Sunday June 14th
I did it! A very respectable Top 100 finish and a very quick 3 mile run to finish. I have to admit I was not in the best of moods at 5.30am when Kevin picked me up, a mixture of fear of the unknown and leaving Mrs N the day before moving. All that disappeared when we jumped into the lake at 8am. It was a mad dash and my plan to breathe every third stroke and get into a rhythm disappeared out the window immediately. Never train for a triathlon in a warm swimming pool! I ended up doing breaststroke for most of it and emerged ahead of Kevin.
I nearly screwed up the transition by getting on the bike too early but settled down and quite enjoyed that until the turn and managed to slip the chain twice. That made me more cautious and a bunch of bikes went passed me. I felt tired at the start of the run but after overtaking about 10 runners, I felt much better and ended up picking off 40-50. I did 6:26 minute miles so very chuffed! What an unbelievable experience.
Got home and chilled out for the rest of the day, helping Mrs N and we kept the yard sale going for latecomers.
I did a triathlon! TICK
Day 58 - Yard Sale
What a mad day! Up early to set up with dark clouds hovering overhead. Thank God Chris and Aristea came to help otherwise we would have been swamped. The sale went really well. There was one mad hour from 9 to 10am when almost everything went. After that it was just a steady flow of customers. We made about 80% of what we aimed for and very little of any significance was left by 4pm. All our friends came out to support us and I suspect there were a few sympathy buys!
Alice's last game of the season and I left it til now to lose my cool. They played a very strong Pleasantville side scoreless until the last couple of minutes when Nell gave away a penalty with her trademark arms up flinching. This was bad enough but the fact that the referee had not called any of the girls on both sides doing exactly the same thing all game made it much worse. So we lost 1-0, Nell cried, Molly cried and we made the referee cry. I'm not proud of that, well maybe a little.
Finished off with a farewell BBQ at the Nolans and I sneaked away early to rest up ahead of the big race
Alice's last game of the season and I left it til now to lose my cool. They played a very strong Pleasantville side scoreless until the last couple of minutes when Nell gave away a penalty with her trademark arms up flinching. This was bad enough but the fact that the referee had not called any of the girls on both sides doing exactly the same thing all game made it much worse. So we lost 1-0, Nell cried, Molly cried and we made the referee cry. I'm not proud of that, well maybe a little.
Finished off with a farewell BBQ at the Nolans and I sneaked away early to rest up ahead of the big race
Day 57 - The Calm Before The Storm
Friday June 12th
Today definitely feels like the calm before the storm. Tomorrow is yard sale, triathlon Sunday, packers come Monday and we close the following Monday..
Kevin and I went for a final swim/bike combo at the gym. It was raining again so couldn't get out on the road. Having suffered the jibe one too many times about "getting ready for all the rain in England", I went and checked the rainfall statistics for Hastings and Winchester. Surprisingly, Hastings gets 20 more inches than Winchester in the average year. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Must be all in June!
Alice had her end of season pool party at the Gross house. Mercifully the rain held off and we got through some beer and the awards ceremony. Alice won Player of the Year. Astonishing given who her coach is :-)
Today definitely feels like the calm before the storm. Tomorrow is yard sale, triathlon Sunday, packers come Monday and we close the following Monday..
Kevin and I went for a final swim/bike combo at the gym. It was raining again so couldn't get out on the road. Having suffered the jibe one too many times about "getting ready for all the rain in England", I went and checked the rainfall statistics for Hastings and Winchester. Surprisingly, Hastings gets 20 more inches than Winchester in the average year. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Must be all in June!
Alice had her end of season pool party at the Gross house. Mercifully the rain held off and we got through some beer and the awards ceremony. Alice won Player of the Year. Astonishing given who her coach is :-)
Day 56 - Waterlogged Fields...Again
Thursday June 11th
Didn't get up for track work today so I reckon that counts as bard karma. Sure enough it rained all day, YouTube continued to frustrate me and Alice's final soccer practice was cancelled. Boo Hoo.
