Autumn Falling

It was hot in New York.  Really hot.  Hide in the shade, drink loads of water hot.  Suffice to say then, that it was a surprise to return to London to find that autumn is truly underway!

I was sitting in my lounge last night and realised that it was dark at 8pm. Proper dark.  And the breeze coming through the open window carried a real chill. The first fall of leaves had happened in our absence and there were reds and golds and browns fluttering round the pavements.

I will miss summer.  I don't have the complexion for the sun, but I certainly like the heat.  This has developed in me as I have grown older, but the turning of the season means my favourite type of day will be with us soon.

As Autumn moves towards winter and the days shorten, we will have days (normally in late October/early November) where the sky is clear and blue and the air is very cold.  These crisp, clear days with their clouds of breath and sore-red ears are the days that let me know I am alive. I love those days.

There are other benefits to the turning of the seasons. For all the beer garden fun we lose, we now have pints in cosy pubs by the fire.  I defy anyone to not find joy in that.  And there is something wonderful in eating out in London as the winter world passes by the window. 

Yeah, I'm sad Summer is ending, but I will look forward to a wonderful London winter.

The No-Fly List

I like to travel.  I count myself very lucky that I can travel a lot.  I have a decent job that lets me pay for trips abroad, a travel-mad fiancee and living in London means the most interesting locations in Europe are a short hop away.

Over the last few years, as the frequency of my trips abroad has increased, I have found it necessary to put together a No-Fly list.  This is basically the list of air carriers that I have decided I will never fly with again.  Each has earned its place on the list, but all for different reasons.  This is my list, and these are my reasons, so they don't have to make sense to anyone else...

The first name on the list is Ryanair.  This needs no explanation.  My Ryanair experiences have all been, to some extent, horrific.  The flights never cost what they claim.  The carry-on allocation allows you to take on board little more than a lunchbox.  The staff are jaded.  Just unpleasant.

The second is Air France.  They bumped me.  Once. It was enough to earn a place on the list.

Thai Airways.  A long Haul flight with no entertainment? Really??  Welcome to the list.

Finally - Continental Airways (and by association United Airways and probably all other American carriers).  The reason for this is fourfold. 

Firstly, I was recently in NYC when Hurricaine Irene hit.  My flight was cancelled (understandably), but from the moment it looked even remotely likely that this would be the case Continental Airways put an automated message on their phoneline saying that they wouldn't be answering any calls.  The message directed you to their website.  Not. Good. Enough.

Secondly, their website is rubbish. No information and no way to contact them other than their dreadful "Ask Alex" automated service.

Thirdly, when the hurricane had passed and the phonelines remained closed we made our way to Penn Station to queue at the Continental ticket desk to get new flights.  Unsurprisingly there were quite a few people there (we arrived at 9am when the desk opened).  It appeared that Continental hadn't considered this though and had 2 people manning the 5 available desks (and to be fair, doing an admirable job under what was undoubtedly emmense pressure).  I queued for three and a half hours to be offered a seat on a flight almost a week later.  Poor.

Finally, and if you live in Europe one worth noting - US airlines are not as thoroughly regulated as those in Europe.  What this meant is that if we had been flying with a European carrier such as BA or Virgin Atlantic, out extended stay in the US would have been paid for by them.  Because we flew Continental it was not.  This is not a mistake I will make again.

.....

It was great to get home yesterday and awesome to sleep in our own bed.  I now have to look forward to a very full-on week at work...

Things to do in New York when you're stuck

So I have been toying with writing a blog for a while. Not anything that anyone will read, you understand, but rather somewhere to post any bits and bobs I find interesting. If you have found this by accident, please feel free to look around.

This first blog post finds me sitting on a bed in a hotel room in New York a full five days after we were due to fly out. New York is ace, but there comes a point where you just want to be on your way home. That makes me sound like an old git, but once you have done all the standard tourist things killing time in New York, much like killing time in London, is either dull or very expensive.

That aside, this trip has been a lot of fun. It started with an 8am trip up the Empire State Building, included soul food at Sylvia's in Harlem and Double Dipped sandwiches in Brennan and Carr's in Brooklyn.

On a side note - should you find yourself coming to NYC definitely get your hands on a copy of NFT (Not For Tourists) for NYC. It is definitely the best guidebook I have ever used. It is small and straight to the point. We have followed its advice in regards to places to eat and it has been 100% on the ball with its suggestions.

We have been staying in the Wingate by Wyndham on W 35th St. This is the second time I have visited NYC, and in terms of hotel this one has been really good. The room is huge and we got it cheap through booking.com. This is a massive bonus, considering we've been stuck here for the extra week. Anyway - there is no way to complain about staying for a few extra days in New York without sounding like a prick.

So, this blog, should it continue, will cover the trips I make with my other half, the progress the Fat Disciples make towards their first gig and any drawings I do. Let's see if that happens....

RS