Security plus!!

The last few days have been heavily focused on security in one form or another.

On Tuesday John took Wendy and Roe to the United Nations building where we were lucky enough to be able to observe from the gallery a session of the U. N Security Council. The meeting was chaired by Gary Quinlan, the Australian Ambassador to the U.N and the topic was Iraq.....such horrific statistics....10,000 killed in Iraq this year and twice that number injured as a result of the attack by ISIL. As well there were graphic pictures presented of the scale of humanitarian aid needed...with winter coming on, so many are without even basic necessities...an overwhelming task! It certainly puts other problems into perspective.

For a change of mood Wendy and Roe headed for the vibrant and colourful Matisse exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art via St Patrick's cathedral (undergoing stunning refurbishment).

Next day saw Wendy and Roe depart for Washington while John prepared to enjoy a stimulating series of U.N meetings talks and caught up with friends and former colleagues

As those who have been here will know, Washington is a beautiful city - elegantly laid out with wide avenues and lovey parks. We did tours both days and covered most of the historic sites. A major highlight was being lucky enough to be able to sit in the gallery of the House of Representatives and Congress was sitting! How amazing was that !

So many extraordinary memorials.....Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Franklin Roosevelt, Kennedy family graves, and of course all the wars (world war 1 and 2, Korean and Vietnam ...... All of them different but each very moving!!

One very exciting moment ........ When we were outside the White House there were barricades everywhere.... And police!

Stopped from crossing the road we suddenly saw a cavalcade of about 8 cars headed by a police car, sweep past us and into the grounds of the W.H. The cars all had blacked out windows but we liked to think Obama was in there somewhere. However it was on the news this morning that there had been an armed woman discovered in the grounds of the W H yesterday so perhaps it was all to do with that! Security!!!

Security is everywhere ......multiple checks in the Capitol building and in museums. Wendy is a bit disappointed....Roe's knees hit the jackpot every time ensuring full body scanning while Wendy's screws don't rate a mention.

Weather has been very cold but blue skies.....Christmas trees going up everywhere - in front of the Capitol building and the White House as well as along the streets. Also to be seen are lots of fat squirrels and fat people.....all stocking up for the winter?!?

Back to New York tomorrow......love to all!

Wendy and Roe