Between 1993 and 2000 our family holidayed in Florida seven times. And went to New York twice.

These are my day to day notes.

 

Florida 98.

 

First week or so lost on computer. Damn it! So here's the last two weeks.

Sunday. Drink at Don CeSar in thunderstorm.

Monday. It's Clinton's big day. Did he or didn't he? Out to Tampa to Westshore Mall. Girls got stuff at Gap. Lunch at airport at TGI Friday's. Corrina Corrina on TV - good but glum.

Tuesday. Clinton owns up. Will he be impeached? Swam, then beach. Then Bennigan's and bowling. Children and Sue ratty with each other. They need more to do I suspect... Disney???

Out to meet Norman on my own at Keegan's in Indian Rocks. It's a bar with seafood. Excellent Shrimp linguine. We talk of the old days and radio and America. Drove home in lightening storm as the sky looked as if it were being switched on and off.

Wednesday. Lois phoned. We will go for drinks then out to dinner on Saturday. Swam twice drove to find a Mustang parts dealer and bought an army surplus coat. Lunch at 4th Street. Ybor Gold beer. Went to Russ's old Marina and booked a catamaran for Friday. Lets hope cyclone 2 doesn't arrive then.

Thursday. We pottered around and went shopping at Publix for stuff to eat on the boat. Lunch at home then out to see The Avengers which was rubbish. Badly cast with poor direction and poor plot. Almost ashamed to be British.

Friday. Sailed all day with Captain Gale. Charming helpful man who taught us lots and all the children drove the boat. Great fun. Avoided thunderstorms and crisscrossed Tampa Bay all day. We will go again. Swim, then a pizza or two.

Saturday. Beach then snoozed. Out to Lois and Metz's. Their house as beautiful as ever. Lois working from home, had lost weight and seemed deeply concerned. She has lost her only sister to cancer this year and perhaps that it is coming her way too as all her family died young. Metz busy at construction work on houses seems very happy. They took us out to Gulfport for a fishy meal on a veranda It was like being in the Walton's or It's a Wonderful Life. Marvelous. Drank Blackened Voodoo beer. Took snaps. a warm friendly evening.

Sunday. Woke late and sw am... to pictures with Katy? Drink with Norman? I arranged to invite Lois and Metz out again to meet Norman possibly at Kelly's in Dunedin later in the week..

Saw Private Ryan with Katy. It's OK. tough stuff but no real surprises. On Return heard Chris P had called he's driving up from Miami.

Monday. Swam, shopped Chris arrived. Swam some more, drink at the Don and ate steaks at Silas Dent's. Chris slept on sofa.

Tuesday. Swam again, drink with Chris at Holiday Inn and introduced him to Isla Del Sol. He may come here in the future. Lunch then Chris off to Miami again. Shopped at Tyrone Square for jeans and shoes.

Wednesday. Off to Disney Magic Kingdom. As usual Fat Persons everywhere. Useless food. But bearable, stayed for the fireworks. Very pretty. Large tide of people leaving but quick and efficient via monorail and road train back to the car. Hour and a half drive back, stopped at Haines city for a Burger King. Very good.

Thursday. Four days left up early, swam, drove to Sunstate Mustang for parts, charming ladies Max and Chris who is a Moseley by marriage. More coincidences. 4th Street Shrimp for lunch. Katy had nails done, we went round the Vinoy which is swanky and perhaps posher than the Don. No beach however. Large speedboats gathering for the offshore race this weekend. Sue and I out to pictures at last to see Snake Eyes with Nicholas Cage. Good, but weakened at the end.

Friday. Bought wind chimes -our fifth set and Sue a bracelet which I'll give her at the dinner on Saturday with Lois and Metz and Norman at Kelly's. Out to the beach. Amy very brown. And out to Biff Burger for a jolly evening. Great burgers and fun.

Saturday. Breakfast and pool.. Tonight is the farewell dinner to Lois and Metz and Norman and Maria as it turned out. A jolly evening at $450. Sue drove home as the children all snored.

Sunday. Our last day here. I swam at nine. 32 lengths. Pasty English people in the pool.