On the positive side, we have put together a totally unnecessary but very satisfying spreadsheet of all the items we are selling at the yard sale. We are aiming for $2,000+ so let's see how we get on on Saturday
Didn't get up for track work today so I reckon that counts as bard karma. Sure enough it rained all day, YouTube continued to frustrate me and Alice's final soccer practice was cancelled. Boo Hoo.
On the positive side, we have put together a totally unnecessary but very satisfying spreadsheet of all the items we are selling at the yard sale. We are aiming for $2,000+ so let's see how we get on on Saturday
Day 55 - Perfect American Teeth
Wednesday June 10th
I fear I am leaving way too much Maths til I get to England but I'm having way too much fun to focus on that right now.
Ted had his braces off today and I was there to witness the unveiling of his perfect American teeth. Poor kid has had them in for 15 months and poor me has had to sit and watch him eat with them at the dinner table.
We got tickets to see the Mets v Phillies at Citifield, the new stadium. It was very impressive and prompts me to list my top 5 live sporting moments in the 7 years we have been here. Here we go:
#5 Giants Stadium: Jan 2009 in the snow, sub zero, tailgating with Ted and his friends at play off game v Eagles
#4 Fort Worth: April 2005 guest of honour at Bull Riding event when the whole family was parades around the ring at half time
#3 Watkins Glen: August 2008 boys weekend away with Anthony, Peter, Craig and Jim with beer and cigars and the whole race on top of the pit box
#2 Fenway: July 2006 scorching hot day and we sat just by the Green Monster
#1 Daytona 500: Feb 2006 slept and partied in the infield. A magic weekend
I fear I am leaving way too much Maths til I get to England but I'm having way too much fun to focus on that right now.
Ted had his braces off today and I was there to witness the unveiling of his perfect American teeth. Poor kid has had them in for 15 months and poor me has had to sit and watch him eat with them at the dinner table.
We got tickets to see the Mets v Phillies at Citifield, the new stadium. It was very impressive and prompts me to list my top 5 live sporting moments in the 7 years we have been here. Here we go:
#5 Giants Stadium: Jan 2009 in the snow, sub zero, tailgating with Ted and his friends at play off game v Eagles
#4 Fort Worth: April 2005 guest of honour at Bull Riding event when the whole family was parades around the ring at half time
#3 Watkins Glen: August 2008 boys weekend away with Anthony, Peter, Craig and Jim with beer and cigars and the whole race on top of the pit box
#2 Fenway: July 2006 scorching hot day and we sat just by the Green Monster
#1 Daytona 500: Feb 2006 slept and partied in the infield. A magic weekend
Day 54 - Avoiding Hard Labour
Tuesday June 9th
Today I promised to help my bride organize the house for the yard sale and packing, under a week away. I did not fancy this much so I went off with Kevin to do some more training - swim and bike. Ended up doing the bike at the gym because it was raining...again. We biked for 30 mins which was very dull and watched the other people on the gym. I cannot understand why people go to a gym unless they need someone to make them exercise or they want to watch others/ be watched. What possible reason does anyone have to run on a treadmill when they could be on the aqueduct in the fresh air?
Managed to focus on a few chores when I got home but I sense I need to be more engaged.
Today I promised to help my bride organize the house for the yard sale and packing, under a week away. I did not fancy this much so I went off with Kevin to do some more training - swim and bike. Ended up doing the bike at the gym because it was raining...again. We biked for 30 mins which was very dull and watched the other people on the gym. I cannot understand why people go to a gym unless they need someone to make them exercise or they want to watch others/ be watched. What possible reason does anyone have to run on a treadmill when they could be on the aqueduct in the fresh air?
Managed to focus on a few chores when I got home but I sense I need to be more engaged.
Day 53 - I hate YouTube
So this is why I hate YouTube.
