my bags are packed and it's time to go-well not quite yet

Good

I’m New York USA bound on Saturday, to be followed by DC (I had to say USA there, as I know there is a New York in Lincolnshire in England-bit of a story there too-maybe later-or even will tell in NY and DC, if the peeps there remind me). I excited and nervous about this expedition. Could be a whole new learning experience for me-maybe next year, or even this summer/autumn I could be heading out again and staying longer in just the one area-maybe get in some small town America (like in the Bill Bryson book). Must admit if someone had said this to me last summer I would have said that there is no way I would ever go to America-or in fact anywhere abroad. But then I’ve said all this before.

The outdoors –ok it’s cold,wet and sometimes miserable-BUT it is near perfect for getting outside and away from crowded, overpriced gyms-not only are you saving money,but also your sanity. The skies are clear,the air fresh and the craic is great. I cannot explain the after effect of a hike over a hill/mountain in a cold and wet day-when you step into the shower to get scrubbed down, and sitting with your feet up supping a mug of something hot, and reminiscing on the days walk .

No More of those “special” TV shows-not a big TV fan –but those “re-union” type shows never work in my opinion.

THE BAD

Digital Watches-and them ones on peoples mobile/cell phones. What is wrong with the “real” watches. Ask someone the time now (I don’t wear a watch-but have a pretty cool pocket watch and a cheap one I got at a stall in a market which is usually shoved in pocket in my backpack) and they bring out a smartphone (or whatever) and say “It’s 4:23” or GAWD FORBID “It’s 18:38” WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN? With the old real watches with the two hands on them you would hear them say “It’s almost 25 past 4” or “It’s almost 20 to 7” 18:38? I have to use my mental arithmetic to work out that 18 hrs is the same as 6pm . And the worst thing about these new fangled monstrosities means an end to one of my favourite jokes:- “What time is it Gerdy?” “It’s 10 past” “Ten past what?” “I don’t know, the little hand has fallen off my watch.”

The Book People-every so often these guys come round with bundles of books (and stuff). You can nearly guess what sort of stuff will be there, depending on time of year.Prior to Christmas, there are loads of recipe and children’s stuff. And around this time it is diet books –and every year the women at work will discuss the diet books claiming a particular author’s “last one” was very good and will sigh up for the new one-“mustn’t have worked then” I say and what’s wrong with just sticking with the old one? More I say-what’s wrong with getting out and exercising and cutting down on the rubbish. In saying that, last time I got a great “Where’s Wally?” book-kept me entertained for days…

The Whatever

THE USA TRIP-OK OK I KNOW I KNOW-I’ve said this a great many times before. I am still in two minds about undertaking this trip. I think I would have been happier going to a few towns “down south”(Galway,Cork,Ballyvaughan,Kinsale,Glencolmcille etc)-at least I am getting drink and crisps (ok ok potato chips) I know and like. I am nervous about the idea of being airborne for 7 hours-and twice, the jet lag, the size of the places I am going. But you never know I could end up loving the experience and when I return I’ll be making a plan for a return visit(s) (well there is 2 cities-3 if …well I’ll explain later). I hope to get some scratch cards and do the lottery over there-imagine the headlines “Gerdy from Derry wins massive jackpot in roll over lottery.” Better bring my Derry away polo shirt-just in case.

Any ways-that’s it-for now

the day gets closer

OK it’s too late now, if I had a pound for everybody who has asked me, why I am going to New York now and not March or April –even August, I would have £8 -oh and if you count € land too- €2. )The answer to this question-and I think I am the only person who will understand this-if I did NOT do this now, I don’t think I would ever have done it-well not unless some hot babe talked me in to going over there with her.

At the time of typing this there is news reports on television about terrible snow conditions there. My two contacts over there are telling me not to worry-it’ll pass. Yeah but what if I had booked my flight/hotel for this weekend instead of the 18^th? I do have a “what the heck-it’s only money.” Attitude here if it should go belly up, I have no idea what way the insurance works with regards to “acts of God” stopping a flight. And I have no idea how to contact the hotel in New York if the flight is delayed.

