Just a quickie to say the tornado didn't happen. Great thunderstorm, lots of rain etc.instead. It made for excitement anyway.
I'm pleased to report that Tiffany's parents arrived safely. It was good to see them again for the first time in 18 years!
Must go now as its breakfast, then my 450 mile drive!
I did think about phoning home this weekend, but it seemed pointless as I'm not home to answer the call!
I Fought The LAW (International Version)
This Time with the LAPD
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Help
Dear Diary, Help - as I type this Friday 21:20-ish the local news is broadcasting tornado warnings for where we are now. I've never been in a tornado before! What makes it worse is that Tiffany's parents are driving here through the storm and her daughter is out at a school dance. The weather is worsening here, thunder and lightening etc. Not nice. Hope it clears before the morning and my car is not damaged by hail. The whole house is shaking in the thunderstorm.
Well, the weather channel is warning people to be prepared and is warning of golf ball sized hail as well. HELP!
Well, I was going to post about another great day in a beautiful place. I spent most of the day shopping at another outlet mall with my retail consultant advising me on the purchases to make.Thanks Tiffany, I'm sure you are right and the leather chaps will go down well at the football or down the local pub.
Seriously, lots of good shopping help from Tiffany, but I fear I may need yet another new bag for my purchases... Think Customs may be getting me when I get back to England! Tiffany and I had lunch at Subway (fine dining eh?) but I still never got to try the banana peppers there as they had run out. So, can anyone tell me what are banana peppers?
I must also than Tiffany for the cooking ideas she has given me. Some new ideas to try out when I get home. For example, who would have thought of putting baked beans on a slice of toast for a meal?
Tiffany played the perfect hostess today, indulging my desires, like shopping, finding the drugs store, surfing the net, going to the soccer game etc. This is my last night with Phil and Tiffany and it has been absolutely fantastic to see them both and their 2 children. I have never been made to feel as welcome by anyone. Nothing has been too much trouble. Phil even gave me an alcoholic tour of his beer collection. I have to say the local brewery brews some fine beer.
Tomorrow morning begins the next phase of the adventure with a 450 mile drive to East Hanover NJ to start the bike ride. I am meeting 3 other cyclists at a motorway service station nearby and travelling with them to East Hanover where we will be staying overnight in a hotel before the ride begins. Its a long day tomorrow and I'm not expecting to be at the hotel until early evening at the best.
Hopefully by then Orient will have survived in League one for another season. Tom, you are supposed to be texting me the scores.
Well, the weather channel is warning people to be prepared and is warning of golf ball sized hail as well. HELP!
Well, I was going to post about another great day in a beautiful place. I spent most of the day shopping at another outlet mall with my retail consultant advising me on the purchases to make.Thanks Tiffany, I'm sure you are right and the leather chaps will go down well at the football or down the local pub.
Seriously, lots of good shopping help from Tiffany, but I fear I may need yet another new bag for my purchases... Think Customs may be getting me when I get back to England! Tiffany and I had lunch at Subway (fine dining eh?) but I still never got to try the banana peppers there as they had run out. So, can anyone tell me what are banana peppers?
I must also than Tiffany for the cooking ideas she has given me. Some new ideas to try out when I get home. For example, who would have thought of putting baked beans on a slice of toast for a meal?
Tiffany played the perfect hostess today, indulging my desires, like shopping, finding the drugs store, surfing the net, going to the soccer game etc. This is my last night with Phil and Tiffany and it has been absolutely fantastic to see them both and their 2 children. I have never been made to feel as welcome by anyone. Nothing has been too much trouble. Phil even gave me an alcoholic tour of his beer collection. I have to say the local brewery brews some fine beer.
Tomorrow morning begins the next phase of the adventure with a 450 mile drive to East Hanover NJ to start the bike ride. I am meeting 3 other cyclists at a motorway service station nearby and travelling with them to East Hanover where we will be staying overnight in a hotel before the ride begins. Its a long day tomorrow and I'm not expecting to be at the hotel until early evening at the best.
Hopefully by then Orient will have survived in League one for another season. Tom, you are supposed to be texting me the scores.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Shopping
Well after last night's pathetic attempt at a post, I thought I would try to do a bit better today.
