A week : Broken down for your help

After an interesting weekend of doom, gloom, fun and excitement of putting Chelsea out of the FA Cup, the week took many zigzag trails - believe me it did. Basically Saturday was a typical Saturday where me and Captain Rich spent most of our time in the boozer - with what could have been an interesting story, but I really cant rememeber. Sunday was a little blah, I had a text from an old friend who we've had an on/off fling for a couple of years (so im told) who was having troubles with a bf. So uncle Steve was there on site, having his sunday lunch and being understanding (if not hungover from the night before) - who then asked me out for a drink for as possible relationship kind of style. I've always been a little shit at this kind of gubbins, but thought, give it a go, you dont know what might come out of it - you never know - I guess, "you have to go there, to come back".

Monday was a strange one, not only did I have to be in the office (which I've been avoiding due to a slur on myself and a complaint being lodged to my manager) I was also having to travel down to London Village for a customer disaster recovery test. I've been to that site a couple of times, and there are a couple of receptionists on the front desk, one of which is quiet but very attractive. Anyone knowing me, I dont approach women, not my style, so struggled to work out how to talk to her. Anyhoo, we retired to the hotel (myself and Mr C) for some bevs and chinwagging. Now, Mr C and myself didnt really get along about 3 years ago, for alot of peripheral reasons, but I do have alot of respect for him, and a hell of alot of time too. So after being in the States with him - it was good to relax on home turf with him.

Tuesday kicked off the DR test, which was pretty good and we managed to get our system back in 4 hours - which baring in mind we were building from scratch, is pretty good going. After faffing around, we retired to the bar/hotel (still not talking to the receptionist, Sophie) where we had food as a group, watched a bit of football, and drank more. The numbers reduced and ended up talking to one of the lovely barmaids before tracking back to bed. Anyone reading this (aka Rich) might think I do this often, but I dont, truely dont - so much to the fact that I would blush so much - people would laugh - how crap is that ?!?!?

Wednesday was a real scream, so much that there was so much banter in the group, and eventually I got to speak to Sophie. I truely admit that she is one of these girls, you would give all your limbs - and more - just to be with. She is French but picking up the language, she is pretty quiet and timid - but very nice with it too (although she didnt know what a Geordie was - she now knows). So, desperately trying to ask her out for a couple of drinks, she invites me out with her and her friends for a "couple" of drinks - to which I found them already supping 2 bottles of red wine - when I turned up 30 mins late. The night went on, and it was really grand, and this is where Stefan's luck really does take the biscuit - I basically got a new Nokia phone a couple of weeks ago, and caller display hasnt been working. So I give Sophie my number previous to going out (incase the moved on or went home - honest ). After going for some food, I drop Sophie off at the tube station and walk to the hotel about 10 mins walk away. By the time I get to the hotel (being boozed up) I had a missed call 5 mins after I dropped her off. Looking vr smilie, I remembered caller display wasnt working - so if it was her, I have know way of knowing her number ( "no number" ), no do I have her number to contact her - so for all she knows - i'm not interested and dissed her. REALLY - someone like that, and I'm screwed over by technology - DAMN YOU TECHNOLOGY.

So Thursday, she phones up sick - boo!!! - and myself and Mr C previously arranged to book out of the hotel a day earlier, unless anything came up - either technically, or Sophie wise. Sadly, the latter was looking bad - so agreed with Mr C that we would go home (driving thru snow and rain). Sadly being disturbed by people from work - no matter - watched Newcastle beat some Dutch team 2-1 - yay!

