The end of a tiring but fantastic adventure

We started our last morning by going for breakfast at an American diner on 34th street, 9th avenue for an all American breakfast - it was like stepping back in time to the 50's.

On the way to the diner and crossing the road a taxi starts driving over the walkway when it was a little white man for us - this American man then shouts

'Excuse me, this is a f***ing walkway'

'Idiot'

'Ladies' insinuating for us to cross the road

He then kicked the taxi - we were all in hysterics - definite highlight to the trip

After our diner experience with a huge meal which gave me an omelet but with potato gratin and toast - all i wanted was a cheese omelet no wonder the obesity rate is huge.

It was off to Radio City and Rockefeller observation deck. To pay $21 and go up 67 floors to the top to look over the whole of New York with a 360 panoramic view - from Central Part - Empire State - Brooklyn - defiantly worth the money the view was incredible.

When we came back down we treated ourselves to an infamous cup cake from Magnolia Bakery before continuing to walk around the city doing research going to shops, jewellery shops and time square one last time before getting a last cheeky cup of tea before heading back to the hotel for a coach back to the airport.

It was defiantly one fulfilled trip - long days and a lot of exercise - defiantly going back - I have no bad parts of New York the best had to be Mamma Mia and the Soho day.

I have to admit there are some parts of New York, is definitely a different world and life out there - you actively see how the rich live - it is aspiring - the clothes, the handbags, the jewelery and the general shops and service - defiantly not in England any more.

Why do good days have to end?

Defiantly the best day today - with the best entertainment, the best shops, the best food and the researched and coverage of New York done. We started the day in Canal Street - hello fakes. For you to understand what it is like you walk past Chinese people who say 'Louis, Louis' 'Chanel, Chanel' if you say yes they say 'follow' you then follow them around some back streets where a load of peoples cars are lined up, its in the car - they open the door and the person gets in with you and then whole back is filled with fakes a little light and a seat - you chose your item - barter - pay and then out!!! A little scary - but i got an amazing Louis Vuitton purse which i bartered down to $15 so i was happy :)

After are fakes and dodgeness ended we headed up to Soho - the complete opposite of Canal Street yet they are so close, Topshop and Vintage shops here we come. The Topshop was really similar to the one in England - it was strange thinking we were in New York, As you can expect the vintage shops held some incredible items including a tissue box made out of wood which looks like a pile of books. Inventive!!!

After a very busy morning and early afternoon of research it was sight seeing which needed to be done except on a sadder note it was down to the world trade center - very mundane and there was a weird ora of silence

To lighten our mood a little we walked to Staten Island - well to the edge of the coast to see the Statue of Liberty - it was beautiful as the sun was beginning to set over the water with the center in the background and the Statue of Liberty view - beautiful, what was even better was that it was a beautiful day of blue skies, sun but bitterly cold - perfect.

We then headed up the subway to Chelsea and the Meat Packing District where we had first cuppa of the day and a warm up session to recharge our batteries before heading to Carlos Miele, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, DVF and many more. To sum up these incredible shops the layout, set up, interiors - you can tell they are high market shops ; it definitely gave you a feeling of a different world. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Women when i walked into the shops- they stared and judged me :( a good example was when i walked into Versace a women before me walked in and the door was opened for her by the doorman - i walked up and i had to open the door myself - despicable :(

After a very long day - instead of a walk it was a taxi back to the hotel to get changed and get ready for out last night in New York in Little Italy for a pleasant last meal. It was a perfect end to a perfect day which was much fulfilled and that pasta dish i had was much appreciated by my tummy :)

"Being in 2 different places at once"

Early start again and a bit of a debate as to where to go - there is sooooo much to do with so little time. While we were deciding and before we left we decided to book tickets to see Mamma Mia at The Winter Theatre on BROADWAY - yes Broadway - how exciting!!!