Yesterday (Wednesday) started with me driving to an Outlet Mall some 30 miles south of Pittsburgh for a spot of retail therapy. The ladies would be proud of me- I managed to spend several hundreds of dollars in only a couple of hours. What have I got to show for it?
Well, some Van Heusen shirts and ties, some shorts and a t-shirt from Timberland, a top and a shirt from Banana Republic, other bits and pieces and a winter leather jacket. It seemed ironic to be buying a winter leather jacket lined with thinsulate inner liner when the weather was 80+ degrees. Only problem is that I now have too much luggage for my cases to bring back. I've had to go out to buy another holdall. I'll be paying excess baggage now.
I returned to Pittsburgh to the AIST Conference, and assisted Phil to pack away his concession. See- you knew I worked in the iron & steel trade didn't you?
I then had a chat via MSN with Michelle - the power of modern technology enabling real time conversations and video with people 000s of miles away. Sadly conversation was rather short as Phil and I had to head out to the baseball game.
I'm sure that I irritated Phil with my constant questions about the game, the rules etc. Well, I was a baseball virgin, but no longer. It was a very enjoyable game with a passing similarity to 20/20 cricket. It was good to have vendors bringing beer to us in our seats- very civilised.
After the baseball game, we went to a bar opposite our hotel for 1 beer before bedtime. However we got chatting to a fellow bar visitor and 1 beer rapidly became 2, then 3 then 6. Whoops.
This morning brought a couple of rather sluggish visitors to the hotel breakfast. We also had to drive 100 or so miles from Pittsburgh to Hudson Ohio. I'd rather have slept than driven but.....Nothing prepared me for Hudson Ohio. Phil and Tiffany hadn't told me they owned a mansion. Their garage is bigger than my house. The house is beautiful and huge. They even have dear roaming around in the rear garden. I need a map and compass to find my way to my bedroom.
For lunch today, Tiffany took me into downtown Hudson which is like a picture postcard town. It has a beautiful town square and is the most delightful place. I have fallen in love with the place. Afterwards, Tiffany showed me some of the other properties in Hudson which make their house seem small - hard to believe I know.
This evening, we all went to watch Phil & Tiffany's youngest (Cassie) play in her softball league game. I didn't know what this was before today. Basically, its a form of baseball played by girls, using a ball slightly bigger than a baseball. I must give a big thanks to all the parents there who made me feel so welcome. They showed, it wasn't just the architecture of Hudson that is nice.
Finally, I got back home in time to surf the net to see the election results in the UK. Its 10pm EST (0300 in UK) as I type this and it seems no one is winning the election, but the electorate as usual will be the losers. I told you all that you should have voted Monster Raving Loony Party.
Yesterday (Wednesday) started with me driving to an Outlet Mall some 30 miles south of Pittsburgh for a spot of retail therapy. The ladies would be proud of me- I managed to spend several hundreds of dollars in only a couple of hours. What have I got to show for it?
Well, some Van Heusen shirts and ties, some shorts and a t-shirt from Timberland, a top and a shirt from Banana Republic, other bits and pieces and a winter leather jacket. It seemed ironic to be buying a winter leather jacket lined with thinsulate inner liner when the weather was 80+ degrees. Only problem is that I now have too much luggage for my cases to bring back. I've had to go out to buy another holdall. I'll be paying excess baggage now.
I returned to Pittsburgh to the AIST Conference, and assisted Phil to pack away his concession. See- you knew I worked in the iron & steel trade didn't you?
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| CVM Systems' Head of European Operations |
I then had a chat via MSN with Michelle - the power of modern technology enabling real time conversations and video with people 000s of miles away. Sadly conversation was rather short as Phil and I had to head out to the baseball game.
I'm sure that I irritated Phil with my constant questions about the game, the rules etc. Well, I was a baseball virgin, but no longer. It was a very enjoyable game with a passing similarity to 20/20 cricket. It was good to have vendors bringing beer to us in our seats- very civilised.
