How Ya Doing?

The two times I've been to New York they really didn't do the city justice to get a real feel for it. The first time was back in 199.0 I came through Penn St Station on the way to JFK on the way home from visiting Bust in Florida when he was learning to be a pilot. It was in the autumn and as I ventured out of the station steam was coming from the man hole covers - just like in the movies!! Next was in 2000/2001 with Madge.web - a short while before the Twin Towers came down - all I remember was staying in a hotel overlooking Times square and walking from Wall Street up to Central Park - a long way.



This time though, the Dow was crashing and the banks went into meltdown. Greg, who I was with last week in Finland was on his way out from Brussels and I met up with Karine at the office. The flight was uneventful though with what seems to be trends one of my bags was missing - the lights. It would arrive the next morning and I'd be able to live without them for a day.

Dinner was a handover from the team currently in place which we had in an Indian restaurant that didn't serve beer - or any alcohol. Despite that flaw in the plan not bad at all - very reminiscent of Punjabi by Nature in Delhi.

Wednesday morning was early start - up at 5.00am and leaving the hotel at 5.45am to go down to Wall Street to do lives starting from 7.00 (Noon UK time).

Getting out of the taxi we found the sat truck we'd be using with Don in tow the engineer / owner. One thing - it was big - well compared to ours back in the UK.



Very comfortable though and with anything and everything you may want - satelitte TV and Internet and even a microwave. Didn't find the kitchen sink. Must have been in one of the drawers somewhere. I don't know what Don and Karine are talking about but the guys on the TV seem to be quiet interested...



I did say the truck was big - big enough for Greg to swing an earpiece.



Sheltered in a disused doorway as it was forecast to rain, we huddled to one side of Wall Street facing the original entrance to the Stock Exchange.



Greg.... just about to go live.



We ended up being very lucky with the rain - just after we finished the last live at 5pm it tipped down - not for long. That didn't stop a little old Chinese lady popping up nearly instantaneously with her umbrella stall. How she got there so quick nobody knows. As the skys cleared she didn't hang around either.

Don had recommended a steak house for dinner - The Old Homestead. Apparently the oldest steak house in NYC. We headed back to the hotel - with minute rooms. Having 8 pieces of luggage doesn't help but to move around or get into the wardrobe I had to move one or two items out of the way every time.

A short taxi ride form the hotel to 9th Ave the steakhouse was a sight for sore eyes. The menu too - though choosing was a little difficult. Finally settled on a 16oz Fillet Mignon on the bone - medium rare with pepper sauce. Gloriously it just melted. Pudding followed was original New York Cheese cake - a big slice that Karine and I shared - Greg has is own. Stunning again. We waddled out, hailed a taxi and were in bed by 10.00pm.