Friday, Saturday and Sunday 20, 21 & 22 June 2025

Sitting in the car rental office, talking to the nice lady waiting for her rental, we commented on all the police cars we saw back in town.  “Oh yes, she says, the President is in town.” How about that? In sleepy Morristown. It seems he just flew in and took the ‘Beast’ down the interstate to his golf course. Shuts down the entire motorway.

Friday night we settle into our three story, large and brand new town house, in upmarket Morristown. We decide to live in one room. Less cleaning. Our cat ‘Polly,’ is a 16 year old Turkish Var. He slinks around and sleeps in the wardrobe. Just being a cat. Out the back, over the manicured green belt, we can walk to a large shopping centre with supermarkets and café/restaurants. But it’s an early night tonight.

Flashy is desperate for a lazy day today, Saturday. However, the only opportunity to catch up with Joanne’s old Adelaide school mate, Georgina, is today. She is living in a very large and flash apartment in 3rd Ave, New York City with her French husband Yvan and 6 yr old son. So, it’s up early, Uber to train, 1.10 hr train to NYC, walk to apartment, all before 10.30 am.  Yvan greets us with the old French double kiss and offers Flashy a whisky. ‘A bit early, old chap’, he says but relents half an hour later when the girls have a gin and tonic. Wonderful views from their 15th floor balcony (complete with water fountain and potted shrubs).

Just after 12 noon, we say  goodbye and head downtown in search of Katz Deli. It’s now hot in the high 20’s and we seek the shady side of the street and a short stop at a bar for a cooling beer and an Aperol Spritz. On the way, around Delancy Street, Flashy trips on the uneven sidewalk. Heading face first towards the pavement, the first reaction is to put out his hands. However, images of gravel rash, dislocated shoulder and the like (from the graphic images in his motorbike training video), prevented this move. Then, the lizard brain took over. Tuck in the chin. Elbows in. Twist right and para roll. Just like 50 years ago. In a flash he is rolling and standing – almost. No damage except for a slight tear in the shirt sleeve. No blood. No breakages. So, march on!

Last time we were at Katz Deli it was January 2007. It was cold and there were no queues. Today, it’s pretty hot and the queue was 50 metres long. Noticing that it was moving steadily and from memory, the inside is very large (probably seat 200), we joined the queue at the corner. About 20 minutes later and we were inside. Nothing much has changed. Probably hasn’t changed since 1888. We shared a Ruben. Slow cooked corned beef on special sauce, sauerkraut and cheese on light rye. Half each and we took 100g of the meat home in a napkin. Home exhausted at 5.00 pm. Bed beckoned at 8.00 pm, until the news came on. The D has bombed Iran. He’s looking pretty Presidential if you ask me!

View from Georgina's balcony
In the far distance is the entrance to Katz's
Just about in the door.
Half the Ruben.
Flashy gave up and used a knife and fork.
How big is out TV?
The Big Apple.


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