VEGAS BABY

This week definitely ticks the something new box, in more ways than one. And what an awesome place Vegas is. I really had no idea of what it would be like before going, with my only references being Oceans 11, 12, 13… and the Hangover….and it was all I could have hoped for and more.

Vicks and I flew out the Saturday morning and joined Paolo and Paul (aka Gloria, and the Pope) and we had an absolute blast. Sunning ourselves in 90 degree heat drinking cocktails and people watching like none-other (gosh these girls are seriously hot…and a few were definitely men, now more lady like….but still amazing)

We went for dinner and drinks at Aria – one of the new hotels on the strip. Where Paul and Paolo got a giant piece of meat for dinner….

We had cocktails and dinner at Cosmopolitan where they served food in a shoe…..(secretly by far my favourite Vegas hotel and I totally want to stay there next time). We were staying in the Playboy mansion with work (The Palms)….which was absolutely hilarious. There were even 10 condoms in my room….just in case.

On the Saturday night Gloria hooked us up (some dude, who knew some dude, who he vaguely knew) and we managed to get VIP at Hays the new night club in Aria….it was AWESOME. A total Hollywood moment where there are 100’s of beautiful people in a line waiting to get in and we just got whisked by and sent through the red carpet and straight pass all of them. All I needed was sunnies and small dog of some sort. We then proceeded to get free drinks all night (I still don’t really know why) and we mingled in various VIP lounges. Unfortunately by 3am, the wine, excitement and general Vegasness got the better of me and when I was politely asked not to sleep in the VIP lounge I knew it was hometime. Gloria nearly died when he saw me asleep!

On Sunday I had to do a bit of work and then we did loads of touristy stuff. Belagio Fountains, Caesars Palace, The Mirage, Venice, Paris….all awesome.

The conference Monday through to Wednesday was also great fun.

The work laugh came out a lot. I drank a lot of wine and cosmos (because I had to). Talked utter rubbish and learnt how to play Craps. Ghost bar in our hotel was fantastic for the view – overlooking the strip it was a spectacular sight, although after a few cosmos I was convinced the moon in Vegas wasn’t real. Very much a Nicky ruffie moment I think!

One of the cool things about the Palms, was that we got to see where the Real World was filmed. For the English amongst us, this is a spin-off Big Brother type show, so Gloria and I were shown around and we were like kids. They had the diary room, where people cry on the phone to their mum, 7 beds, Jacuzzi bath (that's what we are in in the photo), pool table, communal showers…and just general opulence. And you can hire this suite for a mere $10,0000 a night. Cheap as chips.

As we all know, the rule of what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas will always stick. So many funny stories, so much laughter – it was brilliant. Paul Corporate and Gloria Estafan are friends for life. Those boys are brilliant (albeit they do block some…… ;-))

I'm coming home, I'm coming home - tell the world I'm coming home....

Well, it’s been an awesome nearly 2 years in the US, but I’ve decided to hang up my Stars and Stripes dress, to head to London for a new adventure.

It’s been a tough decision and I’m excited, scared, sad, happy all rolled in to one – but all in all it’s the right decision and I actually think I’m ready to be a Dizzy Badger back in Blighty - and maybe even settle down (don’t quite buy a hat yet though).

Without getting emotional (not really my style, as we know I’m practically dead inside) – but I needed to do the US thing to find myself a bit. And I’ve totally done that and more and I think my dad would be super proud. I hope so anyway…

But man I’m going to miss my Chicago Friends….but I’m hoping they will visit lots and they will always be friends for life. And you never know…I may be back again some day.

Westbrook's last weekend in Chi...

Last weekend was chicken oriental! It was Sarah (as in Sarah and Fi's) final weekend in Chi before heading to Brissle, so we had to make it super special. Sarah and Fi have been my family out in Chicago - seriously, they feed me, listen to me talk crap, drink wine with me and are just generally bloody brilliant. They moved out to Chi a month after me, so it really was the end of era. Old Gloria (aka Paolo Decannio) flew in from Colorado and it was general debauchery from the outset. There was lots of drinking (I can still taste the tequila....10 years I have been dry of that stuff and there is a reason)....dancing (Kwiec dancing was legendary....and the shirt taking off was errrr Nicky's fault). Lots of eating -a giant pizza at work Friday and Yolk breakfast on the Sunday was lush - smoked salmon eggs Benedict....ummmmmm. And lots and lots of laughter. We met fake barristers, some dude with a sweaty hat and there were lemon drops.... On the Sunday night, it was March madness (big college basket tourny) - so we went to watch U of I play and have a quiet few beers. Unfortunately a quiet few beers turned into a fish bowl that we won in the raffle, so we all got nicely fuzzy and had a fun evening. To finish we had a Skillet Cookie, which was the giant pudding that consisted of anything full of sugar. All in all a brilliant weekend and Chi won't be the same without the wee family. But Bristol will be bingo bongo and we the wedding to look forward to! Friends for life x o x o.

