Spending Time

When one has the days to themselves, without the annoyance of work, they quickly come to realize what a wonderful distraction work really is. The result is that you have to invent ways to 'spend' the time that you have. Unfortunately, spending time also requires spending money if it is to be the slightest bit interesting - but luckily I had been working previous to my overseas jaunt and therefore have a little stash to tide me over until the American Government declares me fit to take their money.

How have I been spending my time?

At first it was torturous. There was a heatwave for the first two weeks, so walking around the concrete jungle was a ridiculous idea. Before we bought bikes (wonderful fold-up contraptions - see picture), getting around the local area ended in very sore feet and possibly heatstroke (we are a little way from the interesting bits), and I was just too unsure of myself to understand anyone around me to venture far.

But eventually I regained my confidence, and after we became members of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and I managed to get a piece of paper that proved the address of my habitation (thus enabling me to open a bank account and obtain a library card - the two weeks without reading material (or a t.v.) were sheer hell) things began to look up.

So my days are spent doing the household chores, reading, writing, and visiting the Met (the highlight so far was seeing the coat that David Bowie wore on the cover of his Earthling album). I have many observances on the strange, the different, or the just plain bizarre, but hey can wait until another day. But I warn you, be prepared for the baggy trousers walk, goth clubbing in NY, friendly locals (yes there are some), the problem with sound volume and American accents, and the insanity that is American signage.