Lunch at Anna Maria, called Lois and Metz about the fudge. Went round and collected three kinds, a couple of beers and a chat. They seem down, the heat, age, moving to Maine? who can say. Pizza at home. Sue packed.

Monday. Swam at eight , breakfast, dropped off keys and drove to Westshore Plaza. bought Sue a coat and Katy bethought expensive leather coat. Handed back car, checked in and here I am typing at Hot Dog City drinking a Bud. I'm going to miss the warmth more than anything... and the light and the space. but the warmth of the sun ... and the warmth of the people. Spoke to Norman before we left. He's missing us already and said so on the radio. Well see him in London next week.

Flew easily up to Washington. There were a few storms around but according to the channel 9 info we flew around them. Had a huge Whopper at Washington and waited two hours for the connection. Leaving Florida is like leaving Paradise, already here it feels more urban less friendly more un-holiday like.

 

Que pasa New York 99

 

Friday 27th August. Swam in Pool at Isla Del Sol. Checked out drove to Tampa. Flight rather full. We flew into La Guardia having seen Coney Island and The Chrysler Building from the air. Our limo met us at the airport and wafted us through Astoria in Queens - rather dull area.

Over Queensborough Bridge. Very old and creaky and heavy traffic. New York seems smaller and dustier. The hotel is grand but the rooms are small. Out to Radio City which is closed for refurbishment and a drink in the arena in front of the Rockefeller centre. Visited Saks which is akin to Selfridges and walked down to Empire State. Up and enjoyed views. Taxi to 20 Mott Street in Chinatown for tasty meal. Then taxi back to hotel. Two cabs all the time .Tomorrow may be the Circle Line. Peggy has put the wrong number in the safe so we can't get anything out.

Saturday 28th August. Day 2 in New York. Walked down 45th Street to the Comfort Diner for breakfast then into the lobby of the Chrysler and then Grand Central. It is truly wonderful. The Chrysler is Art Deco central.

Cabs over to the Circle Line. The sight of the Statue of liberty is moving. The hope of generations personified. I almost wept. Wonderful views of lower Manhattan and up the East River under the bridges. Marvelous cool floating sensation standing on the front of the boat as it sailed north then west and into the Hudson. The palisades across the river look wonderful as if all America lies beyond.

Cabs to FAO Schwartz. Nightmare really but waited until they'd bought their fill of teddies and toys. Wandered across the street into the Plaza. Looked round at the Oak Room bar for Mr. Kaplan.

Cabs south to Greenwich Village and Johnny's Pizza on Bleeker Street. Great Jukebox. Played Sinatra's Summer Wind. Strolled across to Washington Square and lost the children for a while in the throng watching two black tumblers. Cabs back. Snoozed then into bar for a drink. Took Katy for a walk round Times Square. Impressive. Much more exciting than Leicester Square. Tired and bed. Central park tomorrow

Sunday 29th August. Up later. These beds are still too small. Discovered Cirrus will let me access money from the NatWest so to celebrate off we went to the Empire Diner for one heck of a breakfast. Then cabs to the Guggenheim. Great design. Tannhauser Collection of Monets and one Van Gogh and Cezannes and a great Picasso of people dancing were the best. Oh yes and Magritte's Pipe and Day for night thingie. Walked through the park past the "Is It Safe" running track round the reservoir and the pumping station to The Dakota. The Dream is over.

Another photo at The Spot. Walked through Strawberry Field across the park to the boating lake where we rented two yachts. Marvelous. Cabs back to the Roosevelt. Talk of Little Italy.

Disaster. Lost all of my notes for Florida in some cut and paste foul up. No great revelations in Florida. Much was as ever. Two trips to Adventure Island. Three weeks of loafing at the pool and occasional outings to the beach. Saw Pittaways, Pam and Tony and Mike Brugman and Norman and Maria and Lois and Metz in their new smaller house. Lois had been given a Jaguar by Metz for a gift. What it is to be retired and rich.

Back in New York. Out for dinner in Little Italy to Luna. Food OK. Nice to sit in Mulberry Street closed for traffic - like being in the Godfather. Cabs to see Times Square again. Lights and crowds. Some of the Nation of Islam. As we walked by, they said. "Some people aren't hearing this. Read them that piece again". Back to hotel.