I create, with no prior experience, a 20 minute video edit of the Ragnar Relay, using some great music tracks to bring the whole thing to life. I even manage some transitions, slo mo, special effects etc. All not bad for a technophobe. The winning video gets free entry to Ragnar next year so I'm doing it for the team.
I go to post on YouTube. They limit videos to 10 minutes. This is fair enough and I should have checked so I spend another couple of hours editing the 20 down to 10 mins. Not easy but removing most of the slo mo works. I upload again. It works!
5 mins later I get an email saying that the audio has been removed because one of the music tracks infringes copyright. I read up on it. This seems fair enough but annoying so I go through all the approved tracks, select 6, BUY them on iTunes and re-edit the video. Not as good but acceptable. I upload for a third time. It works.
5 mins later I get an email saying that the audio has been removed because one of the music tracks infringes copyright. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE if all the tracks are on their approved list? I get angry. I resolve to contact YouTube to plead my case. No way of contacting them (of course). Irant and rave to anyone that will listen. Everyone has stopped listening as I'm becoming a little obsessed with the video.
I am spitting mad by now having spent the entire day on this. There is nothing I can do about it so end up posting it on Facebook and letting someone else worry about how to enter it into the competition.
As for YouTube....
I create, with no prior experience, a 20 minute video edit of the Ragnar Relay, using some great music tracks to bring the whole thing to life. I even manage some transitions, slo mo, special effects etc. All not bad for a technophobe. The winning video gets free entry to Ragnar next year so I'm doing it for the team.
I go to post on YouTube. They limit videos to 10 minutes. This is fair enough and I should have checked so I spend another couple of hours editing the 20 down to 10 mins. Not easy but removing most of the slo mo works. I upload again. It works!
5 mins later I get an email saying that the audio has been removed because one of the music tracks infringes copyright. I read up on it. This seems fair enough but annoying so I go through all the approved tracks, select 6, BUY them on iTunes and re-edit the video. Not as good but acceptable. I upload for a third time. It works.
5 mins later I get an email saying that the audio has been removed because one of the music tracks infringes copyright. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE if all the tracks are on their approved list? I get angry. I resolve to contact YouTube to plead my case. No way of contacting them (of course). Irant and rave to anyone that will listen. Everyone has stopped listening as I'm becoming a little obsessed with the video.
I am spitting mad by now having spent the entire day on this. There is nothing I can do about it so end up posting it on Facebook and letting someone else worry about how to enter it into the competition.
As for YouTube....
Day 52 - 2003 Nostalgia
Sunday June 7th
Had a farewell BBQ today. A beautiful day so we were all outside with great food, wine and badminton. It was definitely a nostalgic trip back to 2003 when Gregor, Paula, Geoff, Hillary, Tomoko and Kanau all lived in Dobbs Ferry and we would go over for all day parties in their front yard - chicken wings, rice balls and the only thing missing was beer can chicken.
Day 51 - The Holy Trinity
Saturday June 6th
50 days since I left work. On the one hand, it seems like years ago that I worked at Diageo, a distant memory. On the other hand, I can't believe that the time has gone so fast. We've packed a lot in but now it's a week until we pack up the house, 2 weeks til we leave the house and 3 weeks til we leave the US and start our new adventure.
But first we have to go through the leaving process and that is not going to be easy. I have been thinking about our leaving party and what to do for it and think I've come up with a corker. I just need to find the time to prepare for it. Not so easy.
The Holy Trinity - England won 5-0 in their World Cup qualifier, Ted won 2-0 and then Alice won her game 4-2. A perfect day and then I did something really stupid. I finally did a beer mile. I not only came in third out of three but the Guinness really did not sit well by the third lap........however I have now got rid of the bad karma of advising my brother to drink Guinness for his beer mile.
Day 50 - Jean Georges
Friday June 5th
I almost caught up and now I'm a week behind again. Now we're in June, things are moving so fast, each day is effortlessly blending into the next.
