Filming at Brookhaven

to be filed a day of mixed emotion and tired ended in polish food in brooklyn. More to be written.

New York Pics

New York

Sep 6, 2006 - 93 Photos

Arrived at hotel spooky and meet the gang.

Our hotel is the city view best western (aka) shitty view. It was a dive. It was as bad as anything onb the french tour. It seemed like many of the rooms were rented on an ourly basis often to girls who seemed v. Busy. There was always a family in reception invariably with opnly one english speaker a screaming baby and a black bag full of possesions being dragged behind a cute toddler. The recptionist didn't have english and we didn't have hotel american. They guy couldn't dig at first thaqt we weren't a married and b didn't want to share. He offered us many, in his eyes desirable incentives. I ended up with a post hammer horror four poster and jane with a group size jacuzzi. As I unplugged my laptop a cockroach (golden) wandered across the keyboard. We freshened then were picked up by robert and erina. Taken to a posh diner gaff. Nice stuff and I was persuaded to the halibut special by the painfully thin waitress. After a good meal we ended up back at our hotel at 33-17 Greenpoint. Cockroach was there ready for a chat, had pills turned TV on and fell soundly asleep.

This was first day in New York

test test

Flight to NY

We queued fo a bit but Jane worked some magic. The security stuff took ages and we ended up legging to the gate (19) I think. Was sweaty and breathless on arrival. The aircraft was a 747-400 we were in seats 49 A and B opposite the stewardesses and next to the exit. Telly screens didnt work for the first couple of hours and refusing drinks was hard but the water was good. I thought it was tight for the belt but did bette when I took the loop from under m bum. Had pretzels, then meal was chicken pasta sauce salad bun choc mousee and coffee. Lady next to me celebrated by throwing her red wine over my leg. She subsequently burst into tears and was consoled by the cabn crew I immediatly was villefied for possessing the offending leg. As a consolation prize I was offered a first class sleeping suit (large) which I was feared to wear in case it didnt fit. I also thought I have scored some Jimmys for Ally. the flight passed quicker than I thought we talked a lot about a whole lot of stuff. Jane watched a film I watched Dr who, she had a kip I played with the seat console game thing. It has a thing which shows you where you are on your journey. It was cool it first told me I was over newfoundland and hen labrador sod me I thought its crufts turn left at the shitzu and you are home. We had a nice talk to the crew and then landed in the peeing down rain got through immigration customs and baggage surprisingly quickly. There was a huge queue for taxis so we ended up negotiating a shady deal with a geezer with a people carrier from trinidad. Fifty bucks so pretty cool, traffic was the pits found the hotel aftr the geezer rang it. English speakers seemed at a premium.

Met jane and through to airside

Can't think of a better colleague to travel with. She blags us a cheap upgrade to the seats with more legroom. Top stuff.

Arrived heathrow

10 minutes late after 35 minute flight. Good stuff on a 757 had 3 seats to my self. My 3rd breakfast was a bacon and scrambled egg panini and water. Read the times and the daily mail. Got off the hairyplane and hoofed it to terminal 4 after baggage reclaim. I just seen a lady with a krispy kreme donut bag I want one. I rang Jane she's on her way due in about 11.30 I am sat outside in smokerland the airport is too noisy and bright stimulating colours for me. I think I have left my nano behind which would be a fag as I have the usb cable headphones and headphones. Policing this gaff must be a nightmare even before orange alert or whatever we are on. I plan to look again for my nano. My finding skills are shot at. One more try. I shall even annotate the contents of my handbaggage see if that helps.

The futureheads.

Seen carrying their gear going on the North american tour.

Anxiety

Flight leaves 8.20 gate closes 8.10 I am still sitting in lounge BA 1387 if you are interested.

Tuesday D-day

We get up too early. Village cab arrives we know the same people me and the driver. Off to airport painless checkin and security. Man doesn't want to frisk me. I am dissapointed I suppose the fact I lay on my left side knees to chest KY and glove in hand discouraged him. My ticket entitles me to top BA lounge experience which is tickety boo. All free ale and food. Bottles and tinnies by the shed full. Looks like I picked a crap time to change meds and give up ale. I decide to satisfy by seeing how many breakfasts I can do. Added benefit of lounge is hawks eye view of proles and terrace view of airport. Top stuff gonna rob a paper.