We set off to the top of 5th Avenue - going back to my earlier blog of the snow in England and getting to the airport and the trouble it caused - on Thursday night we were expecting 3 inches of snow in New York by the time I woke up didn't see a trace of it at all - I only knew about this load of snow due to the huge amounts in Central part it was like being in 2 different places at once.

We decided to set off to the top of 5th avenue and the upper east/west side. Our day consisted of going to Bloomingdale's, Barneys, Urban Outfitters. DKNY etc. Continuing our research in the cold and the snow. Again talking notes and photos as we went.

After researching all morning we proceeded for lunch at a deli where we bought loads of cheap food from a massive buffet and ate so much I felt like I couldn't walk and the food babies where definitely Oct-tuplets.

After lunch when i finally could begin to move we walked past expensive hotels e.g. The Plaza - seeing how the other world live. What was even better was around this area and the opening to central park were horses with carriages - and yes as you have already guessed - we went on a horsey ride around Central Park in the snow - it was so romantic - it was a shame I was with 3 girls instead of some attractive man in a romantic movie. It was so magical with all the snow the horse and the blanket I can sum it up as quiet, tranquil and relaxing you wouldn't think you were in the middle of Manhattan at all.

Unfortunately it had to end and It was walking back to the hotel to get ready for the evening showing of Mamma Mia!!

INCREDIBLE!!!!!! - the dancing, the singing and the atmosphere I couldn't ask for more - I wonder how different it would be in England? The actors were incredible especially Donna - she was very talented and the man who played Sky - well the definite consensus was hot - especially walking round stage with no top on with an amazing body - added benefit :)

To add to this - have to confess to an embarrassing moment - consisting of me singing along as you do - expect I did not expect them to cut the music for a pause during the song - and who keeps singing - yes you have guessed it - yours truly - of course everyone found it hilarious - I was the same colour red as the velvet chairs we were sitting on - but I have to admit it was entertaining. The best part had to be the end when everyone got up and were all singing along and when the male characters came out with the incredible all in one catsuits and platforms - HYSTERICAL!!!!

Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton - "I think I have stepped into an alternate world"

An early morning start but after 11hrs sleep i was ready for the day to begin and the wondering around New York. A quick breakfast and then it was down to the Fashion Institute of Technology - FIT museum - I loved it - I want to go so badly!! We went to two exhibitions - 'American Beauty' and 'Day and Night' - taking notes and sketches of fantastic and talented designers whose clothes tell a story and give us an insight

into history. From Claire McCardell - Valentino - Jesse Franklin Turner, these amazing pieces of clothing were definitely something to look at and inspire to have.

Next was making New York our oyster (as they say) walking all over fifth avenue to Rockefeller - a diner for lunch and shops - taking sneak photos of outside window displays and credible VM whilst taking notes of important visuals and getting bags, look books and anything you could get your hands on from every shop I could.

It was amazing, the shops were all around the same area- Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ann Taylor, Anthropologies, Henri Bengal, Bergdorf Goodmans and many more. some of the expensive designer shops we went into were ridiculously snotty and some of the prices - wooooo - a flower broach from Bergdorf Goodmans was $2,767 and it wasn't even that nice.

After many hours of walking and researching we returned back to the hotel then it was off to the KNICKS basketball game and Madison Sqaure Gardens to feel like a true American experience - it was against the 'Charlotte Bobcats' it was ludicrous we won 97-94 extremely close an a very tense game indeed. The atmosphere was metal - I found it hilarious when a foul was given to the KNICKS which many did not agree to it resulted in the majority of the stadium shouting "B***s**t a brilliant end to a great day. And what a day it was - it even makes my head spin writing it I can only imagine what is is like reading it!

Feeling like i'm in Alice in Wonderland

After a long day of travelling getting to the airport on time was easy pesy and getting on a plane went well - apparently it was good i went down the night before as the roads were grid lock and the trains had been stopped.

Slight delays at Heathrow to de-ice the plane but it was only 1/2hr - mins late leaving - which is pretty good.

