The Blog is on vacation in Hawaii this week

Honolulu sunset

Diamond Head, Waikiki

Q: Why do you need waterproof boots in the snow?

A: Because by lunchtime it turns into a slushy mess that will ruin your other shoes

Yet another winter wonderland on the Upper East Side

The 5th snow storm of the year that started yesterday (Jan 26th) dumped another 19 inches (50 cm) of snow in Central Park, much more than the 5-8 inches predicted. we measured 14 inches on our terrace. Most of these snows seem to occur overnight, presumaly related to the temperature dropping, so you never know what you are going to wake up to. Today, the heavy snow was deposited when there was no wind, leaving some curious formations.

Australia Day in NYC, 2011

No beach, barbie or beer here today. Work as normal, and got up to 3C from a low of -2C. Plus more snow with an accumulation of 15-20cm expcted overnight.


Tonight's Australia Day Party: CANCELLED!!!

more exciting: skiing at Catamount

Went skiing at Catamount today, on the NY/MA border about 35 km N of Millerton. As the pictures show, it was excellent. Blue sky but chilly (-10C but this kept the crowds away), no lift queues, great view from the top, spectacular snow and ice formations on the hemlock trees and lots of powder after all the snow during the week. The skiing is better at Catamount than Butternut (bigger, steeper mountain, longer trails, trails wider apart, more variety) but amenities are more basic and can get crowded being only 2.5 hours from NYC. Next time, we will try Jiminy Peak the other mountain around here but about an hour N, near Lenox MA.

Millerton in the snow

They must have had 3 feet of snow since we were last up. A bright blue sky but bitterly cold: -2F (almost -20C) at 7 am

our cabin

our street

our stairs

our backyard

...but at least a cozy breakfast nook inside

Not too exciting

Saturday here, we just went for a wander and some lunch. We took the (huge) pumpkin that Paul bought for a thanksgiving decoration down to the compost bin at Union Square and then dropped off some electronic waste (broken camera and old phone and phone chargers etc) to a collection point. Then some lunch at Eataly a new Italian food hall place: naff name but really good. Not too exciting

Perfect weather for a warm apple cider

Composting bin at Union Square. Our photo was taken by a Singaporean film maker making a documentary on organic food around the world

then around the corner to the e-waste drop-off

followed by a pork brachiole for lunch at Eataly

not exactly BBQ season, but if we try to grill sausages indoors it makes the fire alarm go off.

Central Park at 6 am yesterday

New Year's resolutions to take up jogging don't last long here: when we met our "6 at 6" jogging pals in the Park in the gloom at 6 a.m. yesterday morning it was minus 4C, but the 40 kph wind made it feel like minus 13C. At least Tuesday night's 20 cm of snow made it pretty and the pain from frozen extremities worthwhile. The maintenance staff did a great job clearing the paths.

yours truly, 5.45 a.m.

the '6 at 6' group

some other hardy souls

Daniel Webster was an early 19th century New England statesman . Not sure why he warrants a statue in Central Park, although he died around the time it opened in the 1850's

we normally run on this snowy path

a quiet weekend in nyc

sorry for accidentally sending a blank blog on the weekend...pressed "publish post" instead of "save". Here is the correct blog. It was a quiet weekend in the city. here are are miscellaneous pictures from Downtown (Nolita/SoHo) and Rossevelt Island. No comaprison to the Qld floods but another 20-40 cm snow is forecast for tonight (Tuesday NYC)
Roosevelt Island, looking towards East River & Upper East Side of Manhattan

Queensboro Bridge and Roosevelt Island "tram"

antiques/garden centre on Elizabeth St, NoLiTa

SoHo fire escapes

weird!

quiet weekend in nyc

#250. Jets 38, Bills 7

Paul finally got to an NFL game, the NY Jets final home game for the season at the brand new Meadowlands stadium over the river in New Jersey, against the lowly ranked Buffalo Bills from upstate NY.

before the game

National Anthem

play action. can you spot the ball?

the Jets' "Air Crew" marching girls at quarter time

how weird is this? after the game. he was on vacation

#249. 1/1/11. Skiing at Butternut

Celebrated New Year's by going skiing at Butternut in SW Massachusetts, near the quaint old town of Great Barrington, about 30 mins from Millerton. Pretty gentle slopes, even the black diamonds, but no queues. It got up to about 10C, so extremely comfortable, but made the snow a bit wet and slow. Last Monday's 2 feet won't last long at this rate. it is supposed to get colder again next week.