy but not angry – trawlers look impressive as they exit the harbour past Clear Ireland and the harbour entrance.

I sit on the cliff edge looking down at the Atlantic – no seals to be seen today – I contemplate the afternoons I spent here – crave for the absence of even the small number of tourist who are here today.

We wander back to Bushes Bar – it remains crowded inside and out – the bar staff frantic but polite and efficient – I manage to catch up with Marian – she remembers me as having a fascination with Lough Ine – the locals still sit inside the bar – they sneer slightly at the tourists – prepared to tolerate them but anxious for them to leave – we chat with a young fellow waiting to go home on the Clear Island Ferry – he is much friendlier when we reveal our attachment to the area.We drink just a little too much of the atmosphere and product of the bar and adjourn for dinner overlooking the wharf. We adjourn to the residential rooms of Bushes Bar - generous in size and very reasonably priced

Day 35 - 30th July - Cork

A quite day for the boys - a shopping experience for the girls who head for Blarney and the Blarney Stone - the Irish weather sets in - the view over the Irish farm land enchants - Pizza for all - we are off to Baltimore tomorrow.

Day 34 - 29th July – To Cork

Slowly, slowly away – tiredness is setting in – Mike ignores every instruction Tommy issues – Mike gets lost – eventually we escape Limerick and head for Tipperary in search of Tipperary Crystal – no wonder Tipperary Crystal is hard to find – it has gone belly up with its remnants receding to Dublin and Blarney –

What now – “you must see the Castle at Cahir” says the tourist lady – no – no - not another (expletive) castle says Graeme – I know what you mean says the tourist lady – I went to Italy last year – it felt like a pilgrimage rather than a holiday - Ok we will stop at Cahir – Graeme impressed with the pretty little Irish Tour guide – Katie O’Brien – he takes an immediate interest and gives the tour his full attention. Cahir Castle - small but impressive – owned by the Butler Family for 600 years - well worth the visit.

Onwards towards Cork following Peadar’s instructions to his refuge outside Cork –everyone is tense and tired - we arrive – quaint standalone cottage bordered by large hedges – a small brook flows down the block towards the stream below – the back of the house looks out over undulating farms lands with the small paddocks edged by low brush fences – the farm lands display every conceivable shade of green from the darkest of the dark to greens that approach yellow – an observer of the group would have seen the tiredness and tension dissipating from the brows of all – we draw up chairs on the back patio – lie back in the soft sunlight and enjoy the moment and the environment.

A visit to the supermarket for food and other vital supplies – sit back and enjoy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and await Claire’s arrival home from work – the oldest Cox grandchild could only be described as another Cox – the same gift of the gab – the same tall thin build – the same quick wit – like Angela and Aoife she is more than a match for Graeme – Civil Engineer in charge of a major concrete plan in Cork.

Day 33 - 28th July – Galway to Limerick

The Irish weather sets in and the tourists hide away in their B&Bs - my love affair with Ireland is rekindled - away – away – away from Galway –“ have you ever been across the sea to Galway” – yes – I will return one day in the depths of winter to enjoy the solitude of the Connemara but to do so I will need to find my way even deeper into the back country..

Towards the Cliffs of Moher – past picturesque Irish country side – narrow roads – the small villages – road side stalls – multi-colours painted houses of the villages - stone fences enclosing white painted farm houses – not the Connemara so the new houses don’t clash with visualisation of how the country side should be

The Cliffs of Moher – a waste of time – I look forward to wandering the sea cliffs around Baltimore.

Lovely morning – stop for lunch at a pub and high tail it to Limerick – taxi driver says the population is around 90,000 with almost 10,000 directly or indirectly employed by Dell Computer..

We dine at the Texan Steak House – not exactly Irish food – delightful – on the way home – Graeme to taxi driver – “lend me your wallet so I can continue my travels” – Taxi Driver - “you’re welcome to it – unfortunately for you my wife goes with it!”

Day 32 - 27th July – More of the Connemara

Perhaps I had not ventured far enough into the Connemara yesterday to be critical – wrong – we head further out – on the more major roads the once pristine Connemara shows the signs of tramplings of the now old and slightly arthritic Celtic Tiger – new houses and untidy construction sites are far too common and litter the country side like the tiger droppings - the minor roads show a much more original but still damaged landscape – we selectively photograph the way we image the Connemara should remain – perhaps it is not entirely too late – this is a sad failure of planning – perhaps it will be realised before the landscape of the bog Irish is lost forever – not my definition of progress.

Day 31 - 26th July – Aran Islands or the Connemara

Head north from Galway – struck by the development that has occurred on the immediate outskirts of Galway since we were last here in 1999 – it is hard to see all of this as progress – modern houses now speckle the landscape leaving the original tiny stone fenced paddocks strangled by untidy weeds – I head north slightly depressed and questioning the management of the Celtic Tiger.

We arrive at Rossoveel to meet the ferry to the Aran Islands - a greater extent of depression envelopes me - Too many tourists – this is Galway Race Week – abort plans – prefer a slow wander through the remaining back lanes of West Ireland – thank God some remain – the area leading up to Connemara needs urgent planning controls – slowly I feel some delight with the area returning as we encounter black faced sheep in full white coats and amusing black and white spotted legs – peat piles drying in the summer sunshine and their remnants in the form of long regular trenches abound in the dales of the vast undulating rock encrusted, treeless range – we stop and contemplate the role of the produce of these peat bogs in warming the winter hearths of Irish bog farmers over the centuries – we wander further along even more remote lanes past small lakes and streams only to be disappointed to find clusters of modern homes at their terminus.

