Back from New York!

Well, last week was hectic - I worked flat out to rewrite the paper I thought I had done the week before - aiming for a higher rated Journal with encouragement from the director of the Center - I was a real engineer - long hours to a deadline- even pulled an all nighter to get it done before I headed off to New York.

Helped U of A at a Post graduate fair in Washington on Thursday afternoon - then on Friday headed to New York to help them again at the New York fair.

Little bit excited - beautiful weather - after arriving in the late afternoon I walked until my legs dropped off - our hotel was right in the middle of everything - ( dont ask the price! glad I wasnt paying) - close to Central park - horsedrawn carriages - it is a beautiful park - and quite huge....

do you recognise the bridge in the photo on left - I am sure it has been in countless movies.

Then walked down to Times Square - Friday afternoon, lots! of traffic, yellow taxis everywhere, bumper to bumper - and not as polite as Washington traffic.

Skyscrapers everywhere - although I had seen some in Chicago - the way they line up here - like canyons is quite amazing - get dizzy looking up.

Saturday morning - I sat on a double decker Hop On-Hop Off tourist bus and just rode around - worked like crazy at the fair in the afternoon, and had a meal at a lovely Greek restaurant with the U of A team. They wanted to go to bed early as jet lagged, so no Broadway show - next time!Then Sunday morning, I took a lovely little boat trip - 90 minutes of NY skyline and historical commentary - got to see the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and yes it was lovely!

Sunday afternoon, picked up by Jane D. who I had first met in 1991 in Melbourne and then again in 1992 when I visited Purdue. She is now based in Washington - we had a lovely afternoon driving around Manhattan island - getting a bit stuck in traffic - lunch over on the New Jersey side and then after a bit of a fright when we missed the correct off ramp - did arrive in time for my flight.

Safely back in my little apartment - and now working like crazy again to get a presentation ready for the seminar I am giving at Virginia Tech on Friday and getting started on the next paper.

I miss home, but getting to talk to Peter on Skype every couple of days, and occasionally ring other people up - I love technology!!

Love to all