Happy snaps and the American energy policy!

It seems that the present weather on the east coast of the USA is very bad.  Perhaps it was somewhat fortunate that whilst I was there 75% of my time was filled with sunshine, even if most of the time it was very chilly.  Being English, and with antifreeze running through my veins, it was bearable and wasn't that uncomfortable.  When the sun didn't come out to play, it snowed a little or a lot, and I recall suffering from the dreaded 'loss' of sensation in my fingers, which made taking photographs somewhat labourious and maddening.  But despite the handicap of being unable to wear gloves, they constantly got in the way and made it virtually impossible to operate the camera successfully, I 'snapped' happily away to my heart's content even though one had to suffer for one's art.

I mention this for the only reason that now slowly working through the photos I'm both happy with the end results, and amazed just how many came out successfully.  Equally, there are a number of potentially 'good', I use the word with a great deal of latitude, photos that bear all the incriminating evidence of camera shake due to frozen fingers and a shivering disposition.  Even more surprising was the photos I took, which I fully expected to be awful due to resting on the delightful stomach of a belly dancer, turned out vastly better than I expected.  I will upload some of my better efforts when sorted so you can judge for yourself.

However, looking through the pictures I've sort of noticed that I've been subconsciously more intimately involved with water and wild places, and those of cities exhibit a less than careful approach, unless I was involved in a surreal scene.  Super Mario in Times Square shows all the signs of attention to detail, as does Spiderman, but the Woolworth Building and the Rockefeller Centre much less so.  Perhaps this does no more than confirm the suspicion that the outward ostentatious nature of money and its public indecency, is of far less interest to me than watching Super Mario frivolously cavorting around Times Square at 2 in the morning.  Much the same could be said about the delight taken standing by the statue of Rocky in Philadelphia, where for the first time during the holiday I was able to wander around without the need for a jacket; it was around 2c so felt warm, much helped by the sun and clear blue sky.

Of course, there are some scenes that simply beggared disbelief, which unfortunately never get photographed for one reason or another.  As I was dragged up with a mixture of Flipper, Chips, and endless Saturday morning cinema where the lone ranger and Tonto regularly dispatched the baddie, all later replaced by the more serious flicks of the 'French Connection', 'Serpico' and their like my cinematic perception of the USA was dutifully moulded.  But then cynicism crept in for a period and I took a more enlightened view that the USA couldn't possibly be as Hollywood depicted it.  Sadly this is something of an understatement and throughout the yuletide period homes paid homage to the Griswald family Christmas home.  Yes, the inspiration for the film, 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' was there in reality.  As my friend and I travelled along the interstate and freeways of Massachusetts, the citadels of luminosity revealed themselves, evermore outrageous, bedecked with Christmas lights that consumed enough electricity to power a small country for a year.  The American thirst for competitiveness was well and truly alive, and were I to award first prize it would be to the ranch we passed by one evening in the dark, gloriously adorned with hundreds upon hundreds of light bulbs for being the most outlandish attempt at wasting energy.  Second prize would go to the much more mundane effort of a six foot Santa Claus completely blocking the front door of a house.  Third place would have to be awarded to the valiant power workers, who managed to keep the electricity flowing.

We often watch the news, or read it, and America comes in for a lot of stick concerning its energy policies, or lack of them as the case may be.  And I think that the message is finally coming home to roost.  Recycling seems to be on the increase; in service stations, and other public places, the toilets have signs encouraging users to think carefully about waste paper and water; there are signs reminding employees to wash their hands, customers don't get a mention.  Of course Europe is far ahead in better environmental policies and energy saving schemes, but Americans are to be praised and encouraged for finally coming onboard the trash can revolution.  One of the most welcoming sights was the extra lane set aside for cars to use that were carrying two or more passengers, sadly nobody seem to be using it.

Friendship and the Pond.

Well lots happened this week, and life became much clearer, ending up on Saturday with moving my friend 'D' to his new place.  After many years of slumming it as a cosmopolitan wannabee, he's now happily looking forward to life on the edge of town, overlooking a small wood and the golf course; with tongue in cheek I wish him every happiness in his new found quest to becoming even more middle class than he already is; something he strongly protests he's not....Can't help wondering why my leg is acting as though it's being pulled for some reason.  Seriously though, just for a moment, I've watched him these past few months entering another stage in his life, and I've never seen him happier.  I'm equally happy to say that without his support, care and kindness at a particularly bad moment in my life, who know's where I would have ended up.  And whilst it's perhaps not the 'manly' thing to say, my affection for him is without limit, even if I either don't show it enough, or don't say it; one of the joys of writing a blog is you can say it openly,  thanks matey!  But the next time you ask me to help you move, I'll be unavailable due to a forgotten meeting I'm supposed to be attending.

