Arsenal vs Spurs – 7.45am on Saturday.
Too early for a pub? I don’t think so.
Ooh to be a…
November 18th, 2010Mind the bed bugs..
November 16th, 2010Fortunately, I haven’t encountered any but I am worried the more hotels I stay in the more likely it is that I will.
So far I have stayed in:
Although some people would find the constant upheaval a pain, I am enjoying the changes and getting to see lots of New Yorks hotels !
Fall
November 14th, 2010I have found a new appreciation for Autumn, which I am putting down to one or more of the following:
- I haven’t seen Autumn for 2 years
- The “Fall” is particuarly colorful in the New York State (yes, i left the “u” out on purpose)
- I am getting old.
Either way, the views are quite beautiful – its a shame I only have my camera phone – which doesn’t do it justice.
The Fall
Note to self . .
November 14th, 2010Don’t walk around office on laptop on skype video chat – you cant see where you are going.
At first I thought I had got away with my clumsiness, then a cartoon bruise rose from my face.
Ouch.
Marathon
November 9th, 2010There was a point last year when I debated running the NY Marathon with Dave- but didn’t think I would be able to make it to NY (let alone run 26 miles)
Anyway, Dave completed the Marathon in a very respectable 4.06.
Go Dave!
Give me a "D"
Team Weeds !
2 years..
November 4th, 2010I have just realised that its 2 years since I moved to India. How appropriate that I ate last night in an Indian – destiny must have been calling !
The time has flown by – I wonder where I will be 2 years from now.
I like Diwali, everybody does . .
November 2nd, 2010Unfortunately I am missing Diwali – last year was one of the best party’s in Chennai.
Copying the Sex Therapist posters which are all over Chennai we made our own Diwali posters – although our plans to put them up all over Chennai didn’t come into fruition.
Needless to say it was a legendary night.
Sex Poster
Party Poster
If Carlesberg did DJ Booths
Uncle Sam
November 2nd, 2010So after 6 weeks of searching i finally struck gold.
I went to an Indian restaurant in midtown for dinner last night, and as the waiter I approached I analyzed his appearance – dark skin, belt wrapped round one and a half times – so far so good.
Having been burnt many times before, I asked him if he was from India or Bangladesh.
“India Sir”
Game on.
“Where abouts?” I innocently inquired.
“Chennai”
He then got 3 months pent up Tamil all at once, complete with head wobbles.
“Thank you, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, nine, ten, my name is nick, masala dosa, welcome”
His puzzled look turned to a smile and he introduced himself, ” My name is Saravanan – call me Sam”. No Sam, call you Saravanan.
Anyway, made me realise how much I miss India – I’m gonna eat there everyday till I leave.
Sri Lanka
November 2nd, 2010Earlier in the year, Austin and I went to Sri Lanka. We only had a few days, most of which I spent attempting to kite surf, but hopefully I will get a chance to see more of the country.
In my ignorance I didn’t know that Sri Lanka is predominantly a Buddhist country, but below are some photos of the Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple.
Buddha
Buddha
Buddha
Gets my vote
October 20th, 2010Its been a while since I posted – I will be catching up over the next few weeks.
I am in New York now, spending on average 3-4 nights in a hotel, before moving to the next cheap deal that I can find on the web. It would be better and easier to stay in one hotel, but I can because …
*courtesy of Joel. Ep.
Consipracy!
October 14th, 2010I was walking along the street in NY and saw a country’s name in the glass reflection of a building.
I turned around to see what was reflecting to give that impression – and it was Americas National debt ! Which proves they rule the world etc.. (insert bullshit here)
jew'd have thought it...
Happy Birthday John
October 8th, 2010In central park is a small memorial dedicated to John Lennon, in an area called Strawberry Fields (named after the song – not vice versa)
As it was what would on been his 70th birthday, a fairly large crowd gathered, to with guitars and a full drum kit (!) to sing his and Beatles songs.
I didn’t know any of the songs, it was really crowded and then just as I left they played a classic. Just my luck.
Forever...
Starwberry Fields
New York
September 18th, 2010What is it with my trips to America? I seem to be followed by Tornados!
Happy Birthday to me.
August 26th, 2010
Great card Dave 
Milwaukee
July 26th, 2010Last week – with rather short notice – I was asked to go to the USA. After a few days in New York we headed to Milwaukee where we learned there was a Tornado warning.
I hadn’t really thought the implications of this through – and it was only in the morning when we saw the devastation of the storm that we realised leaving Milwaukee could be a problem.
The whole airport was deep in water and closed till late in the afternoon when they managed to drain the water.
Flood
Flood
Flood
Cheryl Cole
July 8th, 2010I havent had any antimalarial drugs in the last 18 months, I do sleep under a net but still find myself being bitten a lot (probably because I dont put repellent on)
Unfortunately my house mate has caught Malaria – hopefully it wont be too severe and he will recover soon.
Waka waka eh eh - This times malaria. . .
Sunrise
July 8th, 2010There have been quite a few sunrises that I have woken up early to see (ahem) but this was by far the best over the last 18 months.
Everybody Loves the Sunshine !
Every Little Helps . .
June 17th, 2010There is a lot of litter in India – particularly plastic carrier bags and plastic bottles.
So, it was nice to see my local supermarket had got some eco friendly bags – especially as they look so similar to a UK supermarkets version.
Every Little Helps
Wanted..
June 12th, 2010
Yes, i find that funny.
Jumbotron
June 12th, 2010World cup fever is gripping Chennai (ahem).
The problem we face is that bars in Chennai:
- Close at 11pm
- Are couples only
- Probably wont show football anyway.
The solution:
Build a screen in the garden, run an 80m cable from the satellite dish and watch it at home.
All hail Jumbotron !
Build it .. and they will come.
Possibly slightly arrogant
June 11th, 2010
But still funny as f&*$
The Great Leaders Birthday
June 3rd, 2010The most senior politician, the Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi has created a cult of personality. The irony that his sons name is ‘Stalin’ is probably lost on the masses.
Last week was The Great Leaders Birthday and a whopping £25,000 was spent on giant posters and flags throughout the city that wouldn’t look out of place in Pyongyang.
My favorite poster depicted his bald head as a pearl in an oyster shell. Fallon, Ogilvy, Saatchi – you’ve got nothing on this !
Oyster Catcher
Shopping
May 11th, 2010Shopping Western style is fairly limited in Chennai – so I was pleased to spot “London Shopping Festival” was coming to town – with a replica of London bridge !
As we wandered around – clearly the only Londoners in a 4 mile radius - I started to wonder what the London connection was exactly. And as nice as the replica “London Bridge” was – a quick search on google would have revealed it was in fact Tower Bridge.
London Shopping Festival
Austin Towers
Summer Olympics
May 4th, 2010Summer is here again – and its back to scorchio – 38 degrees and rising.
My new house mate Austin has moved in, so instead of me wasting the day on my own resuing insects from the pool – we decided to get sporty.
First event – Lilo race
Second event – Surf in the pool
Third event – Kite surf.
Now, bearing in mind that being Western we attract a lot of stares in the street from locals, we knew that taking a 19 foot kite onto the beach was going to be an Indian magnet – and so it proved to be.
Still, with a crowd of about 70 watching us we were able to launch the kite and Austin was able to skid along the beach. Unfortuntaley the wind dropped so we couldnt try it in the sea, but nevertheless, much fun.
If everybody had a ocean . .
Lets go fly a kite . .
something funny...
The Weeds Returns
May 3rd, 2010Simon and I were having Dinner so we sent my driver to pick up Dave from the airport with a sign . . .
Mooey