It's beginning to look a lot like Xmas!

After an awesome run for me through Central Park (Runners heaven), along with one or two (!) other runners, and the occasional frozen puddle or two, we got the girls rugged up for the cold and hit the streets.

We walked over to Central Park (5 minutes and we're in it) and through to the Xmas Markets. A scarf or two and some warm drinks later, we wandered through the park a bit then over to the supposedly amazing, but rather disapointing FAO Schwartz toy shop (Ground floor was mostly sweets/lollies (Candy!) and the upper floor was more people than things to look at. I guess we're spoilt with Toy Stores these days, but apart from the occasional silly posh version of something (A bejewelled $1200 Etch-a-sketch) the highlight was the $12,000 table soccer set made with life size Barbies!

We then headed to Grand Central Station to make our way to cousin Glen (and Yvonne's) for a Xmas Eve extravaganza. Slight mishap with the platforms (Went to Platform 24, but we needed 107. Close!) saw us arrive half an hour late, with our poor courier Glen wondering if there were some Aussies lost somewhere in the New York Maze. Ooops!

We were welcomed into Glen's house by his delightful children, Hunter and Shayne, who spent the next two hours hiding from us - I didn't realize we were that scary! Must be the accent! Glen's In-laws were also there to welcome us, and give us a taste of local accents and an insight into the way of life here. (Glen is English/Belgian/English/Belgian depending on whether he was winning the argument!) and is married to Yvonne, a thru and thru New Yorker. thers who joined us at the table were Yvonne's brother Joe, and friend Elizabeth. A great collection of local flavour!

The meal was spectacular (Yvonne had gone to an amazing amount of effort) and food was plentiful. We were almost full at appetizers! Definitely our poshest meal for the whole trip. Fine dining, and amazing service - which was coming from both their upstairs and downstairs kitchen - Oh, did I mention their house was huge, and absolutely covrede in Xmas decorations. Only three Xmas trees! Downstairs they have a large storage 'mancave', which is lucky, because the Xmas gear would honestly take up a small room. Not only did they totally put us into Xmas mode, they gave us some great wrapped presents! (the only ones the girls got). Not to mention the box of samples of posh perfume from Glen's (recent) old job, which the girls got to sort through for favourites. They ended u with ones they were planning on buying anyway, so had hit the jackpot!

We made a fast exit to get back to the city. and left our hosts with a mammoth clean up job (Typical Auusies!). The ride to Grand Central is about 50 minutes, followed by a couple of subway rides - which had us home just before 2am. We crashed, happy and contented, our bellies full!