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Justin and I went and explored Tribeca the other weekend, a pocket we hadn't yet spent much time in and didn't quite 'get'. Where was it exactly and what was there? So we jumped on the train in frigid weather and wound up and down the streets: along Canal past the cinema where De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival is headquartered, down Varick, Hudson and past a clutch of the city's fanciest (Nobu) and star-spottingest (Bubby's) restaurants. It all became abundantly clear when we walked past our fifth spa/designer furniture/old style apartment building on cobbled streets that the area certainly has a cool vibe and a quiet, non-tourist, let's-get-on-with-living-in-Manhattan vibe. So now we know what we're in for .

The apartment flourishes, with a bit more furniture, some art and a growing book collection. It's definitely feeling homey and less of an echoing box.

Looking forward to spring as our palm (whose name is Gloria) is not coping too well with the automated heating. The heating is connected to a building-wide thermostat, so we can't actually adjust the heat or set the temperature. It's pretty toasty most of the time, which makes Gloria one thirsty plant whose leaves are in danger of getting crispy. We'll also be able to buy some flowers for spring and put them on our tiny balcony, so we can open the door and have a vista of flora.

Melbourne friends Jennifer and Mark have just moved to NY and we celebrated their Rose's 4th birthday at the park at Union Square. Dressed in her new ice skating outfit, Rose blew out candles on her unbelievably, deliciously rich chocolate birthday cake (it was breakfast for Jus and me- hello sugar rush) and we all sang happy birthday. It was pleasant to hang out in the sun. Then we realised it was -3c ,and we thought how inhumane people would think we were if we attempted to celebrate a child's birthday outdoors in below zero weather at home. When in Rome, though...

Took a wonder through the Columbia University campus on the Upper West Side too. It has stately historical buildings and grand grounds that reminded me of the South Lawn at Melbourne Uni. Quite striking with a smattering of snow.

If you've ever wondered, and you probably haven't, what Boston Cream Pie looks like, then here it is. Layered sponge with chantilly cream filling, chocolate frosting with nuts, with whipped cream from a can and a cherry on top, served with as much vanilla icecream as you can fit on the plate.

Sometimes when you go to a diner, your curiosity gets the better of you and you just have to order that exotically named item (Philly cheesesteak, silver dollar griddle cakes, corned beef hash) . Then it comes, and you wish you'd stuck to the burger, the club sandwich or the cherry pie.

I could not tell you how many hamburgers, turkey clubs and chicken salad wraps I have eaten in the past 9 months (and who really cares). I've realised that because of the extensive menus that diners have, they can pretty much make anything you feel like. So the menu is simply a guide and you can throw any combo of ingredients together to order exactly what you want. Substitution is the tip of the iceberg: if you feel like roast (broiled) chicken, with roasted pumpkin, grilled tomato, peas and gravy just like your nanna used to make, they'll work it out. But you better tip.