Monday 30th August. Our last day here. Bills under the door at dawn.

Breakfast in rooms. Lounged around. I felt.... well... unwell... was it something I ate? Checked out of rooms at 12.30 and waited for Katy to return from Niketown. Had coffee in lounge. Wandered out to Grand Central and took suave lunch in the Oyster Bar. Fabulous ceiling. Kept menu. Wandered back to Roosevelt and chatted to porters. They like us. Very keen on Katy's new shoes. Limo arrived. Even more stretched.

Out to Nathan's on Coney Island for a hot dog for Amy. Great image as we arrived, leapt out and bought. Consumed dogs in car. Then on to JFK. $120 not bad really for the sheer swank of it. Into lounge for a while then onto plane. Bumpy crossing thanks to Hurricane Dennis. Then home to Hackney via train and cab. Jet lagged and tired.

Tuesday morning. Floppy all day. What a trip. The Statue of Liberty made it for me. A beacon of freedom.

 

Florida Two Thousand.

Up up and away. Again. Yes it's us again on the flight to Florida. August 2000. Actually we're on the Washington leg with three hours left to run. My favourite observation so far is the small Mexican hostess who passes down the aisles walking backwards offering various wares. Tea tea tea she yells, loudly enough to be heard over people's headset. "Water water water." But the gem was "trash trash trash" looking pointedly at each member of the coach. She obviously wouldn't say that in Business class.

It's so much easier with the children a little older. They are getting bored but at least they are containing it. I've put my watch back five hours so that I can acclimatize to America. Look there's even a zee in that last sentence. I've been awake for eleven hours and its only lunchtime. Ho. More later. To say nothing of the impending Dollar rental experience

Well well it's that Washington experience all over again. Progressed thru customs even after an ill judged choice of line behind five trendy Italians who seemed to incur the displeasure of the immigration official for all approaching his desk simultaneously. I was somewhat surprised by the official's requirement for me to place my passport on his desk rather than passing it to him. Fear of germs perhaps?

However this was as nought compared to the ensuing farrago at gate C28. There was and still is a delay as the pilots for our flight ground are still on the ground in Detroit and Chicago. And their planes are delayed by rain. Will we get to Tampa tonight, tomorrow this week or whenever. We are all getting tired. There are free meal vouchers. And possibly talk of accommodation. However we await news of the flight from Detroit

Heavens. It was a five hour delay. The crew turned up to cheers and got us onto the tarmac pronto. However ground control kept us on the ground under control for some time then up into the friendly skies of United and pelted down to Tampa. Children all asleep on our knees. I had ten minutes I think of shuteye. And then into lovely old friendly Tampa airport. Deserted but for our flight. Dollar were there. The car is a normal length Caravan which we can swap later. A Clinton Brooks had the keys waiting otherwise we'd have gone to the Don and sent them the bill. And so made up A&F's bed had a jam sandwich and went to a very comfy bed.

Friday 4th August. I see it is the queen mother's birthday. Well we're off to the diner and Publix. So there. Ma'am.

Yum yum at the Pelican diner then into Publix for shopping. $260 worth this year. Is it the same as in England asked the checkout guy? "You're catching up" I said. Spot of migraine for me I suspect as a result of tiredness and a dazzling array of food packaging and sodium light in Publix. Lunch of chicken at home and a lazy afternoon in the pool. Slightly pink already. Out to Biffburger. Wonderful Cadillac 1953 convertible. Great double cheese and bacon burger. Football live on tv Bucs versus Washington Redskins. Aha. I hope we won. Bed at ten. Snore.

Saturday and a hot game of tennis at 8.30 . Must start earlier. Shopping at Tyrone Sq. Lunch at Crabby Bill's at Indian rocks. Back to Crossroads to see X-Men. OK. Back for a swim. Heavens time is slipping away so fast so soon. Americans it seems have less of a sense of service as if it were a prescribed set of instructions that box them in. When I went into A Clinton Brooks for instance I said I wanted to pay someone for providing the items in the fridge on our arrival. There wasn't a note of thanks, however the reply was I should come back on Monday when Sherri "could do that service for me". What has happened to common exchanges of decency between people?

