At 8.30 this morning I came out of the subway at Vesey St. The church bell tolled. It was a heartbreaking walk to work.

Categories: New York
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The effects of furniture are more than positive – having a bed in a bedroom is a significant improvement … despite the lack of wall coverings and window treatments, it is almost grown-up. And as the Latino furniture-delivery-cum-installer said, this bed is so damn solid it won’t fall apart no matter what you get up to in it … (and I am telling you now – no seedy comments from any of you).

I thought the Eames and Noguchi were also due today, but also no … they “shipped” today, a missed nuance I took to mean “delivered” today. American is such a difficult language. They should be “delivered” next Friday (yet that needs to be confirmed).

I did manage to find a bargain location to purchase my “window treatments” online. Wooden 1” blinds in faux-walnut (for lounge and bedroom) and ice-burg white (for kitchen and bathroom). They “manufacture and ship” within 10 days and are “delivered” from Texas 3 days later.

So outstanding, a sofa, bookshelves, a full sized piece of art for the bedroom wall – green, I have been in a green mood fore quite some time now, a side-table for the stereo, and something to put bottles of gin on. After that I am set and done on the furnishing front.

T minus 3 days until I am connected to the internet again. God, I promise to go to church again if you get me a connection today … hmmm, well on second thoughts I will wait, I don’t think I could stomach the hypocrisy on a Friday night.

Categories: New York
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When living in a location it is completely necessary to determine staples of your community.

(1) An espresso bar – ok you knew I was going to say that

(2) Supermarket – and no Gourmet Garage does not count – I mean somewhere that actually sells flour, eggs and butter to allow you to make hand rolled pasta with butter and anchovies – shock horror, people in NY do actually make food themselves!

(3) A comfort food pit-stop – one on the sweet side – and one on the savoury side

(4) A wine shop – something that sells more than random bottle of liquid shelved under the categories of Cheap Plonk, Average and Dirty, Overpriced and Unidentifiable; plenty of these stores, none so far who look like they would get excited at the concept of a fresh and fruity sauvignon blanc.

Hmmm yes top priorities do seem to revolve around food and drink, ok so for some other village essentials:

(5) A gym – to deal with the consequences of (1)-(4) – these are in no short supply in the Gaysville of West Village

(6) A laundry – who doesn’t have to ask the question of whether a Versace suit should have bleech added to the machine – WHAT – good god in heaven above, I took that beautiful little suit right back home in search of Plan B.

(7) Book stores – I am so justified in not owning a television – there are some damn amazing book stores out there. For any who have the faintest idea what I am talking about … I found a first edition Janet Frame – Daughter Buffalo (which consequently is her only novel about life in New York and her general belief that American’s are detached in their integration of death into their lives – note this was written in 1972, I am patiently savouring a chapter a day. I am also in a hurry to find first editions of all her works – she died just after last years announcements in which she was nominated for Nobel Prize in Literature – she is a stones-throw away from this award – honestly this is a seminal writer for me, I know she is dark, preoccupied with the human psyche and death, but when you read her with an open mind she shows you’re the whisps of beauty that infiltrate a life that is bound in its fullness of pain and wonder – what more could you want, now honestly)

In many ways I am lucky in the West Village – it is very Villagie … and no longer can I say ‘I am the only gay in the village’. Its full of hot men, well depending on what night it is, then its just full of men, or full sized men, or cross-dressed men, or leather men, or men in jocks. Speaking of the latter, the 6^th Precinct NYPD really are the quietest neighbours I have ever had. If any of you are in need of NYPD jockstraps give me a yell, I will go ask them haha (no really, I will).

Categories: New York
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Moving day – holy ostrich wrap (tell you – there are some strange but tasty morsels to snack on in my neighbourhood). Well the move in has gone as smoothly as a smooth thing – keys were ready, the moving man was ready, the boxes were all up and being unpacked within 30 minutes. Only damage was one of my art pieces that has slight mounting damage, but nothing too serious by the looks of it. I have so much wrapping paper right now it is insane.

I will confess to finding some very obscure items in my packing boxes, including but not limited to empty hair-gel containers, ¼ can of liquid starch, and rosary beads that I was given by an Orthodox monk when in Jerusalem. I will confess also to salivating when I unrolled my chefs knives – slight problem is that the kitchen is the size of a crushed matchbox. I am thinking of ways of extending the virtual kitchen – a free-standing granite top bench could do the trick – where the hell I will find one of those is another matter.

Did I mention to anyone that in the 5 weeks I have been working, I have only been paid for 1 week. Escalating these sort of issues takes time over here. I am living on credit – go figure.

My next main challenge is to get furniture – seriously hahaha I so have to do this. My excuse is that I needed to understand the size of the various curves in the apartment before I could go purchasing furniture that may never fit. My more pressing issue is to first go out and purchase cleaning supplies – either they didn’t clean it prior to my arrival or my standards are above having an apartment as clean as a New York sidewalk.

Categories: Apartment, New York
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Ok just in case any of you are vaguely interested – this is where I work, that space behind the World Trade Centre hole that is – also referred to by my colleagues from Ft Lauderdale as “The White Ivory Tower” (haha and I don’t think that is meant in a positive light!) … and no, before you ask, I do not work swinging a handbag on the street corner

Categories: New York
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