The journey to New York was ridiculously quick seeing as i am used to flying to Fiji and Asia. The Journey to the hotel was brilliant as it was just going dark so you were still able to see everything - Ella and I were geeky and sat at the front to get the best view looking out the huge window at the front. :)

After arriving at the hotel to freshen up- which was amazing - really really nice hotel and really central you couldn't ask for anything more, it was out on the town to the city of New York!!! Past the Empire State Building, Macy's, Victoria Secret, Time Square - I can go on and on.

It is amazing I felt like I was in Alice in Wonderland - everything is so big - it gave me neck ache having to look up all the time - i know i am only 5ft 4 so i tend to look up a lot but even more seeing as the buildings are huge. My eyes were dazzled with the lights, images and graphics - it was night yet it felt like day due to all the lights.

IT IS SO SURREAL!!!!Everything is bigger and better. It was blimin' cold my face felt like ice and felt like it was going to fall off. I think a full face mask may be in order tomorrow!!! After the long day was coming to the end starting in London and now finding myself in New York a nice cup of tea would be a taste of heaven - if only it could be that simple. A cup of tea with milk - i never thought could be so complicated!!! Firstly i have to ask for hot tea or else they will give you ice tea then milk, what do you mean milk?? Cream?? Fine if i have to have cream - so pour it in my hot tea to find that it is not cream but creama - as in sweet cream - disgusting :( who knew a cup of English tea would prove so difficult - sad times.

The Day of travel from hell

It's the first time i have written a blog so i apologise if it is not up to scratch. I don't know how to begin. I suppose i will begin at the beginning with my adventures of getting to the airport to go to New York.

It is amazing how much Britain shuts down when a bit of snow arrives in the country, the beginning of the day started easy and organised but by the end of the evening the plans had changed 2 times and what was originally easy was now complicated and tiring.

Tuesday morning the plans were for my brother to drive me down to Heathrow leaving a 6am on Wednesday to join everyone down at Heathrow at 9am - leaving plenty of time - but oh no the snow was getting worst sooo they had to be changed - living in the country proves to be a bit of a nightmare when bad whether hits as the towns/cities get sorted and roads cleared but the little country lanes get left behind :(

So a little bit of snow means the breaking down of plans, communications and also general road changes. People cannot drive either - the annoyance is people are way to cautious that they drive too slowly and if you are behind them you don't get enough Revs to drive - you are screwed when a hill comes along - ANNOYING!!!! what i do find amusing thought is that my parents have to use my ford KA and my brothers Peugeot 106 as there nice Lexis's can't drive in the snow - just proves you don't need an expensive car :)

As a result of the 'huge' (not really) snowfall by late afternoon it was arranged for my brother and myself to stay at my boyfriend's - Nick's house as he is in town and 5 minutes away from the motorway - just in case the roads by me weren't good in the morning - because all that was important was me getting to the airport.

What seemed like a good idea and was all arranged - soon was changed and turned into another disaster! On my dad' return from Southampton he dropped $300 off at Nick's for me, - which was we thought a good idea - as i would get them when i went over - however the snow started coming down heavy and dad had trouble getting back to our house - it is 20 minutes away but it took him 2 1/2 hrs. This was all happening while i was at home waiting for my mum to get back with my brothers car, so we could set off. on the return of the mother - there was a new fear that i won't be able to even get out of Nick's house due to the snow being so bad and us leaving so early in the morning.

Now 7.30pm change for the 3rd time!! with me going down to Heathrow tonight - as the roads will be worst then the trains - the theory. After checking the train times - and now very much regretting going out the night before I finally left the house at 9pm to head to Birmingham - an hour away to get the train down to London and stay in the Travelogue in Euston. We aimed for the 10.10pm but due to my luck being so good today we missed it by 5minutes which resulted in me having to wait another hour until the 11.10pm - NOT HAPPY!!! finally got to London and in bed by 2am - wooo wake up call at 7.30 - brilliant day all because of a few inches of snow :(.