Sunday and south to Anna Maria. Down to the Ellenton Mall and just did Nike and swim wear. Horror of horrors the restaurant on the pier at Anna Maria has been closed down. It is all boarded up. We found a pretty good other restaurant called Rotten Ralph's at a boatyard along the front, away from the way we usually go. They said the pilings were too loose under the pier and it was closed down by order. They will repair it and someone else will take on the franchise. We walked out there and felt very frustrated. Another year.

Monday. More tennis. It's been every day so far with lessening enthusiasm from the children. Out of the pool this morning as a child had done a poo in it. The finger of suspicion pointed at a Spanish speaking family who were not supervising their brats.

I was the one who actually found the offending item. Back to sanitary conditions in one hour. Chicken lunch a snatch of Father of the Bride on TV then swam and floated for an hour. Out to Indian Rocks and Keegan's we hope.

Tuesday. Notes continue to Katy also.

Hot hot hot as a hard-boiled egg here.

Back from the beach red as lobsters. Still unable to contact yer Ma. Her house phone just rings and rings. Maybe they're out a whoopin' an' a hollerin' someplace...

Up to Keegan's last night. Good food. The waitresses were looking a bit threadbare though I thought. The ghost of NB hovers over the place. I asked for advice on which Chardonnay was superior the Wild Horse or the Silver Spring. I was offered a glass of each to try. One was more like turps than the other. So we had the Wild Horse.

There is a lack of civility here. When I asked if I could rent a bike at the beach cafe - there were three on a rack - I was told No. It was nothing to do with them. Some hare-brained scheme of the former owners. Seemed like a good idea to me, considering the former owners, so I borrowed one for nothing and cycled off down to Island's End and back. Ho ho.

Well too much sun. Burned backs for me and Amy. Early night covered in Aloe Vera. Also the insects which mysteriously keep biting us are No See Ums. 'Cos you can't. Oh yeah a gout in the big toe. Time for some drugs.

Wednesday. Tennis again. Staying out of the sun. Sue down to the pool with Jen and Fi. Peg and Amy and I wait it out, out of the heat.

Possibly off to Tampa to change the car later.

Thursday. A week in. Yes.... well....

Out to see Lois and Metz last night. They made us a sumptuous feast of chicken and potato salad and squash and carrots and key lime pie. Yum. If slightly too much. This is a big country and a man has to eat a big meal. Several times a day, as we had been to Ybor City for lunch. They are moving soon to a cabin with a lake in Carolina.

Katy, the thrill of the mall is diminished without you. We were able to stroll past Bebe in West Shore Plaza without a qualm. A man in Saks tried to force me into a jacket that was huge. I said I either lose weight or don't buy. He skulked off. I bought some strange underpants in Gap. American underwear is different to English. There is a lot of fiddling about required.

More tennis. At the pool the talk is of cancelled United Airlines flights. We are AA to NYC. Then United home. Or not...

Is your Mum home yet. Sorry not to see her. Her number rang and rang. I thought pestering her on a mobile while on holiday was a bit off.

Friday took us to Adventure Island. I found it boring. The thrill is gone. Even the new Wahoo Run a dizzying climb up a wooden tower followed by a lengthy wait then a plunge down a purple hole on a raft for four twirling round in the dark and out into a pool in what seemed like ten seconds. Out to Biffburger. Great cars,. I won the prize for guessing all the artist had initials in their names.

Saturday and out to the Army surplus place and then to see Nutty Professor. Certainly the crudest film I have even seen. Dinner at home. Tennis and a swim.

Sunday. More tennis. Lunch at the 4th St Shrimp. Then a tour of the St Pete area. Up to Venetian Isles. Very swanky each house has a drive in front and a boat dock in back. Stylish and exclusive. Very nice area. Toured old St Pete. Found the Sunset Grille which looked to be full of truckers and the Chattaway which has a good open location. Good for burgers. Interior is an awful English tea room. Owned by an English actress it was. Dreadful. But good for food I expect.

More tennis and swim and dinner at home. Half time here.

