"What did you learn in the real world today, Michelle?" "Camels spit"

My most sincere apologies to those who want to hear about the New York Public Library. I have not yet been there. I did go into the city, but it was so cold I didn't want to walk between Grand Central and Time Square, so I took the S subway, and that means I actually went underneath the library.

Had I not taken the subway, I wouldn't have seen a real film set. As it were, I did take the subway, and now I've seen a real film set. It's so cool!! I didn't see anyone famous, but all the extras were standing around being served coffee, and the people on the crew didn't seem bothered that nothing was really going on. At first I thought it might have been an indie film, but I can't imagine how expensive it is to shut down one of the s lines for a day.

I ventured to FAO Schwarz, easily the greatest toy store on earth (still to check out it Toys R Us in Times Square, and they have a ferris wheel). There was a life sized woolly mammoth next to the escalator and dozens of other humungous stuffed toys. The $15 000 elephant just got moved out after being sold. At the top of the escalator is the $250 000 keyboard used in the movie Big. Two employees give a fabulous performance before letting us run up and down the keys for a while. I'll have to go and do it again when I get my video camera working.

Next I found the Bedlam Cube and was distracted for over and hour. 19 186 ways to put 13 pieces back in the box. I didn't find one. I intend to go back and get one and then I'll try and do it. Tessa, the girl on the display was very nice and we chatted for ages. When I finally tore myself away, a man with a gun that shoots marshmallows was where I made a beeline for, until some little kid got a hold of the gun and wouldn't give it back, so I didn't get a turn. I met a man who invented a very cool card game and he was very interested in hearing about camping in Australia. Venturing further I found the lego section and consequently the life size Chewbacca and Batman sitting on a gargoyle. They have this workshop space where you can put together your own lego men and buy them. Choose the hair and the colour of the clothes and stuff. It looked like fun but there was a rather large group of asian tourists lined up and taking their time, so I left before I got too intrigued. I went to the hot wheel centre where I was moved out of the line to play with the slot cars (I think I need to take my dad next time to beat up all the little kids who push in front of me. I"m a nanny I can't do that).

Downstairs I discovered the ice cream parlour. They have an ice cream parolour inside a toy store. If I had to live anywhere for the rest of my life and I was never allowed to leave, FAO Schwarz would be the place. Of course you'd all come and visit and then never leave.

I went to Bloomingdales after that. It didn't do a lot for me. The crowds, prices and bad attitudes of the staff were too big. I think they all had bad attitudes because they were hungry. They all looked like they never ate. So I got out of there quickly enough. Took the downtown yellow to Manny's music store. On the way I saw a protest march. Seems like not everyone in America likes Bush or the war. I don't know how many people there were, but I was crossing Lexington and 48th, and the march was heading uptown on Lexington. It was well and truly underway when I crossed. I walked from Lexington, over 3rd to 2nd (about half a k), got food, headed back and when I reached Lexington again they were still going and weren't showing any sign of slowing. That's a lot of people. I wondered how effective their march was going to be.

Made it to Manny's and had a good old chinwag with the bloke upstairs in drums. He then gave me some sticks and I bashed the life out of a couple of drum kits before I realised how late it was getting. I went down to 34th and 5th Avenue, right near the Empire State Building to buy post cards, then I went back to Grand Central and just missed the train I was hoping to catch back home. It gave me a while to wander around the place and I saw a photo shoot taking place on one of the staircases. I don't know what it was for, but she was wearing a nice coat.

Finally my train was ready to leave and I went home. And that was my day in the city.