Return from New York

Had a great trip it was a great place. Got to see most of Manhattan and some of the east village as well as Soho, Noho and Little Italy. Grand Central is really good, just like in that old photo, although it's very white because they cleaned it a few years back, apart from one brick so you can still see what it was like when covered in soot from the steam trains. The subway is amazing. You get on the platform and a train comes and quickly it takes you to where you need to go. So different from London where you pay a lot more and have to wait half an hour for a train.
Macy's is huge, it's called the worlds largest store and I think it is. Unlike the Barnes and Noble which calls itself the worlds largest bookshop and would be run close by Foyles in London (which also calls itself the worlds largest bookshop)
I had the some Cheesecake in Lindy's which was huge but very tasty, and I had a Pizza in Johns Pizzeria which is where The Ramones had the photo taken for the cover of one of there albums and has been frequented by Debbie Harry, Harry Conick Jr, Frank Sinatra, Woody Allen and Willy Nelson.
Also had a few pints of real Irish Guinness in the White Hart which is the pub where Dylan Thomas used to hang out, and later young Robbie Zimmerman who then decided on the name Bob Dylan.
I didn't go to the top of the Empire State, although I did go to the top of the Rockefeller Tower which isn't that much shorter and from which you can see both the Empire State and the Chrysler Building.

I should have some photos next week if the film comes out, although it might not. I still use a classic film Leica camera although I might have to get a digital one someday.

But it was a good trip, and as with the last time I visited the USA I was struck with how open and friendly everyone is.

Last post befour holiday

I'm away off to New York for a week on Tuesday, which I am really looking forward too as I haven't had a propper holiday for a while. Should be good fun, and I need a break. Will be back with a full report.

Feeling light headed

I'm sure most of you who have glaced at the photo on the site will have noticed that I tend to go for long hair. In fact for most of the last 15 years it has been very long, at least past my sholders. But not any more!
I've not gone for a very short style but something a lot shorter, which looks better and even seems to make me less strange looking. More than one person has said I look like Johnny Depp, and someone else said that I looked like Luca di Montezemolo. Who is Luca di Montezemolo I hear you cry, well he is the presedent of Ferrari, Fiat and Confindustria. He was at the opening of the Olympics the other day.
Anyway judge for yourselves, here is a bad photo...

Long time no post

A mixture of illness and work has meant I haven't posted, which is a shame. Although I will be back on the ball from on.
Tune in to resonance104.4fm tomorrow at 3pm for Sporting Legends, this week I'm doing the history of the Rugby Union and the Five Nations competition. You can listen in here: Listen to RFM

R.I.P Tony Banks

Yet another of these mini obits. This time it is for someone who I actually had the privilege to meet. About ten years ago he opened an art exhibit of AIDS posters which was housed at my university. He shook everyone's hand and chatted to everyone, plus he had a great sense of humour. It was a really nice evening.
Tony Banks stood down as MP for West Ham at the 2004 General Election, he was elevated to the house of lords where he took the title Lord Stratford. Although he said he didn't expect any one to use the title.

Tony Banks, Lord Stratford

1943-2006

Chuck comes out

So Charles Kennedy has admitted being a lush. Like we all hadn't guessed. The question now is so what. It is perhaps a novelty still to see politicians being honest. Still admitting your a lush is one thing, he never admitted that his tax policy would have sent thousands of people bankrupt. Still so what if Chuck is a lush, at least he is a better opposition leader than the new golden boy of the right David Cameron. It's a bit of a shame for the fleet street editors that these two haven't got each others vices. Dave the Drunk sounds better than Chuck the Lush and Cocaine Charlie is almost as good as Cocaine Kate. It's true as well, I read it in the 'News of the World' so there.

Not the start to the year I wanted

I've been as sick as a dog for nearly a week now, and it dosen't seem to be getting any better. Hopfully I can post more soon.