We emerge from the range and lunch on local soup in an increasingly modern Irish pub and hightail it back to our B&B for a sleep – a nice day but one tinged with sadness – why am I not experiencing the sheer delight of my first visit to Galway and the Connemara? – have I changed or indeed has it changed – I suspect the latter – perhaps winter is really the time to be here

Dinner in town – the races on – the crowds large – the pubs crowded – the buskers abundant – some photos of the sun going down over Galway Bay

Day 29 - 24th July – Kildare

What in the hell are these Car Rental companies up to? – we arrive – G&T have ordered a four door auto and pay an extraordinary amount – we rock up having ordered a tiny manual – we both received basically the same car – no justification for the two to one price difference.

Plug in Tommy – none of the tendencies of Marge (the US bitch) – beats the taxi driver back home – pack up and head to Kildare

Two car convoy heads for KIldara via Glendalough – completion develops between Tommy and Angela as the GPS’s for the two vehicles - convoy breaks up – Tommy outpoints Angela – so much for local knowledge - Stop off in Glendalough – home of St Kevin - lots of visitors – majestic scenery – site not as exciting as 1999 – site best seen in winter with no one else around – then it is magical - spiritual.

Arrive at the Cox-Martins – greeted in style – feel sorry that Colm is not here – his brothers, sisters, aunts and parents arrive – drinking – drinking – eating –story telling- eating – drinking – singing – singing – singing late, late into the night – Emma is a star – the eight year old gets the singing going – Colm senior recites, Aunt Helen sings, Angela Senior and Angela junior join the circle in turn – Romy sings - Gerry sings – Tom recites – Graeme tells jokes – Romy joins the joke circle – Gerry joins – laughter abounds – the parent sit back quietly observing and smiling – very proud of their offspring – singing starts again – Helen and Paula takes requests from Bernie and Trudy - Aoife sits back clicking the camera – smiles when she is happy with the captured moment – pensive when the outcome was less than she had hoped. Trudy entertains – encourages – tells nursing stories and continues to fill the memory card of her ever active digital camera – a night to be remembered – a series of video excerpts collected for transmission to Colm.

Day 28 - 23th July – Wandering Dublin

Bernie and Graeme compete to find the prettiest looking individual to ask a question – Graeme starts – Bernie hits the lead at Molly Malone – Graeme trumps her with the barmaid at Cassidy’s Pub .... “where are you from?” – “Brazil but I am Italian” – “gee they make them pretty where you come from”

We arrive for dinner – expecting to go out – only Aoife (pronounced “effer”) and Trudy are home – Angela and Graeme are at the pub -

Roast lamb Cox style with supervision from the master chef .... Graeme loves his time with the girls – memories of late nights in the kitchen in Wangaratta complete with sullied strainers carrying the dregs of aging port bottles flood back to him – his external appearance and mannerisms points to a warm inner feelings - you could not help but feel happy for him.

Day 27 - Tuesday 22 July - Depart NYC

Wednesday 23rd July – Arrive in Dublin – Bernie and G&T delayed on tarmac at JFK – Taxi driver amazingly helpful – he rings the Cox’s for advice on how to get to their house – travelled OZ last year – knows more about the country that me

We meet Angela – one of the Cox girls – G&T immediately look like they have arrived at home – banter between Angela and Graeme commences immediately – Angela the match of Graeme – she would say – surpasses Graeme.

Dinner in town – taxi driver – immediately identifies us as Australian - “you are not from Sydney then“ – what do you mean - “Well no one comes “straight” from Sydney”

“Where are you going in Ireland” – west - “you have to go to the Galway races” – got a tip for us – “yes – don’t back women and don’t ride horses”

We walk through the streets of Dublin – cleaner - much much cleaner than I remember - where am I? – I could be anywhere – surely Dublin is still Dublin and not just another city – even the swearing seems restrained - Everyone knows Australia or has a immediate relative who is or was there recently ....

Day 26 - Monday 21st July –NYC

Last night in New York – out to a steak house – waiter greets Graeme like life long friend – we roll on home – store owner comes out on the street – Hello Graeme! – who doesn’t know him – this is Crocodile Dundee comes to NYC

Day 25 - Sunday 20th July – Gospel Choir

BB Kings on Time Square – the Harlem Gospel Choir – an experience – we head the queue – we admire the doorman who refuses the $50 that peeps out from the back of the white hatted southern gentleman’s hand – an attempt to jump the queue – we sense a secret delight on the part of the doorman at the new balance of power - we acquire our tickets and take our place at our table – the buffet is expertly handled and 250 people are fed in 15 minutes – food is superb - Harmonies superb – recommended to all

Graeme continues to meet more and more New Yorkers – their chests puff out as he tells them how friendly they are – they are intrigued by him ...

Day 24 - Saturday 19th July – Lancaster County

Drive through the lanes of Lancaster county – Armish and Menonites in abundance – strange combinations of allowable technologies see petrol powered whipper snippers carried in the back of horse drawn carts – likewise horses pulling self powered implements with Honda motors –

Bernie and Trudy photograph madly - both fascinated with the blacks, blues and purples on the Armish clothes lines – Graeme is over it and is keen to get back to New York

A long- hard – tiring drive back to NYC.

Day 23 - 18th July - The Road to Lancaster

We change our plans and decide to head for Lancaster - A long – long – long – tiring morning – bright sun shine – haze – bright sun shine – haze – shower – bright sunshine – drizzle ......