On Friday I had a final interview for a job and was accepted, which in the great scheme of things is nice to know that somebody wants me; especially in these times of economic uncertainty.  I'm scheduled to start at the beginning of February due to my being happily in the USA over Christmas & New Year for a well deserved rest.  Whether I keep the blog updated, whilst I'm away, or to wait until I get back to write it is open to debate, but the feeling at the moment is to escape any form of electronic communication and have a complete rest from it all.  I'm well aware that I spend far too much time piddling about on the Internet and laptop, and it would be very nice to avoid both whilst away; we shall see.  At the moment I'm focused on getting finished what I need to before I go, which means ever longer hours on the keyboard, not that I really mind, at least I'm busy and that's the most important thing.

However, I'm now beginning to feel a little excited with the passing of time, and the holiday ever closer.  It'll be a number of firsts for me, and so a great adventure.  It'll be the first time I've flown from one continent to another, the first time I've flown transatlantic, the first time in the USA, and the first time I've occupied the same seat for around 7 hours.  Then when I get there it'll be the first time I've eaten a real 'dog', hotdog before anyone starts complaining, the first lobster, pastrami on rye, apple pie like mom used to make, and numerous other things along the way. Culturally, there's lots to take in, and despite an often slightly jaundiced view of the US, I'll have an open mind when I get there, and one of the things here is to accept that whatever perception I may have, it is driven by the media, whereas my personal relationships with Americans are completely the opposite.

History has always been of interest, so there will much to cover and see with visits to Boston, New York and Washington.  Of course my time will be fairly limited, so whatever I see will be done with a purpose in mind.  I've no real desire to be wandering down 5th Avenue, Wall Street or hanging around Times Square, but hopefully I can get to visit the Apollo Theatre in New York.  Washington will be taken up with a visit to Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian and other sights.  Boston is likely to be freezing, but unlikely to deter from visiting the Harbour area etc.  Of course on a much lighter note, I'm playing with the idea of popping into the local IRS office and demanding, without menace, the repayment of taxes not paid to the British people since the revolution!

Hopefully, one of the highlights will be time spent on a beach, it'll take me back to those rare happy childhood days of wandering alone along the seafront during the winter months, which I've always said is the best time to visit a beach and see it in all's its glory, and at its supremely natural best.

A final remark about this trip, of a lifetime some might say, it might prove eventful in many, as yet unknown, ways, particularly as I'm no great lover of big bustling cities.  But the one thing it's already shown before I set sail across the pond, is the value of friendship.  And so 'S', from the bottom of my heart, thank you matey for making this possible.

And so my first blog on this site!


At the moment I'm on the 2nd week of my holiday, which means in a few days time I'll be back in the office, wearing my "professional" hat, answering the calls made upon my time, which might otherwise be better spent on doing more frivolous things, such as writing a new book, drawing another weird picture, or drinking even more coffee than I already do. Still that's a little time away and no more thought shall pass, at least for the moment, on the subject of work.


My great plan, in taking 2 weeks holiday, was to finish the book I've been working on for 18 months, off and on, and for some strange reason I seem to have hit an almighty brick wall and can't get my head around finishing the last chapter and a half. Why, I've no real idea, the ideas are there, and having already written over 50,000 words the finish should be in sight, and fairly easy. Maybe it's got something to do with having too little self discipline, I am on holiday and I might add thoroughly enjoying the rest and generally doing nothing; which when all said and done is the purpose of a holiday.


Of course, the thing is that I'll probably finish it by Sunday night, if for no other reason that it's now holding up the creative flow and I need to concentrate on something else. Where I next wander down "fictional lane" remains to be seen; I've no doubts that an idea, usually a very strange one, will suddenly appear for no reason at all and in the most unlikely place. Normally I write humourous books, based on the absurdities of the male species, but given the choice I'm leaning towards something serious, perhaps dark, although the thought of writing a horror story doesn't really appeal.


I'll finish there, Starbucks is calling. Strange place Starbucks; wonderful ambience, great for people watching, sitting close to the river, dodgy coffee...but then again...the American love affair with drinking the black stuff has never really taught them what a decent cup of coffee should taste like.