After the baseball game, we went to a bar opposite our hotel for 1 beer before bedtime. However we got chatting to a fellow bar visitor and 1 beer rapidly became 2, then 3 then 6. Whoops.
This morning brought a couple of rather sluggish visitors to the hotel breakfast. We also had to drive 100 or so miles from Pittsburgh to Hudson Ohio. I'd rather have slept than driven but.....Nothing prepared me for Hudson Ohio. Phil and Tiffany hadn't told me they owned a mansion. Their garage is bigger than my house. The house is beautiful and huge. They even have dear roaming around in the rear garden. I need a map and compass to find my way to my bedroom.
For lunch today, Tiffany took me into downtown Hudson which is like a picture postcard town. It has a beautiful town square and is the most delightful place. I have fallen in love with the place. Afterwards, Tiffany showed me some of the other properties in Hudson which make their house seem small - hard to believe I know.
This evening, we all went to watch Phil & Tiffany's youngest (Cassie) play in her softball league game. I didn't know what this was before today. Basically, its a form of baseball played by girls, using a ball slightly bigger than a baseball. I must give a big thanks to all the parents there who made me feel so welcome. They showed, it wasn't just the architecture of Hudson that is nice.
Finally, I got back home in time to surf the net to see the election results in the UK. Its 10pm EST (0300 in UK) as I type this and it seems no one is winning the election, but the electorate as usual will be the losers. I told you all that you should have voted Monster Raving Loony Party.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Take Me To The Ball Game
Just a quickie (as the actress said to the vicar)
Been to the baseball tonight. That's a new experience for me. Saw the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2. Got to say thanks to Phil for explaining the game to me. Its 20/20 rounders I think.
Too drunk to type more tonight, so read the full story tomorrow
Been to the baseball tonight. That's a new experience for me. Saw the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2. Got to say thanks to Phil for explaining the game to me. Its 20/20 rounders I think.
Too drunk to type more tonight, so read the full story tomorrow
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Let's Go To Bed
this about sums up how I feel. The effects of jet lag and yesterday's nearly 400 mile drive are catching up with me. Not to mention, last night in the bar, then free beers today at the Association of Iron & Steel Technology Exhibition where I was official an exhibitor! That says exhibitor not exhibitionist!
Today brought an early start and after breakfast I was at the AIST exhibition as Phil set up the stall he had there. I was accredited as an exhibitionist to allow me in to the show! I spent most of the rest of the morning wandering round Pittsburgh along the rivers. Yes plural. Pittsburgh is at the convergence of 3 rivers.
Phil's wife Tiffany came down from Cleveland today and took me for lunch in the Grand Station Restaurant which was in the old station building. It was worth it just to see the magnificently restored building. A real architectural gem. Bonuses were the good company and the great food. Good call Tiff.
After lunch and a bit of a look at more of Pittsburgh we joined Phil at the AIST exhibition and sampled the free ales on offer. It would have been rude not to have tried them wouldn't it?
Then this evening all 3 of us went to a glorious restaurant at Mt Washington which overlooks Pittsburgh. The views were magnificent. Pittsburgh is a truly lovely place to see. The food and company were equally good.
So, now I am all pigged out and tired, its time to say "Lets Go To Bed"
Today brought an early start and after breakfast I was at the AIST exhibition as Phil set up the stall he had there. I was accredited as an exhibitionist to allow me in to the show! I spent most of the rest of the morning wandering round Pittsburgh along the rivers. Yes plural. Pittsburgh is at the convergence of 3 rivers.
Phil's wife Tiffany came down from Cleveland today and took me for lunch in the Grand Station Restaurant which was in the old station building. It was worth it just to see the magnificently restored building. A real architectural gem. Bonuses were the good company and the great food. Good call Tiff.
After lunch and a bit of a look at more of Pittsburgh we joined Phil at the AIST exhibition and sampled the free ales on offer. It would have been rude not to have tried them wouldn't it?
Then this evening all 3 of us went to a glorious restaurant at Mt Washington which overlooks Pittsburgh. The views were magnificent. Pittsburgh is a truly lovely place to see. The food and company were equally good.
