new york is killing me

Summer in NYC is hot. NYC in a heatwave is hot hot hot and humid humid humid. There were several points where i thought NYC would kill me and subconsciously i'd start humming that Gil Scott-Heron song. There were several points when i'd catch myself in a shop window and thought i'd turned into a lion. Big hair don't kinda care.

In the spirit of all things hot and humid, when your brain is overheating and you just can't muster the strength to talk, i'll keep this short and sweet. A whistle-stop tour of my whistle-stop tour of NYC.

Good morning Manhattan, it's 100 degrees out.

"Statue of Liberty long live the World Trade"

Greenwich Village in mono

Empire in fifty shades of grey

The setting of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. The programme which taught me most of my life lessons. Life lesson #1: when stung by a jellyfish pee on yourself. Life lesson #2: everybody has a lobster. Life lesson #3: it isn't common, it doesn't happen to every guy and it is a big deal. Etc etc.

Central Park in assorted colouring

Strawberry Fields

Haystacks and Monet @ Metropolitan Museum

A taxidermy reindeer that seems to have erupted in glass hives. Sure would make a great christmas decoration. Bar the dead stuffed animal part.

Indoor waterfall @ Trump Tower, 5th Avenue

Flags and tall buildings, midtown somewhere

Times Square

Welcome to Brooklyn, put your lighters up

Brooklyn Bridge

Restaurant specialising in fried fish and bagels. Wonderful combo. All your eating needs covered in one stop.

Ground Zero

Reflecting Absence

Brother Bear

Margarita and Tom Collins

Meatpacking District

The Highline

HUGE. FAN.

Sno-ball. Best. Thing. Ever.

Forget about Tiffany's, this is breakfast at Norma's. Blueberry pancakes as big as your face. Skyscraper french toast.

Dylans, 3rd Avenue

My little empire

The city that never sleeps

Until next time (preferably in winter) good night New York.

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visit derbyshire

Welcome to my favourite place in the whole wide world, Alport Height. It's a rock, on a hill, surrounded by green green pastures. With a view. What. A. View!!

Viewing advice: On a clear day you can see for miles, on a foggy day you can see your feet. Sunrise and sunset are particularly spectacular. Take a picnic. Everything is better with a picnic.

We made a democratic decision to skip the 5am start and opted for sunset. The combination of excess faffing and oven failure meant we were running behind schedule, as per usual. Knowing that mother nature waits for nobody we were quite literally, in the words of The Wanted, chasing the sun(set). For a nice instamontage of our sunset quest click here. 

Vicki, Bee & Tori

And bubbles. Everything is better with some bubbles in your belly.

'Red sky at night shepherds delight, red sky in the morning shepherds warning'

Using our shepherd wisdom we headed to bed early to get a good nights kip for our big adventure..

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lo spritz

The spritz.
If this drink was a spice girl it would be Geri Halliwell. Mostly because it's orange. But also because it's fiesty, flirty, sweet and just that little bit bitter. A refreshing break from the scarys, poshs and babys of this world. It really is an all-weather, all-season, all-occasion drink (although especially appropriate in this current heatwave). Plus it's super simple to knock up - no shakers, blenders, whisks or any other gizmo required.

All of north Italy and beyond have different ideas on what constitutes the spritz perfetto. The simple truth is that no such thing exists. One mans perfetto is another mans imperfetto so adjust the measurements until you find yours!

per uno spritz:
2 parts aperol or campari
3 parts prosecco or dry white wine
splash of soda water
slice of orange
ice

Ice. A slice of orange if it tickles your pickle.

Aperol.

Prosecco. Splash of soda water.

Serve it up babyyy!

WARNING: These are far too easy to knock back by the dozen. I do not advise this. You may or may not be standing afterwards.

SERVING SUGGESTION: Best served with olives and aperitifs.

P.S. Tastes better x100 when enjoyed with friends. Naww.

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