Peter with Manhattan in background at the Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York, NY, 27 Dec 1986
23 Dec 1986, Tue (Detroit, MI to Belvidere, NJ)
Woke at 5.45 and was down in lobby around 6.30. Got stuffed around with bill (had understood we were to get a free night) then the hotel car was late. Anyway, made it to the airport in time to catch 8.15 flight to Newark. By the time we took off we were about 15 mins late. Arrived and after waiting for luggage a good 20-30 minutes, we just caught a bus to Easton, Pennsylvania. On arrival, contacted Mr Ott (Howard) who picked us up. Howard and Jane are really lovely people and much saddened by Cynthia’s death. A lot of memories came back for Peter especially after going up to her apartment. They have a big lovely old house.
Howard and Jane Ott, 300 Greenwich Road, Belvidere, NJ
24 Dec 1986, Wed (Belvidere, NJ)
Christmas Eve a pretty grey day. Berk, the Ott’s son arrived during the night. We went for a walk downtown and wandered around. It just does not seem like Christmas at all. In the afternoon, Mrs Ott took us to the local Wayne County library and got a very interesting tour from one of the head honchos. I think that libraries have the same hassles all over the world, lack of space, etc. Got back in time to walk up the road 2 minutes to St Patrick’s Catholic Church for Mass at 4.00. Smallish church – Irish priest, it was pretty disappointing. We stood up the back, about the only Christmas flavour were a couple of carols sung half-heartedly. Went to the Presbyterian service at 8.00 with the Otts and came home to an oyster casserole.
Howard and Jane Ott, 300 Greenwich Road, Belvidere, NJ
25 Dec 1986, Thu (Belvidere, NJ)
Christmas Day, another very grey day. Got up about 9.00. Had a light breakfast and we all opened our presents in the living room. The Otts gave us some blue statues. Did washing, helped with lunch. With rellies, there were ten of us for lunch, pork and venison and pumpkin pie. Lounged till around 4.00. Mr Ott took his mum-in-law (Mrs Evelyn Wieghorst) home so on the way we got to check out the local museum, and she invited us into her home which she and her husband (John) built from materials on their land. Had a nice evening talking and watching TV. We talked more of Cynthia and I think it was good to talk things about, rather than keep it inside.
Howard and Jane Ott, 300 Greenwich Road, Belvidere, NJ
26 Dec 1986, Fri (Belvidere, NJ to New York City)
Mr and Mrs Ott drove us into Hackettstown, NJ to catch the bus to NYC. Arrived to be ripped off by a guy who took us 100 yards to a taxi and asked for $2, then a taxi, $3 for 500 yards up the road to the Milford Plaza. Checked in and took a walk looking for the Jewish 47th Street Photo store (at first on 42nd St). Found it then continued to 89th along Central Park to find Angela Willis. She was not home (50 E 98 St #14B) so left message there and at hospital. Caught taxi to Wall St ($10) – toured Stock Exchange, had a street hamburger. Caught subway from World Trade Center back to town. Got half tix for ‘42nd Street’. Dined in a steak house. Walked back to hotel and changed room due to noisy lift and went to show just around the corner. Pretty good! Went for a walk.
Milford Plaza Hotel, 270 West 45th Street, New York, NY
27 Dec 1986, Sat (New York City)
Angela Willis rang at 8am and suggested some places to visit. After making some phone calls re hotel reservations and flights we caught the subway and subsequent ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Packed with people. Came back and walked to World Trade Center, waited in another queue to see the spectacular views of this concrete jungle, hardly a tree to be seen! Caught subway back to Times Square and had lunch at 3.00 at Wendy’s (chilli). Walked down to Sax of 5th Avenue. Peter bought scarf for his mum. Saw a slide and sound presentation “The NY Experience” in the McGraw-Hill Building. Good but dated. Had tea at Tony R. Ribs pretty good but filling. Went back to hotel and wrote some postcards, then walked back to see 10.20 session of “Crocodile Dundee”.