I managed two consecutive days of Maths and was having fun proving that the bisecting diagonals on a rhombus (no really, I was absorbed by it) when Kevin came over and forced me to go running. It was pissing down so we ran to the gym, swam and then ran back up some very steep hills. A full 10k so that was worthwhile.
This evening, the Smiths took us out for the most unbelievable dinner at Jean Georges on Columbus Circle. Funny that it took us 7 years to find the best restaurant in Manhattan - Eggs Caviar, Foie Gras, Halibut, Steak, Cheese and they even had a bottle of Bergerac on the wine list. We got a town car home and I think I was digesting for the next 24 hours. The Smiths have been such wonderful friends and neighbours to us ever since that first week when we were struggling with the house, the kids, the moving van, the heat (where has that gone...it's been raining and cold for the past few weeks)
Day 49 - Busy, Busy, Busy
Thursday June 4th
Clearly not enough recovery time as I declined the offer to run two fast miles with Peter and Mike this morning and instead opted for one lap repetitions...upper legs feel very sore.
Some Maths this morning but mostly admin. I am very excited about the surprise game I have planned for Ted. A complete brainwave (though I say so myself), I am organising a testimonial for him between Eastern and Ted's All Stars. Ray confirmed that we can use Holy Child and he has ordered some Eastern shirts for it. Looking forward to that.
Excellent practice tonight with the girls and then straight to Ted's concert. Not quite the same as Alice's, possibly because Ted is not quite as committed to music.....
Day 48 - Training With Eastern FC
Wednesday June 3rd
Spent a little time in Middle School in the morning and then all afternoon with Greg doing some Pre-Calculus (aaaargh!!) and then working with his 10th Graders. That was very satisfying as I started to interact with the students and help them with their Geometry. Overall, a very rewarding 2 days - just need to collect it all in evidence against the dreaded 33 Standards.
Went to Eastern practice and they let me play with the boys. I was in heaven for 2 hours - took me a while to get the feel of the ball and turf but by the end I was running around like a kid. Me, a grown man of 41. Not sure Ted was particularly impressed though.
Day 47 - Hastings High School Maths
Tuesday June 2nd
Spent the entire day with Greg Stephens in the High School chatting to him and observing a few classes. The aim of the day was to immerse myself in some Maths rather than observe the teaching itself.
I scared myself stupid because it reinforced what has been at the back of my mind ever since I made the decision to do Maths. My subject knowledge is poor - not in the sense that I can't do it because I can. The issue is that I am not an intuitive mathematician. This means that I can do it when I spend the time to learn a subject and practice it so it becomes second nature. That's going to take time and effort. Precisely!!
Having said that I did spend an enjoyable day in class. Ellen was positively delighted with me at the end of the day so that was nice. The more I chatted with Greg, the more comfortable I felt with his approach. I will take alot from him.
Alice's concert tonight and it was all going so well until Mr Rubino decides to bring some flowers out and ask Alice to come to the front of the stage. He proceeded to tell everyone there how special she was and how much he and Hastings are going to miss her and the whole family. Didn't see that one coming.
Day 46 - 30 Days Until We Leave
Monday June 1st
30 days until we go. I cannot quite believe that the countdown chart I started almost 2 years ago is in its final stretch. I vividly remember sketching it out when we were on holiday in Yosemite. I was very close to miserable after 8 months in a job that was leaving me cold and I simply did not want to go back. The countdown was a way to channel that feeling into a workable plan and it seems to have worked.
Lots of Maths today and then a complete focus on the Ragnar video. Remarkably, I pulled it together and took a frst edit along to our team outing on the waterfront. We drank some beer, smoked some cigars, ate some burgers and everyone seemed to enjoy the video. A few more edits required but very pleased with my first attempt at editing.
