Its beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!!

Camilla and Craig arrived last wednesday night and we have had a JAM PACKED 5 days since! We have been shopping, seen a Knicks Game (photo attached below), seen a few restaurants and bars, been to the Museum of Natural History, saw the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and saw the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes!!!! We have had a FANTASTIC TIME!

But most importantly we spent a day looking for and decorating the perfect (compact) Christmas tree. We found the one we liked on the Lower East Side and to decorate the tree I bought 300 lights and a collection of Red and White/silver decorations. (I have attached a photo of the tree on Christmas Eve, above) I also made everyone select a personal decoration for the tree. Mum had a silver wine goblet, and Camilla had a pink sparkley ball, but it was craig's decoration that most impressed. A ceramic fireplace with 4 stockings with our names and "NYC 2006". (I've attached a photo of his decoration below)

Christmas Day we woke up around ten and opened presents whilst drinking Bloody Marys. We then headed off to Central Park to go Ice Skating (which despite the rain was fun and I DIDN'T fall over) After which we spent the afternoon at a local bar playing pool, before retiring to the apartment for a mammoth Turkey Christmas Dinner. Once dinner was completed we all crashed EXHAUSTED!!!

WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY!

Camilla has now left to continue her adventure to India for New Years, and I'm back at work.

Now to plan New Years Eve!!!

Christmaka Preparations.

Camilla, Mum and Craig are coming over for Christmaka in New York. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I'll be able to produce a white Christmas but I thought I could at least make the apartment as 'festive' as possible! In anticipation of this, before Caitlin left we painted a Christmas themed Oil Painting for my chimney. Well more Christmas coloured than Christmas themed. Its now hung and looks FANTASTIC!

Mum arrived last week and its been great to hang out with her. In typical mum style she is known by name at a number of Bars on the Lower East Side. She has also made friends with the composer who live in the apartment below mine, and has now had a piano lesson with him (first in 30 years!).

In preparation for Christmas we have hung the stockings on the chimney. And been shopping for the perfect Christmas decorations. In the Union Square Markets mum and I found two wreaths, One made from Rosemary and Thyme which smells incredible and is perfect in the kitchen, and another more traditional arrangement. (which you can see at the top of the photo) We added to that a Garland (a rope made from pine) made from Princess Pine, laurel, and White Pine to hang around the chimney. AND WA LA!!! I now have a very Christmasy Apartment!

Camilla and Craig arrive tonight, which is exciting. Tomorrow I'm dragging them to the markets to pick a Christmas tree and decorations! I can't wait for Christmas, I love this time of year! All my preparations are in place, now to sit back and enjoy.

I hope everyone has a MAGICAL CHRISTMAS and FUN FILLED NEW YEAR!

VEGAS LIONS BABY!!

This is a photo of Caitlin and myself inside the MGM Grand Casino in Vegas. We're standing underneath the lion enclosure and you can see two lions above us. Cool huh!

Thanksgiving Long Weekend.

Last weekend was FANTASTIC!!! Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, and the Friday is also a holiday seemingly for no particular reason other than because there are sales. So we had a great 4 day weekend.

Thanksgiving was rainy and cold. So I spent the day sleeping in and watching TV whilst eating cheeses and drinking beer. For Thanksgiving dinner Caitlin and I got all frocked up and went to the Central Park Boathouse. I have attached two photos of the Boathouse here. The one at night is more like what it was like when we were there, just a little more rainy. I loved the whole 'old school'/establishment' feel to it. The restaurant was packed, but I didn't mind. Our booking was a little early anyway and they had a nice bar where we got a bit of time to sit back and enjoy the surrounds. I also loved that I got to have a traditional Turkey Thanksgiving dinner for my first Thanksgiving.

Friday night we headed off to see the Knicks vs the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden!!! Man I love watching the Knicks, it is just such an incredible spectacle. From the Hotdogs and beer, to the Kicks City Dancer, to the Knicks City Kids, to the dogs catching frisbies, to the game its self. Unfortunately on this occasion the Knicks were flogged in the first half. In the second they made a bit of a come back but it wasn't enough and they lost. Still it was a fabulous night!

Then Sunday we saw the New York Ballet perform the Nut Cracker. It was oooooh kay. I'm not a ballet officianado but i've seen better. So far the Chinese Ballet was by far the best I have seen. This was a little dull and uninspired and to quote caitlin "they sound like elephants!". But still, it was a fantastic opportunity to see the New York Ballet.

So all in all it was a pretty amazing weekend!! This week coming Caitlin heads back to Sydney its been nice to have her here and to get out and about. After that mum arrives for christmaka! My first Christmas in New York... .I'm SOO looking forward to it... now all I need is the snow!