NYx2 Part Deux

What else did I do in New York? Well, I walked loads, just taking it all in. Went to some of my favourite places: MOMA, St.Patrick’s, the Fred.E.French building, the building of absolute beautifulness, or the Chrysler Building as I believe other people refer to it, Barnes & Noble (can I just say how much I love this store. I wish I could just put a futon in a corner and move in xxx). I even made it downtown to the new WTC site though I have to confess I wasn’t sightseeing, I had business there. I ran into one of those hypervigilant FBI types with a shaven head, extremely alert eyes, and no hint of a smile whatsoever. I asked him for directions, just for my own amusement; I could see him considering whether to put me in a headlock or not. Too many witnesses 🙂

I’ve also noticed that my pics seem to have a heavily food-related theme. Hmm. I ate loads but because I walked so much, I actually lost a couple of pounds while I was away. RESULT! That fab-looking breakfast was from my fave, Brooklyn Diner, and the market pic is from the Grand Central Station food market. The sweets photos are of The Sugar Factory which was extremely expensive but very nice. I bought white and dark chocolate gummy bears, apple flavour haribo-style sweets and red velvet caramels. Incredible. I also found peach-flavoured haribos in Duane Reade. Who knew? What a great shop- also the source of Goldfish crackers and Ghirardelli chocolate. I believe they have a pharmacy attached also, but who cares? To top it all, I discovered a new fave restaurant for breakfast: Smith’s bar on 8th avenue. I ordered the Lumberjack breakfast. The waitress smirked when I placed my order. It consists of one plate-sized waffle with syrup, and on the other plate, 2 sausage patties, 4 rashers of bacon, 3 scrambled eggs, home fries and toast. I also drank four cups of coffee. She removed my plates with what I can only describe as reverential awe. Amateurs 🙂 I have to admit that I didn’t eat all the toast, and the waffle did have a strawberry on top of it so it was practically a diet breakfast. I highly recommend it if you have easy access to a defibrillator. I was engrossed in my novel and a couple came and started asking why it was so interesting. We got chatting etc, and I told them about AlaraApothecary. The lovely man said ‘Oh, that’s why you have such beautiful skin!’ So there you have it, I couldn’t have come up with a better endorsement if I’d paid cash.

Post brutal jet lag, I’ve been working and sweltering. I also made a bold prediction that England will win the world cup. Readers, I have been mocked, pitied, and sneered at. Just wait and see: I’m hoping to complete my hat trick of Brexit, Trump, and the World Cup. And yes, I know they’ve just lost to Belgium. Pish posh, I’m still right; they are going to win. I leave you with my all-time fave cartoon song, from the inimitable Ren & Stimpy. Warning: it’s an ear worm. Log!, from BLAMMO!!

 

 

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NYx2

I just returned from my adopted home from home New York, which I haven’t visited for FOUR years! Yes, I know, first world problems, but still…. After Lagos and London, NY is my favourite place in the world. I even love it more than I love Florence. Mamma mia! NY, I love you like a fat kid loves kale…..just kidding, I meant cake 🙂 And please don’t bother to write in about fat-shaming, I’m no size zero myself.

Anyway, there I was at JFK. As soon as I encountered the unsmiling immigration guy who resolutely refused to laugh at any of my jokes, (and I can be really charming when I put some effort into it 🙂 ), I thought, ‘I’m home!’. I realised how much I’d missed it – the tedious traffic jam from Queens to Manhattan, that series of clapboard-clad houses you always see before the skyscrapers start, and what I’ve now finally identified as the absolute typical smell of Manhattan in the summer: a strong smell of food with a tinge of sewers. Ahhh, Bisto! The Trump hate-fest was in full swing which entertained me endlessly. It was hilarious watching the totally baffled liberals scratching their heads and trying to figure out how the Commander-in-Chief of the Deplorables managed to get North and South Korea talking. Cheer up, it may still end with Armageddon and you can all say ‘I told you so’ as the Earth is reduced to a pile of rubble. I had the best time even though I was only there for 5 days and 3 out of the 5 were spent running around on business.

What did I love this time? The usual first: that feeling that absolutely anything can happen. I was walking towards St.Patrick’s and suddenly came upon hundreds of young people clad in white graduation robes and mortar boards, looking for all the world like a massive flock of seagulls. I filmed the video in this post as I was innocently ambling down W. 43rd St. Suddenly one of the two guys switched on a portable speaker and they started to rap along to the instrumental music. I of course immediately started to follow them in the opposite direction of my actual destination. It took a while for me to realise they were paying absolutely no attention to anyone else and I started filming. The best part? Everyone coming towards us kept a totally straight face and completely ignored them, and as soon as they passed them, their heads swivelled and jaws dropped. It was exactly like what happens on the Tube in London when some nutter tries to start a conversation. It’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I don’t know the song but if it’s their own composition, I would totally buy it.

