Anthony Collings

My wife will be a superstar !

… and I don’t think I’ll be taking pictures of the Triborough Bridge or Queens Midway tunnel anytime soon. Today Jen was in the city for an interview with a talent scout. A fairly un-assuming building on E36th Street in NYC, Jen vanished for a half-hour whilst I waited in the lobby and talked with a delightful old Italian lady by the name of Isabel.

To be here was a huge relief as earlier we were caught completely by surprise at the idiosyncrasy of New York law. Whilst waiting to pay a toll I, stupidly in retrospect, took a picture of the Triborough bridge. Next thing we were being pulled over by a police officer. I was completely suprised to find out that it was illegal to take a picture of or from this bridge since 9/11. After consulting with a couple of other officers, and obviously aware of my complete surprise at this, we were gladly let off with just a caution and the deletion of all the bridge photos on the SD card in the camera. As we drove off we both breathed a huge sigh of relief.

After Jen’s interview Isabel wished us well, and we were on our way again. We drove across town to Battery Park to meet with some friends of Jen’s, and eat lunch at Steamers Landing before spending 3hrs in traffic getting home. Gotta’ love New York traffic. Whilst on I-87 we passed Yankee Stadium, in the heart of the Bronx.

Well I have another job interview on Thursday, 9th. An agency in New York has seen my work and is interested in talking with me, it’s all pretty exciting stuff. Last week, Thursday, 2nd I was being interviewed at the World Wrestling Entertainment HQ in Stamford and am waiting to hear back from them. Fingers crossed.

Kent Falls and the Appalachain Trail

We spent this weekend again at Tom and April’s Lakehouse on Candlewood lake, but on Tuesday decided to do a little bit of site seeing. After driving North with no particular destination we eventually arrived at Kent Falls State Park. Tuesday ( weekends are Monday and Tuesday at the minute due to Jens work ) was an incredibly hot day, in the high 80’s and with the sort of humidity that made you sweat for no apparent reason.

After leaving the comfort of the air conditioned car I figure I’d lost a half-pint of sweat in just the short walk from to the waterfall. The 250ft waterfall was pretty amazing to see and was even more amazing to walk up. Even with the comfort of the shaded woods the heat was exhausting.

After Kent Falls we continued to drive North until we came across a familiar town called Cornwall. Only 20 mins away from the state line and into Massachusetts the villages become more quaint and the abundance of covered bridges became more apparent.

We stopped at another waterfall just outside Kent that fed a Hydo-Dams further downstream.

I pondered… as “gas-guzzling” as alot of people make America out to be I have noticed alot of Hydro-Dams and other re-newable energy sources. I empathised a little with America for the brush its been tainted with in matters of the environment and green energy sources.  

Later that day as I read a National Geographic Picture Atlas of “Our Fifty States” I realised we’d travelled a section of the Appalachain Trail, a 2000+ mile trail running all the way from Maine to Georgia ! and I also learnt why Connecticut is called the “Nutmeg State”. Apparently Yankee peddlers, in the earlier days of settlements, sold fake nutmegs carved from wood instead of the spice itself. huh! learn something new everyday.   

Boots… Only in America…

Ah! this weekend has been an unintentional weekend of being British. Full English fry-up, with Heinz baked beans no less. Finally finding a store that sells some home comforts, including Mint Sauce !! ( Grandad knows how important that is ! ) and a tea shop that could rival Fortnum and Masons !

So it was kinda’ funny on a casual trip to downtown Danbury and the local CVS (Chemists), to find a whole section of “Boots” products. “Boots - Britains Best Kept Beauty Secret”. I chuckled.

Good old England. Tescos is trying to crack the US market to compete with Walmart’s acquisition of Asda in the UK, and now Boots. I wonder what’s next ! … lol as my beautiful wife just pointed out… “a good ol’ English Pub” !!  So there you have it : )