Milford Plaza Hotel, 270 West 45th Street, New York, NY
Peter with Manhattan in background at the Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York, NY, 27 Dec 1986
23 Dec 1986, Tue (Detroit, MI to Belvidere, NJ)
Woke at 5.45 and was down in lobby around 6.30. Got stuffed around with bill (had understood we were to get a free night) then the hotel car was late. Anyway, made it to the airport in time to catch 8.15 flight to Newark. By the time we took off we were about 15 mins late. Arrived and after waiting for luggage a good 20-30 minutes, we just caught a bus to Easton, Pennsylvania. On arrival, contacted Mr Ott (Howard) who picked us up. Howard and Jane are really lovely people and much saddened by Cynthia’s death. A lot of memories came back for Peter especially after going up to her apartment. They have a big lovely old house.
Howard and Jane Ott, 300 Greenwich Road, Belvidere, NJ
24 Dec 1986, Wed (Belvidere, NJ)
Christmas Eve a pretty grey day. Berk, the Ott’s son arrived during the night. We went for a walk downtown and wandered around. It just does not seem like Christmas at all. In the afternoon, Mrs Ott took us to the local Wayne County library and got a very interesting tour from one of the head honchos. I think that libraries have the same hassles all over the world, lack of space, etc. Got back in time to walk up the road 2 minutes to St Patrick’s Catholic Church for Mass at 4.00. Smallish church – Irish priest, it was pretty disappointing. We stood up the back, about the only Christmas flavour were a couple of carols sung half-heartedly. Went to the Presbyterian service at 8.00 with the Otts and came home to an oyster casserole.
Howard and Jane Ott, 300 Greenwich Road, Belvidere, NJ
25 Dec 1986, Thu (Belvidere, NJ)
Christmas Day, another very grey day. Got up about 9.00. Had a light breakfast and we all opened our presents in the living room. The Otts gave us some blue statues. Did washing, helped with lunch. With rellies, there were ten of us for lunch, pork and venison and pumpkin pie. Lounged till around 4.00. Mr Ott took his mum-in-law (Mrs Evelyn Wieghorst) home so on the way we got to check out the local museum, and she invited us into her home which she and her husband (John) built from materials on their land. Had a nice evening talking and watching TV. We talked more of Cynthia and I think it was good to talk things about, rather than keep it inside.
Howard and Jane Ott, 300 Greenwich Road, Belvidere, NJ
26 Dec 1986, Fri (Belvidere, NJ to New York City)
Mr and Mrs Ott drove us into Hackettstown, NJ to catch the bus to NYC. Arrived to be ripped off by a guy who took us 100 yards to a taxi and asked for $2, then a taxi, $3 for 500 yards up the road to the Milford Plaza. Checked in and took a walk looking for the Jewish 47th Street Photo store (at first on 42nd St). Found it then continued to 89th along Central Park to find Angela Willis. She was not home (50 E 98 St #14B) so left message there and at hospital. Caught taxi to Wall St ($10) – toured Stock Exchange, had a street hamburger. Caught subway from World Trade Center back to town. Got half tix for ‘42nd Street’. Dined in a steak house. Walked back to hotel and changed room due to noisy lift and went to show just around the corner. Pretty good! Went for a walk.
Milford Plaza Hotel, 270 West 45th Street, New York, NY
27 Dec 1986, Sat (New York City)
Angela Willis rang at 8am and suggested some places to visit. After making some phone calls re hotel reservations and flights we caught the subway and subsequent ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Packed with people. Came back and walked to World Trade Center, waited in another queue to see the spectacular views of this concrete jungle, hardly a tree to be seen! Caught subway back to Times Square and had lunch at 3.00 at Wendy’s (chilli). Walked down to Sax of 5th Avenue. Peter bought scarf for his mum. Saw a slide and sound presentation “The NY Experience” in the McGraw-Hill Building. Good but dated. Had tea at Tony R. Ribs pretty good but filling. Went back to hotel and wrote some postcards, then walked back to see 10.20 session of “Crocodile Dundee”.
Milford Plaza Hotel, 270 West 45th Street, New York, NY