Three Days in One

Sunday Oct 24th


It was a rip roaring 22 degrees in New York City, and all the New England/Canada ish snow clothes languished in the suitcases wilting, much like we were, in the heat of an Indian Summer. I hate heat, as any of my friends, pupils and family will know, so a fairly sunny and overly warm city brings out the ‘bear with a sore head’ syndrome !
The children wilt in the heat as well, only my daughter S loves the sun, so we compensated by moving at snails pace, and rehydrating frequently.
The Empire State Building was first, and we opted for the flashy simulated helicopter ride over the city prior to ‘elevating’ to the 84th floor. It was like Star Trek and a disaster movie all in one, and once pinned into our moving seats it proceeded to terrify me and the 7 year old, whilst delighting the 4 year old, who was in his seventh heaven when we crashed into buildings, the Hudson River, and the Subway, via being eaten by Jaws........S, who loves heat and hates heights did not venture to open her eyes at all I don’t think! The littlest one was our captain and commander for the whole ride.
The views from the top on such a glorious day were fantastic – a panorama of the whole city, it always reminds me of an introduction to a US TV drama, sweeping across the metropolis, sadly I can’t remember which one!
We refuelled with burgers – well when in NY do as the New Yorkers do eh ? – then the highlight of our day was a visit to F A O Schwarz, the hugest, sparkliest, buzzingest and brightest toy shop
(Shop ? = small town the size of Kyle) we had ever seen which was alive with bug eyed children, overdosing on Disney, Harry Potter, Narnia, Barbue and Ken with their entire family of skinny and beautiful offspring, and more improbably large stuffed animals than you could fit into an aircraft hanger.
Exhausted we trudged home back to the hotel and fell asleep by 8pm.

(All of us !)


Monday Oct 25th


The day had arrived, we breakfasted at Pop’s Diner in true American style with pancakes, over easy eggs, crackly crispy bacon and cream cheese bagels. C who is 7 tasted her first Grape Jelly on her toast and fell into a loving trance with the jewelly purple confection. ‘Can we take a jar home Mummy?’ I secretly hoped if we did it would not be in my suitcase! Some things are a step too far, even for an indulgent Seanmhair (Granny!) !
We left the hotel with enough suitcases to sink any ship smaller than the QM2, and arrived at Pier 12 Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at around 12 noon.
It was sheer luxury. Normally the queues to check in and board are like mile long snakes with attitude, but not today. I had researched on many internet forums, and they all said the same – go early – ignore your given time. So we did, and they let us on as soon as we arrived when there were about 27 other passengers and a couple of small testy Pekinese who were bound for the onboard Transatlantic Kennels. Easy Peasy, and with small hot bodies in tow, it was painless to the point of anaesthesia.
We went straight to our cabin and fell on the beds. The bunks had not as yet been pulled down from the ceilings, but the Ice Bucket with Champagne was there, the leather bound information tome sat on the desk, and the glittering and expensive Gilchrist and Soames toiletries were poised regally in the bathroom. Bliss, we really were here.
After a few minutes we opted to lunch in the Kings Court Buffet and began the exploration of cuisine journey. This is my 3rd cruise, and quite honestly, nothing matches the sheer elegance of this liner. The starched white jackets with dazzling brass buttons of the staff, the abundance of uniforms ironed until they probably stand alone, and the white gloves on all who serve.
The clientele are mixed, a cocktail of ‘old school’ Transatlantic intrepids, elderly folk who might have been offspring of the upper classes on Titanic, and families like us who took advantage of the ‘deal’ which meant the children cruised free for this one half term week.
We explored a little for an hour or so, then we did the Muster Drill, the ‘how to wear your lifejacket’ moment of the journey. After trying to fit little W into an adult lifejacket, the crew finally realised it was as big as he was, and in an emergency he could well have used it as a makeshift life raft, we were left to our own devices, and tea................................................
Butter sculptures, Ice goddesses, carved watermelon.
Just like home!


Tuesday Oct 26th Newport, Rhode Island


We were awakened by lively and raring to go children at 6.30am. Now that is not funny, so Mummy got the three of them dressed and vacated the cabin to do breakfast whilst Seanmhair recovered her equilibrium, snoozed and surfaced gently mostly because of a tray of medicinally strong coffee and a calm and sweet smelling shower.
We were meeting with my friends from Connecticut at 10am and it was another lovely day, but only about 17 degrees. They had hired a car to accommodate Ann and entourage and were taking us to Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.
It was magical. A ‘made’ traditional New England harbour where they were restoring old sailing ships, giving horse and buggy rides, selling miraculous old fashioned candies and all inside a traffic free village.
The children were so happy and excited, they were allowed to jump, walk, fall off as many enormous logs as they could manage, the horse was friendly and called Dook (Duke, in reality) and run safely anywhere they wanted. Bit of an expensive way to go to jump off logs I realise, but hey, what the heck!
My friends have no children, and were slightly nervous of a pair of under 10’s. However the children behaved beautifully, and it was a day made even more glorious as the colours of the leaves on our 60 minute drive through Connecticut kept S and I positively astonished. It was golden, bright and dark reds, yellows like the centre of free range eggs, and orange like ....... an orange ! Photos could never do it justice, but take my word for it, New England in a perfect Fall is magic.
Back onboard, tired and with feet like plates of meat, we got ready for the Formal Evening. Now I NEVER go to these do’s, but S insisted that I did one of them. The glitter, the bling, the sparkly costumes and the tuxedoes was a sight to behold, and we added our own blend of ‘posh’ to a primarily adult Britannia dining room. The waiters were thrilled to see children (can you believe!) and the pink vision (thanks Ruby!) with hair trimmings and silver shoes, combined with the suited and booted 4 year old who was flirting for all he was worth with anything in a sparkly dress, were a big hit!
The food was divine, the service was impeccable and the experience quite exhilarating.
That’s it, however, me and the flirt have done our ‘posh’ bit. From tonight, he wants to go to the Playzone to ‘do’ bedtime with stories and movies on beanbags with lovely nannies, and I will dine quietly in the buffet with a good book. Mummy and the pink ruffly girl are going to this evening’s Grand Ball, and then on to the Commodore’s Dance, and possibly a theatre show if they keep awake.
Gadabouts!