Quite Interesting!

Tonight I ticked another box in things I would love to do - this time it was to see Stephen Fry and even better hosting my favourite TV programme - QI.

We made our way from Waterloo onto the Jubilee Walk and had a late lunch/early dinner in Las Iguanas for a Mexican meal which was really good and pretty reasonable for London - certainly better value than New York!

We then made our way to the London Studios and had to queue for over an hour in the raging wind to make sure we had a seat. It was all worth it and soon forgotten as we were in the second row and near enough to the stars that when they walked on stage we could have touched them (but of course we didnt). The guests tonight were Rich Hall, Clive Anderson and Phil Jupitus - it was a fantastic evening and Stephen Fry is a living legend!

Book Read: The suspicions of Mr Wicher by Kate Summerscale

A murder whodunnit with a difference. This is more a factual book than a novel but when you start will maybe not realise is that it heralds the beginning of detectives and crime investigations.

Hang on! Whatever happened to Xenophobia?

Tonight was the 54th Eurovision Song Contest (otherwise known as WWIII).

This year after so many years of east europeans voting for the country that supplies their gas or their neighbour we were blessed by having Andrew Lloyd-Webber writing and producing our song plus I think the judging system has been changed to try to stop this xenophobia.

We came a very healthy 5th - which when you consider we have been last for the last couple of years was a true bonus.

The winner was a little elf of a boy called Alexander Rybak and his song Fairytale. Alexander hails from Norway although he was born in Russia but we'll forgive him this - it was a good song and a worthy winner.

This was the first year without Terry Wogan but Graham Norton was a very, very good replacement - cheers to whoever thought of giving him the job!

Congratualtions to Brie on the safe delivery of five puppies!

Brie gave birth to five Gordon Setter puppies - 3 girls and 2 boys. Hopefully they will be stars of the future - Harvey should be a very proud uncle!

Brie is Kilnrae French Kiss (Fr Ch Amscot Jetsetter ex Sh Ch Kilnrae Zephyr) and the pups are by Amscot Dramatist. Could one of these be my future champion???

Book Read: Brutal Art by Jesse Kellerman

I've read a couple of Jonathan Kellerman's books and they have been totally engrossing and page turning but Jesse, his son is on a different level. This book was from the first page, completely compelling. I loved it.

About a spoiled and rather arrogant art dealer in New York who stumbles across some amazingly deep and frightening art.....the find leads him on a journey that changes his life as he tracks down the artist.

I finished this book on the flight back from New York.

Our last night in NYC

Our last night so we both agreed to go to the Heartland Brewery - we even found one very near to us as it was raining again! On entering the bar we thought we'd be waiting for hours, it was heaving but a good atmosphere on such an awful evening.

I have to say this is the best meal of the trip. I had mustard crusted beef tenderloin with balsamic onions and homestyle potatoes (oh god how I love what the Americans do to potatoes!) It was so good I ate every scrap which is unknown in the US - they meals are always too large. I then tried something I've wondered about for ages - red velvet cake, something that doesnt exist here. It was lovely, I am now surfing the internet to find a recipe!

....and as a footnote. On the way back to our hotel room, we spotted (or at least Alan spotted) some very expensive and exclusive cars parked (under cover) in the street just down from the Heartland Brewery. It turns out if was a Nicholas Cage film - and a stunt that went wrong due to the appalling weather conditions. The Photo tells it all but this is what someone put on their blog - sums it all up really!

A driver for the upcoming Nicolas Cage flick "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" crashed a Ferrari F430 while filming a chase scene in New York's Times Square. Two were injured. Sadly, Cage's career will survive. Video below. The incident was captured on amateur video and shows two cars weaving through NYC traffic before the stunt driver of the Ferrari lost control on the wet streets and jumped the curb, crashing into a Sbarro's. The car struck a pedestrian directly and knocked down an electrical post which fell onto another. The worst part? One of the victims was not associated with the film so that'll be a nice lawsuit. Both were taken to Bellevue Hospital where their injuries are considered not life threatening. Thank goodness, especially as we laughed at the guy flailing his arms and legs underneath the electrical pole. We feel much less like horrible human beings now.

It never rains in California.....but in New York it pours and pours!!

