Here is DM making a statement about the liberty of photographers. He’s got the pose of the Statue of Liberty and he raises his camera as the torch, with his Billingham as the book of independence. I love it.

We ate, showered (as you might expect given our time of arrival) and eventually found ourselves in the lap of the most comfortable cocoon-like bed in the world. It’s big enough to host a pretty big orgy but we thought that’d be a bit crass so it’s just the two of us enjoying its comfort and charm!

The ‘do not disturb’ sign went onto the door and we awoke feeling pampered then got a phone call from Lara inviting us to meet her for lunch. A short tour of her office and work colleagues later, we found ourselves in a tiny Italian restaurant for lunch. Yum. DM was a bit phased by the quantity of garlic in my lunch but hopefully his quotient tonight has evened out the score!

After lunch we popped over to Liberty Island (clearly where this photo was taken) for a bit of American Tourism, then onto ‘ground zero’ for a quick butchers at the crater left by the events of 9/11. It seemed a bit ghoulish but we were so close by in Battery Park that we decided to do it anyway.

We were a bit reticent to look and suddenly became aware of a shout of ‘come on you Spurs’ from a stranger (we were both wearing gear from the WHL shop – DM in his lucky hat and me in my gloves and sweatshirt). A Swedish Spurs fan in NYC started up a conversation with us and we spent a pleasant ten minutes or so trading WHL stories. Cool!

Scooting back to the hotel for ten minutes to call our next hosts, Barbara and Arthur, where we head to tomorrow, we then had to dash back to Lara’s office to meet with her and Louise, her friend, who took us to an amazing vegan restaurant on the Upper East Side, called ‘The Candle Café’.

Replete from our supper, we moved over the street to ‘Lenox Lounge’ for a couple of drinks and a quick fondle of a pooch whose owner was also imbibing in the Lenox, I felt a bit calmer to get a lick off a dog.

Lara’s friend Louise is a gem too. I’ve been completely thrilled by the hospitality of the New Yorkers I’ve met in person. Having a cliché view of New Yorkers as rude and arrogant these folks have dispelled that myth easily. My thoughts now are that most New Yorkers are just like us – loving human company and looking for a soul mate. They tell us it’s not that easy! They say that it’s really difficult to find men who are not just either sexual tourists, gay (not that we don’t all love our gay friends, it’s just that they can’t become ‘soul mates’ in the way we girls want) or plain loud. It’s a shame because both of these women would make wonderful partners for someone.

I’m growing to love this city and I really thought I’d never even like it here. I know my way around like a local and love the hurly-burley of it.

Now I’m back in our hotel with DM. We’re both tapping away on our respective lap-tops to do our pics and it’s such a nice feeling. My preconceptions have been shattered and I’m truly comfortable here. All thanks to the lovely Lara.

Lovely Lara she is too. Regular readers of my musings know I’m given to gushing about my friends and this is no exception - she is one of the best. Lara – we love you.

Finally for tonight – I know it’s after midnight in the UK so technically it is no longer Stacy’s (BTW he's the one on the left!) birthday but here goes – HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACY!!!!!

Last year I'd been unfaithful and the year before I'd been discovering fox poo!