Ok, I'm stealing the very clever title for the gatherings held by the English Society at Queen's - but I'm stealing it because it so aptly describes a recent night. This week I went to a poetry reading. I've been to prose readings before, but up until a few months ago you'd have been as likely … Continue reading Poetry and Pints
Category: Writing
A new beginning
As the excellent political analyst Alan In Belfast asks, http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.co.uk/ - does the world really need another blog? The answer to that is that it most definitely does need one like his, but it probably doesn't need one like this quite so much! However, that's not going to stop me I'm afraid! Having spent the last twenty years … Continue reading A new beginning
Goodbye or is it see you later
Well, here we are in that horrible limbo of leaving, but not quite. It's around 96 degrees today, so really too hot to do anything, but pack (which we've done) and wait (which we are doing) and try not to sweat too much. I spent all of yesterday wracked with worry that I haven't done … Continue reading Goodbye or is it see you later
The writing on the signs
They do love their signs in New York. Many are telling you what, or more likely, what NOT to do; some are informing you of quite unenforceable laws; and many are issuing warnings - warning of an entirely obvious nature in some cases. There was a great one on the boardwalk at Coney Island which … Continue reading The writing on the signs
On the tourist trail
I hate being a tourist when I'm 'abroad' so I was delighted to come to New York to work, rather than just visit. But since I finished the job Mutley and I have had the most amazing time just drifting around, pleasing ourselves and looking at things! I know I'm on holiday because haven't looked … Continue reading On the tourist trail
Black power
Living in Harlem is a very different experience to living on the Upper East Side. While that may seem like a statement of the obvious, it's a reminder of the ways neighbourhoods can change so quickly on this tiny island. Of course, coming from Belfast, that's also no surprise to me - but in Northern … Continue reading Black power
All change
And speaking of trains, this weekend it's been all change as far as my life here is concerned. Mutley is finally here! And it's changed everything - for the better, I hasten to add! I had reached the point where I had had enough of all of it - the job, the weather, the city, the … Continue reading All change
Subway stories
Since I moved from the bus to the subway I've missed watching the street go by, but there is a whole new show to watch. As the subway trains are so broad - no banging your head on the curved roof by the door like the tubes - there's nearly always room enough to watch what's … Continue reading Subway stories
End of an era
This week New York has bid farewell to two icons. Along with the rest of America, and probably the world, the city has seen the last Oprah Winfrey show. On Wednesday, the last of her daytime chatshows, one of the most watched tv programmes in America, was broadcast. There have been round 4,560 episodes of the programme, … Continue reading End of an era
Weekday wanderings
The weather has finally cheered up. But in a twist that I didn't expect here, it's gone from cold and windy, to scorching! I spent the day in work looking out at blue skies above the skyscrapers, actually chilly in the air-conditioning, and then popping out in the heat to get iced-coffee and lunch. So … Continue reading Weekday wanderings