So, first off, after a very very long day we had 2 weepy children on our hands, neither of whom could make up their minds whether they needed to sleep, eat or just cry. We ended up with a combination of all 3. They were absolutely brilliant on the flight over - polite and quiet and well behaved throughout - they did us proud. This has been a sign of things to come as it's how they've been throughout the time we've been here. We have eaten and hiked our way around the city over the holiday with hardly a complaint. Izzy, normally the Princess of Lazy Legs, has bounced around the city holding hands with someone at all times, happy and smiling regardless of the fact we must have done 10 miles plus every day.
So, highlights - too many to remember... For Glenn it's been the bike ride itself. Despite an early start - he and Simon set off before 5am on Sunday morning to ride the GW bridge (this time legally unlike their reccy ride on Friday!) - the ride itself was apparently brilliant with loads of good hills and great admin. He did the ride in 5:58 which I think was pleasing - he certainly scored well in his age category (66th out of 350 or so) so must have been doing something right. For me the highlight was seeing all of the green spaces in NYC, doing The Highline and Central Park as well as Battery Park, Brooklyn Bridge and the ferry rides out on the Hudson - all new experiences despite many times here before. I loved the fact that the kids started to get into it and by yesterday we're mooching happily through Chinatown and Little Italy, grazing as they went and enjoying the buzz and the sunshine. I also loved catching up with old friends - Ala and Julian as well as Gareth and Geoff - so nice to see people you haven't seen in so long.
For the kids it was having Imogen and Kieran with us as well as Simon and Sharron, discovering new ways of eating - they loved the deli shops where you can buy your food by weight and each have something different, they loved the daily banana milkshake from Starbucks and all the new experiences. In particular the ferry and commenting on all the wild and wacky people they saw on every corner!
We are sitting now waiting for the car to pick us up to go home and we are all looking forward to our own beds and seeing the dogs. I can't wait to be back in the house - much as it's been fab to be here I'm ready to be back to normal with my other babies. We are travelling back Upper Class so we have beds - let's hope the kids don't think that this is the norm from now on - hopefully that means we get some sleep on the way. At least with Upper Class we get picked up and dropped off so should be
minimal hassle and certainly less queuing to get in the UK than into the US - immigration was not a good experience!
SO back to the UK, to normal eating (thank goodness - I can absolutely see why there is an obesity crisis here), back to school - well, for 3 days until they break up again, and back to work. Sadly the first thing I have to do is an overnight stay in London, but I can't complain too much as it's for a British Lions dinner with various stars of the rugby world and if Glenn could trade places with me he would in a heartbeat. Personally I'd rather have tea at home.
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