Monday - 4 years ago today

Off to work 3 patients to see, all good stuff. Itinerary for america starts to emerge and change. Was flying BA then air india who knows what as day goes home. Roast chicken for tea get dollars from the post office. Ally is out at FACT I kip. Jean comes home and does necessart packing. I sort insurance and crap like that. Off to marks to score in the Blue lagoon sale. Then to mothers who looks swollen and shakey then home via Ruth and pauls for travel adapter and new york books. Packed by Jean and so to bed.

Holiday inn express Speke

0845345000

Long journey

Lifes too short to be with you. Drinkin wine spoh dee oh dee stix mcgee. Witchita lineman Glen campbell. Every one must get stoned Bob dylan in a very wet derbyshire. Just passed through reddish north which is in manchester apparently. Need some more music putting on the ipod nano for sure some stones.
Paul Simon still crazy after all these years. What's that all about.
Sunday bloody sunday U2 which I like when bono doesn't dissapear up his own bum. I like the still haven't found version where the gospel choir are on. James sit down I like this stuff kieran will be chucking up. The badnews is I think I have left my book scaredy cat in the hotel. Hope not but will need stuff for trip to New York.

More mp3

Tom and jools don't you kiss my cheek. All along the watchtower big bob dylan.
Housemartins happy hour Ally favourite as I recall. Maybe some reserved seat action. Someones in mine so I am next to her in someone elses but being british we are all seething and saying nothing. I love the tension two pensioners have upped the ante theh fought for the freedom to have reserved seats. The codgers are armed too aqnd to a soundtrack of lou reed walkijng on the wild side I imagine them decapitating the offending reserved seat snatchers. One of them has a glass eye and keeps giving him me the evil eye with it. So I polish it and give it him back.
The champs tequila always reminds me of an ER episode.
Then its on to led zep whole lotta love. Odd man out tom and jools while I eat a crayfish rocket with lemon and black pepper mayo on malted brown bread made by the foo.go company with biodegradable pack. Surprisingly no web site. What's up 4 non blondes.

Mp3

ABC the jackson 5. Classic stuff first album I ever bought from kays catalogue on music cassette. Wacko at his best I think. Feeling dancing up the train. Always makes me wanna dance. Also on same album was rockin robin.
Next is martha reeves and the vandellas dancin in the street. I first heard of it in a yes tour programme in 1975 when bassist Chris Squire cited it aas his most influential track.

Signal gone

In the middle of nowhere. No signal to speak of. I am left thinking about the week ahead. Need to claim expenses. Sort bank. Sort endowment claim. Sort diary. Need to confirm peter, arrange gill, speak to jase and bob and big steve. The new tech team. Got lots of actions fronm the meet too.

Sat cont

Committee bled into mods. So fi vineeta jane nell me joined by steve pip sarah jayne rachel sarah and jilly. Went well good meet but too long for goldfish brain man. Degenerated into social side. I stayed sober due to meds change and it was kinda interesting. A whole new perspective for me. Ordered a curry fromk the take away recommended by the hotel. Fairly qaverage and pricey. Late night for me went to bed at 1 the stragglers stayed up till 2. I was goosed. I was helped in sobriety by jayne nell and jane. Woke up to a crap continental breakfast (mental note to go for feb or mcd take out next time). Got lift to nottingha from rachel and jilly. Nell made train so did I. Coffee double decker sunday times blog and mp3 player mix of dylan and jools. Good stuff.

Saturday sobriety 4 drinkers 3

Came out the wrong entrance of nottingham station still dying for a pee. Got a taxi to holiday inn express east midlands. Twenty squid. Full bladder felt every bump. Arrived there shouted hi and dived in the bog. Didn't recognise jayjay and sarah. Rest of the gang there. Started comm meet went very well good to see Jane.

