To invest or not invest....that's the question?

Suze and I decided to have a little shopping bumble yesterday afternoon and on the hit list was a quick trip to Marc's because I'd seen the loveliest little yellow jumper in NYC and I thought I might treat myself. So we rock up to MJ's and we have a whiz around, but it's the new high high end flagship store in Chi (just off Michigan) so jumpers and such were not in their starting line up. I was just about to leave, when Suze said - Danno - this looks like a you dress. Man down I hear you cry. It was the most dreamy dress ever and at $2,700 - you'd expect it to be. So we thought I'd try it on for the crack and what a mistaka to maker....I felt like a princess and it would be the best dress for a movie premier or cousin Stu's wedding!

I so need to win the lottery or find a really rich man soon...

The best bar in the world....with a batting cage!

OK so I've officially found the best bar ever created - It's called Sluggers on Clark (nr Wrigley Field) and is a bar with batting cages for softball and baseball. It is seriously hours of fun. You get your beer, don your helmet and pick the speed of the pitches. I kicked off my heels and stood at the plate ready for the fun to begin.

The Bristol Softball lot would seriously love it....I think we need to organise a team night there - it's not too far to come really. (This pic is of my friend Emily in the batting cage....she was brilliant).

So excited for the season to start!

OH...IO

NCAA is big business in the states...it's all about the college bball and what school you went to and everyone seems to know someone who knows someone who was in class with the dude playing. From watching a bit the other week with some of my new US chums I opted to follow the Ohio Buckeyees; sounded like a fun team, quite liked their team colours (red and white army) and the main player is aces - I thought they were front runners, so going for glory I borrowed a t-shirt, hoody and even a pin (which is a badge) and rocked up to the pub. Needless to say the Ohio kids were nearly as bad a Swindon Town and lost in the last minute. But I did learn a new dance and how to respond when people yelled OH at you (although the first time I failed to respond correctly to 'OH' I did get called a halfy by some steaming fella). OH - IO. Lesson learnt.


On the way home we stopped off at Ian's (which I think might be the Grecian on the Gloc Road) and we had some serious pizza....highlights...Mac & Cheese Pizza and mash potato pizza...sounds wrong and is so wrong it's right!

Lost in translation....

Now coming from England to the US, you'd think there wouldn't be too much that's lost in translation. It's the Queen's English after all and from the movies we all know the usual suspects:

Purse = handbag
Shrimp = prawn
Trunk = boot

Etc. But more and more have been coming out of the wood work recently and if you ever want to confuse an American just throw in the different meanings of pissed (it does get confusing when explaining taking the piss, are you pissed or going for the piss) coupled with a bit of cockney and some Jade Brain expressions and its fun and games galore.

Some new ones I've learnt:
Lox is smoked salmon (that I think has been prayed upon....or something like that)
To Nut someone, is not to head-but them, but to have a happy ending.

Medieval Times....

For big Mike's birthday he arranged to go to Medieval Times and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen. Think Lord of the Rings meets a pantome at the Hippodrome in Brissle.


We hired a bus and it was just like one of the buses from Southpark. We drank beer and some other stuff that was right ropey and pulled up into the Castle that was lit up like Blackpool. There were performing horses, knights fake fighting with swords, chicken legs, hunks of bread and no cutlery and crazy people waving flags.





Our Knight was the green knight, a greasy bad ass knight - so we just had to have a photo with him!


The fake British accents were sooo bad it was hilarious (although Suzy and I have decided we might get a job there for the crack).



Unfortunately there was no pudding to do medieval teeth - sorry J. Wood. Next time.

Tea, pimms and cheese and cucumber sandwiches....receipe for success

My husband and I (suzo) decided to have a wee house warming and what better theme than a British Party. The invites went out (with a list of suggestions as to who to dress up as, as we were a bit worried it was going to be a Beckham / Simon Cowell themed party) and man did the yanks go to town. We provided Pimms (which the lawyer from work managed to get drunk on)...we had crumpets, cheese and jam sandwiches, pigs in blankets, cheese and pineapple on sticks - all we were missing were some scotch eggs.

We let the neighbours know that it might be slightly loud (with the built in surround sound in our apartment!) and invited them to join (which they politely declined) and it was a hilarious night. The Queen and Amy Winehouse had a dance off - the British quiz was won by one of the brits girlfriends (but no cheating was observed) and we even had two Suzy's at the party (The Val....pure genious).

All in all it was a mint night. At the end of our Do, we rocked on to a Jersey Shaw party, which was by no way as good as ours - although I'm not sure I could see to really qualify this statement.

The only thing that went missing was our British Cock('rell) which is being held hostage by the Winehouse....We miss our British cock Barry....

Red wine teeth...

I just had to post a separate note about the best product out on the market (although this idea was always going to be my dragons den pitch...damit) And for those that don't know me too well, I love a good glass of red (or more often a bottle...don't tell Mary). Rioja is always a winner with the badger. And when you are on a night out, no-one wants red wine teeth that makes you look like medieval times. So, being a Nation that is all about the bright white smile, they have these test tube things that you can take in your handbag (or should I say purse) and you rub it on your teeth and bob's your uncle, you have white teeth again. I'm definitely bringing these back and the crest whitening strips. No more smiles like a bag of chips for the Brits :)