A sense of achievement

There is something challenging about moving country, all familiar surroundings are lost. Almost like a newborn taking everything in with wide eyes and dribbly mouth, along with passion, excitement and apprehension all at the same time, so we take is our new surroundings. Same as a newborn there is a wealth of information to take in at any given time, and so much processing to be done. I think to a certain degree this is the appeal of the move. There is something energising and exciting that comes with every new day. Making plans you have never made before, seeing sights you have never seen, commuting on new types of transport, and adjusting to new yellow cheese. (Even though we never did adjust to the Israeli stuff, we were geographically close enough to London to have a steady supply of Cathedral Cheddar). Every plan drawn out that succeeds provides the planner with a sense of achievement even if it is just getting milk or frying Schnitzels.

Two weeks ago, Labor day weekend we had planned to go to Governors Island. The plan was drawn out, a picnic purchased, and off we went.

Nomi & Tomer as prisoners

Apparently prisoners salute & wash hands

Ha Ha, just an image of a cell. Not real prisoners

We then rented bikes -

Jona & a very happy Tomer

A very very happy Nomi

Me & the always happy Poppy

The Governor has great swings!

 We had a great sense of achievement, not to mention a truly lovely day.

Another great sense of achievement was moving into our own apartment and receiving our shipment. In very intense unfamiliar surroundings, familiar stuff goes a long way.

The apartment is partly furnished, but we needed a few bits, including a dining table.
New York is a city in constant motion as are her inhabitants. ie. lots of good quality second hand stuff being sold all the time.

Jona found us a lovely dining table, bought it, and was then faced with the challenge of how to get it home. Jona made a plan, and followed it step by step.

Step 1. Secure a zipcar car
Step 2. Get to the car with Poppy and car seat

Step 3. Deciding who will drive

 Step 4. picking up the table

Step 5. Placing the table

 Step 6. Dinner

A sense of achievement is great when you make a plan, and it works so well that you have some spare time for a little cherry on top. (or not, depending on what grabs your fancy)

So now we are a little more settled. We are achieving daily. Each of us in our own space, and together as we process and make sense of this city, of this adventure.

And now sitting here in my New York flat, with a very New Yorkish view out my window, I can't help but feel like Carrie Bradshaw, without the shoe collection...

Further afield

The  definition for further afield, according the online dictionary I found is - "in places or areas other than the nearest or most obvious one".

A definition that can't be truer, or closer afield, to where we presently are.

Over the last two and a half weeks we have found ourselves feeling further afield, and travelling further afield on more than one occasion.

Last weekend, after 10 days in the city we felt we needed to sit behind the wheel, literally and metaphorically. We rented a car and headed for the Hudson valley. Every successful outing should have the appropriate food, and where better to stock up then the Warwick farmers market.

Stocked up with bread, pickles, cheese, pesto nick named baddhapesto, olives, and fresh apple turnovers (kind of apple pie), we headed for a Wawayanda state park.

There we found a lovely lake (managed to dodge the noisy beach and keep driving before the kids spotted it), a forest, shade and grass.

Real sense of ol'times in Warwick...(note the Est.)

We need either a bigger picnic blanket, or less people...

 

Another place we ventured further then we initially imagined was to the 15^th floor of the hotel. After years of hoping for upgrades (to 1^st class, to a better phone, better car) we were given an even better hotel room due to the mouse problem in our previous room. We now have a much bigger room, a lovely balcony, and an amazing view of the Empire State Building. And all we are waiting to do is move out, for the holiday to end, and for real life to start. But for now -

View of the East River from our balcony

Thursday we ventured further afield to to Staten Island on the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty

Find the children...

On the Ferry

Lady Liberty

With Manhattan behind us

And on Saturday, further afield and a 25 minute train ride away, we're in another world. The NYC Botanical Gardens to where we now are the proud owners of a family membership.

Seems like for the people of New York, same as for the people of Chelm, reflection pools are a big thing...

On to the children's adventure garden

Something for everyone

Further afield is the apartment we think we might have finalised, not further in distance, more like in budget...

Further afield is how I felt looking for school supplies for the kids in Manhattan this week, and

in general, New York City is yet to feel the obvious place for us to be.

It's Labor day weekend, the Empire State has had red white & blue lights on since Friday, work for me starts properly on Tuesday, School on Wednesday and hopefully will be having our next Shabbat Dinner with our own home made Challa, in our new home.

More to follow

xxx