New York

Dave and I recently took a trip to New York. I know!! New York!!! We got in a real aeroplane, flew a long way away, and then landed in the United States of America and went to New York!!! It was completely amazing, seeing sights we've seen on TV and in films, eating a hotdog on the street, bought from a vendor on the street, seeing an NYPD cop on a horse on the pavement, riding in yellow taxi - the real deal. It was amazing. I could go on and on for pages about everything that we did and saw, but I'm going to keep it brief...
Thursday...
Leave the UK at 8pm
Land 8 hours later in Newark, New Jersey.
Meet our gorgeous friends, the Nicksons, and drive to their house in Summit, NJ.
Chat, eat paninis, pass out.

Friday...
Early morning brekkie at home.
Run for train.
Miss train.
Pop over to Manhattan Bagel for coffee.
Train to New York City.
Get very excited when seeing Empire State Building from train.
Walk from Penn Station to Times Square.
Do lots of filming with my brother's flip cam.
Toys R US, Hershey's Store, Build a Bear Workshop.
Walk up 7th Avenue to FAO Schwartz
See the BIG piano (you know the one?)
See edge of Central Park.
Hail yellow cab to Ground Zero.
Ground Zero under construction, but visit preview memorial. Very moving.
Walk back through Greenwich Village.
Stop for yum deli sandwich and burger.
See and stand outside the Huxtable Residence - I have an addiction to the Cosby Show!!!
Walk back to Penn to get train.
Nearly die of exhaustion on train.
Arrive back in Summit to meet the youth from the Nickson's new church.
Dinner with Dave & Roey at fab restaurant. Yum food.
Go home. Pass out again.

Saturday...
Drive into NYC.
Eat amazing Eggs Benedict at Pershing Square Cafe, opposite Grand Central Station
Walk to Rockefeller
NBC Studios tour...fab...especially Sam Nickson's weatherman debut...AMAZING
Macy's
Starbucks
Home for lovely dinner...clever Roey.
Chilling in front of TV.
Ridiculously early and unsociable bedtime for me...sorry guys.

Sunday...
Lie in...lovely
Buffet breakfast in Morristown, NJ, with Sam & Dave - great conversation, yummy food.
Church @ Liquid - a fantastic and inspiring church...we get all excited about our calling and what God wants OUR church to be like!!!!!
Buffet lunch in Morristown with Dave, Roey & Sam - again great conversation, yummy food.
Home to chill.
Pop to Walmart and grab some beers for....
The Superbowl!!!! Party with munchies, drinks and great company - a lovely Teo, The Ropers, The Nicksons and the Adamsons. None of us notice Christina Aguliera's mistakes, but we LOVE the Black Eyed Peas' half-time entertainment!!!
Chilled evening.

Monday...
Train into NYC
Yellow cab to...
Ice skating in Central Park
Lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. - AMAZING coconut shrimps...
Subway to Staten Island Ferry.
Starbucks....short of 53 cents, and a lady gives me a dollar. We chat, we laugh...great to be told I don't look like a tourist!!!
Ferry to Staten Island - great views of Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty...I recall lines from "Clueless" ("And may I remind you, that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty!") (we didn't get close enough for me to check) and imagine I am Melanie Griffiths in "Working Girl" on my way to work (big hair, power suit, trainers, Carly Simon singing "Jerusalem" in the background.)
Subway back to Penn.
Train back to Summit.
Panini kindly and expertly made by Roey.
Hugs, kisses, messages filmed for Roo.
Car ride to Newark.
Hugs, kisses, more filming.
Flight leaves 2 hours late.
Home in England by 11.30am.

Wow - what an adventure - I'm sure I've forgotten loads. But, there's one thing I can't forget, and that is the servant heart of so many people we met in America. It was summed up in one phrase; "You're welcome". We had so much to thank people for; directions, food, quick service, information, smiles. Those people were happy to serve us. "You're welcome". I've started to say it to my children when they say "thank you", but I still cannot quite say it in the same way. Because, it's not just a phrase, it's an attitude.

Our trip to New York was amazing, a once-in-a-lifetime trip. We were blessed to spend time with our precious friends, the Nicksons, to whom we owe so much. We loved going to Liquid Church - a great place that will always have had a huge impact on us. And we were set an amazing example of being a servant by that great waiter in Greenwich Village, that friendly train guard at Penn, the smiley shop assistant in the Build a Bear Workshop, the hundreds of police officers, the awesome servers in Bubba Gump, the leaders and members of Liquid, the lovely, polite young neighbour of our friends.

I really hope that when I serve others, that they will know that I love to serve them, and that they are truly welcome.

PS - photos to follow!!!