Wednesday – This and That

Today I pottered. Firstly, I pottered trying to work out what had to be clean for tomorrow’s sleepover at rellies of rellies – more info later – and then the following day’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard. Then I pottered trying to work out what to do on my last day and half here. I am tired. I thought a coffee might help. I squeezed in to the last available table 2 inches away from it’s neighbours. Other people wider than me seem to be able to ‘squeeze’ more elegantly. I trip over things, knock glasses over etc etc. Ah well. I read the magazines from the weekend New York Times all about brain issues – training to be more intelligent, how steady walking rather than aerobic exercise does something good but I have forgotten what , about depression etc. The book section was less worrisome!

Then I pottered with my photos for a while, then I walked to the Met Museum. I quite confidently told them that I had been the previous week, paid the regular entrance fee then ( I did not tell then I had a city pass which made it cheaper for me) and would like to pay only $5. I think I offered too much. She was very polite to me. $25 is the suggested price ( if you read the very fine print)

I looked at the 2 Chagall paintings I had not seen the first time, a photography room and some medieval illuminated books and other things. I was not feeling crash hot so thought it was lunch time. I walked back yet another way through Central Park. It really is an amazing place. There are minor roads for service vehicles, police etc but most traffic goes on the few roads that are sort of hidden. It is really well designed.

I had a gravlax and cream cheese toasted everything ( meaning all seeds) bagel at Barney Greengrass – an UWS deli that has been around for a while. I liked the gravlax ( salmon cured (not smoked) in a variety of things depending on the place but always including dill). I kept walking to Riverside Park – a long bit of green on the map between the UWS and the Hudson River. I only walked along a small part of it - from about W89 to W 78 but it was pleasant – except for the constant noise of the traffic on the freeway between the park and the river. That is confusing. Starting at the river, there is about a 3m wide concrete walking/jogging/cycling path, then a 4 ?? lane freeway, then a 70m wide ( varies a bit) green space with big trees, plygrounds, flower beds, memorials and a slope up to the road and a row of fancy apartments.

I bought on the way home a biscuit from a vegan café I have been to a few times . They call it a magic biscuit. I have had one before. The ingredients are listed and they all sound OK ( the word I was going to use was kosher – but this is not the city to use that word frivolously) . I pottered at home for a while eating my biscuit and coffee.

I had a nice dinner at a French restaurant in the same block that had been recommended by the owners. I spent the money that I did not spend in the Met Museum shop that is full of lovely things. I had a nice white burgundy from France. Why have we stopped drinking white burgundy in Australia? . I remember Houghton’s White Burgundy from ages ago.

Some things I have forgotten to record:

Another frustration on Monday was my forgetfulness making a cup of coffee in my studio. I did not put the pot into which the coffee drips underneath the place from which the drips come. Consequently a cup of coffee was all over the bench.

I forgot to say that the Library was a lovely building. It is Beaux Arts in style, faced with white marble. The main reading room is huge with a lovely ceiling and lots of light. There are 88 miles of books stored beneath the library.

In the children’s section of the library is a display of the original toys that AA Milne gave to Christopher Robin Milne between 1920 and 1922 and on which he based the famous books. Apparently these toys were given to the American publisher in 1947 . In the display case are Winnie-the-Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga and Tigger. No Roo. I was annoyed to see another character in the display. None of the other visitors around me knew who it was. Someone went and asked. Several years ago someone wrote another book with the same characters and introduced Lottie the otter and that was she. I thought she was an interloper.

It has been quite cold here over the last few days and some of the doormen on the fancy buildings have their winter uniforms on – or maybe just their between seasons uniform. Some have very nicely cut overcoats. I assume when it gets colder they have nice scarves and gloves.

I wonder if there is a maximum number of dogs a dog-walker can walk. I have seen 3 walkers with 6 dogs, but none with 7.

Greenacre Park ( where I could not take a photo) is 18m wide and 36m deep. What is called a vest-pocket park.

I am having trouble thinking of a little momento to buy for me that will remind me of my time in New York

I am having even more trouble thinking of something to buy for my children - I am hopeless at this and it causes me a lot of stress.

When I told Susan, the owner, that I admired all the small places in the city that had chairs and pot plants etc outside and had been made pleasant to sit in she replied that it is often a trade-off. If a building makes an effort to provide some recreational space, they get to build more storeys.

A male nanny is a manny.