2nd January - Last Day

So the last day of the trip has arrived. 4 months has gone really quickly, it only seems like yesterday I was struggling to get the hang of the subjunctive around the dinner table in Buenos Aires.

Another bad night's sleep meant an early start - first port of call was Radio Shack which is a bit like an upmarket Tandy's. I bought a case for my new iPod which I needed and an iKaraoke for the aforementioned, which I didn't. Still it's Christmas. Kind of.

Met Caroline, she went off to the MoMA and I scaled the Rockefeller Center (sic). Well, I took the express elevator which was also fun as they make the ceiling transparent so you can see the entire lift shaft. At the top it was cold, very cold. Must have been at least zero degrees. My finger nearly froze holding the memory card door shut. Took some pretentious black and white and sepia shots and then made my way to the nearest coffee shop which ironically was Pret-a-manger.

Had a very tasty and cheap meal in "Bread" between Moot and Elizabeth in Soho near Little Italy. Bread, olives, salad, lasagne, strawberry lemonade all for a tenner. Met up with Jase and Hannah at Battery Park as I'd hoped to take a photo of the Statue of Liberty but it was sadly still too far away for my 11x magnifying lens.

Bought my ticket for the bus to take me back to Newark Liberty Airport and I suppose it has finally sunk in I am going back to the UK. Caroline was off for a facial and to meet her friend so I waited the hour in her room before I had to scoot.

Bloody bus stop was nowhere near where the map said it was and the sub-zero temperatures not helping. Also the sign to "Form line here" was next to a sign that said "Airport Express line across street" but in the end a chap with a clipboard appeared and all was well.

The airport was pretty dull and even baggage check passed without incident. Had a huge pile of nachos and a vanilla milkshake for about £7. (Also it has just occurred to me that is the first time I have been able to use a pound sign for 4 months)

The flight was late leaving and we were still on the ground when my head slid forward and hit the seat in front walking me from a dream about iPod karaoke microphones. Passed on the gorgeous Continental Airlines food, had a Sprite and a water and went back to sleep and stayed like that until 40 mins before our descent into Gatwick.

London was cold but still warmer than NYC. I waited for the Chavs to get off the place first and then headed straight to Immigration. The toilets adjacent had piss on the floor and no paper hand towels - it's great to be back home.

Met the folks at the gate which was nice. They haven't changed a bit and look very well. We had a quick cup of tea and I attempted the abridged version of the last 4 months. Arrived at the flat ok, the car isn't covered in bird poo as I had expected so I will have to let Archie off that one. We had soup, cake and coffee and then they went back to Bham.

So that is that. The flat looks the same, albeit a lot cleaner. I have returned jobless and potless and the DVDs I ordered are still en route to the Midlands. This is the final entry for this blog so to those who have supported me over the last few months whether playing Scrabble, organising tours, checking on the flat, passing on mail, reading the blog, but most of all making the trip extra special for me in your own little way and so finally...

... a big thanks to family and friends, old and new.

Steve 2008