Today we were at a loose end, we had plans yes, to go up the Rock (Rockerfeller centre), cycle round Central Park - but no, just as in the homeland the weather got the better of us and in hindsight maybe we should have gone home today BUT if I had I wouldn't have bought my seventh (I think) pair of Oakleys and best of all my little treat to me a Radley handbag - the only bag that comes with it's own Scotty Dog :) Alan didnt buy anything except an umbrella but there again he has spent all his bonus on that new Camera from the legendary B&H photography shop.

Sadly, the weather got the better of us and after ending up completely soaked (including a taxi driver completely covering me with water) so we gave up, came back to the hotel and I am now sitting in the bar of the hotel with a glass of Zin, a good book and a few hours to spare which to be honest is well earned after walking so many miles I need a new pair of feet!!!

For pur final meal of the trip we are going to a favourite of Alan's, the Heartland Brewery which is a microbrewery pub - and you never know I may actually have a steak.

Well done Wallace - Harvey's brother is made up to UK Show Champion

While hiding from the rain in New York I find out from my email that Harvey's brother, Wallace is now Show Champion Kilnrae French Connection avec Attrick - congrats to Debra, Karen and of course Wallace.

pssst.....I'm not jealous at all :)

....and find I'm top of the heap (or should that be bunt), A number one!!

Oh yes - we did it again, we (the Anaheim Angels) beat the Yankees but this time in style as we beat them at the brand spanking new Yankees Stadium. Even with the mighty Jeter on form and slugging the ball for miles they still couldnt get anywhere near us Angels - great result, great day and even better the weather was warm and sunny.

Notable differences between baseball in California and New York. Firstly no decent beer on sale, drinking in the grounds is definitely not encouraged - you would burst before you got drunk on Bud Light!! It's on the end of a train (Metro this time just to make even more confusion) line in the middle of concrete bridges and tunnels - in Anaheim its in the middle of almost an industrial site with nothing for miles so a car is essential. There is a lot of after match drinking and partying as lined up all along the outside of the stadium are bars and bars and more bars. In Anaheim you simply get in your car and drive home.

RIP Danny Gans

Anyone who has been to Las Vegas in the last 13 years will know the name Danny Gans. It doesnt matter if you've not seen his act, not a fan or have no interest - you will know his name - he is on every bill, every other taxi, his act is recommended in every entertainment site and magazine. It's with complete shock that I read on KVBC today that he died today at the tender age of 52 - cause at this stage unknown. Las Vegas will never be the same again......

Taking the subway to Hoboken

After doing a little retail therapy in the shape of Macy's and of course my personal favourites K-Mart and Duane Reade we made out way back to the hotel to get ready for the evening.

The rain turned into a full-on storm - it was by about 6pm pouring with rain.

After riding the tube (ooop I mean the PATH) to Hoboken to meet two of our colleagues from the company in the US (Dave and Dave) we went to a bar (Texas Arizona) which was amazingly similar to any UK bar on a Friday night - had a few drinks and went onto Arthurs Steakhouse - much to everyones amazement I didnt have a steak and when they came out I was pleased I opted for a sandwich - they were HUGE!!!! But looked gorgeous!

Hoboken looked really nice and so much more small town than Manhattan - wouldnt mind exploring it a little more. From what we saw there are loads of bars, restaurants and niche shops - a little like Tiburon in that its away from the big city feel but near enough to be accessible.

After having a truly awesome evening by which time I looked as if I had a full afro - it was incredibly humid - we travelled back on the path, returned to the Hotel and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.

I'll take Manhattan

Sadly, the weather hasnt lasted so it was just as well we went to Central Park when we did as it was lovely yesterday.

We walked for what seemed like forever down to the Hudson to see the USS Intrepid which is now a museum. It's quite amazing to think this monstrosity of engineering was launched in 1943 when lets face it aircraft combat was in in infancy. It's also well preserved (unlike most UK memorials) and everything is still in tact right down to the phone's, toilets (sorry heads) and the catpatins cabin furniture and accessories. I believe this ship has seen quite a few wars including WWII and he Korean war - there's even an amazing photo of it being hit by a Kamakaze. If this was British it would have been scrapped for scrap metal years ago such is our disregard for our history and heritage. This is made even clearer with one the Britsh Airways Concorde displayed just next to the Intrepid - a great invention, a great inovation, still the only one of its kind and forgotten about in a instant in the UK - how ironic that we have to go to America (Where at first they wouldnt let the plane fly there such were their sour grapes at not having invented it) to see this wonderful feat of British engineering!