Friday was working from home day, and catching up - to be interupted by shattering of glass next door. Basically John and Debbie had their conservatory double glazing knocked down to single glazing by some fuckers chucking a rock / duck / item at their windows. Friday afternoon, I heard the 2nd glazing go - so spoke to Debbie next door, and said I was gonna wander down the Canal. Needless to say, cold outside, central heating inside - so I was in england shirt, shorts, and nothing else - so a quick change into jeans and a jog along the canal. At this point, it was snowing and I was loosing control of any body functions that werent moving at the time. So called Debbie to let them know where the chavs were, which is now heading towards 2 miles away from home in the freezing cold. Only to be told that the police may do something about it and may send a patrol car to sort them out. Meanwhile, I'm watching Chavs throwing more stones at people's windows - how bad is that ?!?! Not only are the police taking photos of people doing 34 mph in a "20" zone, but they refuse to act on criminal damage while someone else is doing their job.

After walking/running/stealthing towards bridge 36 on the grand union canal, I thought it was probably best talking back - as I had a conference call at some point during the day and technically the chavs had entered an estate I really didnt want to go into incase I got lost and/or murdered in. Kindly John and Debbie invited me out for a curry, wine, wine and more wine - where I got shit faced and lost the ability to speak and even tho I was chatting to a lovely looking lass, I couldnt be understood.

So, thats the week in full - tomorrow - the weekend described in even more detail - every pint, every conversation.

Thanks ...

Alot has gone on over the last couple of weeks - some of which I cant really talk about, some I can - but wont. I just wanted to say a big thanks to those who have picked me up and supported me over the last few weeks - captain, princess, the wolf and my lovely neighbours.

I know it sounds a little lame - but those mentioned above have become close friends which they probably really never understand - I hope all are happy forever!

On the negative side - Newcastle play Chelsea tomorrow ... mmmm!

Not so easy!

Oh ...

Know it sounds funny but I just can’t stand the pain
Girl I’m leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl you know I’ve done all I can
You see I begged, stole and I borrowed
Yeah
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like sunday morning
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like sunday morning
I wanna be high
Soo high
I wanna be free to know the things I do are right
I wanna be free
Just me

Oh baby
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like sunday morning
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like sunday morning

Hard Limits & Forgiven Love

Monday I was working in London, of course it was my fav day of the year - Valentines - which I coul easily ban if I was PM, King, or President. Not only does the day fuck me off, it also wants me to wrap my hands around someones neck. Oh, always the romantic, but dont get me wrong - I fucking hate it, so much. I have only recieved 3 cards in my life - which is pretty sad - all from the same girl - my ex.

Needless to say, I wanted to stay in bed on monday morning, pref with a bottle of whisky and drink myself back to sleep - you know, you get the idea - loved up fuckers. So, it was always a pleasure getting up at 7am to get picked up at 8 to drive down to london village. Needless, the last person you really - ever - want to get a text message from, is someone who you used to give so much a damn about, you would give your "right" arm to be with. Text messages such as "Happy Valentines Steve, hope you find someone who deserves to be with u" is not the best way to go for a shite day such as this. So, on and on and on and on my crap progressed, including 2 pints of guiness in london town and alot of frustration with a B50 pSeries Server - bastard.

So, we return to Leam, getting a call from a friend - Paul - saying he needed to get out of his house coz his friend was lovey doveying it up with the gf. So, being a friend, and also not having too much to stay in for - apart from sleep, nice food and eastenders - I said I would meet him, only to have no food and picking up my brand new Nokia 6630 from my lovely neighbours John and Debbie. So on arriving, we talked, we drank, we watched lovely semi single ladies and fell for the juice of the gods, only to recieve a 2nd text from the "used to be nice Jess, but not just not getting the message that I dont give a fuck about her" fling I had over the summer, this time spelling, "Happy Valentines Steve X" in fridge magnets. Some may think this is sweet and cute - but you have to remember a) I'm single, b) it would be great if you were seeing the lass c) she wasnt screwing with your head and d) ""and sing & dance and find romance and we'll find romance & we'll stroll to the edge of the world" - it gets a little - blah. Advice to big Jess - leave me alone - just not interested, ever! really!