Lunchtime arrives – we arrive at Williamsburg – we are hungry and Graeme wanted a drink – we are a little desperate – that diner and that pub cannot be that bad - yes they can – they become christened as the “red neck diner” - I keep my head down – Trudy photographs everything in sight including the patrons – I cringe -

A long – long – long – tiring afternoon – bright sun shine – haze – bright sun shine – haze – shower – bright sunshine – drizzle – hot – humid – hotter – more humid – there is a Holiday Inn – to hell with the cost! – just book in and get it over it!

Ah but life is never continually tough – Dinner in a new Italian restaurant- pastas superb - lemoncello excellent – Trudy impressed with the young waitress and offers her sons as prospective bridegrooms – waitress selects the lawyer son and agrees to email him a marriage proposal – the Armish of Lancaster would not be impressed with our swaggering progress back to the motel!

Day 22 - 17th July Niagara

We sleep well and rise late – drive to Burlington for coffee and a stroll along the foreshore – we take summer photographs to contrast with the winter shots taken in early 2006 – We note the CSU advertising sign on the foreshore.

Graeme and Bernie sleep while Trudy and I “do” the Maid of the Mist” – Trudy smiles so broadly it is hard to imagine that she did not permanently damage her face – thrilling trip – return to meet the others for an equally enjoyable Imax movie about the escapades of early Niagara adventurers.

Day 21 - 16th July – Rome to Niagara

Poor old Rome – you seem sad that we are leaving you – no need to turn out the lights yet but you should be thinking about putting up instructions indicating how to safely shut you down.

We call into one of the many identical service centres along the freeway system – Graeme heads for smokers corner – he seems to learn more from his 5 minutes of cigarette consumption than we learn from twice the time spent on the consumption of tourist books – this time he returns to the car excited – we have to go via Buffalo to try the original Buffalo wings from the Anchor Inn.

We head for Buffalo with new enthusiasm – we divert past the finger lakes and arrive at Buffalo – we follow various leads until we eventually find the Anchor Inn – it is open – feast – feel full – Buffalo rises from the bottom of my list of cities (a rival to Rome) - drift on to Niagara

We check in – gather our thoughts – wander down towards the fall – Graeme looks only half interested – Trudy’s camera finger is fully exercised – what is that noise? – we have Graeme’s attention – he is impressed – he pushes on at full speed to get closer and closer to the falls – he is impressed – Trudy’s camera overheats.

Day 20 – Woodstock to Rome – 15th July

We rise early – Woodstock still asleep – eventually she shakes her head and appears in the form of two incompetent and cranky breakfast assistants in a local cafe – the bacon and eggs barely tolerable and the coffee only a crude and unpleasant caffeine delivery mechanism.
Woodstock – pleasant enough – I was at Woodstock (40 years late!)

Sun shining - we head into the Catskills. Churches – white with square wooden bell towers mounted by shingled spires - Lush grasses preened to lush lawns fronting hide-a-way wooden houses - Hills, elm trees with dense understoreys, small mountains, lush grass, elm trees, hide-away houses nestled in bush, elm trees, a cluster of birch, an occasional blue spruce, a small village and a church with bell tower and shingled spire, more elm trees, a small lake, more hills, a small farming community, red-ochre wooden farm buildings some standing proudly – many leaning like an old man suffering the aches and pains of old age and neglect, another hide-a-way with grass preened to lawn, more elms, another cluster of birch, another hide-a-way, more even more magnificent elm trees, another village and another church, another small pond, an occasional cluster of maples, another small farming community, more hide-ways, more elm trees, more villages – summer paradise! – come winter? – perhaps Florida might be preferred!

New Blenheim – not that new – what a bridge – why covered bridges? –

the real reason for covering timber bridges was to protect the main timber trusses from the detrimental affect of rain/snow ........... rot.

Http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/2000backeast/trip/members/JeffersE/why_are_covered_bridges_covered.htm

Eventually join the interstate I90 and make rapid progress towards Rome – cross the famous and infamous Erie Canal – “I've got a mule, Her name is Sal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal. She's a good old worker and a good old pal........ “ - the canal - a sad remnant of its magnificent past – no sign of “Sal” and no barges in sight – neglected locks rust away serving little more than as a monument to days gone by.

We enter Rome – never huge but historically important – the place of early trade interactions with the indigenous – now her long history as a goods transfer hub between the river systems of upper New York State seems to have been forgotten – she is dying away just as the Canal has died – population has been in steady decline since the 1980s – now only 34,000 - the road trains hurtle past on the turnpikes that only barely acknowledge her existence - she resembles a dying city with dour, unexciting streets and tourist attractions that seem uninviting. Her county airport is now closed down and host local police training – the receptionist at the motel seems to think that the casino is now the major employer.

We enter the bar at the hotel – experienced travellers should be concerned about empty bars and restaurants - terrible drinks – atrocious food - When in Rome do as the Romans do – eat in and give the restaurants a miss.

Day 19 – I was at Woodstock – 14th July 2008

Farewell to the Bowens – farewell to the kids – program the GPS and agree that it is to be called “Marge”. Head off for Woodstock via the United States freeway systems and subsequently the minor roads of the Catskill mountains.

Marge proves to be an old model of the Garmin GPS system – she regularly makes mistakes and starts to acquire an unsavoury name .

Arrive at Woodstock – small town – lovely setting – tourism seems to drive the economy – residues of the former hippie community abound – wander the town – head for the bar – strike up conversation with a local who claimed to be a local jeweller and conservationist – strikes me as someone more likely to be encountered on a bull dozer tearing up the bush – we adjourn to the attached diner – great meal – home to sleep off the day.

