Peter and Charlene arrived on 1st October after a great holiday through Italy. Peter is an enthusiastic rugby league follower having been to the last 46 rugby league grand finals. In addition he is a fanatical Manly supporter. The Rugby League Grand Final was between Manly and the New Zealand Warriors and it was on the night of arrival. There was no way we were going to miss out.
It would start at 2.30am on the Sunday morning after arrival. Through investigation we found The Australian Hotel on 38th West St. Phone calls indicated we should be there by midnight in order to get a close up of anyone of the 12 screens showing the game. It was to be a long night.
We had arrived back the day before from Ian Cooks funeral. On sitting down at the bar we found the Aussie sitting next to us was John Spicer, Ian's brother in law. Cookie's networking was still full on within a week of his passing.
Every 15 minutes the bar owner increased the volume of the music. Is it any wonder I'm deaf. Amber and Shelly, Peter's daughters, joined us for the game. Clearly the oldest person in the bar, a great evening, which finished with no hearing, many stories and a great win for Manly.
Sunday night saw us at New World Stages for Avenue Q a show with Sesame Street type puppets living out life in any big city. Raunchy and hilarious. Yes, raunchy puppets, definitely R rated. I will let your imagine run away with how it all worked. Very clever and a lot of fun. The evening finished with a Japanese diner in West 46th St, known as Restaurant Row.
Monday night we dined in one of New York's finest, Corton, on West Broadway in Tribeca. Leppardo, Charlene, Amber, Shelly, Rob, a long time friend of Peter's, Maureen and I enjoyed ourselves in one of New York's ten Michelin two star restaurants. Chef Liebrandt's pairing of shrimp and rabbit, rhubarb and beef, egg and octopus support the fact that he is a chef exploring new taste and textual sensations. This was a serious temple to modern food.
Tuesday our wonderful an expert tour director, Maureen, took Peter, Charlene, Amber and Shelly for a bike tour down the Hudson and around Battery Park and Battery City. The turning point was Jack's coffee place. One of the better coffee places in town.
After diner at the restaurant, Home, in Cornelia Street on Tuesday night we wandered all of 20 metres to the Cornelia Street Cafe theatre where Amanda Bassington won us over with a voice reminiscent of Norah Jones. There is no shortage of wonderful places to visit. We were fortunate to have spent this special time with Peter and Charlene.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Reflections, as a result of a very close friend, Ian Cook, dying.
In life your closest friends number very few. Ian was one of mine. The relationship, a very open one, of 30 years. He passed away in a matter of moments at the end of a walk with friends, with no pain, doing something he loved doing. What a way to go.
Within the last 2/3 months as Ian left a funeral he said to his wife, Robyn, "I feel worse coming out than when I went in. At my funeral I want people to feel better for the experience". That is what happened.
Ian was bigger then life. He made a difference in everything he did. Whether it was in your life, your business, or anything else that was part of your life. He impacted not only each of us as individuals but our children and our friends. In many cases he was the ring master in all that we did.
Ian will be missed. His funeral was the celebration of a fantastic life. Everyone left the funeral better than when they entered.
Ian created the opportunity for us to spend time with his wonderful wife and their children Gemma and Julia. Two days before Ian died Gemma and Christian provided Ian with a beautiful granddaughter, Alexandra.
The return allowed us an unexpected flying catch up with children, parents and very close and special friends. Never to be taken for granted.
Thanks Ian for creating the opportunity. During the week of writing this blog Steve Jobs of Apple fame passed away. Similar to Ian he was an innovator. His quote "Stay hungry Stay foolish" also summarizes Ian. I have no doubt heaven has been reorganized and technologically advanced.
Ian thanks for reminding us of the importance of life and the need to take nothing for granted. You will be missed
Within the last 2/3 months as Ian left a funeral he said to his wife, Robyn, "I feel worse coming out than when I went in. At my funeral I want people to feel better for the experience". That is what happened.
Ian was bigger then life. He made a difference in everything he did. Whether it was in your life, your business, or anything else that was part of your life. He impacted not only each of us as individuals but our children and our friends. In many cases he was the ring master in all that we did.
Ian will be missed. His funeral was the celebration of a fantastic life. Everyone left the funeral better than when they entered.
Ian created the opportunity for us to spend time with his wonderful wife and their children Gemma and Julia. Two days before Ian died Gemma and Christian provided Ian with a beautiful granddaughter, Alexandra.
The return allowed us an unexpected flying catch up with children, parents and very close and special friends. Never to be taken for granted.
Thanks Ian for creating the opportunity. During the week of writing this blog Steve Jobs of Apple fame passed away. Similar to Ian he was an innovator. His quote "Stay hungry Stay foolish" also summarizes Ian. I have no doubt heaven has been reorganized and technologically advanced.
Ian thanks for reminding us of the importance of life and the need to take nothing for granted. You will be missed
Monday, October 10, 2011
Stooke's Legacy
We were fortunate enough to have Isabele and Jack Stooke and Jack's best mate Rowan stay with us from 16th September. Great to have some young people stay. One bedroom, a double bed and a blow up mattress was home for a few days.