Anyhoo, after a number of beers, abuse from Captain Rich and sticking my fingers down my new Nokie 6630 and nearly turning into the electronic dude from Superman II by sucking the wrong end of the phone, I was ready for bed.

Tuesday was a different matter, well - almost, and only due to the fact I had to be in the office for project workshop meeting. Thus, excitement was left my body, around 08:05 when my alarm went off, knowing I had to catch the bus from Leam to Warwick - and not being in town for around 9:30. I knew, not being in the office for a while, would cause some problems - for not only myself becoming a semi hermit, but also people accepting I wasnt around - so needless to say, my desk was taken up by someone. Rather than being a twat, I decided to leave the guy be, and let him get on with his work. I then took up a "hot desk" which basically means anyone can sit there, although I was then pushed out of it because the team that had given them up, now wanted them all back ... yes, because thats how it works. So you see, my already low motivation, moral and care for the company was the divided by 2 and take away the number I had originally thought of (348902334890945 - if you really want to know). So after a ruck, I decided swearing and cursing could only harm my "complaint" so walked up to Cptain Heaworth's desk - only to recieve a barrage abuse from his co-workers and surrounding colleagues. After working for 30 mins, I had my meeting and walked back to my "desk" only to approach one of my chief suspects for my complaint - which, part of Steves interegation procs - has now been ruled out.

After a meeting and faffing around, Captain Rich and I had a slow couple of beers (hard limit of 2) turning into 5 pints of Stella down TJs - which then lead to the magical mystical world of fairies. Knowing I'm off to Portsmouth tomorrow at 6, I had better get to bed

I know the above doesnt make much sense, but appriciate the support from friends on such a sensitive subject, and helping me play the game - against some two faced back stabbing fucker (Warning, not the view of my company - but my own personal time) who cant even speak to me - but has to speak to my mananger and complain about my personality. Again, needless to say in the world of football, that "no one is bigger than the club" - but I know your fate - and indeed, the future is Orange.

Bob a Job Week

Well, in a week that could have been the simplest - it certainly turned into a complete shambles - which is something of an understatement. Monday was my first day back from my week off - so I expected everything to be grand, check my mail, answer some, get some tea, have lunch, catch up with friends and colleagues and then back home. No, sadly, it wasnt that easy - sadly, some very very bad news hit the IBM communication line, that one of the bubbliest and brightest young lasses from Service Management had died over the weekend. Rather a sober affair you may think to say the least, so it was a case of being very sensitive - as she had many a friend - esp around where I sit.

Wednesday, for myself personally, didnt get any better - I had to wake up at 5am, to be picked up by BC at 6 - to drive to down to Portsmouth for 8am. So there we were, grabbing a quick cuppa before the hard days work - well, until my boss pulls me into an office saying "I've had a complaint about you over the night about you - you have two weeks to fix it, or it will be made official". Now, as you know, I dont air my dirty laundry in public (well sometimes I dont) but seriously, what serious damage can I do in one day to upset someone ?!? I've basically narrowed the complainee down to about 3 people - and I'm still as angry as I was at 08:30 tuesday morning, and if its someone in the team, then I feel let down by them. So this on my mind, and a number of people suggesting I move on for the good of my career - it was only the below photo which made my sides chuckle a little.

A sign - on the canl, pictured middle

Pancakes from heaven.

Mmm - not to be out done by the rest of the nation, I also indulged in some pancake festivities. One of my fav. days of the year, mainly coz it involves loads of stuff combined to make you hyper. This year, on my pancakes I tried two different things;

• Belgian Chocolate Sauce
• Blueberry Jam

After the 4th pancake - I was feeling a little stodgy - god knows how I managed to put so many away when I was a kid. Sadly, the worst day of the year is about to drop on us ... Valentines day - should be banned for discrimination.

