On Loan To NYC: Another day another dollar....

...unfortunately it was dollar(s) spent and none earned although thats all set to change on Monday when work starts again, mixed emotions about that at the mo. Have thoroughly enjoyed my time off with the family, even though the majority of it was spent running round like headless chickens getting stuff organised, but am looking forward to the new challenge ahead. Just hope I can get the work/life balance perfected as don't want Leigh to feel abandoned and also want to see my kids grow up! I work to live, not the other way round and intend to ensure this remains.

Who would want to miss these moments!

Bloomin fairy!

Spent the day on Thursday sussing out apartments again and it was a long day. Lot of travelling around and with 2 kids in scorching heat was stressful. Kudos to our man Jerry again for taking us round and, while we we were talking to the Management Companies, looking after Ben. Ben & Jerry are friends for life....hmm good ring to that maybe I should create a cool company with that name.... ;-) Good thing is though we think we have found a cracker apartment although still to be finalised on Monday. The process is a bit of a PITA as irrelevant of your UK credit history (something im glad to say Leigh and i worked at getting an excellent score on) over here its based on your Social Security Number which we have only just go so effectively we are a credit risk. This ups your deposit from $500 to 1 1/2 months rent, pretty steep considering rent is around $3000! To suffice this we have had to do our first ever wire transfer (not that hard really but a rip off when Nationwide charge you £20 for the privilege) which takes a day to complete. Anyway hopefully come Monday the Apartment is still available!

11th was a much more relaxed affair with a trip to the supermarket (to be fair not that relaxing when the nearest supermarket is 2 streets and 13 blocks away) cumulating in the most expensive fish ever bought, a piece of Bass costing $41 (we really must figure out weights over here!) so for the 2nd night in a row im having fish although last night was more of a glamorous affair (see pic). Also went to the park with Ben and Katie. Ben loves the water features and they both love the swings although Ben has to learn to give other people a go! Hes been a bit huffy as of late but to be fair we have asked a lot of the 2 of them over the past week and they have stood up admirably although the naughty step has been introduced and although i dont think he has a clue what it means he says sorry when he comes off it and when asked a choice of what we want him to do or the naughty step he does what we want. This probably falls under blackmail but if it works it works! Better not abuse it though as over here he can legally divorce us!!

Errr if this is what these teethers have done to this child ill pass!

Dinner with a view. We were curious how much you would pay for this view in a restaurant? Obviously the food wasn't as good though as I cooked!

Happy 12th everyone! Our day was reasonably quiet involving a trip to JC Penny for some work outfits for me and a trip to Payless Shoes. The Payless shoes shop brought memories flooding back of our trips round the states as kids (Kelly and Lynsey will know what im talking about). Still even with this im glad we missed the "Orangefest". Im not against anyone celebrating their culture and history but in a country where an event of this type stirs up so much hatred i think we could all happily live without it (same goes for other events like this irrelevant of religion, race etc. etc.).

Payless Shoes

The day ended with a chill out on our apartment block terrace where a few beers were consumed (no kids were drunk in the making of this blog) and we had a lovely Skype with family back home who were having a barbecue in the pouring rain.

Vogue....

Kids in bed now and the beer is flowing (although ive only had 2......:-)) so im going to join my beautiful wife on the sofa and relax some more (nothing kinky lol).