Day 18 – 13th July 2008

Final Event – The Brunch

It seemed like the entire guest list managed to make it to the brunch at the Bowen’s community centre – nice – important event – everyone tired – Bowens had done a marvellous job – Jane and Peter looked tired but remained gracious to the very end – The perceptive would have, I suspect, detected in them relieve that it was over and that at last they could relax.

The Antipodeans wind down at the Stonehouse – dinner in Tiverton – Matty stars once again!

NYC - Day 17 – 12th July 2008

Fourth Function – The Wedding - Groom and Best Man arrive at the Stone House accompanied by the wedding planner – she checks everyone – ushers the family into the limo – not a drop of champagne spilled on the way to the church - Great ceremony.

Back into the limo and off to the reception at Ocean Cliff overlooking Newport Harbour about 30 minutes away – Graeme interrogates the limo driver in true Crocodile Dundee style.

Arrive at Ocean Cliff via a detour past the famous mansions of Newport - photos on the lawn in front of the reception centre – admire the water craft both modern and historic traversing the harbour.

Brief welcome by the Bride parents – no more speeches – into the wedding celebrations proper – lots of dancing and great food and drink.

Reception finishes – a selection of guests meet back in Newport for a cruise on the harbour on a historic schooner - Amy especially organises snacks of Australian meat pies and lamingtons from New York – alas the Americans do not understand the concept – much to Amy’s disappointment the pies arrive cold and the lamington’s are coated with half an inch of rich chocolate icing – the pies and lamingtons ordinary! - The cruise - magnificent – peaceful – beautiful.

Arrive home –tired – elated – sit up and watch a television program featuring an interview that Sofia had done with a local American sleaze tycoon – later reveals she was devastated that they had edited out her tough questions.

NYC – Day 16 – 11th July 2008

Third Function – the Rehearsal Dinner - Now this one had all the Australians somewhat confused. Why would you need to rehearse a dinner? - 70 people – close friends and “out of towners” - gathered on a wooden stage under an open sided marquee for dinner right on the waterfront at Bristol – the food again stunning – Scallops the size of small potatoes - literally melted in your mouth – these New Englanders really know something about seafood even if they have a lot to learn about coffee.

Everyone who participated in the wedding ceremony had earlier attended a rehearsal at the Church – the rehearsal took longer than the real ceremony

NYC – Day 15 – 10th July 2008

The Maid of Honour arrives – a tiny dynamo – American to the core – her name is Pinkie – a delight! – the Best Man arrives – approaches 6’6” – young clean cut – distinguished – Oxford graduate – also an absolute delight.

The newly arrived antipodeans surely would use the spare day to go sightseeing in the NE area – not if that group included Trudy – she shepherds the others into cars for a “sightseeing” tour of the outlet stores on the outskirts of Boston – so much for sightseeing in the NE area.

Amy arranges for Simons favourite meal to be served at the Stonehouse - Ribs flown in from Memphis – Simon acts as chef – turns on the oven – heats them up – we all feast!

NYC – Day 14 – 9th July 2008

Effects of the travels really start to kick in for the newly arrived antipodeans – lots of sleeping in – plans for visits to the countryside are shelved – most sit quietly around the Stonehouse.

Second function of the wedding carnival – Meet the In-Laws - We gather at Evelyn’s on the waterfront at Tiverton – we are promised crab rolls to die for – we receive crab rolls to die for – a great night with the wedding party and the immediate families – look up Evelyn’s on the web – Graeme amuses and entertains the waitress and Barclay’s father .

NYC Day 13 - 8th July 2008

A quite morning - peaceful surrounds – some sleeping in – some breakfasting on the lawns quietly watching squirrels and chipmunks - some walking and wandering in the environs of the Stonehouse – all continue to be enthralled by Matilda who displays a complete lack of any travel symptoms and who delights in crawling around on the polished boards of the hunting room floor.

First function of the wedding carnival – dinner with the Bride’s parents – off to a bad start – Mike leads the way – gets lost – Rick and the others follow but in turn lose Mike – eventually all arrive to find an anxious bride and groom (to-be) pacing up and down – not a good impression! - Peter Bowen master chef presents magnificent dinner of wild salmon – Graeme amuses all with his wedding stories –This one had the bride and her mother splitting their sides with laughter:

I went to ask my father in law for permission to marry his daughter – he said “yes - but have you seen her mother yet?” – “yes but I would prefer the daughter”

NYC Day 12 – Wedding Week

The others arrive at Tiverton from NYC – tired and slightly dishevelled – only Matty appears to be her usual cheery self – off to the Stone House – circa 1919 – built from local stone – originally a hunting lodge overlooking the river – now hidden away in a cluster of native trees and neatly trimmed by lush lawn – chipmunks and squirrels abound - huge central lounging space – a more serene setting in which to prepare for the wedding would be hard to imagine.
To the liquor store to supplement Amy’s stocking of the StoneHouse and (to be discovered much later) – lose Rick’s wallet - Graeme intrigues the proprietors – they immediately treat him as the “long lost cousin” – Americans continue to delight – friendly – helpful – courteous – Graeme keeps telling them – “even the people in New York are friendly”

To the convenience store for milk, coffee, sugar and salt – Bernie stunned - nothing substantial – lollies – ice creams – biscuits – anything sweet – sugar supplemented cereals – dog food – more dog food – practically nothing substantial

Day 11 - A day on the water

Breakfast at Bristol - quaint old seafront properties in the historical district - people were busy populating the area when Captain Cook was still a boy! - Beechworth you are a new comer on the block - discuss the merits or otherwise of antipodean bacon - eggs Benedict superb!