Monday Brutal tennis at 9. 7 - 5, the final score. Off to Ellenton for some shopping at DK, Gap and Nike. Exhausting . Drove round Bradenton which seems tawdry compared to St Pete and into yes Leverock's. Bloated. Home swam and flopped. This is all getting too much. We plan a lazy day at the pool tomorrow.

Tuesday. Rain rain rain rain. So bowling, Bennigans, Tennis and swim. We plan to go to Universal Studios tomorrow.

Travelling East on I-4 (from the Tampa area): Exit I-4 at Exit #30A (Universal Blvd.) Take a left onto Universal Blvd. and follow the signs to Universal.

It's an hour 40 to Disney then another twenty minutes on to Universal. Stack parking which was quite convenient then a walk round past City Walk which is out of park restaurants and shops to the Universal Producers studio where you pay £200. Then into the park. Its very well constructed with facsimiles of New York and LA etc. We went on Twister, Jaws, MIB, T2 and Back to the Future. And ate at the Hard Rock. Queues and more queues. MIB was the worst. The best show was probably Jaws although somewhat old fashioned by now. Back to the Future the most fun although it was a simulation and we sat in a Delorean mounted on rams.

Two hour drive back and a burger from Biff. Chatted to a guy with a '69 428. Take off the end caps before spraying the wings. Good tip.

Thursday. Tennis pool pasta at home. More pool. Out to Dunedin to Kelly's which was gayer than ever. Mincing men in tight shorts and ties. What do they look like? Anyway very entertaining and the food was good. The waiter recommended a wine called Ponzi. I wonder why? Sue drove home through the badlands of Seminole.

Friday. Only 6 days to go. Gulp. Tennis in the boiling sun . Jenny getting slightly better. Chris and Alison and Jenifer Pittaway arrive. Swam. Out to Biff again. Great evening of cars. I won a contest. Again. Common link between Come and Get it by both Badfinger and the Beatles. Why? Paul McCartney of course. I won a free beverage.

Saturday. Tick tick goes the clock. Slow down Tennis. Sue feeling faint in the heat. Talk of Crabby Bills and collecting my Army Surplus jacket

Swam late. Seems to be a groove we're in ending up with the Jacuzzi.

Sunday. On the beach in the heat. No bikes.

Monday tennis swam down to Tierra Verde to hire boat for Tuesday. Lunch at the cafe on the dock. Staples for school things. Publix again for food for the boat. Swam. Need early night as boat is booked for 9 a m.

Tuesday. And off we sailed. Engine not down fully at first... then away. The controls were straight forward. Lever for forward or back. Engine engaged the further forward. Depth gauge useful as we ran aground on a sandbar. Lifted the engine slightly and eased off. Down to Egmont Key twice. Our own desert island the first time. Floated in clear water on a white sand beach. Exactly like the Caribbean. Mr and Mrs Bunny's second honeymoon. Now with 4 kids. Sailed up to the Don. Then back down after deciding the intra coastal waterway was too fiddly and would take too long. Drifted off Potters pier on Fort De Soto while a filthy refuse ship chugged by. Storm brewing with thunderclouds and lighting coming our way so noticing that the other boats at Egmont had set off we followed. The storm was tracking south west as we sailed north avoiding it, but it looked heavier over towards the north east. So we entered the channel and sailed in round Island's End. The wind was blowing hard in our face and we got pretty wet coming into the shelter of the channel. It would have been nice to have had another hour sailing round Boca Ciega Bay past the flat but the rain threatened so in we went, directed to the gas pier where we disembarked and paid for the $35 worth of gas. I settled the boat account with the friendly operator who I was sure was glad to see his boat safely returned. Out to Keegan's tonight.

Wednesday. Last day in Florida. Tennis, swam. Chatted to the Pittaways. Lunch by a vote at Hurricanes. Revolting. Bought wind chimes. Swam. Jenny sulky. Talk of take aways from Biff Burger.

No, Jenny in pathetic sulk. So bacon sandwiches.

 

And on to NYC...

 

Thursday. Up at 7.30. emailing Katy and getting stuff ready to go. Off to airport at 10ish.