A pancake, made on tuesday - mm - was nice too

Normal Service Resumed

After rather an innocent night lastnight with lovely next door neighbours, John and Debbie, down the curry house. Today turned into some what of a shambles really. I had to pop into town to grab a few things and also my dry cleaning - ready for work on Monday Morning (boo!). The first time I popped into town, my dry cleaning wasnt ready, and with having to be back for 1.30pm to help John & Debbie move their sofa via the canal - I had to faff around a tad.

After getting back and snacking, I kinda semi missed the smooth running of the process - basically the sofa went in vr quickly with no hickups - and bumped into Captain Rich - who announced he was popping into town to sort a few things out. As I had to go back into town to pick up the dry cleaning, I decided to give him a bell to see if he fancied a cuppa, or even a pint. Next thing I know, I'm in the Old Butchers supping on Hoegaarden galore - well technically alot - next thing I know, its god knows what time and I'm boozed up on an empty stomach. Next call, Satchwells for a quickie, then Jug and Jester where we bump into the sofa-movers John, Debbie, Gav, Mike (his lass) , Super Gary (his lass) and PFH. After having a drunken ramble and further arguments with Mike to see who is more Northern than the other (Technically its me, as I was a) born in Newcastle b) live in Winlaton and c) on the top of a massive hill )

Last point of call ( I think ) was TJs, where I got my Dry Cleaning searched incase I had a bomb, gun, granade, as its obviously a terrorist target. After calming the dude up (where in reality I just grinned and pivotted on the spot for a couple of minutes) the captain purchased a nice brew.

Anyhoo, I can only assume I went to Vialli's as there was a chip box on the kitchen floor the next morning. MMM

Its my birthday, and I'll get boozed up if I want too - and I did!

Rich kindly arranged a thursday night beer session in honour of me reaching the age of 30. As he suggests in his blog, no one ever has a birthday on a tuesday, so the nearest available Thursday (in true & typical IBM style) - so the plans were made and set. So after ironing my new Ted Baker shirt, and downing my action slacks, we made our way to The Lounge - where my colleagues and friends were waiting. Rich promised he wouldnt stitch me up, however, a little shamming around on my own account, left me paranoid for about 3 days. He mentioned a couple of weeks ago (quite innocently) if I liked popcorn (he had a brand new popcorn maker up at Chesterfield which he was gonna give me). Of course, I took this to mean, prank - aka, get home and my flat is wedged tight of popcorn, or some busty & leggy lass walks in - wearing nothing but popcorn nipples - mmmm popcorn nipples.

Needless to say, I was paranoid and thus starting a running joke, where I would recieve text messages asking if I liked popcorn from colleagues and friends. Funny you may think, but the last thing you need is to get stressed about nothing, which it turns out - nothing happened, nothing was planned - so thanks Rich for sorting my Birthday Bash out.

Anyhoo, after many drinks were consumed, it was down to two choices - Rios or the Well for cheap drinks - the latter was selected and we drank spritely til around 2am - maybe longer - I cant quite remember. Monsuir Bellis was his typical self - aka getting boozed up very quickly on strong beer, talking to complete strangers, trying to tap up unavailable women and getting lost from the rest of the group. Captain Rich was having his usual drink fuelled night, yet providing amusement for the rest of the group in his typical style. The good old Doctor David Kelly (not the weapons inspector, but the student who abused MSN in our team for 12 months) turned up, then forgot about last buses, so I let him kip on my sofa. Sadly, his flatmate, the lovely Helen, didnt attend and was omitted from staying at my gaff.

I learnt a very strong and valuable lesson today - although I got so blind drink, I cant remember it.

30 Today!

A strange but cold day, of which I was suffering from a massive hangover (from the white wine coma the night previous) so took my time to get out of bed - although I could quite easily have fallen back to sleep, the number of text messages wishing me a happy birthday prevented that. So after a shower, shave and dressed, I started packing my gear to drive back to Leamington - only to be interupted by my mother who had been to the local bakers and purchased enough bread to last a small war.

