New York, New York

So good, I've been there twice this week. It has the same, but different, vibrancy, noise, people and colour of Hong Kong.

First time was a couple of days ago, to visit the Museum of Modern Art, with my nephew Tyler, and friends of my sister-in-law, Heidi. Got a bit of a glut - so many famous painters, so many famous paintings. Decided I didn't like Picasso's women - they always look fed up - but continue to like Magritte - sooooooooo black, he's funny. By the time we all got to the modern modern art, I appreciated the impressionists - they put thought and work into their paintings. The latest stuff, well, a large canvas painted blue, ditto khaki, ditto black, ditto red - all by different people. I feel I've done something similar on walls, but never felt I could claim it as art.

"They're taking the piss," I muttered to Ty, not wishing to offend the surrounding afficionados.

"I hope so," he replied. "At least it would show humor." (sp. - he's American.)

Then we had to hurriedly avoid a bit of red string leaning against a wall. I thought it was marking the site of a future installation, but no, that was the installation. Ho ho ho.


Americans at play

Tonight (Saturday 30th Sept) Heidi and 3 nephews and I went to see Eric Clapton in concert at Madison Square Garden - ah, the smell of the marijuana, the roar of the immense crowd! The music was great, of course, but too loud in the upper registers for my sensitive ears. I poked my fingers in them, and then I could listen without wincing - and enjoy. Actually, I was using my brother's ticket, but not because he had an attack of brotherly love. Poor chap has a nasty cold and felt too rough.