Try to win over Baron - he remains resolute - I am not to be trusted - he has rare insight!

Down to the sea in boats - what every Rhode Island native is driven to do! - the landlubber watches the expert ready the boat - away - away up the Sakarnet River - under the Bridge built on land acquired from Peter's forefathers - admire the Massachusetts - feel sorry for the giant of history serving her last days as a monument to her glory days - admire the generosity of Peter's forebears in making her berth available - back past the coal fired power station down through the Bristol Narrows towards Peter's grandfather's former farm and house - slowly - slowly watch the depth gauge - 6 feet - 5 feet - 4 feet - 3 feet - not looking good - 3.5 feet - 4 feet - we just may make it to the jetty - 5 feet - sure will - take some shots looking up towards the house - hear Peter's memories of happy days in his grandfather's house - enthralling - he clearly was a character!

Back out of the Bristol Narrows - admire the classic craft that populate the area - think about the old movies and the glory days of environs of Newport.

Home to scallops and summer squash on a bed of spinach and feta - Once again Bernie would be jealous - I am eating well for someone who normally avoids seafood.

The others arrive in New York - Matilda has travelled well - Graeme has a new suite to compensate him for his luggage deciding that it wanted to do some sight-seeing before heading down to New York - locate Simon and Graeme by phone - where else but in the bar in University Place.

Admire Peter's skills as a woodworker and joiner - magnificent chippendale style tall boys, cabinets, desks and low boys - envy the skill, persistence and dedication involved in the creations.

Sip more Australian wine - learn about the US health system and intricacies of retirement planning from Peter.

Day 12 - 5th July

The gentle rains warns against a planned visit to Martha's Vineyard - a quite morning contemplating the vista across the bay.

An afternoon tour of Tiverton and Newport - across the multi-span suspension bridge built by the Rockerfellers to ease their access to their summer residences on Newport Sound - past the mansions that provided the summer refuges for the elite of New York society - Vanderbilts, the Astors, the Rockerfellers, the Bouviers - around the harbour - past the New York Yacht Club.

Home to genuine New England Seafood Chowder Peter Bowen style - Oh Bernadette and Graeme don't you wish you were here!

Day 10 - 4th July

Across the Mt Hope Bridge - past Roger Williams University named after one of the pioneers of Bristol - courageously forge on past the parking cars and streams of flag and picnic basket carrying patriots as we search for sometimes unachievable - a parking spot near the route of the 230th staging of the Bristol 4th July parade - we achieve the sometimes unachievable!

The flags are everywhere - they are in every imaginable size and in every imaginable location - the Cape Cod houses themselves are draped in red, white and blue fabrics and their gardens are decked out with garden settings, barbecues and picnic tables in preparation for the after-parades parties.

We find our way to main street - to a slightly tired and bedraggled America 3 sitting becalmed on her stand remembering the glory days of her former kindred on the waters of Newport Sound - we perch on the wall that separates the Main Street from the sea front and await the parade.

What a parade - marching bands , soldiers, sailors Governors, Attorney Generals, the employees of the local council, ambulance officers, police, returned soldiers, high schools, the University, fire brigades, clowns, comedians and singers - all in style- all applauded - all appreciated - all celebrated.

Home - Peter Bowen - expert Seafood Chief! - the visitors arrive for 4th July celebrations - we feast on New England Lobster and Steamers - expert tuition provided by all on the appropriate techniques to be use in the consumption of the local fare - watch the fireworks across the bay - consume wine - retire - a great day!

Days 9 Tiverton

Amy and Wendy collect me at the apartment - A final fitting for a wedding dress - collect Jane - off to Rhode Island

A holiday weekend is a holiday weekend - is a holiday weekend anywhere! - an entry ramp to an Expressway can be a parking lot anywhere - the entry ramp to the FDR Expressway IS a parking lot approaching the 4th July weekend - we slowly progress out of uptown Manhattan towards the New England Turnpike - ten lanes of traffic at the toll booth - she skillfully weaves the SUV from row 10 to row 1 just in time to take the New England exit - Amy has done this before!

The day cools and the humidity drops - the country side is green - pleasant - inviting - the flags are out - the red, white and blue signals the coming holiday.

Through the outskirts of Providence - more industrial than I remember it - on towards Tiverton - more rural than I expected - enter the waterside estate that Bowen's share with around 100 others - beautiful house - magnificent views over Mt Hope Bay towards Bristol and Newport.

Day 8 - Last day in NYC for the time being

Hot but not as hot as it is expected to be - humid but not as humid as it is expected to be.

Bernie says you always must cleanup before the cleaner comes - clean up.

Wander around and photograph the neighbourhood -I've been told New Yorkers walk in a particular controlled and stylised way - arms swinging close to their bodies, big strides on a straight path - if this is the case there are no New Yorkers in East Village - pedestrian traffic is chaotic - walkers go to great pains to make sure no side of the side walk is disadvantaged by regularly changing right to left to right all in the space of a block - there is a rule - head into the crowd, avoid eye contact and play chicken with fellow traveller. There must be an unwritten lay that says that if you make accidental make eye contact then one of you is ethically bound to give way to the other - just who is supposed to give way to who is in someway or other agreed in the course of the eye contact as there are rarely any physical collisions - if there is it is followed by an immediate and sincere apology.

Into Grand Central Station - or is it terminal? - instructions from Phil Sefton mean that participation in the 12:30 guided tour of the station is compulsory.