On the other hand, I hope this gets me over my avoidance of trips abroad, and that this could even become a regular thing.

Too be honest, I am more worried about letting people down over there. If by any chance (and I hope NOT) this has to be cancelled due to this inclement/unexpected weather-I’ll still find somewhere to go. Will obviously mean more spemding-but what the heck, this is what my “treat savings” are for after all.

I am now working on things I want to buy when over there. Me being me, it’s silly things mostly. I hope to get a new kit-lens for my camera and dump the old one somewhere over there. Of course I’ll be looking for the often mentioned bobbly hats,graphic novels,cds,maybe a new rambling waterproof jacket,a pen of some sort, tacky stuff, some camera accessories –maybe a couple of shirts.

I want to get a cheap pay as you go mobile(ok cell phone) to keep in touch with the contacts out there when there-but somebody has said I can get a half decent one with wi-fi and all that for a cheap price.

Thankfully my two American friends are keeping me calm and telling me that this weather thing will soon pass. I said it before-but I was hoping to see a little snow in NY as I’m sure it will be picturescue –but not what is there now.

Any –it’ll not be the end of the world if flight is cancelled etc etc .And I am not the only person who has booked a flight on these dates (and if I am, I wonder will I get a free upgrade) But what ever happens I really do hope to be back again come September or October this year-maybe one week in one city-see more-maybe get in some cycling/rambling.

Back on the weather again-this one made me titter-and I quote “New Jersey governor Chris Christie ordered non-essential state workers to stay home.” Bit of a double whammy here I thought –a free day(s) off –but then you think “hmm if I’m non-essential –how safe is my job?” Great but scarey picture of Lahinch harbour, County Clare of the waves battering the harbour-was there a few times with the ICS cycling holiday crowd I go on.

Will soon be the 10, 9,8 countdown-and then I’ll annoy everybody even more. Too lazy to check this over.

this week listening too "Crimson/Red" -Prefab Sprout and  "The Next Day"-David Bowie. Struggling to read "Wild"-Cheryl Strayed (strange cos i like this kind of stuff) -made up for it by reading "Where's Wally" and a new graphic novel called "Wormwood" -Wormwood is the anti-christ (his dad is the devil), his best friend is Jesus, he has a pet rabbit that can talk-great stuff it was too-very sharp biting wit.

to be continued and spell checked by my reader

And the countdown gets serious-almost

Well –we’re getting close to the serious countdown for the American trip. At time of bashing the keyboards it is something like 17 days-well if you count the overnight in Dublin pre flight it is 16 days. Whenever I finished my ICS holidays some Americans, along with the farewell hug said “And if you’re ever in the states –call and see me/us.”

I never thought I would be doing this-AND I am meeting up with 2 people out of my top 6 favourite people I have met on these trips-and I have met a LOT of people over the years on these holidays. There is one person-who is actually in New York I have lost touch with (despite my attempts to get back in touch) I think I have her email address somewhere and I think I know were her business is. I am not sure if trying again and letting her know I’m coming over would freak her out or not-so am holding back. Maybe, like in the movie “Serendipity,” fate and the powers that be will throw us together –what was it April said to Adam in “The Hot Tub Time Machine” –“Maybe the universe will bring us together again...” (don’t ya just love ellipses ? I can’t get enough of them… )ANY WAYS where was I? Yeah-maybe fate will throw Connie and me back together again-romantic old sop that’s me. Maybe this USA  trip could also become a regular thing-maybe stick in the one place for a whole week next time? Or even a meet up and a usa version of an ICS holiday? Maybe I’ll even meet a new Connie and soon I’ll be saying Connie? Who’s Connie?

