Do You Want Milk With That Latte?

East Hartford - Fri 13th April.

God, it's cold here. 40 degrees F (not C) and a bitter wind. Yesterday we had sleet and snow, and more is forcast for Sunday. Today is bright and sunny, but still cold. Apparently it's the coldest April for a very long time (in contrast to January which was the warmest January on record).

As well as being cold, it's still quite dreary and drab. The trees still haven't got any leaves and most of the ground seems to a dull browny colour. I know from experience that in the summer, it's a pleasant place. In the autumn, when the leaves change colour, it's a positively beautiful place. But now, in late spring, it's just drab. I drove over the Connnecticut River this morning, and even that was a muddy brown colour.

Despite this, my spirits are undampend. I just love being here. Driving to work this morning, I felt as if I could have just kept on going. The traffic in this part of the world is light, the car (a Ford) just cruises along effortlessly and with a free coffee from the hotel and some good music on the radio, everything was pretty cool. Of course, tomorrow is the weekend and I WILL keep going (to Boston, maybe) but today it was work.

Stangely enough, I think other people must have felt the same as me; the office is pretty much deserted. I have some training this afternoon, but hopefully it will be a quick getaway after...

Thurs 12th April - East Hartford

My last post extolled the virtues of the Americans. But as well as being wonderfully friendly, they can also be quite blunt.

Last night, in my befuddled jet lagged state at the airport, I was going to the restroom when for some reason, I hesitated which way to go. A huge guy nearly bumped into me and expressed his annoyance with the following bark "Hey buddy, you need to get with the program here". In England there might have been a surly "tut tut" or maybe an "excuse me". But over here, it was some red necked idiot shouting to the whole airport that I need to get with the program. What exactly does that mean anyway - get with the program.

Despite this, my views on the natives haven't changed.

On my way to the airport to pick up my hire car this morning, the bus driver spent the whole journey giving me advice on where to eat, what to do, and the state of the nation. Finally he also filled me in on "those god dammed *** Yankees" (I presume he was talking about the baseball team, rather than Americans in general).

As predicted, I slept like a log last night, and my jet lag has gone (seems I haven't lost my touch after all). This morning, I realised that after two days of traveling, I hadn't eaten properly for some time and that I was ravenous.

Well, if there is one place to be if you're hungry then America is it. Breakfast consisted of an unfeasibly large mound of scrambled eggs, corn beef hash and about half a bottle of Tabasco. As ever, lashings of free coffee finished it off. What a meal and all for 5 dollars (£2.50) - compare that with the £20 quid or so you'll pay for a hotel breakfast in a good hotel in the UK/Europe.

Arriving at the hire car office, I was offered a complimentary bagel and the inevitable coffee. For the sake of my figure, I turned down the bagel, but was unable to resist the coffee!

Wednesday 11th April - East Harford
Am absolutely knackered!

As predicted, after about an hours sleep, I was wide awake. I did drift off to sleep again, but it was very fitful.

Up at 0500 to get my shuttle to the airport. Good humour was partially restored by the provision of free coffee by the hotel. It seems most hotels in the States that I go to do this - a complimentary pot of hot coffee in the reception area. It can't cost much, and it is such a nice gesture, why can't hotels in the rest of the world do it? So while I was checking out and then waiting for the bus, I managed to gulp two cups of restorative coffee - marvelous!

Arrival at the airport provided another contrast between UK and the States. Check in was painless, security was tight but the guys doing the checks were polite, friendly and efficient - the complete opposite to the surly people at LHR. Yet another contrast - we had a delay and the gate staff explained everything and told us what was what.

While I was sat by the window waiting for our airplane to arrive, I looked longingly at Phoenix in the distance. I spent a month here in 1992 and it was wonderful. I had hoped to have a couple of days rediscovering the place, but my plans changed hence my departure some 12 hours after my arrival!

A lot of people seem to dislike America and Americans these days. I can perhaps understand that, but to all those detractors, I would say go and see the place and meet the people before judging them.

Wherever you go here, you can't help but bump into friendly, helpful people. They are just dying to either help you or just be generally nice to you. When our plane finally left for Pittsburgh, I found myself next to an old lady. By the time we were airborne (15 minutes after leaving the gate) I felt as if I had known her all my life. It was exactly the same at Pittsburgh while I was waiting for my connecting flight. I found a bar to eat some dinner, and within 5 minutes was involved in a not too serious conversation on the poor old Pittsburgh Penguins (an Ice Hockey team who were getting a beating last night) with 3 other guys. This sort of thing just wouldn't happen in the UK.

So, anyway, after a few hours in Pittsburgh, I caught another plane and arrived in a bitterly cold Hartford at about 2300. I have spent the last 2 days flying and am now exhausted. Jet lag or not, I suspect I'll be sleeping well tonight!

Not entirely sure when the next few posts will get onto the net - I am traveling and have limited email and internet access.

Tuesday 10th April - Phoenix
Just spent 10 and a half hours on a plane. Even in business class, with a 'lie-flat' seat it's not good. Better than cattle class but still not good.

Leaving LHR was the usual mess. Loads of jobsworth security guys (and gals) whose only aim in life is to make everyone else's life a misery.

Then the world's favourite airline were up to their usual tricks. The flight was an hour late, but did we get any updates from the ground staff - did we hell. Had there been an announcement, I could have gone and got a coffee, or done some shopping, or done anything rather than stand round expectantly waiting for a boarding call that never came. Turns out that the first officer's car had broken down. BA then had to find another crew member to take his place. It all sounds suspicious to me. Just to complete the day, the boarding process was a scrum with just one announcement - 'board now'.

Once airborne however, comfortably ensconced in my lie-flat seat, my usual good mood returned and I have to say that the food was excellent. I don't normally like seafood, but I had a crab salad and then a prawn masala curry that were both wonderful. A large glass of whiskey, and then a few hours kip.

Reading that last paragraph, it sort of contradicts what I was saying about business class. Well, yes it is infinitely better than being cooped up in an economy seat, but it is still a pain.

Entry into the states was absolutely painless. Incredibly I was first off the plane, and we were the only international arrival at the airport. So it took just 2 minutes to clear immigration. Even those who had to queue were processed quickly, and but the time our luggage arrived, pretty much everyone had cleared - well impressed with that.

So now, I am sat in my hotel, at 0500 british time and 2100 local time and the prospect of a disrupted night's sleep beckons.

Before I got married, I used to travel a lot and jet lag was never an issue. I guess this is because 1) I traveled so much that I was used to it, and 2) I was a lot younger and could recover much quicker.

Anyway, I am pretty sure this is going to be a sleepless, night and I have an early get up to catch another flight.

Seen in a branch of Cafe Nero (in Windsor) on Saturday

A large sign proclaiming

"Hot Soup Fresh From The Fridge"