Monday, December 28, 2009

T H E - H O L I D A Y S

CHRISTMAS EVE EVE:
I awake at 5.30am this is due to the heavy footsteps running up and down the stairs as my father finishes packing the car for our trip across the english channel to Ireland.
I slide own the icy path to the car which could easily be mistaken for an icebox..
My stomach is still hurting from a big session of eating the night before (I think it is very possible I pulled something.....) Inside the car, I put my earphones on and slip into unconsciousness for a good few hours.
We arrive after an alco-haul at Sainsbury's in Belfast, N. Ireland.

CHRISTMAS EVE
It has become a bit of a tradition to head to Belfast city center on Christmas eve to search out ensembles for us all to wear on Christmas day. This time we are driven in by my younger than me cousin Aoife (this may be a sign I should get my drive on too).
We arrive and on Fergus' request we start with a McDonalds feast. Since my stint in America, I have become quite partial to the offerings at the restaurant with the yellow arches.
We decide to get some fake eyelashes toi wear on Xmas day, so we go to fresh garbage a shop where my mother used to go and buy flares and hippy stuff in her youth. (It now stocks tacky goth stuff.)
We head home to eat a huge meal of ham. It was amazing.
Later that evening we all play about with some wigs- I fell in love with the idea of cutting my hair off into a bob and dying it blond.....

CHRISTMAS DAY:
I woke up with the worst back pain I have ever experienced which didn't involve bruising my coccyx. This however was through no ones fault but my own as I opted to sleep on the floor (a completely viable choice at the time)
After some present unwrapping we head t0 the in house cinema for The Hangover. -Quality movie. Here is some gold from Alan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoendYt_ZJ0&feature=related
The Christmas dinner commenced, we cracked crackers, drank champagne and successfully stuffed ourselves with the amazing feast prepared my my auntie. The stuffing scored exceptionally high I thought.
After the meal we head upstairs to watch a movie where Aoife and I do our trade mark pass-out, only to awake hours later to a completely empty and quiet room. Wide awake as everyone else is ready for bed, we tuck into some birthday cake (my sister Zoe shares her birthday with Jesus) and sit down and watch The Heathers, a movie I have neither seen or even heard of. It has Christian Slater and that actress that got done for stealing all of that stuff from that store that time.


BOXING DAY
We awake and decide to go shopping in the sales, we all find great success and fill the boot with brown paper bags from Urban outfitters and Topshop. I managed to find sme leftovers from the Christopher Kane collection= rather chuffed Cara.
From one form of leftover to another, we pile into the car and drive off home to pile up our plates for our second sitting of Christmas dinner.
After we attempt to watch numerous films before bed time.........

Films we started and didn't finish:
The hangover
Pirates of the carribean
Notting hill
Black snake moan

Thursday, December 10, 2009

L D N

last night we went t0 the free warehouse party on Scrutton St, E. London. It was super fun, bumping into many familiar faces as well as unfamiliar faces who found my face familiar. It was the Dollop Party in aid of Shelter with the likes of Toddla T and Man Like Me on the wheels of steel. As Toddla T finishes up after what appeared to be a very short set, we spot Annie Mac who is according to my friend's detective skills on the internet, his current lady shape.
We left the place at about 4am to make movements to the 24hour bagel shop on Brick Lane. This made me very happy as i am still very much addicted to the things after my recent stint in New York.

T O D D L A T

C R E W

D A Y - 8 0


T0day we went t0 experience our last but of NY culture. I have wanted to tick the walk across Brooklyn bridge off my list for quite some time which made it the perfect way to spend our final hours in the Big Apple. We subway it across the river to Manhattan after packing completion, and head over toward the river to the famous structure which links Brooklyn to the city.


Once over the bridge we 'wait in line' in the freezing cold to indulge in a sitting at Grimaldi's, "The best pizza in all of New York." I think this is a very fair statement, it was superb. We opted for olive and pepperoni.
Y U M Y U M Y U M.

We venture back to McKibben for the final time to pick up our stuff and head over to JFK.

.........and lift 0ff back t0 the 0ld w0rld.........



G O O D B Y E - N E W - Y O R K

D A Y - 7 9

we fly home tomorrow, so we decide to head to central park for a final walk around it's grandeur's. Finding ourselves in the petting zoo (we are granted free entry by the front staff) we come across sheep, a cow, a selection of birds and goats:
............and the giant lily pads:
_______________________________________

(Connie outside the Guggenheim)
_______________________________________

Here are some fairly fantastic Christmas decorations outside a house in Brooklyn....
_______________________________________

U.E.S.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

D A Y - 7 8

H I R S T


Whilst walking through the Met amongst the w0rks from the likes of Rembrandt, Gauguin, Picass0, and Klimt, I turn into the modern art section where I am faced with The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living. I was starstruck. I stared at the shark in that tank for quite some time, My favorite/ most grossed out view was this one above. it was weird.