The first night was at Celeste, a tiny Italian restaurant, owned by a fanatical Italian rugby supporter. He could name every member of the Italian rugby team including the reserves. Australia was due to play Italy that weekend. He assumed we had some direct links to the Australian team as he asked us to take it easy on his team.
Maureen has a great understanding of what happens in New York so was able to head them in the right direction. It was good that Isabel was there to ensure the boys got themselves going each day. Isabel left to return to London leaving Jack and Rowan with unencumbered control of their own days. They seemed relaxed.
Whilst the boys were doing their thing Maureen had found a free night out for us at an east side mansion. It was a property owned by The Kosiusko Foundation which supports Polish students and other Polish endeavors. This particular night they were presenting a Polish Jazz Band. The mansion was spectacular and for the 17 people who attended, the Jazz was just ok.
Saturday night found us at the Khune Theatre on the east side. A 60 seat theatre which presented "The Specific Instructions and Detailed Directions of Eugene O'Neil. Hilarious. Eugene O'Neil, a playwright in 1913/14 apparently gave specific instructions and detailed directions for every play he wrote. As the plays directions were read a group acted out the instructions. Fantastic for the unbelievable cost of $20 per seat.
Whilst we were developing the cultural aspects of our life Jack and Rowan had been to the Yankees and a comedy club. The Yankees had a win and the laughter continued well after the club had closed.
On Tuesday evening we were led astray by the younger generation, for at least 2 hours. We visited the Lincoln Jazz Centre. Here we were entertained by the new and younger generation of jazz. All educated at the Julliard School of Jazz they were spectacular. Look our for a young violinist called Charles Yang.
Baz and Gabby you can be well proud of the legacy you have created.
It was that evening we received a call that one of our closest friends, Ian Cook, had suddenly passed away. We returned to Australia and left Jack and Rowan in charge of their New York apartment. I noticed a smile on both of their faces as we left town.
The first night was at Celeste, a tiny Italian restaurant, owned by a fanatical Italian rugby supporter. He could name every member of the Italian rugby team including the reserves. Australia was due to play Italy that weekend. He assumed we had some direct links to the Australian team as he asked us to take it easy on his team.
Maureen has a great understanding of what happens in New York so was able to head them in the right direction. It was good that Isabel was there to ensure the boys got themselves going each day. Isabel left to return to London leaving Jack and Rowan with unencumbered control of their own days. They seemed relaxed.
Whilst the boys were doing their thing Maureen had found a free night out for us at an east side mansion. It was a property owned by The Kosiusko Foundation which supports Polish students and other Polish endeavors. This particular night they were presenting a Polish Jazz Band. The mansion was spectacular and for the 17 people who attended, the Jazz was just ok.
Saturday night found us at the Khune Theatre on the east side. A 60 seat theatre which presented "The Specific Instructions and Detailed Directions of Eugene O'Neil. Hilarious. Eugene O'Neil, a playwright in 1913/14 apparently gave specific instructions and detailed directions for every play he wrote. As the plays directions were read a group acted out the instructions. Fantastic for the unbelievable cost of $20 per seat.
Whilst we were developing the cultural aspects of our life Jack and Rowan had been to the Yankees and a comedy club. The Yankees had a win and the laughter continued well after the club had closed.
On Tuesday evening we were led astray by the younger generation, for at least 2 hours. We visited the Lincoln Jazz Centre. Here we were entertained by the new and younger generation of jazz. All educated at the Julliard School of Jazz they were spectacular. Look our for a young violinist called Charles Yang.
Baz and Gabby you can be well proud of the legacy you have created.
It was that evening we received a call that one of our closest friends, Ian Cook, had suddenly passed away. We returned to Australia and left Jack and Rowan in charge of their New York apartment. I noticed a smile on both of their faces as we left town.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Harts of New York
September has come and gone. We had a great time with Tim and Libby Hart. Monday lunch time saw us At The Men's US open final. It was fantastic. Apparently one of the best ever. It lasted just over four hours. Both Nadal and Djokovic are amazing athletes. Its hard to imagine what they actually do to achieve their level of fitness and maintain
It was Straight from the stadium onto to the train and onto Times Square with the other millions of mesmerized tourists. It's difficult to think of any other city that can consistently create such an environment.
The rest of the week included an attempt to catch Andre Borcelli. However rain and finding ourselves at the end of a que of 66,000 people dampened our enthusiasm. The bike ride around New York held some excitement for Libby as we headed the wrong way down the street into on coming traffic. That's why we wear helmets.
On an early morning walk Tim was able to recruit at least 5 New York policemen for touch football at Hassell Park.
I think they went home tired and fulfilled.
It was Straight from the stadium onto to the train and onto Times Square with the other millions of mesmerized tourists. It's difficult to think of any other city that can consistently create such an environment.
The rest of the week included an attempt to catch Andre Borcelli. However rain and finding ourselves at the end of a que of 66,000 people dampened our enthusiasm. The bike ride around New York held some excitement for Libby as we headed the wrong way down the street into on coming traffic. That's why we wear helmets.
On an early morning walk Tim was able to recruit at least 5 New York policemen for touch football at Hassell Park.
I think they went home tired and fulfilled.
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