St. Paddy's Weekend Celebrations in Chi

This weekend in Chi was St. Paddy's Day Celebrations. Not quite sure why it was the weekend before real St. Paddy's Day - but saying that the whole city celebrates and not one single person I met was chuffing Irish! Any reason to party in Chicago.

So a big thing for the city is turning the River totally green. The River runs through the city and is beautiful with the sky-line and el (train) surrounding it - so turning it green was pretty special. Me and the pups (Ruwe, Ferrick, Schoolyard, Bobby, Westbrook) headed down to Lizzie's on the river and as per true Chicago tradition had a drink at errrr 9.00am! The black velvets went down a treat.

We had an absolute blast throughout the day...drinking, Irish dancing, a party (the Wagners) and there was beer pong and green beer, more bars and I finally called it a night at 1am! Not bad for a little pup drinking black velvets all night - who would have thought it.

Wooooow we're half way there....

Wednesday this week saw my first Rock concert and crumbs was I not ready for the stone washed jeans! Sarah found some cheeky tickets for 9 bucks to see Bon Jovi at the Uniter Centre (where the Bulls play) so I thought I'd go for a bit of a laugh. Now, for those that know me - I love music, but I'm notorious for never knowing the right words to songs and also never knowing who sings what. So at one stage I thought I was seeing Guns and Roses and also U2.

The concert was loads of fun and we met a serious die-hard fan. Some dude that had seen old Bon Jovi 16 times and he even had the tat to prove it. He loved the old Brits for some reason, although he was disappointed we hadn't seem them in Europe!

Old Jon opened with Living on a prayer (or is it Deliver our prayer...I never know) and the girls went wild. So it was lots of fun and definitelty hits the new list (and all in all a good 9 clams well spent!)

Anyone for a game of Bags....

I’ve got 10 months left in Chicago (mrrrrrr) so the new rule is that each week, I have to do something new. If that something new is ultra Americano – then brilliant. But it just has to be something new.

So, this week there have been a few new things. I tried to mount a giant moose in a beer garden at Mountain’s birthday drinks….that was an interesting experience, particularly as I don’t like heights, nor animals (whether real or not) and the frozen ice really didn’t help with the proceedings. Thankfully, I had Schoolyard one side and Dusty the other to catch me if I fell……what was I thinking.


This week also saw Nicole and I entering a 'bags' tournament. Now for the English among us, bags (or cornhole as it’s sometimes called) is a very Chicago thing. It’s basically two boards with a hole and you’ve got to get your 4 bean bags either ideally in the hole (3 points) or on the board (1 point). Now there’s not a massive amount of skill involved and you don’t need to be a Sri Lanken spin bowler to achieve such a task. So when I saw a chance to play, in a bar, drink beer….and win tickets to the baseball – it seemed like a no-brainer. The ‘Bollockers’ as we had named ourselves were for sure going to win. (brilliant that bollocks isn't used at all in the states).

Oh how I could be so so wrong. There were 6 teams including us (and then maybe another 2 last minute teams…randoms from the bar) and the 5 main teams you could tell play weekly. They were like professionals. They literally made a 3 pointer every shot and it was only when the pressure was closing in at around the 19 mark, did you see these dudes faulter. So Nicole and I reverted to the only tactic we had left. Flirt like hell, get them drunk and hope they take pity on us. It worked (in the short term) and a few times I swear they missed the board on purpose….but in the end the Bollockers came second from last and unfortunately did not win the legendary Cubs tickets (thankfully we weren’t the worst team, who were some dudes from somewhere miles away….and they really did have the touch of a …..)

So my career as a bags shark was short lived...if lived at all. But it was a bubble and we did gain a few new fans thanks to Nicky (or is it Niki?) Val you know what I mean.

This weekend has also seen one other new first….that I’m not really sure is bloggable. I can’t wait for gno and talking about this one….Shreadles will hate it!

Is it summer yet....errrr no!

Well it's still bloomin cold in Chi-town (I cannot explain how the ski jacket and layers still don't seem enough some mornings waiting for the el) but on the one nice day we did have, I made Wang plays tennis with me. It was still chilly-willy and we were the only fools (apart from two lads) to actually venture onto the tennis courts, but is was fun never the less. The sun shone, it was bitter cold and old Wang moaned like a girl - because he wore chuffing shorts! And I came back from being 2-0 down, to winning....brilliant.

We then hit the pub with Sarah and Fi and crew (Dan, Dust, Jo, Finks, Ruwe) to celebrate Sarah and Fi's engagement and how can you go wrong with $2 mimosas and pasta (with peas I might add). Bingo Bongo....roll on the summer and Oz Park...softball, tennis and the beach. It has to be around the corner now.....

DCx