The tour takes 90 minutes - very well done - I can understand the recommendation - spectacular building - beautifully restored - rare to see a working monument so well restored and maintained.

Walk the diamond district - I need to be familiar with it in order to be able to guide Bernie away from it as she wanders the town - sit and contemplate the crowd in Bryant Park - what a nice place right on the Avenue of the Americas and 42nd Street - people sitting around eating their lunch - sun baking - chatting - drinking coffee - see numerous people "run into one another" - they greet, exchange pleasantries and move on - you could be forgiven for thinking you were sitting at a coffee table in the main street of Lockhart such is the village like interactions between some of the people yet this park of around 20 acres is surrounded on four sides by huge man made edifices with cars and trucks tooting and generating noise that bursts in and out of the foreground.

Into a NY Yankees outlet - a tee shirt and shorts - back to the transport shop at Grand Central - look for something for Tom - Find a "Brooklyn to the Bronx" tee shirt complete with the green circled number 5 that so faithfully guided me to and from Union Square on the NY Sub-way.

Home tired and footsore - nice day - I will capable of being the guide when I return in a fortnight's time with Bernie, Graeme and Trudy.

Days 6 and 7 - Back to Reality

Damm! time for some work

Write to sites visited in Canada - report to AARNet - rest occasionally and stare out the window looking at people wandering along University Place - sneak out for a bagel - am I a true New Yorker or What - I think so after all I know all there is to know about a toasted everything bagel with tofu and can even acquire a latte in the same breath.

Read up on the goings on in e-Health - it all seems the same - chaotic activtiy with scarcely any national progress - Think briefly about the poor individuals striving to make things happen - catch up on all the email.

Sleep well - rise early - today is gong to be a day of achievement - By the end of the morning Graeme will have telephone and fax facilites enabled for his wandering across two continents and the drivers of our hire cars will have "Tommy" to guide them through the complexities of overseas navigation -

Lunchtime - a startling lack of progress - the TomTom site is down, no one likes my credit cards and there is such an array of telephone options that it is difficult to select the right option - the needle is somewhere in that haystack of options.

Out to see car rental place - amazing - collection point less than 200 metres from the appartment - big and aging blonde behind the counter - no you cannot register yourself as a driver unless you are with the car and the car is not here! - damm - "don't worry dear" you can do it anywhere once you have the car - thank you - glad I could help

Back inside - struggle with 'Tommy" - sort out the telephone and discover faxmate.

Not a great day! - the 10% rule at play? - not too bad is it given that the quality of the other days.

The photos of this blog are typical of the days ........

NYC - Day 5 - The Empire State Building and the Country Girl

Home from Washington Square the blog is complete - what now?

Empire State Building - straight out of lonely planet - I feel a disaster looming - its hot and very, very humid - what the hell!- you have had a fascination with the old girl since you saw movies of her construction in the lecture theatres of Melbourne University as an undergrad - lonely planet or not you are going to have to go!

Arrive on dusk - fears confirmed - hordes overflowing to the streets - resolve tested - nostalgia prevails - I join the queue - I shuffle - I stand still - shuffle - still - shuffle - still - no I don't want to up size my visit to the Observatory/Sky Ride combo - shuffle - still - shuffle - listen I told the last girl I wont be upgrading to the combo - shuffle - still - OK I bloody well will upgrade to the combo (who ever heard of up sizing a tour! - come to think of it Bernie's been doing that for years!) shuffle - stand- stand - stand - shuffle - reach the security screening area - lose places in the queue as I remove belts and clear my pockets - have my resolve tested further - realise that I haven't yet reached the ticket purchase queue - nostalgia prevails - become tempted by the sign that says for twice the price I can buy priority in the queue - refuse on principle - brow sweating - testing capability of the new deodorant - finally reach the counter and acquire my combo ticket.

Join the queue for the elevators - much more orderly - into the lifts in a jiff - up to the 80th floor - into another queue - shuffle - still -shuffle - still - into the elevator to the 86th Floor observatory - join the crowd on the roof - wait in turn to get near the railing - atmosphere nothing like "Sleepless in Seattle" - view - Spectacular - spend 15 minutes on the top - walk down the 6 floors to the elevators on the 80th Floor - down on ground level - reflect - was it worth it - say to myself "for an old structural engineer - absolutely"

Now for the up sizing - the New York Sky ride - what the hell is it?

What the hell is this! - small crowd and no queue - this is a worry - seems like the sales people who barked like sheep dogs at the sheep in the observatory queue were not terribly successful in convincing them to up size their visit.

Enter the small group of up sizers and wait for the guide - and wait for the guide - and wait for the guide - eventually be guided into a small Imax theatre with seating that is equipped with a restraining bar and a movable floor - be subjected to a simulated helicopter ride through the skyline of New York complete with the rattling of the restraining bars and the pitching and yawing of the seat - all very kitch - strangely enjoyable.

Home at 11:00pm on the subway - safe - clean - very busy - very hot and humid

Sleep well - take it easy - a highlight coming up -off to see Morgan Freeman in Country Girl on Broadway

Two metro stops and I am there - love Time Square - think how impressed Xavier Rudd would be to see his name in lights in the centre of Time Square - locate the theatre - soak up the atmosphere and the environment pace up and down in anticipation - wait outside the theatre - jump as the thunder roars and the rain teems down - be amazed at the street vendor who runs out in the rain accosting every scurrying passerby with his $2 umbrellas - unfortunately it is raining so hard that no one is prepared to stop long enough to recognise that he has an offer they should not refuse.

