Returned!

After a whirlwind week in Chicago, I'm now back and recovering in the UK; ok, so I was back two days ago, but it's taken a while to get back in the swing of things, and I'm not quite there yet.

There will be posts about my visit coming shortly, and at the moment I'm thinking of breaking it down into several posts as there's so much to recap from the week. Hopefully they'll be going up over the next few days.

So, a big thank you to everyone in Chicago who made it a great trip (everyone will get a mention in the upcoming post!), and as there's still one or two things I didn't get to do or try, I have the perfect excuse for a return visit, and look forward to seeing everyone again sometime!

Englishman in New York Chicago

Pounds have been exchanged for dollars, the suitcase has been dusted off, and the passport has been found under a pile of paper due for recycling. I'm now ready for the first trip out of the UK of this year!

So for those of you who are new or just not been following, I'm about to make my first trip to the US; Chicago has been nominated the city of choice, and I'll be flying over on Thursday morning. It's for a couple of reasons really; first, and most importantly, most of the people I know through the blogs are in Chicago, and I want to start putting a few more faces to names, and also, because of the generous offer of accommodation from Cherry! And if that wasn't enough, I'll be celebrating St Patricks Day in style with the likes of Cherry, One Lil Aussie, Classy, Dr Ken, and if he's back in time, 5 of 9er! Brace yourself Chicago.

It's a few days away yet, but the next few days are going to be pretty manic, so this is probably the last post I'll be able to get in until I return next Wednesday, and so sorry in advance to all the blogs I won't get a chance to read this week, I'll compensate with generous rounds at the bar!

So presuming I can resist the urge for sarcasm with the US customs officials, and don't get refused a visa*, be on the lookout for a lost Englishman wandering the streets of Chicago in search of the blue line.

See you all soon!


* As Russia so politely declined me several years ago

Something Wicked This Way Comes

This weekend, I got myself reacquainted with an old friend; Theatre.

On the recommendation of several people and countless good reviews, I went to see Wicked at the Apollo in London, and what a show! I don't want to repeat too much of what Katie already written about show, and would agree with everything that has been said about it.



Currently the parts of Elphaba and Glinda are being played by Kerry Ellis and Helen Dallimore respectively, and as I didn't see Idina Menzels performance of Elphaba, I couldn't compare the them, but was suitably impressed with the singing, and although Kerry and Helen were both great actresses and singers, I'd have to side with Kerry after her impressive belting out of 'Defying Gravity' at the end of the first half.

Another treat was seeing Nigel Planer as The Wizard, who up until now I've always remembered as Neil from The Young Ones (early 80's British comedy that may have not made it internationally). Again, great acting, great singing.


If you get a chance to see it, I can't recommend it enough; it's a fantastic show, and if you've seen The Wizard of Oz (and really, who hasn't??), it's great to see how the storyline fits in so perfectly. You won't be disappointed!

Reasons to be cheerful...

Since Cherry is in a particularly fragile state at the moment, and posting about all the possible disasters looming over us, I feel the need to balance out the blogs with some of the lighter highlights of the news.

• Beer drinking duck understands Chinese: A man in China says his duck, Yaya, who enjoys sea food and beer, can understand his instructions. "He understands every instruction I give him, such as to tumble or to fly. But when he's tired he turns his back on me."
• Man names daughter after car: A farther in Romania who is an avid car enthusiast, has named his daughter SLK, after the famous Mercedes model. "If I had had a boy, I would have named him BMW because this car's hot and runs very fast." Nice to see he's put some thought into this then.
• Brits keen on nude gym sessions: British nudists are bombarding a Dutch gym owner with calls for more information after he announced plans for a nude fitness course. Just tell me where to sign up.

And if that wasn't enough...

• It's only 16 days to St Patricks Day!
• Daylight savings time starts next Sunday (in the US*), which means getting up earlier, but getting to travel home from work in daylight!
• A not-to-distant season finale for Heroes, which promises to be awesome!

* Providing my sources are correct, which they may not be. I'm sure enough people will shout if I'm wrong.