#mtanewyork

[scotts-in-the-city]

It’s too soon to say ‘I love you’..

But I think I can almost say ‘I like you NY’.  Progress!  When I first got here I didn't just not like it, I HATED it.  There was some pretty pathetic sobbing that took place on the High Line on day two. ��And possibly some indecipherable words blurted out in between sniffing that went something along the lines of ‘why the fxck did you make me come here?’.  There may have also been some theatrical howling when I discovered our bathrooms were beige.  I feel bad about the dramatics of the first few days.. ok weeks.  Except for the bathroom episode.  I don’t feel bad about that one.  There is NOTHING worse than a beige bathroom.  I still have a little weep about that from time to time.  But generally I’m totally over the crying /sulking phase.  I’ve even stopped asking Angus if we can go home yet.  And there has been lots more good things discovered this week..

You can get to the beach within an hour!

I don’t think I need to say anything else on this.  You can get to frickin beach!  On the subway!  Ok so we were only sitting on Rockaway beach for 5 minutes before Scarlett asked if we could go home but still.  I sat on the beach. I smelt the sea.  I ate an ice cream!  And on the boardwalk there were mini Peckham Levels-type places with cool food and drinks and even more amazingly they sold water in BOXES rather than plastic bottles.  Since when was the seaside so progressive?!  Angus and I were beside ourselves with excitement … (we don’t get out much these days).

Farewell stuff; farewell Amazon Prime

Back home I probably got an Amazon package at least every other day.  I know that’s bad right!  I was a little bit addicted.  I liked having someone come to my door with a package; even if it was just a duck shaped bog brush.  Amazon Prime is well and truly alive and well in NY but I’ve had to do the unthinkable and end the relationship.*  Reason one, Angus found out about the extent of my habit since I’m now only able to use the joint account.  He was a bit shocked.  Reason two, NY apartments ain’t that big and we just can’t fit anything else in ours.  The closets and drawers are maxed out.  Reason three, the thought of having to pack up again and transport it all has turned me into a die-hard minimalist.  This is a very good thing.  No more stuff!  No more bog brushes, random kitchen gadgets or ‘must-have’ children’s toys.  NY you’ve liberated me!  Death to stuff!

* since I wrote this I’ve had a little relapse.  But I really feel that Scarlett needed the pink wiggly straws.  What kind of mom deprives their toddler of such an essential item?

WTF

I’ve almost nailed riding the bus without having a wobbly chin incident but it’s taken a while.  You have to be on your A-game big time.  Bus drivers don’t take kindly to passengers who don’t obey bus etiquette.  And they don’t just shout at you, it’s a full-on blow your hair back off your face roar.  So don’t ever put luggage in the area that looks suspiciously like a luggage rack.  It’s not for luggage and you will get shouted at if you attempt this.  Perhaps it’s reserved for VIP luggage?  Also, don’t ever try to get off the bus through the back doors if you’re not nearby as they will close before you get there and it’s then impossible to open them without throwing your entire body weight against them and you will end up running backwards and forwards between both sets of doors trying to get the hell off the bus.  You will then get shouted at.    But the worst crime of all crimes is to let your toddler walk up the wheelchair ramp.  Cue bus driver apoplexy.  It’s much better to let them fall over trying to jump up the step while their mum struggles carrying the pram, bags and other child.  I’m growing a thicker skin but it’s not NY bus driver proof just yet.   

Having said all this i’ve met some of the friendliest people on the bus.  There’s a grandma I often see who is just the sweetest lady.  She gives a running commentary when I feed Saskia, ‘my just look at the milk coming out of your titty’, ‘oh lord! I’d never let anyone feed from my titties!’, ‘look she’s going in for more!’ etc..  A little weird yes but there’s something nice about someone being so titillated by my feeding my baby ;)

Bring on week 10 NY!