Big Day Tomorrow
Day 45 - Pentecost
OK so we need a time check here. It's now Sunday May 31st and we make it to church for the first time in ages. I actually quite enjoy the occasional visit. Having had 10 years of organised rammed down my throat at school I am not the most tolerant church goer but ever since Ellen asked us to go I've sat quietly and contemplated. I squirm uncontrollably during "The Peace", which requires interaction but other than that I keep myself to myself and enjoy the calm.
Today does feel like calm before a storm. I'm not sure I can afford many more days of just enjoying the day as it comes. "The Big Move" is looming large and I feel the urge to make lists. I think we are well in control, well at least Mrs N is.
Day 44 - Bore Draw in Morristown
Oh dear...not a good start to the weekend as we drove over an hour to see Ted and his team do everything but score on a baking hot turf field in Jersey. The parents always need something to complain about...I actually think they played a solid game considering they had 5 of their best players not there.
Drove back via Burger King and then back in the car for Alice's game in Briarcliff. This was a completely different kettle of fish. The Olympians passed and moved like Barcelona and ran out 4-2 winners with Miss Alice providing much of the creative spark. A hot afternoon so Rob made good on his promise of free ice-cream until the police bounced the van for being on school property. Spoilsport.
We also arranged to see Chris, Aristea and Oban while we there. I got some NASCAR tickets for Chris on his birthday so they are off to the Poconos next weekend. Now NASCAR is one of those peculiar addictions I have acquired since being here. I do not like cars much, I care not for Formula 1 but NASCAR got me hooked from the moment I set foot on Fontana Raceway in Feb 2005. Funny that. Unfortunatley I will need to follow it on line back home but that's OK.
Dinner out with the Tarricones, Kolberts and Wilts was very enjoyable but ran out of gas by about 10.
Day 43 - 6 weeks
I cannot believe it is 6 weeks since I left work. I've been having a fantastic time and with the exception of falling horribly short of my earnings target Mrs N and the kids have enjoyed having me around. I feel very relaxed. I feel fit as a fiddle. I am very very happy.
Having said that, I am slightly concerned that I have barely started Year 8 Maths. The good news is that I am being meticulous in my note taking. The bad news is that the Maths is very straightforward so far and I am dreading the Year 10 and above stuff.
After the "Crying at Ellen's Softball" incident I am also becoming acutely aware of all the things I am going to miss when we go. Examples include coaching Alice's footie practice tonight. While I am sure I will be doing this when I get home, I will be starting all over again and will need to prove myself again in an entirely different environment - ie - I won't be the only English guy who knows the game! I will also miss just walking through our town and bumping into people I know, whether for a chat or just a "hello". That all takes time to establish and is much easier in a town of 8,000 where we are different v. a town of 35,000 where we are all the same.
Day 42 - Big Night Out
Stood watching the boys run out of the window with a cup of tea in my hands...bad boy but I was feeling a little tired and emotional after my swim and Guinness fuelled afternoon yesterday.
Got into the swing of things with a solid 2 hours of Maths and then started to get organised with the Ragnar video. Somehow I volunteered to edit the whole thing so tinkered with iMovie all afternoon. It's not so hard.
We have also sorted Fred for the 2 months she will be staying here without us. Due to a clerical error, Fred the cat did not get her rabies shot til February. She needs to be here for 6 months from that shot for her not to be quarantined when she flies over so.....Tim has offered to have he goes on vacation and then we need to find a lucky friend to take her to the airport and hand her over to Continental for her "unaccompanied minor" flight home. $700 for a cat. There are humane alternatives.
Headed off to Greenwich for a farewell do with wives. Dan, Mark B, Mark S + the wives that Mrs N has met and got to know since we've been here. After 7 years she really hasn't engaged with the social side of corporate life and hardly knows anyone. That makes the change that much easier but it was nice to go out with a few and reminisce about Hawaii, Loudon (NH) and Gleneagles. Great meal and desserts to die for. We played a few rounds of newly weds and the Buttling "what does Dan towel first after a shower?" question was priceless.
