Spent a couple of days in New York. It's my fifth visit but still feel the thrill on arriving. It certainly had a feel all of its own, the energy is almost visible while standing in Times Square watching the world race by. It was the Marathon on Sunday so saw all the poor entrants plodding towards the finish line. A very picturesque end to the long trek around the island. At least the runners had sun unlike today when we had wind rain and sleet. Took a walk down to the financial district and visited the Ground Zero museum. It always is sobering seeing the pictures of the missing and dead lining the room. One woman started giving a talk about some of the victims, including a young firefighter who was killed while trying to rescue people from the towers. She filled in all the details of his life and how they found his money which was linked to him via the DNA on the dollar bills. it was all very emotional, especially at the end when she said "and that was my son."

Arrived yesterday in the city of Brotherly love, Philadelphia. A bit chilly up here especially wandering around the various sites at Independence Park. Full of history though. Once the second-largest city in the British Empire it was the site of the Declaration of Independence and the Drafting and Signing of the US Constitutional both of which took place in Independence Hall, still standing and the centre of the National Park. It must have been a bold step, as the signers were effectively committing treason against the British Crown. It worked though probably better than they ever dreamed off. It always seems amazing to outsiders that a whole Country's laws are based on a few paragraphs, scratched out on a scrap of parchment in an old town house.

Took a look at the Liberty Bell, rehoused since I was here in 1995 and visited the Constitution Center where the document is explained in great detail. Also visited Benjamin Franklin's old House, or at least the remains of it.

Four days in Washington covering the Mid-Terms for BBC News. I flew out on Sunday, leaving a very wet London and arriving in a gorgeous autumn tinted Washington DC. It really is a beautiful city in the spring and in the fall, with the delicate scent of the cherry trees at one end of the Summer contrasted with the brilliant golden hues of the turning trees decorating the streets at the other. Had a very quick trip through immigration and caught the airport bus into town.

I was working mainly for Newsnight who were based at an OB in the Cannon Building, where many of the Representatives have their offices. We were based on a Balcony outside of the Rotunda, with a stunning view of the US Capital dominating the skyline behind us. It was a fantastic location in a stunning building. Because we were in a secure area we needed to get Capital Passes from the Senate office on the North side of the Capital. As our location was on the South side our guide took us the quickest way to get from one side of the House to the other, down the underground tunnels which lie like a warren beneath the home of the US Government. It was amazing to see how much was down there, even a little electric train which we caught to ride from the Senate Offices to the Capital itself. Halfway along the tunnel in the basement of the capital we passed a window with a stunning view right down the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial 1.9 miles away. I guess its the kind of view the President gets when he gets sworn in.

The OB's all worked OK although there were some communication issues. All OK on air which was the main thing, and London seemed happy. We finished with Piers Morgan and Simon Schama on our balcony. A popular tweet was that Emily should have given Piers a little push and no one would have protested. Except perhaps for the Capital Police who would have had to clean up the mess. He would probably have just bounced up again anyhow.