I've been having such a wonderful time in New York. The weather has been just fabulous and I've been able to get out and see all the sights and do lots of shopping. I've discovered two shops that weren't here the last time I visited New York. One is called Moonstone and has lots of science-fictiony type things - glittery jewellery and lots of space-agey type outfits in shiny materials. I just couldn't resist buying a fabulous bright green metallic jumpsuit. It's skin-tight all over and the sleeves are so tight they zip-up, but every six inches down the sleeves there are these shiny metal rings circling them. The metal rings are even a brighter green, and circle just above the elbows, just below the elbows, and finally at the wrists there are two bright green rings finishing the sleeves. I also couldn't resist the temptation of buying a bright green cape to wear over this suit. Now all I have to find are some great shoes to complete this outfit!

   Angie was so knocked out by the whole effect that she wants a cape just like the one I have. We'll have to find out if they make clothes for children and if they do, Zows can get something, too! The whole family dressed up will be a sight!

   Anyway, the store I found - and just love - is a pillow store, but not just an ordinary pillow store. It sells gigantic pillows in funny people shapes. They are made in shiny, soft and very glittery materials. The pillows are actually about seven feet tall and you can use them as cushiony type seats or couches or whatever you want. It was Angie who actually discovered this shop and she's now in the process of furnishing an entire room with stuffed people. That should be quite a surprise for visitors to our house!

   These shops are both down in Greenwich Village which is one of the prettiest sections of New York.

   I'm looking forward to new adventures in New York, and I'll try to report each and every one back to you!

   The most amazing change has come over me lately. I've become what you might call a telly freak. Every free minute I have I switch on the TV and my eyes soon become glued to the screen.

   It all started when Angie went out shopping one day and I was left at home to babysit for Zows. To keep Zowie busy, I decided to let him watch a bit of TV (as they call it in America). I turned on the set and immediately I was hooked. I started switching channels madly so's not to miss anything. They've got seven channels here in New York you know, and they run day and night, so there's always something you want to watch.

   Well, pretty soon Zowie got a bit frustrated, went to play with his toys and left his daddy to continue with his frantic telly tuning. I started watching quiz shows first. They've got one really crazy one where people get dressed up in outrageous costumes, some of them are bananas, some are clowns, some are boxes of washing powder and the person who wears the most comical outfit gets a chance at the prizes. The prizes are sometimes sillier than the costumes. A person can win a year's supply of string or a bottle of cola or something like that, but sometimes they win trips to foreign places or cars or furniture and it all makes it worthwhile. The contestants go crazy, though. They jump up and down, scream and cry and kiss the compere when they win and just generally act like maniacs. It's all in good fun, of course, but you'd never get me in a banana suit!

   I've also taken to watching old movies. They've got tons of them on over here. I love all the old ones from the '30s and '40s. In fact, I've been taping all my favourite ones on my new toy which is a video tape machine and it records the picture as well as the sound. Now I've got my own library of old movies and I can show them to my friends whenever they come over to visit. We sit around for hours watching movie after movie and usually I'm the only one who can stay awake all through them. Not that they're boring, of course, it's just that everyone else has seen them hundreds of times, and the excitement has sort of worn off.

   I'm all out of space again, and so it's goodbye until next week.

   Buenos dias, amigos!

   I'm having a great time getting into Latin dancing and as you see I've picked up some of the language to go with it, too! Anyway, back to the dancing... My friends Geoffrey, Wayne and Ava have been taking Angie and me to this fabulous Latin-American dance club in New York. It's called Corso's and it has different Latin bands playing every few nights and the people who go there are just the most fantastic dancers. I'm almost embarrassed to get up on the dance floor 'cos they just put me to shame in the dance department. I've always loved to dance but when it comes to rhumba-ing and tango-ing, I've got two left feet. I'm learning, though, and I'm determined not to get discouraged. Pretty soon, I'll be as good a dancer as the rest of them. Geoffrey and Ava are already terrific at it and they have a bit of a giggle seeing me stomp (instead of sway smoothly) on the floor.

   Speaking of Ava, her full name is Ava Cherry and she was one of my back-up singers on 'The Midnight Special' TV show I did for American television. She's cute and a really talented singer and she's just been signed by MainMan which, as you know, is also my company. I'm going to work on her first single with her and it's sure to be fabulous, 'cos she's got such a great voice, really powerful and dynamic. She's also a terrific looking girl and I'm sure she's destined to be a star. Remember, you heard about Ava here first!

   I've also been going way uptown to a really famous place called the Apollo Theatre. They have the most incredible bands playing there - people like B.B. King, who's a real old blues guitarist and singer; The Temptations - a great singing group who also have a fabulous dance routine; and The Spinners another really hot singing group.

   I've even been getting a bit of culture. Angie and I went to the ballet the other night and although I'm not your typical ballet fan I was really impressed with it. The dancers move so gracefully and are a pleasure to watch.

   Angie's calling me to come down and have a bite to eat. So goodbye until next time.

   I'm getting so excited about my American tour. It's named 'The Year Of The Diamond Dogs'. If that sounds familiar it's because 'Diamond Dogs' is the name of my latest LP, and the songs I do will be from this new album and others in the past year. Anyway, 'The Year Of The Diamond Dogs' is exciting not only because it's going to be my first tour in nearly a year, but also because I'm going to be a whole new me, really! First of all, my name isn't David Bowie any longer. From now on I'll just be called Bowie.

   Secondly, I'm going to look lots different from the way you've seen me on stage before. My hair's still red, of course, but that's where the resemblance ends.

   In fact, recently, I've started to love wearing really smart looking pinstriped suits from the '30s and '40s. I can't wear those on stage, of course, but what I will wear on stage is a well kept secret. I don't want to spoil the surprise.

   I can tell you that the costumes will go with the story of the 'Diamond Dogs' album, and they will still be futuristic, but not as much as before. Anyway, I sure hope you like my new look 'cos I'm doing it for you!

   I'm going to have a whole new band on this tour, too! I'd love to have Ronno playing with me again, but he's doing so well with his own fabulous career that it's not possible. Although I'll miss him terribly, my new guitarist is really great and I'm sure I'll have a lot of good music behind me.

   On to other things... I must tell you about the fabulous group I saw the other night. My friend Geoffrey, Corinne, my personal assistant, and Danny, who works at MainMan in the Production Department (production means they help make my records), went to New York's Town Hall and saw Fanny. Fanny is an all-girl group and they are fantastic! They changed my whole idea bout women being rock and roll musicians because they play just as well as any man I've ever heard and certainly look just as pretty.

   After the show, we went to this great dance place called the 82 and danced all night long. Angie and Ava joined is and Ava thrilled us all with the latest dance steps.

   So, I must sign off now,