So, now I am all pigged out and tired, its time to say "Lets Go To Bed"
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
What a Wonderful World
I went here today
Saw these on sale
Came away with these
What a Wonderful World!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woke up after about 4 hours sleep and had a good chat with Tom using modern technology. Its fantastic to be able to see and hear the person you are talking to even though they are 4000 miles away and in bed. Also spoke to other friends via face book.
Then after breakfast in the hotel in Newark, it was time to go and collect my hire car. I did try to get the car changed from a 4x4 to a catamaran or submarine. Yes, it was rather wet in New Jersey today. The worst rain I have seen in a long time. There were weather warnings on the TV and roads closed by flooding.
My hire car, a small 4x4 turned out to be a 4x4 the size of Rutlandshire. A Jeep Laredo that is huge. It does nearly 19 miles to the gallon - if you drive carefully! It is a luxury vehicle, air con, cruise control, satellite radio, electric everything etc. It is a rather nice vehicle, if rather huge.
A slow start to the day caused by accidents in the rain outside Newark. I stopped at lunchtime somewhere - when I stopped, I hadn't a clue where it was apart from on the I78 road. A bit of web surfing in McDonald's thanks to their free wifi identified I was in Hamburg.
Next stop was Hershey and a bit of shopping. That's the essentials sorted - 24 boxes of milk duds chocolates. Tom, that is 24 boxes for me and none for you. They won't last till I get to see you next.
I eventually arrived in Pittsburgh around 1900 EST after a 380 miles drive and lots of jet lag. Met my mate Phil at his/ our hotel (well, I'm crashing in his hotel room for 3 nights). I am ashamed to admit, I've not been to America to see him since his wedding in 1992 when I was his best man. There is no excuse for this delay. It was good to have a beer or two and some food and try to roll back the years.
I saw a little bit of downtown Pittsburgh. It looks a rather nice place. A (former) industrial port that has regenerated . It is the home of Heinz and our hotel is opposite the Heinz museum.
More pics etc to follow tomorrow after I've met Tiffany (Phil's spouse) and been to the exhibition he is at. Hopefully also will get to see a bit of the town as well.
Saw these on sale
Came away with these
Woke up after about 4 hours sleep and had a good chat with Tom using modern technology. Its fantastic to be able to see and hear the person you are talking to even though they are 4000 miles away and in bed. Also spoke to other friends via face book.
Then after breakfast in the hotel in Newark, it was time to go and collect my hire car. I did try to get the car changed from a 4x4 to a catamaran or submarine. Yes, it was rather wet in New Jersey today. The worst rain I have seen in a long time. There were weather warnings on the TV and roads closed by flooding.
My hire car, a small 4x4 turned out to be a 4x4 the size of Rutlandshire. A Jeep Laredo that is huge. It does nearly 19 miles to the gallon - if you drive carefully! It is a luxury vehicle, air con, cruise control, satellite radio, electric everything etc. It is a rather nice vehicle, if rather huge.
A slow start to the day caused by accidents in the rain outside Newark. I stopped at lunchtime somewhere - when I stopped, I hadn't a clue where it was apart from on the I78 road. A bit of web surfing in McDonald's thanks to their free wifi identified I was in Hamburg.
Next stop was Hershey and a bit of shopping. That's the essentials sorted - 24 boxes of milk duds chocolates. Tom, that is 24 boxes for me and none for you. They won't last till I get to see you next.
I eventually arrived in Pittsburgh around 1900 EST after a 380 miles drive and lots of jet lag. Met my mate Phil at his/ our hotel (well, I'm crashing in his hotel room for 3 nights). I am ashamed to admit, I've not been to America to see him since his wedding in 1992 when I was his best man. There is no excuse for this delay. It was good to have a beer or two and some food and try to roll back the years.
I saw a little bit of downtown Pittsburgh. It looks a rather nice place. A (former) industrial port that has regenerated . It is the home of Heinz and our hotel is opposite the Heinz museum.
More pics etc to follow tomorrow after I've met Tiffany (Phil's spouse) and been to the exhibition he is at. Hopefully also will get to see a bit of the town as well.
Monday, May 3, 2010
New York New York
Come on, what title did you expect for this post?