Take a seat - enjoy and enjoy and enjoy the performance of Morgan Freeman - be amazed at the performance of Frances McDormand - the best play I have ever seen?

Head home - reach the subway - reach for my wallet - heart sinks - oh hell - no - no - no ... hightail it back to the theatre - doors closed - try every door I can find - ah - there is a ticket person - lost my wallet - sorry there is no one here - nothing has been handed in to me - look dejected and distressed - she feels sorry for me - puts up the "back later" sign and disappears into the dark abyss that is now the theatre - returns five minutes later - sorry nothing!

Heart thrashes a hole through my stomach - head down I head for the door - crash head on into a girl who is trying to make her way in - apologise - "wat ya do'in here" says she - I lost my wallet said I - "eyes found it inside - eyes get it for ya" - someone is looking after me!

Travel home quietly and carefully not releasing my grip on my wallet until I was safely inside.

A day off tomorrow - a days work for AARNet is planned.

NYC - Day 4

Arise with trepidation - tooth has almost self healed - what will I say to the dentist? - off I head - get adventurous - take a different route - New York hot but not humid - bloody hell !- northern hemisphere again - where is north? - that's right the sun is in the southern sky - shadows point to the north west in mid morning - panic a little - running late - compose myself - back in familiar territory - on my way.

No need to panic - dentist yet to arrive - listen to nurses describe office politics to one another - 9:10 dentist arrives - 9:20 he greets me - really pleasant individual - young fellow - specialist - does nothing but root canals.

I explain Australian travel insurance - he understands insurance companies - if tooth is live then he can do a temporary fix - if it is dead then its either root canal or nothing.

He tests and tests and x-rays again - inconclusive - X-ray looks fine.

Loads me up with scripts for penicillin and pain relievers - only use them if the tooth blows up!

Out to see the receptionist credit card in hand - "we'll send you a bill" - are you sure? - "yep - we'll send you a bill'' - all in all a very trusting, cheerful and friendly bunch these New Yorkers.

Wander home past Union Square - Saturday farmers market underway - great produce - cheeses, fruits, vegetables, juices ... a great variety.

Visit the bagel shop - overwhelmed by the choice - what did Simon say to ask for? - can not remember - slink back home - check the email - that's right - order a "toasted everything bagel with tofu cream cheese". What on earth does that mean - resort to Wikipedia - ah - "everything" is the seasoning on top of the bagel - now I get it! - back to the shop with a renewed spring in my step!

Wash down the bagel with latte - I can see what Simon was getting at - very tasty!

OK so now you don't have to worry about the tooth what are you going to do for the day? - resort to the Kahn book - resolve to visit the Empire State Building after dark and Washington Square during the early afternoon.

Washington Square - no more that three minutes away - arrive, wander, sit, wonder, wander, sit, wonder, wander, sit and wonder some more - observe families, children, grandparents, loners, misfits(many of them), people who are coping and those that are not, tourists (only a few of them), chess players, dealers and people on the lookout for dealers.

Sit, listen, wander - sit, listen, wander and sit and listen some more - enthralling - jazz groups, blues singers, a gospel group, violinists.

Washington Square -part of the Village! I would recommend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon at Washington Square to anyone!

NYC - Day 3 - Ellis Island

Still hot and sticky

Test out video conferencing with Chris - eventually we get it - Cindy is amused - boys will be boys

Off to Ellis Island - queues are long - buy a cheap ticket off a lady who couldn't face the shuffle - queue moves quickly enough - to security - worse than at an airport - end result - one cheap watch left in the container.

Find an ideal seat on the ferry - top deck - bench seat two feet from the railing - even picked the right side to photograph her ladyship - all looking good until the ugly Americans arrive - (sorry Amy - there are ugly Australians too - it was just that these were Americans from the deep south) - they almost stand on the toes of those seated to squeeze in between the seats and the railing - such is life - get a pretty good view anyway.

Stay on the ferry as it stops at the Statue Wharf - it is Ellis Island I am after.

12 million immigrants past though its doors including only 50,000 from Australasia but a stunning 1.8M from Canada (mostly French Canadians).

A stunning place for someone interested in such things - an exceptional audio tour - they should send the tour designer off to help the French at Versailles.

Back to Battery Park and off to the Staten Island Ferry - some nice views but not as spectacular as I had expected - perhaps I should try it at night - pass by New York's latest attempt at public art - a series of man made waterfalls - interesting - a great idea - not sure the designer got it quite right!

Home via a steet vendor to replace my A$9.95 watch with a US$5 version - Ah - at least it seems to be keeping correct time - off the the Dry Cleaners - home to a nice glass of wine - clean up the photos and chat to Tom, Amy and Eliza on the video....

Well dentist tomorrow - trouble is the tooth has stopped irritating me - not sure about a root canal!

NYC - Day 2

Open the windows - put on the eye shades and insert the ear plugs - a great night's sleep in spite of the humidity.

Bundle up the shirts and round up the suit and jacket and struggle off the the dry cleaners - amazingly polite - asks about my twang - ahhh - Australian - says she in a broad Polish accent - you come back tomorrow after 6 and they'll be ready.

Drag some books on NYC tourism from Simon's shelves - quickly put the "Lonely Planets" aside - discover a hardback - "City Secrets - New York City" by Robert Kahn - this is what I was looking for - the places and sites of New York from the perspective of a series of contributors made up of artists, architects, playwright's, historians, academics and others - each gives their personal perspective on a particular site.

