The 500lb Game

Imagine a game where you have to select 500lb of your belongings that you can live on for 6 weeks in a new country before the rest of your belongings arrive. Imagine you are selecting for a family of five and you don't know how much 500lbs is. Do you take pcs, beds, clothes, kitchen utensils, toys, papers, important papers? The weekend was spent deciding what goes in the 500lb shipment (takes a week, by air) and what goes in the container 6-8 week shipment. There is also the question of what goes in our cases just to complicate things.

After the packing men have gone, all that is left is what we are going to take with us on the flight or what we are going to discard or hand off to others in Chappaqua. Luckily, we have found a home for the TV, DVD, phone and the car! It still means that house looks a little empty:

We decided to head off for a few days rather than hang around.

Ryan's Sunday

Ryan left today. It has been fun having him around, though I must say that I have had one of those punishing weeks getting prepared for a pitch next week in San Jose, so haven't been able to spend as much time as I might like with him. However, I think the place where Ryan wanted to spend most time was the studio and that was achieved. He also ate Jen and Berry's, shot some hoops and got some serious shopping in. Apparently we whet his appetite for more of New York, so when he gets his place here, perhaps he can put us up.

Also, in a nice piece of symmetry, Ryan was a member of the first group of visitors, the Whites in September 2003, and the last in July 2008.

My Gold Tooth

"Why do you have a gold tooth?" Charlie inquired.
"Because I am a rapper," I replied, jokingly.
"Then you are white trash," he said.

Ryan's Friday and Saturday

"My final day was good, I did all my usual tasks plus extra PayPal related ones for Christian. I also had lunch on Times Square with someone from the office and talked about different advertising agencies ect. I printed off all my Photoshop pictures and arranged them into a book. After work I went home and did the usual things like eat supper and so on. On Saturday, today, I went into Soho which was very good, I found lots of shops, bought lots of things (for myself and presents), and walked all the way from the bottom of Soho to the office. I also rode the subway down. After meeting up with Christian we took the train to Pleasantville where we met with the others and had supper in an all American diner, then for dessert at Ben & Jerry’s. Tonight is my last night in New York, and I am dreading going back to reality. The weather here is ridiculously hot, another factor that makes it all the more harder to go back to England. I am not sure what I will do tomorrow but something not too strenuous I’m hoping, see you all on Monday". Ryan.

Ryan's Thursday

"Today; got up, got on train, got into work, arrived at my usual desk and continued into my daily routine. Which included getting a ‘legendary,’ white & black milkshake which Christian advised me on, not too shabby. I took an extra, extra long lunch break in which I walked for at least an hour or more towards the top of Madison where I bought a couple of new things from the Ralph Lauren which is ridiculously cheap. Today was not out of the ordinary but tomorrow is my last day and it seems as though I have been working a lot longer. The temperature is still boiling, this weekend is set to be the hottest weekend all summer so I am not doing badly on the sun tan front. Over and out." Ryan.

Ryan's Wednesday

"Got up early us usual, had breakfast, went to the train station, and got to the office. Once in the office I continued to progress with Photoshop related activities and learnt how to use the scanner which I then used to scan in some of my New York memorabilia for my NYC collage. I went down and got lunch, explored around for a bit but didn’t venture too far. Then at about 3 got the train to Chappaqua and got home then went for a swim at the swim club. I then walked back and have eaten supper, uploaded various pictures and played some basketball. Just another normal day in the big city for me." Ryan.

Ryan's Tuesday

"This morning I got up early as usual, had breakfast and then Christian and I made our way to the train station. When we arrived at Grand Central, I bought myself a map as I planned to venture further than 40-41st street Madison Avenue. When I arrived in the office I sat down at my desk in the creative department and continued to work on my photo collage on Photoshop. I took a very long lunch break where I walked for at least half an hour, across to 5th Avenue and over about 20 to 30 blocks to the Abercrombie & Fitch. It is very satisfying to see the building you were looking for right in front of you. I spent quite a while in there but also made a few stops in some other shops and managed to spend quite a few dollars. I also went to the local bank to get money out of an ATM because my card isn’t accepted in many shops. After going back to the office for a while I made my own way to the train station, self sufficiently got on the right train and made my way to the Barnett house. I am pretty much ready to leave home by now I think. Tomorrow I may wake up a bit later than Christian and make my own way to the office, most likely on a breakfast of Dunkin’ Doughnuts, not quite as good as Krispy Kremes but a worthy competitor. I am now off to “shoot some hoops,” otherwise known as to play basketball. Not missing you at all as I have no room in my oh so busy schedule for missing people." Ryan.

Ryan's Monday

"This morning I got up at 6:30 and proceeded to leave the house at 7. We got a lift from a neighbor to the train station where I bought my week rail card and had Dunkin’ Doughnuts for breakfast. When we arrived in New York we went straight to the office. I went round most of the different departments and scheduled in when I could go talk to them. After that I spent the rest of my day in the creative department where I played around with photo shop, my task for the week is to create a booklet of all my photos. I had a hot chili sandwich wrap thing from Prêt a Manger, which is next door but as every day progresses I aim to explore a bit further. I also bought a new sim card and phone. Have not managed to fit in any shopping yet nor get any photos of the city really but have learnt my way from Chappaqua to the office. I have also been taught how to play Wii sport which is really, really fun." Ryan.

Goodbye Party

The McGraths hosted a goodbye party for us. It is typical of their wonderfully generous spirit. We had guests from Douglas, Spring and Begg. It couldn't have been much better; the weather was gorgeous, kids playing in the pool, a warm, open and friendly group of people all keen to mix in and a great barbequeue. America may not be able to do country pubs; the UK can't do this. We shall miss it.

Ryan's Sunday

"This morning I woke up at about 8’oclock and watched some T.V. in bed, then got up and had breakfast. Next we went to the swim & tennis club and played tennis with George. Then I went to the Chappaqua small supermarket, bigger than the CO-OP but smaller than Waitrose, in which I bought some American foods. Then we went off to the party in the big beautiful house equipped with pool, tennis & basketball court and volleyball & badminton pitch. I had lots of barbeque food & cake and spoke to some of the Americans. I am soon going to go off to bed." Ryan.