British Expatriate Network

Can't wait for it smile We have decided on Sunday 1st September at 2pm till late!!
Its Labour day weekend so the Mondays a bank hol,so no worries about getting to work the next day cool
People are welcome to stay over,bring your sleeping bag though and grab a space!.
I can't get my private message thingy to work,so its best to e-mail me for details,I can also get addresses from Deb so i can post directions/invites.
Just a warning my house and garden are much smaller than Deborahs and needs work,but we shall have to make do.Im excited already roll

Oh bugger, were moving that day so are going to miss this get together too. Is this a conspiracy? grin

Zed

I have already pencilled in the date.

Don't forget to let us know if you want the pick-up doing at the airport. smile

We will probably be driving home that night but we don't mind what time we leave.

Thank you sooo much Ben,are you sure that JFK is'nt miles out of your way?????
I will speak to Jim about it this afternoon and let you know.
Everyone is just so kind grin

JFK is 50 minutes from our house, going towards NYC, so it is sort of on our way to you, with a south detour.

If we get there after your BIL has already landed and waiting for us, we don't have to park up and can get up to you straight away.

On our way home we went passed New Haven and timed it to see how long it would take us.

So after picking up BIL we should (should being the operative word here) be with you no longer than 2 hours later. smile

Really looking forward to seeing everyone again!

What would you like us to bring Lisa, apart from the helium that is lol

I've already had my orders from Debs to bring some more Almond Slices !!!

Hope the painting is getting on ok Lisa. Say hi to your mum and dad for us.

Nicky
xxx

cry We can't make this one - we have a neighbourhood party/cookout on the same day.

We wish you lots of happiness in your new home, Lisa and Jim. You're a lovely couple ( oh dear, I'm sounding like my Gran now eek ).
Thanks for the invite anyway... smile

Jan

ooooooh! oooh!

(oooh, I'm starting to sound like Nicky-Nak now roll lol)

How does Scottish Shortbread sound? We're quite good at that. Or a jam sponge decorated appropriately? (No, not like the bogroll holder roll)

Someone told us New Haven was a good place to have a day in NYC from -2 hours on the train. Is this true? And if so, is it also true that the Statue of Liberty is open again? And is Mystic worth a visit?

Oh and yes, please, we'd love to come. smile

Yes, the Statue of Liberty is open again, but add another hour onto the journey because it is down at the bottom of NYC and unless you get there when it opens the queues to get onto Liberty Island are long. And I wouldn't think about climbing up unless you are happy to spend all day in a line moving slowly up the stairs. No lift. We got there on the 2nd ferry across from NYC once and the line was already at the 3hour mark.

Yes, Mystic is a great place. We went there. We went to the Aquarium and the kids loved it. Not cheap though. It cost us $65 for the 5 of us. Children under 2 are free. that was for 2 adults and 3 children.

Central Park is also a good visit for the kids. There is the zoo, the natural history museum and the carosel there.

Thanks, Ben.

I think I have to go up the statue of Liberty if/when we go to NYC (not sure about Beest and the sprogs). How recently did you go? (she says hopefully!)

Monster,

It is only a couple of hours on the train, but we always just drive. You can drive right into the middle of manhattan and get parked up in about an hour and a half (provided you still use the british speed limits!!)

jim.

The last time I went to the statue was when a friend came over 2 years ago. We got their early and she wanted to go up too until she saw how long it took to just get there. There was a lot of other things she wanted to do as well. We went all round the bottom of the statue and then onto Ellis Island. Got back to the main land and started walking north going to the WTC, Wall Street, China Town and finishing at Katz Deli (Harry met Sally movie).

So, if the Statue is the only thing you want to do then that's fine. Liberty Island itself is a park so the children will have plenty of places to run around.

Don't forget Ellis Island too. That is where the immigration museum is. Boring for the kids but I bet you would find it interesting.

And there is also the South Street Sea Port Museum not far from Battery park (just south of Brooklyn Bridge), there is also a destroyer ship(Intrepid) museum with the black thunderbird plane on it at 46th and 12th.

Does this apply to people who don't know their way around? And is it expensive?

Monster, to be honest, I wouldn't drive into Manhattan and nor would my husband, given the choice. Parking is expensive for one thing and not easy to always find.

I would always use the train. Sometimes you get the double decker trains which the kids will just love.