After getting back to Leam, I contacted Heir Headworth and Princess Nomes to arrange a time and place to slowly get drunk and snack on. Of course, being the night of the Arsenal v Man U - nowhere was going to be quiet - so we settled for a seat in the hogs head (now the old butchers) where hoegaarden on empty stomach was on the menu. Chinwag, relaxed talk and the Captain Palin turns up to make it four. More hoegaarden and some food happened and myself and Rich moved towards the Well for more beer - but at this point I was hardly able to talk - leaving Rich to get served at the bar and I held onto the wall.

Thankfully, we were able to stay afterhours for more beers - which is just what you want to do - so to conclude, day 1 of being 30 - boozed up, unable to walk and talk - life starts here!

T-1 day

My sister was unfortunately working on my birthday, so it was arranged that we would go out on the Monday night for a family bash, to allow me to drive back down south to have drinks on the tuesday with friends. So it was arranged, 7pm in the Skiff Inn - my dad, mum, sister (Gillian) and her husband (Phil) - and of course, myself would be in attendance. So we all caught up, chinwagged, discussed the finer items such as the Bellamy/Souness saga - until my mother (always grand with footballing quotes - "Newcastle v Sunderland - just another game") turns around and describes the mackems manager as "a nice looking bloke" which kind of had my heart beating in all the wrong times.

Anyhoo, nice steak, nice food - chilled night out - just what I wanted really.

Ended up back at my mums where I then drank a bottle of white wine - mmmm - wine coma.

Northern friends, northern beer and northern music

I spent Sunday night with old school mate - EEN - as we dont really get that much chance to catch up with each other that much. He kindly offered me to stay over night so we could have a right old beer session. This was quite good as it meant I got to catch up a little with his wife, Sarah, and their little kid, Jess. After one can of Fosters and 60 mins of dirty looks from little Jess, we decided to escape to EEN's local boozer (the Mill something) which was about a mile walk away from his gaff. So we sat down, discussed past, present and future topics and the beer did a flow, then up pops a band. Now, as you may or may not know, I'm used to Open Mic music down the Well on a Sunday, but this was quite different - Cheerful for a start and not having to watch Paul R looking for any excuse to slide his hand in some birds pants. Refreshing really! Anyhoo, the band starts to play traditional northern music which got the feet a tapping, and some old songs starting to creep into the back of your head. All n' all, a good night out, and a couple of subjects crept up and discussed and put back to bed - probably for the best for all concerned.

Back to EENs after "last orders" for half pizza, 342385 turkey nuggets and more drunken rubbish, until I fell asleep in their spare room which was so hot, it was something like out of Tenko. I half expected some oriental fellow to storm the room at 05:43 and shove bamboo under my nails.

After waking up and feeling like someone was kicking my head all night (probably little Jess), a nice cup of tea, I dropped Een off at work and received a nice present from him and Sarah - then back to my mothers for a day of shopping.

Tale of two cities ( well, one, technically)

After a great entertaining night of Chesterfield v Bristol in the tinpot cocacola league, it was time for me to hit the road and see the folks and family. I havent spent my birthday up in the good North East of England for a long while now, so seemed fitting for my 30th to go up and just do that. I was supposed to be picking up the hire car (yes, my insurance has not yet been sorted) at 8.30 and making an early start - however due to vast amounts of Stella - this was rescheduled to around 11am. Newcastle played Cov in the FA Cup 4th round and it was 20 quid to get into the gaff, so decided it would be a great way to see the team and save some cash. Needless to say, a 3pm kick off meant that I had to yank it up the motorway.

After a flyby Hi/bye conversation to my mother (by this time she was already calling me Stephen) I managed to get a bus down to St James and purchase a ticket - for the said price of 20 quid. Missing 2 mins of the game, I managed to get to my seat to sit through amusing abuse of the fans ripping into Souness (after the Souness v Bellamy saga). "Souness, you couldnt manage a f**king shop, nevermind a football team, now just f**k off you scottish t**t" was just one of the comments. After a commanding 3-1 win, it was off to Newcastle to purchase some grub and stroll back to my mums for wine, beer and chinese food - mmm.

