Snowfall in New York 18 January 2009
This winter has been pretty cold by New York standards and the forecast is for more snow and a couple of very cold weeks ahead.
I was rather late in making my fruitcakes in 2008. I barely finished 2 cakes before Christmas. The first cake is nearly all gone, and the second is maturing nicely – it received a second dousing of cognac today.
My first effort 
My second.
We have not tasted the second cake, but I hope it will be better than the first.
Patti and I celebrated our wedding anniversary in San Francisco this year.
We chose to dine at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Check out their website for their menu which changes each week. When we were there on 3 January, the dinner menu consisted of:
My blog has suffered as I have been caught up with work and travel these last few months. After several complaints about my inactivity, I have been shamed into posting something more current than "Julian is 1". The kid deserves better from his grand uncle!
I am glad to report that Patti and I did make it to Chicago again just before Memorial Day this year in time to help Julian celebrate his second birthday. The young man is cuter than ever but a bit puzzled by the strangers who show up occasionally to visit! Our visit coincided with Julian's first encounter with fire … may he continue his journey of discovery – less painfully.
The weather was kinder this year and we managed to do a couple of extra things outdoors. I managed to get into the Bike the Drive ride on 25 May, and Patti and I drove out of town to visit the Farnsworth House by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Plano, Illinois.
Jad and I rode the annual Bike the Drive ride held on Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, we started at different times and headed in different directions on the route. However we managed to meet at the finish at Butler Field in Grant Park!
What a bloody well planned and kept secret.
A TOAST TO THE NEWLYWEDS (When we get to see them!)
Here is a lovely photograph of the happy couple…
On the ride back to Manhattan on the Staten Island Ferry, I had a chat with a web designer from Brooklyn who had apparently participated in all the rides over the last 30 years!! He took a shine to my Dahon Matrix and offered to buy it from me on the spot. I am looking forward to the ride next year when a few more friends will join me! If you are in New York City in May next year drop me a line and we can ride together!
In Action
At Astoria Park with my Dahon Matrix
The view of the UN from across the East River from the Con Edison rest stop.
Check out the route of the Tour through the 5 boroughs of New York.
Some photos of me on the ride last year!
After weeks of rain and cold, the weather has finally changed for the better. With the change came the daffodils in the park at the corner of W155th and Edgecombe Avenue.
On 9 April, we were invited to join the Australian Ambassador to the United States when he rang the opening bell at NASDAQ.
We arrived at the NASDAQ studio in Times Square at 8:30 a.m. where we were briefed on the ceremony and what we were going to do during the event. NASDAQ exists in cyberspace as it is a virtual market around the globe.
As you can guess, the ceremony takes place on the NASDAQ studio which is broadcast live to the major TV stations. At 9:30 we cheered, clapped and waved with the best of them! The Australian flag was posted on the outside of the round NASDAQ building which is encased in a TV screen. After the ceremony we went across Broadway to have our pictures taken in front of the NASDAQ building.
Check out the NASDAQ events website for more photos.