Roughly map out the next few days - today Central Park so that I can pick up the wedding trousers - tomorrow - Ellis Island - because it always intrigued me and because the perspective on it given by museum and exhibition designer Charles Marsden-Smedley in the Robert Kahn book rekindled my interest - I will also spend time wandering Battery Park and riding the Staten Island ferry.

Off to the underground - Ahh - a past master at all of this - I even tend advice to a poor tourist -off at 68th Street - down to Central Park - a little rain - I love the park - I walk and walk and walk - I lay down on a bench - I wake in a start - never mind - only a few minutes in the land of nod - I walk and walk and walk and then I walk some more - I love this place - I love the way the locals love it and use it - I love the way the city skyline looks down on the park with a sense of pride - it seems to smile down on the intruder within its midst and says "Well Done Pig" - "you serve the community well!"

Squirrels everywhere - sparrows and countless other bird species - all are comfortable if suitably cautious in this human dominated environment.

What's this - pretty fancy baseball outfits - a major competition going on - it is the Broadway Baseball League competition - "Mary Poppins" is playing "The Lion King" for competition supremacy - not much interest from spectators partly because while there are plenty of people in the park most of them are running, walking or are competitors in softball or handball competitions of their own -

Groups of school kids are everywhere - their activities being supervised by small groups of battle weary teachers who apart from trying to supervise the kids appear responsible for lugging huge iceboxes carrying the compulsory food and drinks for the terrorists under their control.

The sun emerges briefly and the humidity rises to new uncomfortable heights - time to head for Mr. Grace to collect my pants - I cannot believe this place - I front up with the collection slip - a suited gent (perhaps not the right word) greets me - A hot and sweaty Mike notes that he is complete with kerchief neatly arranged in the coat pocket and enormous plum in the his mouth - did he really look down his nose at me or was I just feeling sensitive - I look around anxiously trying to find another customer who is as disheveled as me! - cannot find one - I want to shrink out of the place - "which sales person attended to you sir" - I wanted to say "can't you bloody well just ring up the alterations department, give them the number and get them to give me the garment so I can get out of here" - what I actually said was "I am sorry sir but I don't recall" - A look of disgust - a few terse words to the accounts clerk - few clicks on the keyboard and all is revealed - the salesman is summoned - he takes the slip - rings up the alternations department - gives them the number and they emerge from the depths of the store with the garment - "at last I can escape" I say to myself - no I am subjected to - "Does Sir wish to try them on" - "Does Sir wish to have them boxed or would sir prefer a hanging sleeve?" - "Listen Sir just wants to get out of here" I say to myself - I select the sleeve - The garment is sleeved up - I dive for it in the hope of escaping - "Would Sir like the sleeve folded for easy carriage" - Old Mr Grace you have a lot to answer for!

Escape at last - head for the metro - I am a pasted master at this right? - well nearly - right line - overshoot the exit station - retrace my steps - home for a shower - I will eat in tonight

New York - New York

Indianapolis -

The IT Directors tour complete - significant outcomes include increased weight, girth and tiredness - struggle to the airport - sleep though the flight -

New York - Day 1

Arrive at La Gardia - worry about the Pakistani who hurries me across the car park - become relaxed when he discovers I'm Australian - he commences his sermon on the virtues of Australian cricket - he places me in his brand new BMW town car and we head for Simon's place - my sense of relaxation starts to return and I feel of a sense of anticipation rising in me.

The weather is hot and humid and the trip into town is punctuated by frequent albeit short thunderstorms that clear away to a bright skies as we arrive at the apartment.

I am greeted by the doorman - he commences the third degree until his mate chides him saying "he is Simon's dad" - with that questions flow from both of them about how he is going and when the wedding is to be held - eventually keys are produced and instructions provided.

This bloody tooth is starting to create chaos - off to look for Simon's dentist - impressed with the area as I wander up University Place and head south along 14th Street at Union Square - I find the dentist hidden behind a reinforced locked door that buzzes as I try to unsuccessfully open it - I almost give up when suddenly the door opens and the receptionist rushes out and invites me in.

I explain my situation - over here for a wedding - tooth playing up what can you do for me - cheery receptionist looks sympathetic but not optimistic - how did you find out about us she asks - my son is a patient said I - your not Simon's dad are you? - all of a sudden everything is possible and I have an appointment for 1030 tomorrow morning.

Buy some groceries and some beer and retire to the apartment.

New York - Day 2

Off to the dentist - ushered into the chair by the nurse - she goes out and I hear her say to the new receptionist "its Simon's dad" - Dentist arrives - "how is Simon? - when is the wedding?" - looks into the depths of my mouth - pokes and prods and examines x-rays - "not great news I'm afraid - come back on Saturday for a root canal" - "don't worry - you'll be fine for the wedding" - pay the receptionist and appreciate that if a consultation costs this much then a root canal procedure will seriously damage the credit card balance - recall the advice of John and Merie - "it not much in the scheme of things"

Head for my first encounter with the NYC underground - a relatively pleasant experience - very few questions needed to see me riding the railroad to Polo on Madison Avenue to select and be fitted for the wedding pants - I thought the staff from Grace's Department store were fictitious - not true they came straight from Polo's.

Head home - deal with the complications of automated laundry systems - successfully replenish my supply of dirty underwear - look for an iron - Simon rings - I stop looking for an iron and resolve to take my shirts downstairs for professional treatment.

Undertake one of Simon's "must do's". Dinner at Patsy Pizzeria immediately under his lounge room window - superb - arrive home and write this nonsense

Slip out and take some photos to append