Baby Blue

Captain Rich invited me out lastnight... Turns out that JT's wife had given birth to Teddy T - so in true tradition northern style, JT had decided to invite people out to wet the baby's head. Meeting Rich (who was supposed to be early, and turned up late) at the Lock Dock and Barrel across the road from me, with Sir Blunt, John O and the lovely Helen for a couple of pints before linking up with the remainder of the group. The lovely Nomes turned up midway and kindly purchased me another pint of beer - great - and we made way to the Lounge for Baby related conversations. This is all great, however some of the tales that JT told us, quite frankly put me off having kids, although he asked (due to me reaching 30) when I would be having kids. So I had to put him right that I did need some consenting adult to a) have sex with me and allow me to father a child - not an easy task I can tell you.

The Lounge was busy and bumped into one of our football chums and chinwagged - as people disbanded else where. Myself, Captain Rich and Sailor boy Blunty - and tag along Stuey ended up in the Well (for me, the first time for nearly a month) - for more beverage and Student piss take. Stuey got the last train, leaving it three, until the captain announced he was getting an early night (well, at 01:00 anyhow) - leaving me and Ship Ahoy Blunty to drink the good old ship Robbins Well as dry as possible. I dont really remember getting back home, but I do know that there is a bag of chips with battered sausage in the bin, so can only assume a) My Kitchen is magic and grows chip butty with battered sausages once a year or b) I went to the chip shop.

Anyhooooooo, I woke up approx 2pm on a Saturday and done very little apart from mooch and plant some Daffs. Welcome to my world!

Hello Hello - we're in a place called Leamington Spa ?

Coming up to my 30th in a couple of weeks, I decided it was probably best I get "jiggy with it" - and I dont mean in some kind of freaky Will Smith style song. Music wise, I've tried to keep up with the youth of today, but technology wise, I'm approx about 4 years behind with my minidisk player. With the force of the iPOD, I was always wanting to be someone different, however after years of putting up with "disk" I final Succumb to the ways of Harold and purchased a funky 40Gb Photo ipod. I'm currently through about 80% of my albums and have filled about 4Gb of the total. Fantastic!! Not only can you listen to hours of music (technically 12 hours with the battery) but you can plug this into your TV and play a slide show of your photos.

Anyhoo, I predict that in the next couple of years, you will be able to buy music on the Internet .... WOW

Shopping Shambles

After a week of complete exhaustion, and running out of food (well technically, I just havent had an appetite recently) - I had to pop around to somerfield to get essentials - like bread, diet coke and tracker bars. I had just been speaking to my fantastic neighbours John and Debbie on msn - when debbie announced she was going too - and would i like to keep her company and ensure she doesnt get blown away in the gales. So, being nice, I thought it would be good to catch up.

Anyhooooooo, needless to say, as soon as we get into Somerfield, she turns into some kind of shopping animal, purchasing random items, such as muffinbread - and then has the cheek to blame it on me - fantastic !!!

New York - OnLine

Here are the photos ONLINE from my New York trip.

Trains, Planes and Automobiles (and hooters) Part IIII

Thursday was my last full day in NYC, so was determined to use it to my full advantage, sadly, it didnt work out that way. Managed to get down to the bottom of the island again and attempted the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty. After spending 60 mins in either the queue for the tickets, or a queue in security - once again getting bags checked and scanned and man handled - the temperature was dropping. Then yay - we were allowed on the Ferry and started to head towards Libery Island, now - impressive from a far, but you get up to the statue - and its not really that big. In fact, I have to ask the question, in Ghostbusters II - how the hell did this statue get over to the main island ? Unless it had somekind of statue armbands - it's feet wouldnt actually be able to walk on the bottom of the river. Anyhoo, after a hotdog and tea - things were starting to warm up a little - we returned to the Ferry and bombed out the Ellis Island stop, mainly because it was a 3 hour visit of the museum.

