New York snowglobe

Looks like I was not the only insomniac last night, nor the only one to use it as an opportunity for a blip...

This is a very tacky New York snowglobe which was given to me as a gift by a friend many years ago: I can't remember exactly when, but the presence of the Twin Towers indicates that it was no later than 2001.

Maybe enough words have already been said about 9/11... maybe there will never be enough words said about it... For me personally, the events of that day gave a particular message which is essentially mundane but which nonetheless did have quite a significant effect - 9/11 was, for me, apart from anything else, a reminder that nothing lasts forever.

I had always wanted to go to the States. As a kid, I had seen the pictures of the skyscrapers and the Grand Canyon; I had watched the Westerns and the gangster movies and the Apollo missions; I had seen the cop shows on TV; and I wanted to see all this in person. As I grew older, I became more blasé about the whole thing. There was no rush. After all, America wasn't going anywhere. Well, on 9/11 part of America did go somewhere...

I hadn't visited the States before 9/11. My first visit was in late 2002: and so began some kind of a love affair. There is plenty about the USA which makes me uncomfortable, irritated, even a little frightened; but there is also much that I love, from the skyscrapers and the energy of New York City to the peace and beauty of Arizona... I have visited the States, I think, five times now. I'm hoping that it won't be long till my next visit. I shall indulge myself by posting a few links to some of my favourite holiday snaps. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading :-)

Self portrait, Jerome AZ

Scottsdale AZ

NYC snow

Coney Island buses

Chicago lakeside

Chicago mercy dinosaur

Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center