carbon off-set

I am going to have to make a sizeable contribution to a carbon off-set charity this year, as I once again boarded a plane and took off into the London sky.  This time, I have landed here, home of the Braves:

first we take Manhattan

I have spent the most gloriously frenetic day and a half in NYC.  It was my 4th visit to that amazing city but the first time for 2 of my colleagues and it was lovely watching their reactions to everything.  The weather was perfect (bright but chilly) which made it all the better.  Dr Beardie (one of the NY newbies) wandered around saying "f*ck, is this real?" pretty much the whole time.  He almost fell over when I led him to Grand Central and told him to look up as well as around.  The Hobbit (another colleague but one familiar with NY) took Dr Beardie to MoMA later on, and Dr Beardie's head about exploded.

Dr Hippie (the other newbie) wandered around in silent awe, although she did let out a squeak on Friday night when I turned her around and waited for her eyes to fall on the Empire State Building.

FYI - the cast of characters for the past weekend and the coming week (in a different city, indeed state) are:
Dr Beardie, senior consultant and convener of the symposium we are giving at this international conference.  I have known him for 13 years and I do believe that he is responsible for most of my grey hairs.
Dr Moody, senior consultant at a relatively young age.  Often charming, more often not.
Dr Hippie and Dr Glamorous, junior to the other two but senior in general. Very lovely women, but I sat with them on the flight over and it was 8 hours of talk about their children (2 each)...
The Hobbit - very junior doctor but ridiculously clever.  Very nice chap but oh my - no "off" switch.
And me.