I've just arrived in the USA at Newark Liberty Airport and after an incredibly quick and friendly passport and customs check, I am in my hotel in Newark. Flight over was incredibly empty- only 100 people on the plane. The in flight entertainment consisted of about 15 cr*p films and a series of unfunny comedies. No problems, I'll listen to my ipod - oh no I won't, its not working. So I had to read the newspapers I'd bought oh and sleep. Lots of sleep to catch up on as had a hectic weekend.
Friday, I drove over to Crawley after work. Its always a joy to drive the M25 in rush hour, especially across the Dartford river crossing with its attendant queues for the toll booths. Saturday morning brought a trip back from Crawley, last minute shopping, packing and the grass to cut etc.
Then it was off to see Orient v Wycombe in the afternoon. A poor performance, but Orient won to ensure their survival in League 1, but at the same time relegated Wycombe. Sadly ironic, but the 2nd goal scorer for Orient was an ex Wycombe player.
Saturday night was a night out in Kings Cross and The Angel Islington with old friends and also a night time drinking debut for Tom. For a newcomer he did well and survived ok, although he did have a severe attack of the munchies by the time we got home at silly o'clock.
By the time the Chinese had delivered to my home, and we'd eaten the same, it was late. A six am start on Sunday morning was not what the doctor ordered but was needed to enable us to drive to Heathrow to drop off my luggage and the car before heading back into London to Kings Cross, the Shepherds Bush for a few drinks before the Newcastle game at QPR. Getting into the game was difficult as mine and Tom's tickets had been cancelled and reissued to someone else!!!!! QPR initially said not their problem, but after a few choice words they gave me 2 new tickets at no cost.
After the game, Tom put me on a tube to Heathrow whilst he went to the pub with my mates. He's only 16, shouldn't I be putting him on train whilst I go to the pub?
I had time at Heathrow to speak to those close to me on the phone - it makes me think people are not expecting me back ...... Not that I am paranoid or anything.
Right, its gone 0100 here in Newark, or 0600 in UK, so I have been up for 24 hours and am going to bed now
I've just arrived in the USA at Newark Liberty Airport and after an incredibly quick and friendly passport and customs check, I am in my hotel in Newark. Flight over was incredibly empty- only 100 people on the plane. The in flight entertainment consisted of about 15 cr*p films and a series of unfunny comedies. No problems, I'll listen to my ipod - oh no I won't, its not working. So I had to read the newspapers I'd bought oh and sleep. Lots of sleep to catch up on as had a hectic weekend.
Friday, I drove over to Crawley after work. Its always a joy to drive the M25 in rush hour, especially across the Dartford river crossing with its attendant queues for the toll booths. Saturday morning brought a trip back from Crawley, last minute shopping, packing and the grass to cut etc.
Then it was off to see Orient v Wycombe in the afternoon. A poor performance, but Orient won to ensure their survival in League 1, but at the same time relegated Wycombe. Sadly ironic, but the 2nd goal scorer for Orient was an ex Wycombe player.
Saturday night was a night out in Kings Cross and The Angel Islington with old friends and also a night time drinking debut for Tom. For a newcomer he did well and survived ok, although he did have a severe attack of the munchies by the time we got home at silly o'clock.
By the time the Chinese had delivered to my home, and we'd eaten the same, it was late. A six am start on Sunday morning was not what the doctor ordered but was needed to enable us to drive to Heathrow to drop off my luggage and the car before heading back into London to Kings Cross, the Shepherds Bush for a few drinks before the Newcastle game at QPR. Getting into the game was difficult as mine and Tom's tickets had been cancelled and reissued to someone else!!!!! QPR initially said not their problem, but after a few choice words they gave me 2 new tickets at no cost.
After the game, Tom put me on a tube to Heathrow whilst he went to the pub with my mates. He's only 16, shouldn't I be putting him on train whilst I go to the pub?
I had time at Heathrow to speak to those close to me on the phone - it makes me think people are not expecting me back ...... Not that I am paranoid or anything.
Right, its gone 0100 here in Newark, or 0600 in UK, so I have been up for 24 hours and am going to bed now
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