New York

HE SAID ...... Monday, a new day, started as usual on our travel days. 99% well packed by Janet (and me if there are any customs people reading this) all ready to just add our flannellette PJs and go. Awake 3 minutes before alarm at 4.18am, taxi to Civi airport at 5am ready to leave at 8.15am for london.
One of my purchases during the trip has been a swiss cowbell/cow bell. logicaly i selected a large one which i now carry with me in our backpak. Italian customs, when they saw my bag vias Xray thought it amusing. Guiseppe, Antonio, Bob, come and look at this. No comment to me and we were waved thru.
London, an entirely different story. The Xray guy there was totally buggered. "Mohammed, Jonathon, Abdull, check this out", he said. Pull this guy out. A female custom officer gestured for me to "come around here, Sir, please take the object out of your bag.
I very carefully and dramatically removed the offending item from my bag (Actually the backpak belongs to Brid and i was already to say it was hers, just in case) The lady very carefully checked the cowbell, said nothing then rather embarrassed said i could place bag in the bag and go. So off we went into no-mans land, airport transit.
The next 7 hours, on the plane to New York, the poose slowly gathered under my seat as i wondered what the Yankee entry machine would make of my cowbell ?????????

SHE SAID ... We've made it to the big apple, and apart from an hours delay in London, and me getting a good pat down after repeated beeping and removing everything I could there, and a good trip.  After weeks of trepidation about our arrival here, our recent London experiences, and after hearing all the entry to USA stories, everything was a breeze and no checks at all on any hand luggage or persons!
...Just remembered when leaving Italy, we ended up with each others passports. I handed Michaels over, was given the nod and told to go through, Michael handed mine over and was told this wasn't the correct passport.  Amazing!!!

The lights of the cityscape were magic as we drove across to Manhatten - a scene we'll never forget. Hotel in a great spot just by Times Square and we have a back room, so very quiet last night. Out for a quick walk and got 'over excited' before bed!! 
Tomorrow we are meeting my cousin Graeme Birchall (a local NYer) and he's taking us out walking for the day.  We're really looking forward to catching up with him, and been taken on an outing that we haven't had to organise. We'll keep you posted.