Is there a Dr on board? Well a visa is not enough!

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  New York City, New York, United States
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The flight seemed to take ages to take off but I guess it landed pretty much on time so all the queues were factored in. The flight was a bit of a drag but I had lots of nice food and drinki and watched a lot of good stuff, including Frasier which pleased me when I saw that on the menu. I was sat by the window and then a vacant seat and then an old woman who was a miserable as sin, spoke no English and would refuse to move when I needed the loo. This all ended up with me falling on her with my ass in her face on a few occasions. The height of the flight though had to be when I heard this annocement, 'Hello ladies and gentlemen, this is the first officer and we would like to ask if there is a medical doctor on board or someone else of medical training, to let the cabin crew know as we have a problem with one of our passengers'. Oh dear well I pressed the bell and hoped there was a doctor.... nope I was the only one. I went to see what happened whilst not really being sure what the legal position was and if I could remember any CPR! Thankfully the poor man had only a minor problem that needed only nothing really from me, but I was a bit worried for a moment.

OK so we made it to JFK and the queues were short and I was all hopeful for being in the appartment nice and early. Noooooo lol oh deary me. Well I met up with my old buddies the US customs and immigration officers. Now I cannot better my description given on the way to Peru so I wont go on, but it is enough to say that I found it hard to engage in a meaningful relationship with him.

Me on my balcony!

I explained I had my visa and of course the visa is not all you need. NOO now why would you go to all that trouble of getting a visa and expect that that was all you needed to enter the country? Of course you needed to take one of the forms you sent with the application that no one told you you needed and that the embassy said you didnt need again.... but hey there we go. So I was shut up with the nutters trying to get into the US on a postage stamp and made to wait for two hours. Now I have to get the form sent from home so that I can send it off to the government so they will let me stay. I am allowed to stay for 30 days (60 days less that the grumpy old lady who they didnt want to let in either) and i have to sort the form in that time.

Anyway I got out and the shuttle bus got me into my appartment in about 40 mins which was very good I thought. Then the bit I thought might go wrong was perfect. The very nice guy on the desk got me my key and Im all sorted. I have a great big room on the 13th floor with a view of the city, the park, the river and a bridge. Im quite happy, and I see there are lots of little lights appearing as its getting dark.

So I ventured out in the 80 degree sun and found my way to central park and went for a gental walk around for an hour or so. Its actually amazing to suddenly be in a woodland getaway and not be able to see any of the skyscrapers. You can still hear the city though, its very noisy. I have trains and horns and cars and god knows what blasting away outside my window.

I went to a store to get some food and that when I realised, everyone here is soooooo nice. I mean super freindly, especially when they find out your from England. Dont trust customs as a bench mark....

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Rainbow over the East River

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