Today has been a bit less frenetic than the rest of the time I’ve been in the USA. I’m finally acclimatising to the time difference here….just as we are about to come home.

We’ve done a bit of shopping (camera stuff….well, you have to don’t you, the prices are so good and the exchange rate makes it even better for us Brits). We’ve walked to Times Square and back, taking in the stunning sight of the Chrysler Building – now there’s a beautiful bit of architecture if ever I saw it. Completely wonderful. As luck would have it, it’s been another fantastic day, bright blue sky and sunshine so the sight of the sunlight glinting off the roof of the building was a breathtaking sight. We’re also hoping to get another set of photos of it later tonight on a night-time trip to the top of the Empire State Building. How cool is that?

It’s completely impossible to say what’s been the best bit of the trip because I can tell you that Lara has been a wonderful hostess and tour guide for the city. She’s looked after our every need so perfectly it’s difficult to express our gratitude – whatever we say isn’t enough. Thanks Lara.

Meeting Jill, Jeanne and Mark has been brilliant too – in fact there have been so many tears this evening as the six of us have gone our separate ways I’m surprised the Port Authority hasn’t issued flood warnings. Jill is every bit the southern belle I knew she would be, gentle, kind and so lovely. Her accent will continue to amaze and amuse David and I for years to come I’m sure.

Jeanne – well, what can you say about the livest wire I’ve ever met – 100% energy, 100% fun…..she’s hilarious and sweet by turns….I think she’s shed so many tears on her own tonight that she won’t be able to cry for a very long time.

Mark – another wonderful kind soul. His amazing calmness in the chaos that’s surrounded him this weekend has been a sight to behold. He’s also been deep in conversation with David for most of the weekend about cameras and photography – whenever we’ve (the girls) have lost the two of them, they’re usually to be found huddled over a camera review screen debating the quality of the shot, both technical and compositionally. I’m so grateful to him for bringing me to New York. What a guy.

Today though, the top prize for generosity goes to Lara’s Mum (sorry, Lara’s Mum….I don’t know your name, I’m afraid). Yesterday Lara said we’d all been invited to her house for brunch. When we said ‘why on earth would anyone want to invite a bunch of total strangers to brunch in her home?’ Lara said, ‘no, really, she’d love to see you’ so we accepted gratefully.

It was such an honour to be invited there and it was clear she’d gone to so much trouble to accommodate us. She’d prepared a fantastic feast of a mix of Middle Eastern and American dishes and we all tucked in with relish. The food cannot be described in any other way than magnificent. I (and the rest of the gang of course) was privileged to be able to try some dishes that I’ve never encountered before and I’ll be after Lara for the recipes when I get home. She also gave us the best tea I’ve had since coming to the USA – made with BOILING water and so tasting of tea not dishwater. Altogether splendid.

Interestingly though, I was so very drawn to this beautiful, elegant woman who opened her home to us. She’d clearly travelled extensively and her home is full of mementos of her experiences while working for the United Nations in Lebanon and Africa. What a lot of history all in her home. Lara is lucky that she can see her roots every time she goes there. There are beautiful objects from all corners of the globe and photos of days gone by show her growing up in Egypt and her life in the Lebanon. I was particularly enthralled by a photo of her carrying Lara taken in 1970 in Beirut. I was lucky enough to spend time in Beirut myself that summer, taking a holiday in the city before travelling on to Cyprus when we lived in Bahrain. She even knew the hotel where we’d stayed. She recounted tales of her love of the city before the war and how she’d left to come here, to the USA in 1984. They lived there through some terrible times.

Her and her late husband also travelled extensively in Africa. How I would love to be able to spend more time with this woman hearing more of her story. I was fascinated and delighted to have met her.

It was difficult to tear us all away but Mark had to drive back to Washington tonight so leave we had to. Tearful farewells, first to Jill, then Lara preceded a short car journey back into Manhatten from the Bronx (I never dreamed I’d end up having brunch in the Bronx on this trip). Then, finally, more tears with Jeanne and Mark. I’m welling up again writing this.

Still, tomorrow another adventure awaits us. We’re taking a trip from Grand Central Station to Rhinebeck up the Hudson Valley by train. That should be really exciting. We’re off to meet David’s relatives, Barbera and Arthur – they've been trying to persuade him to visit for 25 years. It’s going to be a wonderful day I’m sure.

So, tonight’s theme is the kindness of strangers. Heartfelt thanks to Lara’s Mum for a wonderful glimpse into the life of another remarkable woman.