Mothers,daughters and friends and much laughter at the Gramercy park hotel.

There’s not many cities in the USA that on a Monday night the restaurants are packed, the food delicious and you can have a political debate with a total stranger while waiting for your table….and what a shock it was to the man from Malibu that we were all such well informed, opinionated Ladies on the subject.
But  let me go back …Our pre dinner adventures started with a visit to the retailing Landmark and Mother of all stores ..Bloomingdales…there is no finer Bloomies than the flagship store in New York city.I would however recommend very strong coffee or a stiff drink before you enter this oasis of retail seduction …It’s really more like a combat zone as you dodge the military sales people…they virtually accost you from every vantage point and then dazzle you with products you never realized you needed.
As Ursula was being charmed into buying yet another serum than promised to keep her skin-tight ,plumped and glowing I noticed Bumble & Bumble’s hair design studio.What a much needed treat ,within minutes our clean shining locks were being transformed ready to dazzle. I was adorned with a tousled Kate Hudson Californian look and Ursula had a sleek Diane Sawyer Do.Enjoying the pampering I suggested to Ursula that we might as well take advantage of the Clarin’s staff make-up skills. Why, because let’s face it, through our purchases we’d already ensured they’d made their commission for the day.
Quick change into evening attire, a little black dress for me..arguably the most popular color in New York!! And a grey and white dress for Ursula ..and of course the ultimate finishing touch to any dress …HIGH HEELS …great for the legs ,painful on the feet.
Down town to Gramercy park..have it known that the skill of  hailing a cab, whilst tottering on the cub in your high heels is not only an art-form but also one of life’s necessities when in New York. A skill, thankfully both of us have after living in the city.
Malino…as recommended by my dear friend Paula from Tahoe, is one of the happening restaurants in New York and I’m here to report, it’s worth it! Superb Italian dishes ,best suckling pig with crackling EVER and fish?!! The Europeans have a varied palate and I should note that my friend’s and I enjoyed this feast as American’s of European heritage. Ursula from Germany and Paula from Greece,now there’s joke right there,but on a more serious note it exemplifies the melting pot we live in.
Back to the food, let’s be serious [only a little]who’d of thought of having a pig and fish with mushrooms in one meal ? All recommended by our knowledgeable waitress, whose description’s of food and wines to pair it with, took us on a journey through Italy that every full-blooded American should enjoy.
My other recommendation would be the signature Martini a ‘Postitano” a crisp,refreshing little cocktail that will make your taste buds sizzle..it even had Prosecco in it…which gave it the sparkle….as well as me quite frankly .
Ursula’s college aged daughter arrived with her 3 friends to take us into the late nightlife of New York .With huge hugs and then lively conversation we leave our lovely restaurant. We are 7 ladies of varying ages,but conveniently and owning the New York swagger the hotel’s limo kindly chauffeurs us to the very trendy Gainsvort.I can remember when it was the meat-packing district and I suppose it still is in the evening for some ,if you get my drift.
A door man otherwise known as a bouncer ,looks us up and down and decides we are worthy candidates for entrance to the roof top bar…(thank god we had our hair done and were standing 5 inches taller than normal).We didn’t even have to show our Id’s.I think I might have to get a fake under age one, can you imagine the look on the doorman’s face?
It’s now midnight ,as we are guided to the one and only vacant seating area outside on the veranda which wraps around this happening place.Our mouth’s drop open as we witness the splendor of the city sky line at night ,but ,only for a moment as we launch into a mix of deep discussions about the meaning of life with a fast forward to the sound of belly jamming laughter about ….who knows what? And what happens in New York stays in New York, sorry Vegas .
A perfect day and night with friends and laughter in this sultry summer city teaming with life. …
I LOVE NEW YORK ….DIANE xox

It’s friday July 8th and even though another 4 hours of beauty sleep would of been highly beneficial for my glowing complexion,traveling from my minisquel local airport has it’s advantages….
Starting with an 18 minute drive to the airport, 4 minute bag drop off, 5 minute friendly security screening and it’s so early your plane got there the night before!
Another advantage of catching the 5:40am flight is how mellow everyone is, except “Shaggy kid” seated behind me with her roaring lion…however judging by the escatic squeals of delight as we take off, I think “Shaggy” has enough lung capacity to fill the plane and certainly more vocal power than any lion on the Serengeti.
All is forgiven though as she’s very cute, styling her “Tom’s” shoe’s and let’s face it I have affinity for traveling tots…plus being a mother I understand the relief a parent feels when a fellow passenger smiles and says “hi” to a child in an animated voice. rather than scowls…or when another adult is willing to dive across the isle to catch fluffy the lion before it takes out the flight attendant, as it’s hurled across the plane.
20 later minutes and our Brasilia 120 has landed in San Francisco.
Alas,the departure monitor displays bad news…air traffic control has delayed our flight to New york/New jersey..NEVER TRAVEL ON A FRIDAY!

I had two nick names as a kid …”fidget and Do Do”…why…fidget, because I couldn’t keep still and Do Do because I walked around reciting “me do …do…I want to do that!” My desire for Independence, knowledge and adventure was truly demonstrated though by the fact I was a notorious explorer as a toddler…much to my families’ despair.
My parent’s told stories of how they rallied weekly search parties to scour the streets of  London, hunting for me.I would venture out through the backyard garage [otherwise known as a garden in my motherland] with my companion, Danny the Dog. Luckily I was always smart enough at age 4 to take the dog with me ….or on hindsight being child’s best friend the dog was smart enough to follow me…and in turn my parent’s were smart enough to put a name/address tag on my dog’s collar.Why they didn’t put one on me makes me wonder,but those were the days when parents didn’t hover over their children and let’s face it ,I’m English …so the dog was far more important!!
The truth is I loved being out in the big World,I didn’t want to be confined to my Garden with flower beds of prickly roses and a stone gnome and I certainly didn’t want to wear those leather reins that they’d strap around my chest…I wasn’t a horse for gods sake ,another favorite animal of the Brit’s.I’d even seen the movie “Yellow Submarine” by age 4 so I knew there was more out there and some pretty colorful outfits and songs for me to sing too!!
I liked the freedom of exploring,meeting new people who always seemed to be very friendly and helpful to a 4-year-old who could only speak double dutch and her trusty dog…a giant king Charles spaniel,well I thought Danny was huge,only being a 36 inch high kid..
I never had to find my way home … somehow between my dog,the big chatty people or those lovely men called Bobbie dressed in blue wearing Noddy [pointy]hats,I’d make it home ,much to my parents chagrin .
My mother always swore [embarrassing woman ]that I have a very protective group of guardian angels looking after me .I have to say, thankfully she was right ..because I can assure you, without them I wouldn’t be here today…and I ‘m happy to report that they are still standing right beside me laughing and protecting me as I continue on my life’s journey, to venture out into this amazing planet we live on called Earth.
until my next flight folks
love and laughter with a heart full of adventure Diane