Richard Lane

Having difficulty making American friends understand the true value of the dark brown savoury paste that goes on my toast every morning. At $8 a small bottle in the few outlets here that stock it, it’s a bit of a luxury, but a reminder of home comfortts. also listening to The Archers online before going to bed keeps me in touch with life back over the pond.

some fairly appalling non-service issues from the free world to report – mostly concerning lack of help at airports, and a strange focus on the wheelchair to transport blind passengers…faith thinks a law suit or two may be pending, am not so sure…

Halfway through morning session of science blogging conference…so when in blogville…write a blog.

and many North carolina observations to follow soon…grits…ham biscuits…other strange items.

Fabulous article about Peter O’Toolle in today’s Observer – why did I think he was dead?!

Goldie girl is eleven years old today, can hardly believe it. She seems to get younger, not older. Have spent a lot of the past week in her bed, it’s comfier than the duvet I sleep on at her house. We’ve been for some wicked walks recently, got really muddy and wet which always pleases me. The muddier I am, the happier I am. and tonight we went to the pub, met a nice man who was very interested in both of us, a dog trainer I think.

Think my Dad is still away for a week or so…occasionally think about what he is up to, though of course the longer he is away, the longer I get to sleep in goldie’s bed.

Goldie’s mum bought us marrow bones as a birthday treat for Goldie – with marrow removed, just as well, as it gives us funny tummies. the bones are great, though.

so happy birtday golden girl, with lots of love and licks from your special man…xxx

Prospect Park audio check out the audio…

Have been over the pond a week now, time for some reflections. first, global warming. It’s here alright. Packed for snowdrifts and icy conditions; its positively balmy out there – 20 degrees C in NYC tomorrow according to latest forecast.

Boston – fourth time there, always a pleasure. Took me the four days I was there to work out the twists and turns in Jeff and beth’s apartment. Great pad though, plenty of space and took advantage of on-demand TV – Hitchcock film of course, this time the 1946 classic ‘Notorious’ with Ingrid Bergman at her complex best, also cary G and one of my favourites, old claude Reins getting himself well and truly stitched up. Some snow while I was there – mainly en route to the not so accessible Institute of contemporary Arts – well at least there was an audio guide, not that I could really understand much of it. Quiet new year with friends of J and B’s, time for reflection and looking ahead, it’s been a strange year.

Just time to see Nigel and his brother and brother’s partner for brunch before the New York flight. Nigel is a great chum and so laid-back and accomodating. Wolfed down cornbeef hash and beans before boarding the tiny plane for NYC. Just time to dump the case before faith whisked me off to the Met. – first performance of a new chinese opera – the First Emperor – mercifully sung in English. 3 and a half hours later we went backstage to congratulate Faith’s schoolhood friend Elizabeth who took the female lead – only to bump into the male lead, someone called Placido domingo…charming man, we joked about the complexity of the First Emperor – Marriage of Figaro next time i think…

Back into work regime, quiet office in Manhattan or wireless networking in faith’s apartment or the T Lounge in Brooklyn. Work is banned this weekend so will focus on the pleasure side of New York City. The prospect of Prospect Park (Brooklyn’s green space) in the balmy weather, casual dinner party tonight chez McLellan; tomorrow some gentle shopping in Barney’s, and late afternoon classical music (details to follow) on a barge underneath brooklyn bridge.

Blind people and the New York subway – hmmm. Nothing like the service back in London, where staff are trained to assist blind people (VIPs), and plonk them on and meet them off underground trains. Hardly any staff in the New York system, survival of the fittest…

And either I’m expanding widthways (quite possible), or the supermarket aisles here are tiny, counter-intuitive given the produce available and the average size of the consumer purchasing it.