I later proceeded to the Guggenheim Museum where I by pass the verging on extortionate entrance fee by flashing my golden ticket, an Intern card at the ticket desk.
The Kandinsky exhibition on, I like the works of Kandinsky very much but was completely distracted by the building itself. Amazed by the continuous spiral one walks around to view the art as well as the smaller rooms which lead of from it, I wondered around in a bit of a daze.
It looks pretty special from the outside too................

7 6

on the way to Central Park we came across a puppy shop. Connie and I turned into a gooey mess and wanted t0 take them all home......

Sunday, December 6, 2009

D A Y - 7 6

We went for another stroll in Central Park and came across some more friendly squirrels and couldn't resist some pictures with the Alice in Wonderland characters........

Friday, December 4, 2009

7 4 . 5

7 4

D A Y - 7 3



McDonalds, Broadway, Bushwick NY.

Jay Z mentions this branch in the anthem, Empire State of Mind ft Alicia Keys. It is a couple of blocks from McKibben.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

7 1

Me and George.

E V E N I N G - 7 0



This evening we went to the Brooklyn Bowl, I had to put these shoes on. I hadn't bowled since I was like 12. My efforts can be seen on the score board- not highly skilled at at this sport evidently (though I am pretty poor at most sports.......).

D A Y - 7 0

The sun was shining and I had a day to myself, so I headed to central park to explore all afternoon. Here is what i found.........

The Jackie Onassis Lake

Alice in Wonderland......
I love this, I was a little jealous of the 2 small girls climbing on it.......


This here is apparently one of the most filmed and photographed bridges in the park or ever, I can't quite remember what it said in the article I read about it.....


this was in the Strawberry Fields, Homage to the late John Lennon.

Monday, November 30, 2009

D A Y - 6 9

We went to see Grand central station today to carry on with our touristic run..... we stayed there for all of 5 mins before turning around and heading back downtown.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

D A Y - 6 8

Today was sunny, so sunny that we could sunbathe on the roof. No one knows where the winter is, not that I'm complaining one bit.
Here is the sun........


D A Y - 6 7



This is our local store around the corner, it has a mile of Tropicana in one of the refrigerators. I think it would be an amazing location for a fashion shoot, it has thousands of cans and packets of American favorites in their multicolored glory.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

D A Y - 6 6

Today we made movements up to MoMA, we there for the Tim Burton exhibition. An excellent show with artifacts from his movies which include Sweeney Todd's blades and Edward Scissorhand's hands as well as original models from the nightmare before Christmas.
we then preceded to the permanent collection upstairs where the world famous pieces from around the globe are hung including.....
Frida Kahlo's Mirror

Me and Mondrian.....

We then proceeded to the upper east side where an evening of baking entailed. Baking, one of my favorite things to do, equaled a very happy Cara. we made a giant cookie and an apple crumble, each devoured by everyone in the perimeter.

domestic goddess...
Result!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

6 5


This is what I see out of my Window. Far, far in the distance to the left the empire state buiding can be seen. (it is more visible in real life...)

D A Y - 6 5

Today is Thanksgiving. This morning I went to the Macy's Parade. Standing amongst the crowds of small children and their parents, we look over their heads spotting the massive ballons floating between the buildings.........






6 4

I have been needing a new watch for quite some time as my former Casio from Argos (£16.99) was looking extremely ropey and scratched, I found this in the Disney store on 5th Ave, I couldn't resist the moving arms of Mini Mouse telling me the time of day...... It may be childish, but Cara says "I love it."


Wednesday, November 25, 2009

D A Y - 6 4

Cheeky Monkeys...

Today we went to the Bronx zoo. Although leaving the apartment so late resulted us arriving at 3.45pm, 45 mins before closing time. We ran around searching for animals, in the spitting rain and darkness. We succeeded in finding some monkeys (see above) and some Panthers in 'Asia'. we attempted to see the Giraffes, but with no joy, it had been put to bed.
Passing back through Manhattan, we decide to go check out some sights, 5th ave was the desination of choice. We emerge in Bloomingdale's. Making our way through the store we find the street and check out the christmas windows.... they are sparkly.....




We then walk along 5th Ave and see more windows, including louis Vuitton and we witnessedthe lighting up of Saks 5th ave.
Louis Vuitton Display

Star hanging over 5th Ave

The rockafella building