We bombed around on the underground for a while - nearly being caught out my some local dodgy looking characters at a possible dead end if you didnt have a metro card to get into the subway. Was a little strange, myself and the captain walking down some stairs when dodgy looking character #1 looks and nods and dodgy looking character #2 - as to say, if they dont have cards, we'll get them on the way out. Needless to say, with speed being of the essence - we scanned through and hopped on the next train up to Time Square. From there we split up, the Captain went off to look for the I NY for friends, where as I went over to the shopping area on Lexington Avenue to have a look at the clothes shops etc. On my return, sad tho it is, I found the IBM building - I wasnt looking - honest.

We returned to P.J. Carney's for a night of food, beer and looking at the lovely barmaids - returning to the hotel when we could barely speak.

Trains, Planes and Automobiles (and hooters) Part III

Wednesday was a little more quieter - and was used as a shopping day. I promised the lovely Philippa a bag from the states that she was harping on about for months for her 30th birthday present. So, after the text;

"A small girly holdy bag, got 'little brown bag' written all over em Probably millions to choose from, in macy's I think :) Very touristy, take care hun XX"

you would expect - simple, Macy's, bag section, purchase, get out. No - not at all, after asking a couple of assistants where the hell they were to buy I get - "well sir (in a most annoying accent - and not in a liverpool accent either), you need to go to bloomingdales". Now Macy's is around time square / MSG area - Bloody Bloomingdales is further up north even more north than where our hotel was, and further east - 59th and something - fantastic.

On the plus side, captain happy got a ipod case, as we wandered around midtown. On top of that, he bought enough books to stock a waterstones in his garden shed. Once purchasing the formentioned bag, we returned to 57th street and found a small Irish bar that was showing the football, so $10 lighter after the entry fee we tucked into some beer and watching the Carling Cup Semi final between Man U and Chelsea.

After the 4th pint we then return to the hotel to get changed and freshen up and then bumped into BC in reception. I'd mentioned to people in Washington about Hooters ( apparently there was one around the corner from us there too) and it being a vegeterian outfit, stocking all kind of healthy food - just to drum up some interest. Of course, we bump into Helen, Barry, Brian and BC's wife and it was mentioned there - of how they fancied some healthy food and could they attend Hooters for a drink and some food. I had to sadly put them straight on the whole Hooters story, and strangely enough they were still up for it, so sure enough, a couple of pints later, they'd been scared off by some pot bellied american waitress wearing a tight tshirt and shorts that didnt help her figure. In fact, it was enough to scare myself and the Captain, to which I noticed a small bar a couple of days earlier and suggested we went there. The place is about as large as your living room and kitchen stitched together, but has a lovely atmosphere, and even better - stocked Stella for the captain.

The place was so nice, even the American/Irish barmaid decided to take the piss out of (mostly me) us by at one point refusing to serve me, then doing so - strange. Anyhoo, if you're in NYC - I would recommend P.J.Carney's - serves lovely food too - fantastic. We stayed there til gone midnight and to the point where we could barely talk.

Trains, Planes and Automobiles (and hooters) Part II

I wanted to do something American and Spoty while I was in NY - seems a shame not to really - so after getting a tip off the night before that the NY Knicks were playing Tuesday Night at MSG. I thought that this was a class idea, as it killed two birds with one stone, sports and one of the tourist places all in an evening. So after $119 per ticket, we ordered two for the night, BC was also interested, but didnt really get him two for him and his wife - and not that be interested.

