BritGalInTheCity

burthday? wot birthday?

ug. Am suffering one of the worst hanogvers of my live (so much so I've only made it as far as the sofa, so far today). My friends tell me I had a good time (much of it I can't remember and have spent most of the day saying "nooooo really? then what did i do?"). Very dangerous - leaves myself open to all sorts of character abuse by my "friends". Ended up being one of those random nights; ending up in a random (gay) bar (not the one we were aiming for), meeting great (camp-as-you-like) randoms. Definitely a quality night (and that's just the bits I can remember).

posted by NewbieMum @ 2:42 PM 0 comments

Where are the SATC shoes?

Gutted. Went to Century 21 today. As recommended by the boss' son and recently seen (recent to me anyway) on Sex and the City. Touted as "New York best kept secret" and long may it be kept a secret! A glorified charity shop in layout (the merchandising I believe is new) , with "designer labels" apparently at every turn, the materials and patters were at best old-fashioned and at worst downright dodgy. In about 5 floors of clothes I picked up 2 shirts! Very bad shopping experience - even by my standards.

I moved onto shoes - confident that even bad shoes in New York had to be classy surely. But no. Could barely find any I wanted to try on let alone buy. Desperately want some new trainers (sneakers here) and maybe a pair of salsa shoes but they're all awful. Surely I don't have to go back to London to get decent shoes - the outrage!

posted by NewbieMum @ 11:03 PM 1 comments

Saintly acting

I've found great church! Its called St Malachy's - The Actors Chapel interestingly enough and does a lot to support the acting community around theatre district.

It also means the singing is great. I love singing at mass! Its small-ish too so the atmosphere is really friendly.

In the words of a small, ginger singer with a slightly annoying voice: "I think I'm gonna like it here"

posted by NewbieMum @ 10:39 AM 0 comments

Oh...my...word!

Got invited to a members-only club on the top floor of a building off 6th Ave tonight. It was great. You enter a completely unmarked building with businesslike lobby and reception. You then have to name drop to prove you know a member and if you drop the correct name they show you to the bank of high-speed lifts. Exiting on the 39th floor, they have leather chairs facing the windows looking downtown to the Empire State building and beyond. Picked my way through the other members engaged in various business discussions about percentages and buy-in. New York was beautiful from there. I met the others (all men, all smoking cigars!) in time for dessert. Took slightly too long to decide on the wine so my host asked the waiter to bring all 3 so I could taste them all! Very nice indeed. How the other half lives!

posted by NewbieMum @ 1:04 AM 0 comments

Smelling of roses

I'm loving the no smoking laws here - its great. So far have been to several bars and restaurants and have been able to go to bed without a shower to get the smell out of my hair! When are they going to implement this in London?

Tonight I went to LQ, for the salsa night. Was slightly apprehensive about the possibility of adjusting to dancing "on 2" but actually there was quite a bit of normal "on 1" dancing going on and I got asked to dance a couple of times and didn't fall flat on my face so think that's definitely a winner for a Wednesday nights :-) They also had a traditional salsa band which was great - something we don't get that often in London salsa clubs

posted by NewbieMum @ 11:17 PM 1 comments

Ground Zero

A potential client has their office downtown and allowed us up to the 46th floor to take a look form up there. The view was stunning - the sun was shining, liberty island looked great and ground zero was right below us. It looked ok from up there - like a building site but ok. We decided to take a look at ground level and (probably it was the lack of sleep) but I was very moved by it. They've left one of the girders up and its in the shape of a cross and a busker was playing Amazing Grace on the flute - had to turn away and sneak a few tears out of site of the boss.

Other great views of the city:

• From the 25th Floor of a client in Times Square (taxi's lined up on Broadway, central park in the distance, the video screens in full glory)
• Very trendy cafeteria of a prospective client, with funky colours and light installations, free breakfast and screens in the meeting rooms to instantly book them out and check your email from
• From the window of a train coming back into Manhattan from Yorktown Heights. The Hudson is so wide it looks like sea and the sunset over the hills looks amazing in the distance

posted by NewbieMum @ 10:52 AM 0 comments

To be sure

I missed the St Patrick's day parade today - too busy with meetings :-(

Just think of all the young, gorgeous, catholic opportunities missed!

posted by NewbieMum @ 9:43 PM 2 comments

I've arrrived!

I have a garbage chute! I noticed it this morning.

Other ways to know you are in New York:
yellow cabs
steaming pavements
huuuuugggeeeee portions of everything (tinned foods, tampon packets, body wash - everything)

posted by NewbieMum @ 11:25 PM 0 comments

Ug

So sirens and horns going off until 1.30am this morning, had a fax machine ring me at 5.30am and then donked my head really hard on the ceiling trying to get back into bed (am in a temporary studio and the bed is in the ceiling space - I can't even stand straight up there and I'm little).

Have to meet the boss at 8am for breakfast. Wonder if he'd mind if I snoozed over my croissant...

posted by NewbieMum @ 7:14 AM 0 comments

Same but Different

So...odd thing happened today. I was having lunch in the cafe of a bookstore (v good idea that - read and eat...and read and drink and more reading - before you know it you've been there for hours!). Anyway - I got hit on by some old bloke! It started off fine; we were marvelling over how hot the sun was, then we moved onto the Olympics - both London and New York bidding for 2012 and then I got up to leave and he asked if he could see me again. All very strange - definitely wouldn't happen in London!

And then I got to thinking....Lots of things over here are the same - the clothes, the furniture, the bars, the language (well mostly: "periods" are completely different in the UK and we go to the toilet not the "restroom"). Its easy to forget that all countries have different cultures so when something different does happen it takes you by surprise and makes you feel slightly disorientated. London is notorious for its lack of eye-contact, insular, unfriendly culture - no-one looks at each other on the tube, women get assaulted and are surprised if anyone comes to their rescue. In the UK the Americans are made fun of because of their fake "have a nice day" catchphrases and the wearing of their heart on their sleeves a la Jerry Springer but I'm now wondering if actually some of you mean it when you wish me a nice day. Its nice catching people's eye on the subway and sharing the occasional smile. Humans are social beings - its why babies respond to smiling faces. Who would have thought that New York would be a more friendly place than London?

As long as I don't get hit on by creeps too often...unless they're young, fit and rich!

posted by NewbieMum @ 8:35 PM 0 comments

Decisions, Decisions

I'm not very good at making decisions unless they're really easy...like....um....

work or sleep (sleep)
work or clubbing (clubbing)
work or have no money (work)

but anything slightly harder than this I have a bit of trouble with. Apartments for example. Do I take the bright, expensive one with manly furniture on 3rd (a bit far to walk home to after a night out) or the cheaper one that feels more me but is right near Times Square....I tried asking the advice of a traffic cop but I think he thought I was trying to pick him up! oops

Don't exactly have much time - only booked 2 nights in the hotel and am homeless tomorrow night unless I can sort something out!

posted by NewbieMum @ 3:15 PM 0 comments

Got the horn?

Blimey - you New Yorkers are mental! I've never heard such "bibbing" in my life (or I guess you would say honking!)

Have just been placed in Manhattan for 3 months by my company and arrived from London today. I've been here twice before but don't remember the near-continuous honking you guys do over here. I reckon its the taxi's myself. At least that's the same in every country - taxi drivers thinking they know how to drive better than anyone else.

Anyway - I'm going to stop moaning and try and stay awake for a bit longer.

Watch out Big - I'm here now!

posted by NewbieMum @ 10:04 PM 0 comments