holiday plans

Careful thoughts have been running though my mind this week as to the destination of choice / choices for this years excursions out into the world. I had pretty much decided a trip back to Nepal with a short hop into Tibet in and around the high plains ... perhaps capped with a route home via northern India..... However, it looks like in political terms things have taken another turn for the worst in Nepal. It looks as if the long establish Maoist insurgence has gained some momentum again. Now the political climate in Nepal is something that's been a little tenuous for a long time, and to be honest when I was there a few years back the climate wasn't much better, I even met some Maoist gorilla's high on a trail. That said, the people of Nepal are fantastic, a warm, generous and proud people. Thus, things like this shouldn't really preclude travels like myself visiting. The good news is that despite the increased warnings associated with travel to the region, the FCO haven't raised or change the overall status or advice for the area, so the message is one of caution!.

The reality however is that events will dissuade some, and in the end the people who'll suffer are the very people that the Maoist are fighting for. Its one of life's no win situations. The good news is that the climbing season is not until September, October time, so plenty of time for the situation to stabilize. Personally I'll review the situation later in the year, since I'm optimistic things will be ok. In the meantime, I'm planning to climbing a couple of smaller scale hills in Africa, one called Mount Kenya and one called Mount Kilimanjaro - you may have heard of them?

Veggie tastic

Apparently the vegetarian society is inviting people to nominate their favorite veggie-friendly local as part of the vegetarian society awards.... feel free to add your two pennies worth, assuming of course your a veggie!

To be honest Leam is a bit crap on the veggie front with most places offering only the usual suspects of veggie burger etc .... the exception being the local high class chinese's.. So all considered my choice goes with Fat Cats in Leicester!

O and just to add some variety, if your ever in Chicago, then Chicago Diner (N Halsted) has more quality veggie food than you can shake a stick @.

ps monkey likes his food :)

Everything stops for the president

In times of old everything stopped for the king, queen, or even the emperor of whatever country one would reside in, but not anymore. Now everything and I mean everything stops for the president of the United States. It was a source of never ending amusement being in Brussels this week, as the whole city pretty much shut down due the presence of there esteemed guest ... Incredible it was. I was with a client when the cavalcade drove past on the way to the airport, it latest no less than 15 minutes. Now who on earth needs that many people in tow?. The Belgium press were reporting that the President had brought no less than 800 staff and body guards with him .... to do what exactly?, I think maybe he was considering a military coo or perhaps he's simply determined to control the world price of chocolate? .... Whatever his motives, bless him like most yanks he knows how to travel light!

I noticed airforce 1 on the pan @ Brussels airport as we taxied out to take off, impressive and understated it was, all adorned with United States of America on the side ... very subtle!. I do also like the way that they brought the little sister plane along as well (which probably holds another 300+ yanks - I think it was a 7x7) .... however, I couldn't help but wonder if the little plane was for the bodyguards or the wife?...

travels continue

After a relaxing weekend, during which my friend from Ireland came to visit, I'm now in not so sunny Belgium. Rosie turned up bearing gifts, a belated birthday pressie which was nice - I'm now the proud owner of an Irish drum :).

Anyways weekend went the usual way, few drinks, a trip to Mirage on Thursday, followed by the Leeds game Friday and more ale Saturday and Sunday. All in good weekend, nice and relaxing all be it to much take away food (a pizza, a curry, a Chinese and some chips to be exact) I'm now on detox part two.

Well Brussels for the next few days with work, the US president is in town so traveling is a bit difficult at the moment ... but no matter a few stellas will more than make up for it.

Stateside Part deux

Well after weeks of battling communicable diseases (I'm not quite right still), over indulgences due in part to my birthday and graduation its about time I finally finished the last half of the tales of states side. I left the story in a somewhat drunken state - In a bar were happy hour meant not discounted, not even cheap, but bloody free beer!. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth - it was in with both feet.... happy as a butchers dog I was (in part as the free ale wasn't that weak old American shite!)... After what can only be described as an abuse of the hosts hospitality, it was off to a student bar called the Blue Iguana. Despite the name sounding like it should be a homage to the village people it was actually quite good, if memory serves me well - glad to say it was more Dawson's creek than poodle creek, with live band and all!

Friday was a top night, for those fans of Jazz at least. The legendary Green Mill was the destination in old Chicago. Great place, great music and great company!. However, all the girls did struggle with the no talking rule... which was funny in itself. Image a class of junior school kids dieing to talk when told not to by teacher ... it was kinda like that, only funnier. Anyways the snow was coming down hard, so we decided to leave, step up Chicago's drunkest taxi driver. This guy was so drunk, he had me in tears not because he was funny, but by what he was doing .... everybody in the world was f**king wrong... he was indeed gods gift to taxi driving. All hail pissed taxi driver, the genius of world politics and humorous satire - what a superstar! (Fantastic, he had a mullet and I'm sure a tractor @ home - O how I love steriotypes, maybe he was married to his sister?)

Suffice to say the snow came down so much the airport was closed ... Great I love snow!. Anyways, only one thing for it - snowman time. So off I trot with the girls to build a snowman. Now, liking a drink as I do, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought about putting schnapps in hot chocolate - but the girls did... Top brownie points for that one girls!. Snow angels, and snowman followed - not since I was in my early teens have I rolled around in the snow trying to make a snow man - O how I missed it!. There are apparently pictures of this escapade, which will follow in due course ... The day was completed with adult behaviour in the form of dinner and a trip to the bar ... all in a good end to the trip.

Sunday being the last day was my only experience of Sunday fun day - and the famous bloody mary .... still not sure on them, an acquired taste me thinks. My thoughts are I'll try one again next time I'm hacking up a lung and see if does anything for me!. The ride to the airport was a dull affair - as these things are when your home would bound, and if I'm honest I was in a mischievous mood!. The result for those that know me well is predictable, that I spent the entire journey winding my hostess up .... to the point whereby she wasn't talking to me by the time we hit the airport. In monkeys world this is amusement personified, but I'm sure the little Yank won't agree - so I guess I should grovel for forgiveness, else I'll not be invited back :)...

So thats the trip in a nutshell - Thanks again to all those that made the trip special, it was a pleasure to meet each and everyone of you ... if your ever in my neck of the woods, come look me up and I'll do my best to repay your warm welcome...... hope to see you again soon!. Last, but by no means least, thanks to the little Yank for taking time out to show me around and KW for putting a roof over my head....

mad weekend

After another mad weekend, drinking far to much, I've the joys of London this week... or Heathrow at least... To say I am tired at the mo is a bit of an understatement.... Lying low for a few weeks is maybe a good plan. I think my liver needs a break.

World Club Championship

This weekend see's an important return home for me ... Firstly to celerbrate my birthday all over again - this time with my big brother and the lads from my school days!. But it also see's Super League Champions Leeds take on the best that Oz can offer in the world club championship. I can't wait it, should be a great game. The good news for Leeds is that we are at full strength - with young Danny McGuire passing a fitness test. It will also be interesting to see how Gareth Ellis slots in @ lock, in arguably his most high pressure game, and really the first opportunity to show what he's capable of since his move from local rival Wakefield Wildcats... Canterbury also at full strength - so the scene is indeed set.

The game also signifies the start of the new Super League season, which starts in ernest next weekend...... Bring on the best game of earth... O and a beer or two :)