After the purchase, myself and the captain left to get some breakfast and walked around, well so much walking we managed to cover about 5 mile and a bulk of midtown and downtime all in one day. We walked from our base (57th on 7th) down to time square, past Macy's and MSG, into the Empire State (as the queues were down and visibility was good), down to the World Trade Centre Site to pay respects and right down to the tip of the island and got a subway pass and train backup to 57th street. During the day it had been snowing, which was great, but we were getting a little wet, so we returned to the hotel, to put on harder shoes (instead of the thinnest shoes in the world which is what I was wearing) and returned to our site seeing tour. We wandered over to the RockerFella Centre to check out the ice skating and also to see where the Pokemon World Headquaters were - the latter being a little more difficult to find, but we managed it and was a laugh - although, again, tacky. We then found the largest TGI fridays in American, and I honestly think the Captain was impressed when his rack of ribs turned up - being bigger than the plate, although he did have a very very good stab at it.

Once we returned to the hotel, we then set off for MSG - and basketball. Now here are some people who can put a show on, and in typical american style, everything has to be 10 times as bigger, 10 times louder and 10 times longer. This must be the only country in the world that can make a game of 4 x 12 mins last 3 hours - no really. Good fun tho, esp when the home team starts to loose, the fans (3 more importantly) started to get on the team's back. Stereotypical american comments like - "You Suck", "You're a Jackass" started to stream from these people's mouths, only to be improved when me and the Captain started shouting, "You're a Mess and a Shambles". My fav comment has to be "Sack Lenny, You Suck Man"

To which, we returned to Hooters for a couple of swift ones.

Trains, Planes and Automobiles (and hooters) Part I

Monday marked the end of our time working in Washington and although fun tho it was, I was looking forward to NY, and time from work to relax. As I was flying out on the Friday afternoon, I was determined to do as much as possible. Leaving Washington was fun, there was a fire alarm (yes, another one) and an evacuation at 3am. At this stage of our washington visit, the temperature decided to decrease so much that night, it was below freezin. Anyhoo, the alarm goes off, and I was pondering to just sleep through it, as the last one was a false alarm after a test went wrong. After about 20 minutes, I thought bugger this, I'm off to investigate - wandering down to reception in jeans and tshirt only to be told to get out. Not expecting this evacuation, here was me in flimsy clothing in front of all my colleagues who decided to be cautious and wear coats ... and hats and scarfs. After the firemen had turned up, using stereotypical "Backdraft" walking with their kit, searched the area and decided we were all safe - so we all moved back to our warm toast beds *

The morning came oh to quickly, and the people going up to New York (BC, his wife, Helen, Barry & myself) met for breakfast at some god unearthly hour, chit chatted and checked out, then drove up to Washington to dump the hire car and get a nice train up to NYC. This trip only lasted 3 hrs 15 - but felt like 60 mins - there was no hassle, no delay - basically no english running of the system.

Well, this is true, until we got to Penn Station in NY where we waited for 1 hour for our bags to turn up ( these were travelling seperately in another train. We managed to successfully get a Taxi to 57th on 7th - which was to be our base for the time in NY - a nice old fashioned hotel -- of which I was on the 16th floor. Once everyone got settled, we met up in a little deli/cafe type thing across the road for coffee and muffins, then set off for a little wander around Central Park. Arrangements were made for that night, and although it appeared to be a "couple night" I was invited along, but declided - mainly due to the fact that on the way up in the Taxi, I noticed Hooters around the corner from the hotel. I've never been in a hooters before, and thought it would be a funny thing to do as its tatt and a good place to meet the Captain. 5 pints later of drinking the beer "blackboard" I receieve a call from the captain sounding almost amused, saying he'll be about 50 mins. [ The story behind this is probably best told by himself, but basically, he was due to fly from Brum, transfer in Dublin and fly to JFK. Instead, he got a cancelled flight, complained, shipped in a taxi to Heathrow and boarded a BA flight. All of which improved his humour for the day I'm sure ] So sure enough a tired looking captain arrives in Hooters after directions from my good self - sup a couple of beers and I tell him I'm retiring for the night and he is probably wise doing the same. Needless to say, he decides a couple of beers in the hotel bar is needed - and spends about 5 quid on bottled beer.