Handed in the car, onto the plane and into seat D on row 31 on a DC8. Where you can see and hear nothing as the view outside the window is of the side of the engine. Landed at La Guardia met by Gotham limos and eased into a hazy hot new York. Into the Roosevelt and into our rooms. The 4 in one and Sue and me in the other. Bliss. Out to Chinatown in two taxies. Ate like taste-starved pigs and two taxis back after a stroll through Little Italy. Bed at 8.30 in the city that never sleeps.

Just waking up. We ate like pigs at the Chinese last night. It all looks so scruffy here after Florida. I can see my tan fading as I look in the mirror.

There is talk of the Empire Diner for breakfast and I would like to look round the aircraft carrier moored near the Circle Line. I have yet to get approval on that one though. Sue would like to abandon the girls in FAO while we go for a drink in the Plaza Oak room. We shall see...

Should we go on a helicopter ride round the Statue of L? Hmmm.... The TV here is dull. Where are my 96 channels?

OK off we go after a false start trying to find a breakfast in Grand Central. There is nowt. So taxis to the Empire Diner for Steak and eggs. Walked up 10th Ave to the Intrepid aircraft carrier. Superb. A Blackbird and a Mig 21 And a Phantom. Great views from the flight deck. Then on the Beast at the Circle Line. Pelted down to the Statue then hurtled back again. Half an hour of heaven with great views. I think we should do it every day. Woweeee.

Two taxis to FAO. Grrrr. Then walked up into the Park for a drink. Then back and bought some toys at FAO. Then walked down Madison to Niketown. Then down to Sony. Amazing to see all their latest stuff together. So cool. Great DVD miniplayers and Digital Cams. And grabbed a few cool drinks at the Madison deli and back home again. Phew.

Saturday. Out to the Comfort Diner. Great service and food. Cabs to the Twin Towers. Lost each other for a while. Where should we meet? Then up on the roof. 109 floors high walking around in a bright clear windless day. Some nut had paid a fleet of skywriting planes to send a dumb message to his once seen girl. The planes left blasts of vapour behind them to form letters. Walked to Wagner Park next to Battery for a cool Italian lunch overlooking the Statue of Liberty. Topped up suntans. Walked round Battery Park and up to South Street seaport. Very trashy. Took cab over Brooklyn Bridge then walked the almost two miles back. Great views. Cabs home. Out to Grand Central for dinner. Champagne and salmon. Hang the expense. Watched Miss Teen U.S.A. on TV. What is happening to us?

Sunday. What a swell mood I'm in... why it's almost like being in love. Wandered about then return to the Comfort Diner. Slow brunchy service. Cab to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 5th in the Park. Saw two galleries of American Design from 25 to 50. Walter Dorwin Teague lights and Norman Bel Geddes dressing tables and meat slicers. Apparently the Yanks rebuffed the Arts Decoratifs show in Paris in 1925, then spent years catching up and waved two fingers at the French in the New York World's Fair in 1940. Then tamed the brutality of the Bauhaus for bent wood and the more comfortable look we came to know as Post War American suburban dream home.

Strolled down to the boating pond and sailed a couple of yachts for an hour then rambled down to the Plaza for a very stiff Martini in the Oak Room. Mr and Mrs Kaplan and family. Strolled back and then out in the evening to Little Italy. La Mela looked cheap so into Taormina which was good food but pricey. They even tried to stiff us for $100. But we saw through their wily guiles. Cab took all of us to Times Square where we shot lots and bought a bag for the dirty laundry. So much of it.

Limo booked for 3.30 tomorrow.

Monday. Departure day. Packing at 11. Where for breakfast then what till 3? It was pouring with rain so we had a coffee in the hotel shop then out into the rain hopping from door to door till a man appeared calling umbrellas umbrellas umbrellas. We bought three.

Then Niketown for more trainers and a dry T shirt. Back to the hotel and organised the cases with the concierge and out to the Grand Central Oyster Bar. Lobster Club sandwich, delicious bottle of Buena Vista Californian wine and a Sambucca. Limo from hotel to JFK. Heavy traffic through Brooklyn. And now sitting in the United departure lounge, with of all things a group of scouts from Hackney. Was it all worth it. Yeah, course it was. Every time. But I'll be happy to see home.

Story continues August 2001 in California...

 

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