So now I’m working out what I want to buy and do over there. Hope to get a new camera lens, graphic novels, cds,bobbly hats and tacky stuff-maybe a shirt or two. Of course see the sights, do a tour on bus and all that. And being the culchie that I am, I’ll be complaining about the exorbitant prices I’m paying for a coffee and a sandwich, and will walk up somewhere like Central Avenue looking around at the shops/stores mumbling “Jeez, I might as well be in Derry.” You never know I could make new friends there too. Might even take a couple of bags of the red taytos or our chocolate or  chocolate kimberlys? Also wondering what lenses to take with me-mind you the current kit lens which has a battle scar –so embarrassing/typical gerdy hoe it happened-will be left behind somewhere in NY/DC.

Hope to recover from the terrible 2013 cycling year and get more miles in this year. Also want to give the Irish Language holiday thing another go too, but hope to get back into my normal time for holidaying which is August. But it’s too early for me to be thinking about summer-let’s get NY and DC out of the way first-things can change.

Right good,bad, and the ugly

GOOD

Obviously the American trip-excited and scared about this.

The year of culture in derry-did not see a lot of it-but what I did catch was great. The all Ireand Fleadh was outstanding. I got to see one of my rock idols, Elvis Costello live-managed to catch one song on movie mode. And I actually met and spoke to the members of one of my favourite bands Bell X 1 when they did a free acoustic pop up gig in my local record shop-got them to sign the current album and got some photos and filmed one song too.

The Irish language/culture holiday was new and very different-by coincidence Carolyn from last year’s cycling holiday was on this too and she coaxed me in to doing the set dancing classes –which was great craic, a number of people told me I was actually good at it too.

The rambling club had a great year too-over at the Lake District again-weather not the best-in fact on first day we had rain of John Ford western proportions-but the craic was 90. And some great walks on the home island too. And I’ll explain the rock story when I am in NY and DC.

Music wise-the David Bowie surprise album “The Next Day,” Prefab Sprout’s “Crimson/Red,” and John Grant’s “Pale Green Ghosts” were all excellent-Bowie’s is as good as the stuff he was doing around the time of “Ashes to Ashes”. The Prefab Sprout one is basically Paddy McAloon on his own now-but this one is up there with the likes of “Jordan The Comeback.” Paddy is pretty ill at the moment, terrible problems with both hearing and eyesight. And music in general-got back in to my music last year-said it countless times before but to say my taste in music is eclectic is an understatement.

We’ve passed the shortest day of the year-so technically the days are getting longer. We won’t really notice until the end of this month-but hey. That’s not that far away.

BAD

The Tayto chocolate-cheese n onion crisps. Crisps and chocolate together-very bad idea here. Just did not work. Did not taste good to start with-but that after taste that stays in mouth when done was somewhat nightmarish.

The whole flag (pronounced fleg) carry on here. Should never have started in first place-made the situation here a laughing stock-makes me laugh any way.

2013 cycling year for me was a non event-hope to make up for it in 2014-if it was not for the rambling club I would have got no exercise at all.

Internet connection where I am-nuff said.

On a serious note, life in general. But then bad things do happen. We’re not immortal and life comes to an end sometime. But for some people it seems to come a little too soon. In the book “The Princess Bride” it finishes with the line “Life isn’t fair. It’s just fairer than death, that’s all.” Reason for this is because a cycling buddy of mine is pretty ill and it’s not looking good-sorry folks

The ugly

Selfies –fed up seeing and hearing about these things-but in saying that will no doubt do one or two when in the states.

The mud on my mountain bike- but will wash after next mtb ride.

Technolgy-just when I have the money gathered up to get the new canon 7D they will announce the 8D-which will be even more better than the 7 –as long as they just don’t bring out a replacement for my sony personal minidisc for a while I’ll be ok.

Currently hooked on that minefield game on computer-on the middle level at minute-soon as I do a complete one I’m on to the hard one-and am doing pretty good at minute.

Reading over these things and correcting mistooks is a pain.