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

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 past master at this right? - well nearly - right line - overshoot the exit station - retrace my steps - home for a shower - I will eat in tonight

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 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 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.

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 ........

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 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 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!

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!

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

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 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 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 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 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.