I’ve missed the amazing sunsets blazing in the sky between the skyscrapers, the way the Empire State building turns to gold in the evening, the dodgy hot dogs and ridiculously salty pretzels; I shudder to think what my cholesterol level and blood pressure are post-NYC. The pal I travelled with resolutely refused to touch anything from the food stands but then she ate Popeyes chicken twice so people in glass houses…. I walked a gazillion miles and found that by day 2, other tourists were asking for directions so obvs, I looked totally at home. It was amusing to see their reaction when I gave directions in a British accent. I had the best time even though the trip was ruinously expensive because it was confirmed at the last minute. If you haven’t booked your holiday yet, forget the beaches and adventure holidays. Go to New York and play botulism roulette with the food carts. I’ve never been ill from one of those concoctions and I’ve eaten hot dogs, tacos, and oh my, the most amazing Philly Cheesesteaks but then I was brought up in hardcore Lagos, eating from food stalls that would make Bear Grylls blanch, the wuss ….. I miss it already. Oh, and the Trump Tower photo? That’s a special for Sarah; I know how much she loathes The Donald, I just couldn’t resist. Have a glorious week.

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My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose

Sky over Somerset Levels; Jane Coleman

Cumbrian Beck: Eleanor Culliford

Old Tidal Mill; Gillian Cole

Dear esteemed readers, apologies for yet another vanishing act. I’ve been super-busy; as you can see Alara products have all been repackaged, and I’ve added 3 new products: Rose Geranium*Myrrh facial oil, Lavender*Sandalwood facial oil, and Palmarosa*Frankincense facial oil. I’ve also been wrapping up at work to prepare for taking time off; I just returned from New York, more of which anon. The website is also being updated. Apart from that, I’ve been doing nothing in particular 🙂 I was absolutely exhausted by the time I travelled, hence the lack of posts. This post should have gone up just after the bank holiday. My lovely niece and I had a blast in Somerset that weekend. First up was a visit to an exhibition of work produced by the Combe Florey Art Circle in Bishops Lydeard. The quality of the work was a pleasant surprise although I had a feeling that it would be good – Jane Coleman (or the cloud guru as I like to call her) is a friend whose work I like very much. Examples of their work will be featured in this and upcoming posts. If you wish to invest in some good artwork, get in touch with them at Combe Florey Village Hall, Combe Florey, Taunton, TA4 3JD. Tel: 01823-432442. There are some excellent pieces that can be purchased for the same price as a mediocre print in London. They also had some luscious-looking cakes, but that is by-the-by; my critical integrity has not been compromised, we didn’t have time to stop for cakes.

Thorn tree; Chalice Well, Glastonbury

Menu@Macho Berry Cafe, Glastonbury

Citrine earrings, Silver Scene, Glastonbury

Next stop was Glastonbury. This was my third visit, and no, the all-too-elusive Excalibur was nowhere to be found. Drat, double drat, and triple drat. I still expect to be crowned as the once-and-future king, gender be damned. It’s only a matter of time. Slight digression; my niece instinctively called a female Arthur, Arthurina, just as I had. Nature or nurture? Whichever, genetics is a wonderful thing.

I nearly killed myself staggering up the Tor, and I went the so-called ‘easy’ way this time. I am ridiculously unfit. It was hilarious watching the little children skipping up the hillside, well, like kids, really 🙂 while their red-faced parents gasped for breath like fish out of water. Some were even struggling to breathe coming down the hill, which was a bit much! The view was worth it, as usual. The whole of Glasto is amazing. I wish I could have seen it when the levels were covered with water- Ynys Wydryn, the Glass Isle. That would have been a sight worth seeing. We also went to Chalice Well which was as peaceful as always, and yes, I did drink the water. If the Holy Grail is buried there, then obvs, I will partake of the water from that spring. I also walked in the offrun of the Vesica Piscis for about 30 seconds before I had to get out; I’ve never been in such cold water my entire born life and I’ve paddled in the North Sea, fool that I am. This was despite the ambient temperature being in the upper 20s. Forget Excalibur. If you can bathe in that water for 2 minutes, you should be crowned king or queen. Yikes.

We also looked at the Christmas Thorn tree which flowers biannually at Christmas and Easter, apparently unlike other such trees which only flower once a year. I love this legendary stuff. But is it just a legend?………. We’d been to buy plants earlier for my rejuvenated garden so we were high on the smell of sap and pollen. More prosaically, thank God for antihistamines! We wrapped up by wandering around the town. My niece got very excited at ‘Burns the Bread’. Yep, weirdo Londoners. She bought what felt like 40 kilos of bread, and a Glastonbury pasty. She wanted to know what made it a Glstonbury pasty. I told her that it was a pasty made in Glastonbury. When she asked the lady at the counter, she was told exactly the same thing, but with a bit of Glasto magic added 🙂 It was delicious BTW. I was more enamoured of the beautifully-made Citrine earrings in the window at the silver shop. We wrapped up with an amazing waffle & coltted cream ice cream combo at Mocha Berry cafe. I loved the ‘Executive’ dish on the menu. Glastonbury? Well worth a visit. Don’t forget to look at the Combe Florey Art Circle paintings. Toodle pip.

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