Day 41 - The Day Man Utd Fans Finally Shut Up This Year
Nothing whatsoever to do with my journey but today was Champions League Final and I made the trek in to Manhattan to drink Guinness and sit with smug Man U fans while they won the Champions League. Barcelona obviously did not read the script and I kind of enjoyed watching them go quiet.
Earlier in the day I had done a big swim workout at Riverside. I still feel like I'm drowning most of the time but in the end felt good.
I had lunch with an ex colleague to catch up and left feeling good about my Diageo rehab. She actually met up with the old team for dinner when they were having a meeting in Norwalk the other week. That is too much. I remain interested in the numbers, the people and the success or otherwise of some of the things I have left behind unfinished but I shrink back in horror at the thought of going out with them all at a business meeting.
Day 40 - Quiet Day At The Office
Not much going on today other some serious studying (no really) and helping out at the Eastern tryouts for a few hours.
The dollar is tanking right now and hit 1.60. This is not good news as we budgeted at $1.50 so we need to focus on what it is rather than what it could be. That's me the eternal optimist.
I made the decision to force the issue on spending time at Hastings High School. Kings want me in class from July 7th and I have left the conversation with Greg Stephens open ended. I got in touch with him and we are all set for some observation next week.
Day 39 - Memorial Day
Am reading A Rumour Of War by Philip Caputo about the Vietnam War. Very very good. Astonishing descriptions of his year as a Marine officer in 1965. It's Memorial Day.
5k run with Tim followed by pancakes. He posted about the run on Facebook so I think it made an impression on his lungs and legs.
Very lazy day in the sun and completely forget that Alice has a laser tag party up the road. Ellen is babysitting and Ted is off at the pool. No kids in the house! What shall we do?
Over to Kate and Kevin's for a BBQ and spend a very enjoyable few hours there. It's fun to watch our lot play with very young children. Reminds me of when all they needed was food, sleep and attention.
Back home and what weekend is complete without a visit from the Tarricones and Wilts. Sit up for a long chat and twilight game of badminton.
Day 38 - 1 for 7
Another day, another game. Back up the road for Game 3 and things improve, except for the result. Elson does not make an appearance but the boys play hard against Ironbound X-treme (now there's a great team name) and look like they can get the win but nothing goes in and they nick a winner after Brian drops the ball. 0-3
Head home and straight off to Scarsdale for Alice's tournament. Things are not looking god after games 1 & 2. Horrible defending to lose 1-4 (Alice scores a lovely little tap in..thank you very much) and then 0-1 against a Rye team we should have beaten. 0-5 on the weekend
All smiles after game 3 when the promise of free ice-cream leads to a 4-2 victory. The last game ends 0-3 against a strong Manhattan team but the girls don't care, they have their ice-cream.
A busy busy weekend ends in Tomatillo for a family dinner. Everyone in good moods. Cherish it
Day 37 - Soccer Politics
Very early start today as we head up to Lagrangeville for an 8am kick off. Ray is coaching the U15s, Danny is late and we play FC Westchester. The parents are restless and turn on the boys as they struggle to contain a very strong FC side. Danny S comes over at half time to scold them for negative behaviour and I add my two pennys worth. The mood is savage as we lose 5-0! I feel bad for Steven and Chavo who have to drive 2 hours back to their tournament in LI. Ted has a cracking header that flies over the bar.
"If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat these two imposters just the same..."
I love these two lines from Rudyard Kipling's poem, If. Our inability to do this is corroding, especially when it comes to kids' sport
The parents meeting goes well and Ray gives some back to the parents and we head back to Hastings where no-one comes to pick up the swingset so we turn round and drive an hour back up to the tournament for another beating, this time 2-5. This one was avoidable - stupid mistakes turn a great comeback into a loss. The mood is not good as we head back.
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