Lola Jaye

… and I had a great time posing on a  dust cart (really) and chatting and posing with MP’s and users of a Learning Centre at Unison. What great people!  I did think I’d end up looking like ‘The Joker’ with all that smiling though.  And my signature ended up looking a lot like ‘Zola’ after signing one hundred copies of By The Time  You Read This… Today was also the first time I’d set eyes on the bound proofs of my Quick Read and it looked really good. Can’t wait for the final copies…

I did an NHS health fair for my Day Job today - right beside a large book shop! So I went in and may have strategically placed my book nearer the front… (how very authoress of me!). But the best bit was selling three books to my fellow NHS colleagues (two of whom I’d never met before). It felt a bit strange and surreal-esque accompanying them to the store and then signing the books!  HOW I LOVE BEING A WRITER! Talking of which, I have a writing event on Tuesday.  The first for my Quick Read book; Reaching for the Stars- How to Make Your Dreams Come True (Out in March 2009!) and I’m very much looking forward to it.  It isn’t open to the public, so won’t post the details.Will let you know how it goes…

Continued….. …. So, will Pizza lady (see day 3) now look at me differently following this historic election win? Whether she will or not, this historic election win will go a long way (I hope) to changing people’s often negative perceptions of ‘others’.I am proud. I am happy.  And I still can’t believe Barack Obama is the new president (elect, I know!) of the united States.   Amazing and wonderful all at once.

And the first thing I do after waking from the jetlagged induced coma is switch on my TV. Victory for….Barack Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It said. I got on my knees and cried and said ‘Thank you God!’. And then I cried again. 

Don’t talk to me. I’m flying back to England tu-day!

I met with my New york publishers today. It was so nice to finally get a look at and meet my editor, who I have been emailing for months! Such is technology that you can actually ‘talk’ to someone without actually… erm… talking to them.  I also did some filming for their website.  I must say it was strange talking about the book coming out next year and plans for 2009/2010. It seems so far away. But hey, that’s publishing! Afterwards I took a walk to Rockefeller centre where outside, the carpets was being laid and huge screens were being erected… The election buzz was very much in the air and I must say, I got caught up in it all (Okay, I have been all week). It warms my heart to hear people talking about voting, young people especially, saying they are going to get in line at 5 am… 

I began the morning on a sombre note.  It was a bit chilly as we made our way up to the African Burial ground, which is now a national monument. www.nps.gov/afbg For brunch, we went to BB King’s Blues Bar and Grill in New York…. for Soul food and best of all, The Harlem Gospel Choir. One word;BRILLIANT.A must see.  I was excited as they all sang so beautifully and spititually. Amazing.  So much so, the lovely ladies picked up on my excitement and invited me on stage to sing along to their rousing rendition of ‘Oh happy days’. Which I did (after getting over the shock and getting up on that stage).  All those faces staring at me was scarier than a book reading! But I belted out that song as best as I could (okay I mimed to most of it as I had a sore throat, my voice was going and I had a meeting with my publishers the following day- what could I do??). It was a great experience though and the choir were wonderful and so VERY, very talented (www.harlemgospelchoir.com) They were also very kind to give me a free signed CD.  I have a grainy mobile phone picture of me looking gormless on stage which I will try and post either on here or on Facebook. But it did happen!!! I was on stage with The Harlem Gospel Choir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

‘STOP!’ I cried, as the Sex and the City tour bus kind of drove away - without us. I banged on the back and I know I saw the driver looking at the pathetic sight of me through his side mirror, ignoring me. He wasn’t stopping. Nope (I knew we should have booked in advance!). Oh well. maybe next time. We did manage  a  trip to the Magnolia bakery which does feature in the show (you know, the scene when they are eating all those cup cakes? Never mind!). THE CUPCAKES WERE FAB! Oh that frosting!!! As I am typing this (back home in wet and cold London) my mouth is watering.

 ******

On a more unhappier note…

Tonight, I decided I wanted a quick Pizza before our big night out on the town.  A big greasy slice of New York pizza and perhaps some cheesecake.  As usual I became a little obsessed about fulfilling this temporary dream. So, okay, I’m walking around Park Avenue and I see a man clutching a pizza box! And its huge! Great! ‘Excuse me…’I said as he ignores me and… walks off??

 Why was he so rude?

Was I asking him for his first born pet?   

I’m heading back to my hotel ready to admit defeat, I see a lady clutching a pizza box. So again; ‘Excuse me, where did you...?’ Before I could finish, she turns to me and her body does this jumping/shaking thing that tells me one of the following;

a, she’s a little frightened

b, she has mistaken me for her favorite movie star/Victoria Secret model 

c, she’s a bit scared

 I think its a, and c. Unfortunately.                

So, I merely said; ‘I’m not going to hurt you. I just wanted to know where you got the pizza from.’ I suppose realising my accent was English was a plus (??) so she proceeded to tell me where she’d got it - which incidentally was very far away.  And that was that. I didn’t lose my appetite but decided it was probably best not to ask about Pizza anymore. But the guys at The Club took pity and -get this - bought me some pizza!!!! Delivered to the hotel! What stars!  They also wouldn’t hear of it when I attempted to pay. 

Faith is restored. New Yorkers ROCK! 

To be continued…..

My hotel seems to be full of rich older folks who probably like going to the opera every Saturday night instead of doing the ‘robot’ down at the local club. Oh who am I trying to kid? My Saturday nights are usually spent watching ‘Lipstick Jungle’ on Sky Plus… What I’m trying to get at here is, I probably stood out when  I skipped into the breakfast room in my mini skirt and snow boots, clutching my newly purchased Hip Hop Weekly magazine!************* Every time I go to America I seem to temporarily adopt a drugstore (pharmacy) as my temporary home BECAUSE THEY DO EVERYTHING!!! Headache pills, candy-canes AND novels!! This year it was Duane Reade. Like a certain Coffee shop, they are everywhere! Just needed to share that with ya. Luv ya Duane. The staff here at the Williams Club are great. I like to ‘hang out’ with them from time to time, but can’t help realising HOW ENGLISH I SOUND. I asked today - can you direct us to Port authority please. It sounded like this;‘Can you direct me to pooooort ooforitty pleeeese.’Respectful laughter followed (including my own, because suddenly, I was sounding like a ghetto version of The Queen.) ‘So I have now decided to say it the correct, New Yorker way. Pronounced; ‘Port altorridy!’ Apparently. 

‘Start spreading the news…’ I sang, as soon as I pinged open my eyes as my very annoying mobile phone alarm few into my earlobes this morning at 7am. Fast forward many hours and the plane is landing into JFK and the excitement is back ON! More so as the (Yellow!) cab crosses into New York City and I catch a glimpse of those lights! Unmistakable New York City.  Bloody loverly! Just like the TV shows, the films and my memory from all those years ago. Wow. So exciting.  Of course I’m knackered after such long flight, but none of that matters as we dump our suitcases at the swanky William’s Club hotel in PARK AVENUE and toddle off to Mercer Kitchen in Greenwich Village (I think).  It’s full of young and good-looking New Yorkers (Italians, French oh and lil’ old me). The food was absolutely delicious even if I was almost snoring by the end of the meal. I am no longer a teenager and jet lag seems to be a reality for me. But I AM IN NEW YORK- I CANT WASTE A MINUTE IN BED!!!  I want to say.  But Zoe and I are both in agreement and so it’s (sort of, but not really) an early night….