You Tube: Battle of the Planets

Spunk Alert 12: A good date...

Now here's a perfect example of a speed dating...
(not that this applies to me as very happily partnered with Andy for almost 7 years however I digress...)
...the cute guy brings you flowers and champers, and gets his gear off faster than a brides nightie at the same time...then after all the pleasantries are over you still have time to watch that DVD you just bought from Amazon before getting a good nights sleep...with or without your date - All good.

Stinkin' You tube

Well I have been trying to link v.funny clips of TV/film and motion and bloody You Tube keeps failing to link with the blog...well it just wont do...so this is what happens when you buy something for a measly couple of billion - next thing we'll find out that its not registered, has dodgy steering and got a yellow sticker last month...google beware!!

Spunk Alert 11 - Gael García Bernal

This spunky actor originally from Mexico started in the Latin Soap Opera 'Abuelo y yo, El"Abuelo y yo, El' (and if you never have seen a Latin soap please watch as quite hilarious...)

He is not only quite handsome but can speak English, Italian, Spanish and French

For those who do not know him, he has appeared in 'Y tu mamá también' (And your mother too) appearing nude in some scenes, ''Bad Education' by Pedro Almodovar and more rerecently playing young Che Guevara' in 'The Motorcycle Diaries' - which is a fantastic btw...Not only this Mexican can act...but is not bad to look at as well. He is quoted saying

"The Talent survives and remains while the beauty is diluted."

Lets hope his beauty does not dilute but more so ages well...

Big Trip from 2005 - Make my way back home and I learn to fly...Part 9 (Final)

I still can't believe it's been a year since the big trip...getting back from almost 5 weeks travelling the globe...I had so much fun and still today I'm so glad I went...I got over travelling alone, especially when I was lucky enough to meet up with friends and make some new ones along the way...the trip made me grow in a way I haven't in years...

I have just finished reading my journals from the trip, and it's amazing how it can jog your memory...and I have just gone over an inventory of stuff gained, used and left over from the trip...

STUFF...

- 2 Journals of the trip ( 1 given to me as a gift from the Guggenheim NYC from the lovely Nanette, 1 bought from Il Papiro in Venice)

- Many many digital and actual photo's of the trip - including a photo of the Florence at dawn and a Gateway in Venice to a private garden - both in the Living room

- BBC mug & pen from the Tour of the Beeb, London ( as well as this bad photo of me...)

FASH...

- A shirt, T-shirt and Jeans from London

- A stripy scarf & cute t-shirt from Paris

- A fitted black long sleeve top & 3 silk ties from Rome

- Bathers from Venice, jocks from Rome and socks from all over

- 3 Paris of Sunglasses, all quite fabulous at the time and now quite ridiculous

- 10 polo shirts from Thailand - all need to be washed drip dry

- Board shorts, bracelet's & other useless items only ever bought on holiday

- 1 Wallet from Mandarina Duck Florence (it's so the best store ever)

- A new suite of luggage (Luggage wheels broke in Florence & one handle got stuck in the Paris Metro)

GIFTS & SUNDRY ITEMS

- 20 postcards sent home, 2 which were lost and 1 which never was received by Bek & Damo

- 1 Pumistone in shape of foot from the 1 Euro store in Venice (EVERYTHING 1 EURO!)

- A nail clipper set that cost me 18 Euros from Paris...and then I found the same set in the 1 Euro Store ( did I mention that EVERYTHING in the store is 1 EURO!)

- 1 Disco Candy compilation bought from Virgin Mega store London ( I didn't realise until i played it I had all the songs from all the other Disco Candy Cd's already owned!)

- 1 Leather jacket(Florence), tie(Paris), Jocks ( Marks & Sparks) and diamante cuff links (Top Shop) all for Andy

- 6 Mini Jams from Fortnum & Mason - given as a gift (damn!)

- 1 Harrods Address Book meant as a gift but I kept it (you learn from the Jam mistake)

- A miniature Eiffel Tower bought from the 2ND Floor of the Tower

- 1 signed piece of Art Glass, 1 Vase, 8 Christmas Baubles & 6 mutli coloured tea lights holders (which washed to clear) from Murano
- 2 Books on Glass

- A serving tray with the London underground map on it

- 3 Sarongs ( they are so - wrong and yet so right for Posh & Becks)

- Frank Lloyd Wright Calender, Incense burner and other little goodies for Kris Kringle '05.

