SQA Marking – tick.
School Show – tick.
Fife Pride – tick.
Tinto Summer School – tick.
Crazy year at school – goes without saying really.
With all these things done, the time had come for me to actually have a holiday. To this end, I awakened in the morning after a very lovely dinner with my neighbours, bearing up with the resultant slightly woozy head. After the inevitable clean of my already ridiculously sparkling domicile, I drove my car towards the residence it would be occupying for the next few weeks – FerryToll Park, and Ride.
On the way, I resolved to clean said automobile, and enquired at the Dalgetty Bay BP garage on how this may be achieved. I was told that the car wash was “not in use”, but I could use the jet wash as an alternative. Not being in favour of the inevitable splash-back from this, I drove to the car wash opposite ASDA, close by. There was a sign saying “45 minutes from here”, indicating the high level of patronage at this establishment. As such, I ventured back to BP.
Truth be told, I have never used a jet wash like this in my short, but eventful life so far. There was a soapy brush, and a bewildering number of buttons serving different functions towards the ultimate cleanliness of my car. I managed to pay money to the thing, which seemed to have little effect. I brushed the car until said object started to ran out of soap. I chose to attempt some button pressing.
I was not disappointed. Within a fraction of a second, a blast of cold foam had engulfed my car from another wand-like object. I then used the brush again, noting the removal of many dead flies before a cold “high pressure rinse”, leaving my car significantly cleaner than it had been. I drove it, dripping to the car park.
From there, service X54A took me to HYM, before a train to LIN. This is a town I don’t remember having visited before. I found it a pleasant mix of older buildings, and historic landmarks, with newer houses on the outskirts.
I took coffee, and a strawberry danish at “Whit Dove Coffee Roasters”, before a stroll down the canal towards a logical meeting point with my family. There I relaxed, and read my book for a while before the arrival of the narrowboat “Suzanne Marie” was announced by my 8 year old niece, Morag. This happened was sometime before the boat was visible.
I joined my family for a pleasant afternoon of floating, accompanied by food, drink, and the 40th anniversary broadcast of “Live Aid”. Much nostalgia, and memories were enjoyed by all. I managed to annoy my older neice, Heidi (12) by breaking her sewing needle while I was trying to fix the zip on my shorts, but I think I was forgiven.
The following morning, I departed the boat as silently as I could before catching the X38 to Rosyth Parkway, and the 747 to EDI. My larger bag was searched briefly as a result of the system being “not happy with a couple of your liquids”. These were confirmed as acceptable by a very polite security lady, and I was deemed ok to be “Airside”.
I took a coffee, and bacon roll with hash browns at the “BrewDog” establishment before heading to gate 3. There I heard an announcement with what sounded like my own name for a “documentation check”. The gate to us was to take place was unclear, but I managed to glean the information from a member of staff with a nice American lady in the same predicament. At gate 1K it was confirmed that my documentation was “good to go”, the issue being that my “Dr.” title had somehow appeared in the middle of my name in my boarding pass.
JetBlue 11.30am flight 72 to JFK boarded at 10.45am. My group (F) was called about half an hour later.
The flight was bumpy at times, but overall bearable. I enjoyed the movie “Better Man”, and decided to forgo the in-flight meal. I felt sufficiently sustained by my breakfast roll. Ialso enjoyed two episodes of “Sex in the City”, and the documentary about “Live Aid” I had downloaded from Radio 2.
Later in the flight, I was served a falafel, and humous wrap. By this point I was hungry, and glad of this. The flight landed at 1.14pm EDT.
The passport control person had some trouble scanning my fingers, as they were pretty sweaty. Whether this was the reason I was taken to “The Office”, or whether it was something else I have yet to find out. Here I was asked about my reasons for coming, how long I was staying etc., before my passport was stamped.
Thinking that this would be the end of official business, I walked through baggage claim (being hand baggage only). At the exit, another guard stopped me, and asked the same questions. This time there was more detail needed including my job, whether I had a return ticket, how long I’d been teaching for etc. Like the previous person, he was very official but pleasant, and after a fairly thorough bag search, I got “enjoy your stay” and was waved out the exit. From there the “E” train took me to Manhattan, and the “6” to Astor Place.
A short walk took me to my apartment. I have stayed here twice previously, and it suits me well. It is a “studio” with a bed, cooking area (complete with shower cubicle), toilet, and living area. The neighbourhood is full of excellent restaurants, and bars, and I am the least unusual looking person on the streets. A trip to the pharmacy for essentials, and a shower was partaken of before I was ready to face the city.
As I gradually ticked these last few things off my list before I could actually relax, and enjoy myself, I gradually relaxed, and started to enjoy myself. This is something that I find very difficult, as my mind is a constant barrage of “take the opportunity to get this job done”; “you could save yourself time by doing this now” etc. etc. Thankfully, I have managed to get everything I do to the stage of….nothing needs to be done. Therefore, the top priorities became:
- Drink
- Eat
- Relax
- Enjoy
Perhaps this is what I should have communicated to the personnel at JFK. One of the real reasons for coming to places like this, is that I can genuinely say “I’m on holiday”, and delete/ignore/delegate that email that has been sent. This can, however be a significant challenge.
Some success was achieved in “Cooper’s Craft & Cocktails”, where I sampled a “Hazy IPA”, listening to the thunder, and watching the lighting outside the window. I am pleased to state that it was not frightening in the least.
Dinner was taken at “Katz Delicatessen”. I have been here a number of times before, including my “first nights” on both previous visits. I didn’t actually particularly intend to carry on this tradition, but I really fancied a bagel with “lox” (essentially cold, raw salmon similar to gravadlax), and a beer. This was indeed one of the establishments that would serve this particular combination. Needs must, as it were, but it was certainly by no means an unwelcome visit. My friends “in the know” would probably tell me that this my food choices were a crazy combination, but I enjoyed it very much.
With the “jet lag” starting to have a significant impact, I made my way home. I managed to stay up until a reasonable bed time by watching part of the new “Live Aid” documentary. I then slept. A lot.
