New York

I see most have caught up with the news that Solomon Steven Belcher arrived on 24 April - 9 lb. Gill was induced but the cord was in a difficult position, so fairly quickly the doc. decided on a caesar. Gill is still in hospital recovering but Solomon is well. Judy is flying back on a delayed ticket on Sunday and Peter is coping except that nobody is able to do Lizzie's hair...
To say NY is a buzz is an understatement. We only walk a short walk to the Metro (tube) and the first morning we crushed in like sardines - an announcement being made all the time "Do not put wallets in your back pocket - hold your handbags infront of you". We bought a 2 day Grayline all loops tour in Australia so we set off atop on Monday a double-decker bus with a ytour commentator and drive through the mesh of downtown NY - the taxis (only 4 per cent of people in Manhatten own caRS), THE BUSES, THE VANS, AND people . wE SAW ALL THE SITES, sEINFELD'S SOUP KITCHEN, THE aPOLLO THEATRE, WHERE lENNON WAS SHOT, ETC. wE CHANGED TO A MOTORIZED OLD TRAM TO TOUR bROOKLYN AND THEN ON tUESDAY, WE DID THE UPTOWN tour around museums, beautiful buildings, Central Park, Fifth Ave. Then we went at night on a night loop - the lights and activity in Times Square is mind-boggling. Tomorrow we go to Ireland and Amanda goes home via Sydney. I am on a time limit here. It was great to hear from you all and especially Ivy's message. Don't know how we will go finding internet in Ireland. No many cafes for it in NY. Much love to everyone, Great-granma and Great-0grandad