Hi folks. I actually composed a new update for the blog about a week ago, but then was deprived of email access and was unable to post it. I'm not complaining though, as the main reason for that deprivation was that we were sitting by the side of a lake in beautiful sunshine, a long way from any internet connection, celebrating my brother's marriage by the ingestion of alcohol in various forms. It was wonderful.

I'm back to New York this afternoon; Lisa went ahead of me yesterday (total travel time from Lough Derg to W157 St: 16 hours).

Anyway, here's some of the rubbish that I wrote last week:

How goes? I'm sure there can't be as little happening in Edinburgh as the low level of activity on the blog would suggest. I want to see some posts, goddammit. (I except from this remark those of you who have recently sent emails.)

It was *just* turning nice when we left NY last weekend. Apparently it's usual to have about a week of nice weather before it turns unbearably humid.

More things that have happened in NY:

- I was in our local corner shop recently picking up some painkillers. As I carried out my transaction, a woman jumped in behind me, ignoring the queue, paid for whatever she was getting, and left. The man who had been behind me in the queue approached the counter in turn. Paying for his chocolate bar, he calmly said to the owner: "If you ever let anyone cut in front of me again, I'll come back in here with my 357 and stick it up your nose." At that point I left.

- There is a very greasy fried chicken joint just beside our local subway stop. At night, its powerful stench attracts citizens from miles around. It's mouth-watering. Me and Lisa were coming home from a night's drinking recently and found ourselves in need of fried chicken. Inside the place there was a queue of mostly Dominican people. Just ahead of us there were two guys, our age, one black and one Dominican. The black guy was lamenting his ineligibility for the 'Spanish discount' - the extra chicken you get in such places if you order in Spanish. "I have to improve my Spanish!" he complained. "But I do speak *some* Spanish! Yo hablo Espanol! Yo quiero Taco Bell!" Then he looked around for some objects to name. "Pollo! ... Comida!" Now looking in our direction: "Rojo! ... Rojo flaco!" At which point Lisa burst out laughing. The Dominican guy said: "Very good. And I'll tell you what's funnier, is that she understands you." The black guy now looked a bit embarrassed. I stood there grinning, not sure what was happening. The Dominican guy prompted Lisa: "What does it mean?" "Skinny redhead," she said. "Aha!" I said, spoiling for a fight. Well, everyone seemed to find it very funny, so I decided not to beat anyone up. In fact, we made friends with the two guys. Maybe we'll meet them in there again.

- The world's biggest rainstorm. Holy hell.

Dave I hope you are looking after the snooker for me. I have been able to watch a bit of it here at home. The Matrix-style rotating-table graphic that they do is definitely the best thing that has ever been on tv.

Ciao for now.