Tags
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Hertz Car Rental, Hilton Garden Inn, Immigration, Ireland, Isle of Wight, Newark Airport, Tesla, TGI Friday
I returned home from Yorkshire on Wednesday morning having had an easy drive, and loaded all of my furniture into the store and then immediately began to pack again. On Thursday morning I was due to get into a taxi and go back to Heathrow airport.
At least I had half a day home with the family, and it was to be a special evening as our eldest daughter was performing in a dance show at her school, and we had tickets to watch her. At 6.45 we filed into the hall and took our seats around the performing space, which was on the floor, and watched proudly as she performed in the very first number. She is a natural on stage, loves being in the limelight and has an artistic flair to performing, as well as a very strong work ethic to her practice (which can be a little annoying around the house, but is impressive, nonetheless!). Unfortunately, she was only in that first number, and we were required to sit through another 29 pieces before the recital ended, and after about 6 or 7 the sound system began playing up as though there was a loose lead, or interreference somewhere. Having been on the rough end of technological malfunctions too often to remember, my heart went out to both the performers and the tech team. In time a solution was found and the evening continued to its end, and we proudly gave our daughter loud applause as she came back for the bows.
Thursday morning was difficult, as goodbye days always are, but we all went our separate ways and soon I was in the back of a taxi with my bags in the back. Usually the drivers go to Oxford, and down the M40 motorway until it meets the m25 orbital, and the to the airport, but on this occasion we went in the opposite direction, out towards the A34 and the M4, maybe there was heavy traffic on the other route, but it was a nice change. The morning was clear and I had a fine view of Windsor castle as we drove by. I found myself wondering if The Queen was in residence; it is a strange thing, but I very much think of Windsor as the home of Queen Elizabeth II and don’t really connect it with King Charles yet.
The airport experience was very swift and easy, although there was a new security question asked me at check-in: ‘are you carrying any Christmas crackers?’ , which made me feel rather jolly. Time for a cup of coffee before I made my way to the gate and boarded United flight 17 to Newark airport in New Jersey.
The flight was very calm, and having flown over Windsor, and the very stretch of road that I had been on 2 hours earlier, we turned south towards the Isle of Wight, where my brother lives, and then headed west where we crossed the region of Ireland where my sister lives. It was almost as if I were visiting all of my family on Thanksgiving Day.
I had an open seat next to me, allowing me to stretch out, which is always a bonus, and I plugged my headphones and perused the film choices. Mostly it was a smooth flight, but at one point the intercom crackled into life and a rather strange announcement was made: ‘The Captain has turned the seatbelt sign on, so please return to your seats. We are expecting some unexpected turbulence.’ Hmm!
We landed at Newark at around 3pm and a low, late afternoon sun lit up the Manhattan skyline beautifully. The Empire State Building was particularly prominent, and I could just see the rocket-shaped Chrysler Building peeping out behind.
Last time I came to Newark the queue to be admitted through immigration was so long that I missed my onward flight. On this occasion I had no connection to make, and therefore imagined that there would be no line and I would just breeze through, but I was wrong. In September there had only been two booths available to deal with the multiple international arrivals, yesterday there was only one open. A very kind and understanding passenger did mention that it was Thanksgiving Day, but it really seems as if Newark in particular has serious problems dealing with the immigration issue. As ever, once I arrived at the desk there was no delay and soon I was collecting my suitcase and heading for the rental car facility, which is reached by the SkyTrain. Unfortunately I was a bit tired and got onto the wrong train and was taken to one end of the line, when the rental cars were at the other, so I had to ride all of the way back again.
I have been to Newark often, but I really didn’t recognise my surroundings as I followed the signs and walked to the garage. I went to the special Hertz Gold Member Office, where I was given a Tesla for two days. As she completed the paperwork the lady explained that this was their first week in the new location, so everything was a bit confused. Following my adventures in Nashville during my last trip, I was a little more confident with the Tesla this time, and soon had my phone paired, seats and mirrors adjusted, temperature set and, most importantly of all, engine started.
I was headed towards Burlington, New Jersey, where I would be performing twice on Friday, and it was a simple drive of just under an hour. My hotel was a Hilton Garden Inn on the outskirts of the city, the same one I stayed in last year and indeed I was greeted with a ‘I remember you from last year, how have you been?’ which was a very nice way to arrive.
Of course, being Thanksgiving Day, most of the local restaurants were closed but the lady at the desk did tell me that there was a TGI Fridays that was open nearby, so I headed there for dinner. Over the door was TGI’s slogan ‘In here, it is always Friday’, whilst inside there were cards advertising that there was ‘Karaoke Every Sunday’. I pondered the question it every day is Friday, does Sunday ever come? Has there ever been a karaoke night there?
I had a burger and fries for my Thanksgiving dinner, and then went back to the hotel, where I unpacked my costumes and hung them up so that the creases could fall out over night. It had been a long day and I lay on the bed watching one of the Harry Potter films, which saw me to sleep in no time.