Jamaica + Fire Island

Although the blog posts largely focus on NYfuntime, we are both actually working incredibly hard and were in huge need of some city escape downtime.

We headed off to Jamaica late July to Jakes Resort which I heavily recommend to anyone planning a trip to Jamaica. Thank you very much Zoe for a brilliant suggestion. Most relaxed we've been in a long time.

The hotel's in one of the quietest places in Jamaica - Treasure Beach. There are maybe 20 rooms or little cottages which are all individually designed and look over the sea or are kind of in the sea. We woke up every day to the waves.


We bought Ruby a straw hat but with Al's penchant for hats she didn't get much of a look in

This was the extension of the little terrace outside of our room. Amazing!

One day we took a trip to The Pelican bar. Really just a way to get tourists to spend more money on the boat trip, the lunch etc, but so inventive and beautiful you don't mind. It was in the middle of the sea, about 20 min boat trip, and the guys in the bar catch and cook you a very fresh fish lunch while you go for a swim.

So all in all we had lots of laughs, and were in heaven.

Celeste - Ruby wore the dress you bought for her lots - it's gorgeous, thank you!

This was the little restaurant next to the hotel. Al literally bought the T-shirt.

He was very happy.

There was a beautiful salt water pool just in front of the hotel restaurant which all overlooked the sea. Ruby having a quick post-dinner skinny dip.

Another photo from our room to our balcony and the sea.

After ten days we came back from Jamaica to wash our clothes and went straight to meet Pamela and Armand who rented a house in Fire Island for the week with friends. Fire Island is basically a huge sand dune only a couple of hours from nyc so there was a few more days of fun in the sand and sea before going back to work.

A truly great two weeks off.

Happy Birthday Sophy

Sorry to not be there in person Sophy. Happy happy 30th my love, have a fab time in Paris with the fam and Adam.

Ruby has a little message for you. xx

A garden in New York is special

In the heat of NY summer when it's over 100 and really sticky, we're grateful for the garden which seems to be quite a big deal in NY. The general reaction seems to be 'wow you have a yard?'. Unfortunately we don't have much space aside from our yard to actually live in. Nonetheless a place to jump into the paddling pool & sunbathe when Ruby's asleep is very much appreciated. And Al's putting on the barbie almost every night, also appreciated.

More to come on the new table and (thick, comfortable, not just those piddly thin crappy) cushions. All finely picked out from a selection of Craigs List / k-mart / ebay. Baited breath. I know..

But what I'm loving is the plants. Today our big hibiscus produced it's very first flower. A stunning red specimen. I've been waiting, not very patiently, for it to flower for over a month. And today was the day.

Here's a little teaser of what our very own English garden has to offer.

Another fun night with Pamela & Armand and Lila the Styler

At the Boat Basin. On 79th street - it overlooks the water. After dinner we walked back home along the west side highway bike/pedestrian path which is v beautiful. Ruby pushed her mini buggy (thank you Benjy for that buggy, cant leave the house without pink buggy and baby)

Ruby had fun. Lila thought it was hilarious. Armand and I just followed suit.

The neighbours

Are fabulous. Ruby spotted a floating Dora balloon next door and the music was pumping loud. So I put her on my shoulders to help her peep over the fence and start jiving.

The next thing I know we're invited next door to join what turned out to be a very hedonistic adult orientated 3 year old's birthday party. Sound systems, DJs, karaoke, marguerita bar and alot of parents and kids up for a party.

After my 3rd glass of pre-5pm wine Al had to drag me home. I did cook them a burnt-ish version of my apple cake last night to thank them for welcoming us - we had a great time. Very very cool neighbours to have.

And I think Ruby looks particularly cute in this one.

53 West 94th Street

We finally arrived at 94th street - our new apartment which we've signed on for 1 (or 2?) years. It's been a journey.

After just over 3 months in the midst of Time Square chaos we are very happy to escape to the green pastures of the UWS - and LUCKILY Al arrived with his visa the night before the move!

But since we didn't know until the day whether or not he was going to make it, Gillian & Tom had booked to come over and help Ruby and I move. So reinforcements arrived about an hour before Al did.

In any case it was a huge help having them here and we are incredibly grateful for the helping hands.

Here we are packing up at 1600 Broadway.

There were a few teething problems with the new apartment....after a hard days work for all four of us one of the many problems was that the toilet flooded. Having witnessed Gillian and Tom sweating and toiling away in the garden in the blazen sunshine for 4 hours and after shifting many many boxes - I felt bad that they would wake up in the night to find the guest services a little lacking.

They were unbelievably helpful despite all adversity - babysitting whilst Al and I did a Saturday night classic at Ikea and building much of the furniture also. Still, we found time for some walks around the new area.

But it's amazing to have Al home and be in the new flat, which we're still getting sorted.

But we're getting there

I went to Mexico with work for the weekend last weekend and Al had a football day with Ruby. Who's fast becoming the Gunners dream that Al's been training her for.

Ruby and Al hanging out with Lora and Thalia.

Been a while

It's been ages - so what have we been up to since Mohonk. Well there was Ruby's birthday on 8th April which was great. Al and I took the day off work, took her to Chelsea market and let her dive into a huge Elmo cupcake.

As we came towards the end of the green card process we went on a quick trip back to London to do the final stages - medical and interview at the embassy. It was great to spend some time with family and the friends we were able to catch up with. Ruby and I headed back to NYC last Sunday but Al is sadly stuck in London as the American embassy wait to receive the all clear from the dutch government that he didn't commit any crimes between the ages of 16 and 18. Ridiculous.

So Ruby and I have been living it up without daddy! well not quite - missing him ALOT but today (Saturday) was actually a really fun girls day out. We went to the butterfly exhibition at the museum of natural history and once Ruby got over the fear factor of being surrounded by them I think she enjoyed it. Probably not as much as me. We also checked out our new neighbourhood in the upper west side and peeked in on our flat, scoped out the nearest duane reade, nail bar, breakfast stop and entrance to central park. I'm very excited. I then took the strange decision to walk home with Ruby from 94th st back to Time Square. No flip flops are comfortable enough to take you 45 blocks. We stopped for a bite along the way then played on the terrace this afternoon where we met a little friend for Ruby.

I've also just arranged to go to see Jeff Daniels at City Winery on Monday night with a friend. He is apparently an avid blues writer. Interesting...

Anyway, Al I do really really miss you. Ruby and I can't wait to have you home.