Back in Cambridge, which looked awfully dull after 10 days in New York, and with my nearest GBG tick a long way away. I started the serious work of planning the next two months trips before GBG20 land on my doorstep much later than expected. Not to spoil the surprise too much, but this is… Continue reading NO FUSS ON THE FOSS

Mrs RM and the boys just wanted to go home.  Even though we all find Cambridge flat and boring and our DC apartment had a washing machine. I was ready to rejoin the great GBG adventure. Our lads were just hot and bothered, and our bus delayed by an hour at Union Station. Bolt Bus… Continue reading I’M SO BORED WITH THE USA

  Oh, looking at my photos (1,672 left to stick into blogs) it seems I succumbed to one more bar on that last day in Washington D.C. So I left the refinement of old D.C., for the brashness of the Pentagon City shopping arcade. You can see where I get the Milton Keynes analogy. I’d… Continue reading CHAMPPS @ PENTAGON CITY

We were flagging by Day 9 of our US trip. The oppressive heat, weird US spelling and lack of artisan sourdough were taking their toll. But we were perked up by the arrival of US Dave’s wonderful cousin Jan, who lived a few blocks away from our Pentagon City base and has probably been wondering… Continue reading FROM CHADDERTON TO THE CAPITOL

There’s 47, 875 songs about New York, New York, but only one about DC *. Yes, THAT Magnetic Fields, the ones who did a 69 song album. You left me in the Ear wondering how we’d spent $53 in 2 hours.  Sadly, it got worse as Mrs RM demanded I take her to the Blind… Continue reading WASHINGTON D.C.

  Our last day in New York, and Mrs RM reckoned we should do a museum. My idea of a museum is either a provincial town one like Crewkerne, packed with 1950s cereal packets, or a Modern Art gallery with exhibits made from broccoli. But the Met it was. I cannot begin to describe how… Continue reading NEW YORK STATE OF MIND – BASS IN THE EAR

Yes, no bandwagon too high for me to jump on. This reminder of America’s urgent desire to send men to a place without a craft beer bar in 1969 was spotted on Nostrand Avenue, as we headed into Chinatown on Day 6. From the photographic evidence, there’s no pubs today, probably a good idea after… Continue reading LOOK THERE’S THE CARLYLE

  Yes, a bit of Dylan, from before he went weird/wired. “Grabbed hold of a subway car And after a rocking, reeling, rolling ride I landed up on the downtown side Greenwich Village“ From the Staten ferry I walked to Greenwich Village via Tribeca, an area that accounts for 62% of total New York coffee… Continue reading TALKIN’ NEW YORK

Loads of songs about Staten Island, apparently, but the Wu-Tang Clan miss out to XTC in today’s song title shoot off.  Not Andy Partridge’s greatest moment, but then neither was Tower of London. Thanks for all those advising me to take the free ferry to Staten.  The chances of us missing out on a freebie… Continue reading STATUE OF LIBERTY