Trying to live life properly

There is a family on their way to Skeggy for a break three generationss and a house full of luggage. The mum struggles with the kitchen sink. The train fills at chesterfield I offer the seat next to me to dad with stick. Do a bit of work and concentrate on being awake. A full time job in itself. A load of supporters on the train don't know who are what they support could be anything. They are talking about the soul less nature of the arena has me guessing.
Two sisters sit opposite one daily mail other the times. Going to peterborough (where you change for Norwich. Alfreton next stop. About 25 mins to sheffield and I want a pee to crowded to go I am making a mental note to pee before sheffield. Did I mention they sent me a certificate. Sheffield uni that is. Certificate in Health Information Management. Not much but I am proud. Rang DVLA yesterday, they acknowledged reciept of re application for driving licence and when they stopped laughing they have written to my GP and consultant. Would you let this boy drive a motor. Hmm interesting will be selling the renault if its no show. Will be gutted if truth be told - cross that bridge and all that. No point worrying about that far ahead.

Reflecting on a big week

Been busy and big stuff. So much of which I either can't or don't want to share with both my readers right now. Suppose it would be easier to talk about the stuff I can share. Frank has changed my meds and I seem over sedated (his aim). I wander round in a semi stuporous state waking only to remember to go to sleep. He wanted me to hibernate me I chose to carry on with life at bare essential level. The stress for jean and ally is palpable. So what's happened. This morning I wake up on atrain bound for Nottingham its for a meeting of the committee and the mods. I haven't completed everything I planned but will seek help.
Projects :- the american gig. Its luike d-day everyone knows I am coming who knows when? I have spoken to andi and the other mentorn person who's name escapes me. She's aussie and seems a great laff, far more straight forward then my previous contact there. Anyway tuesday I think.
Review of a publication done which I can't tell you about (non disclosure agreement).
Discussion with an agent (not mine) I have not got nor plan to get an agent.
Meeting with a publisher in September.
Been appointed NW co-rdinator of PiF. Patient Information Forum. Good bunch and may lead to some gigs.
Meeting to discuss roles in bariatric team at abbey sefton when everyone back.
Starting MSc at Chester in September, got a gig on the course as visiting lecturer too.
National Obesity Forum meeting coming up. Followed by AGM of the charity.
Jeans in london for a week before NOF and I am going down on the friday we will catch a play she will come back sunday. I have booked jurys gt russell street. Where the NOF gig is and near the British museum. So once again my busiest three months of the year looms.
So focussing in at home and on the last week.
Got home sunday. No results, bank holiday monday. Tuesday no results. Rang st hildas who were holding them to ransom for 4.50 despite the fact they knew she was coming back and the librarian said t was cool. She was probably an anarchist library grpaaduate like Loopy boy.
I dived in a cab got them and brought them home. Been reported on but
3A's
6A's
1B
Is worth saying again.
Work wednesday, domestics a bit of a mess. Shopping and catering down to me so we end up with badly timed chicken and a ready meal fest a take away looms in there somewhere. Ended up double lasagne and veggie canneloni yesterday, I irradated a marfona for ally and we binned the canneloni, too much bechamel. To be fair the rusticella finest garlic bread was the highlight.
Had heaps of post to sort and appointments.
Post:-
Solicitors and bank/mortgage poop
Stuff from Granada
Mags - private eye, BJOT, nursing standard, the tract (RCN rag about guts). Obesity surgery.
RCN president and dep president, I voted for the two people I had met before. (My guiding principle in election methodology). Mike Travis from Alder Hey and Necylyn who was on the panel when I won nurse of the year.
Took Friday off I was too goosed to work. Caught up with some important calls, shot down to grenbank and sorted out the AGM and the rest of the NW meets for the year.
So here I am on a train to Nottingham barely awake. Passed through the Liverpool stations hunts cross, widnes, warrington birchwood two manchesters headed for stockport sheffield chesterfield, alfreton, nottingham.
The first bit of the journey was acutely familiar as I made it often once a week when I started nursing 27 years ago.