- 12 Shot Silk cushions - 4 used as cushions and 8 used as place mats - v.specsh!

DUTY FREE
- 1 bottle of Calvin Klein cologne which I still can't find

- 1 Million bottles of Vodka bought & drank

- 4 carton of fags ( thank god I quit in March)MISC...
- 12 Flower lays I bought from the above Thai lady when I was really drunk

- 5 Hats bought the same night - all for the Judy impressions ( flowers and hats strangely lost that night...)

- 11 used European train tickets

- 2 unused Metro tickets

- 7 Hotel bills - all paid in advance I might add...

- 5 well used Lonely Planet guide books - all my travelling gospels

- 3 international adaptor plugs for OZ electrical goods

- 23,000 Frequent Flyer point gained from 8 plan trips total duration about 3 days.... and used entirely on a one way flight to Perth from Melbourne!

And the bill for approx $12,000 was final cost of trip(and worth every cent spent!!!!)

I had planned to make sure I get to travel at least yearly - so far I have been to Perth and Hong Kong this year, I'm planning Sydney & Perth(again - family!) for 2007, and hopefully Phuket for Andrew's Birthday in 2008, and maybe a Bali trip sometime in the meantime..or Hawaii...or for that matter somewhere warm with a beach/pool and lots of well mixed drinks...

X b

Big Trip from 2005 - Thailand forever...Part 8

So Thailand eh..its still one of the best holidays we all had in years...

It's amazing what cheap booze...hot weather and lady boys would do to a simple holiday maker like myself...here I am with Alby summoning the spirit of Judy...

Alby & Allan with one of the prettiest trannies I have ever met...she's number one in Phuket doll...

Me still playing Judy to Jez's Liza...or at least Barbra...

Bless...Andy, Alby and our (straight) mate Damo in left over costumes from Victor/Victoria...either that or Cambodian headdresses are going to be the talk of the season at Spring Racing Carnival...

Again at Tuk's bar....a compilation so to speak...Jesus it was a drunken night ...
This is possibly the best pic ever....Andy looking lovely ...a nice shot of Tonza...and Jez so incredibly drunk...I love this pic so much...as Jez is one of the most urbane, witty, intelligent people I know...and he's so drunk here... and it still makes me laugh as he is totally the opposite of this pic...

Big Trip from 2005 - Thailand forever...Part 7

So the holiday was drawing to a close...the final leg was Phuket for 10 days...after running around Museums, tourist sights, churches, ancient ruins for 3 weeks...it was all going to be about taking it easy and slow














...The view from the hotel room balcony to the hills to the left...














And to the right...the beach...













...the pool is fantastic...like about the size of a hockey field...
So too the cocktail bar...a nice pic of Damo, Odie and Andy, and Montree behind the bar, after 2 days he pretty much knew all our drinks orders

Andy & I....yes and the infamous bruise on my pasty white 'just arrived in the tropics' skin

Andrew,Tony, Bek & Jez...all looking brown (bastards)

Everyone at dinner - we found this place a few doors down from the hotel - not only dirt cheap but some of the best Thai food I have ever eaten!

So one night after many drinks we decide to create 'Karaoke Idol' - Tony began with a rather wonderful rendition of 'Jambalaya' by the carpenters...a toe tappin' thigh slappin' experience loved by all ...Onya Tonza

Damo preferred a crooners number whilst seated with a beer...

Can't remember what Odie was singing but I love this pic of her anyway...

Ok so here's an idea that should have never happened...Allan, Tony Andy & myself sing Spice girls 'Wanna Be' which at the time seemed to the the greatest idea since track lighting...what it turned out to be was...to quote Jeremy..The worst thing he ever saw...in his life...but couldn't stop watching due to it's total utter dreadfulness...

Our new mates Stephanie & Tuk from 'Gramma Bar'

One night at Gramma Bar - A Hawaiian theme bar in the middle of a carpark in Phuket...Go there to sign your names with the rest of the gang on the roof of the hut - get a pink drink laden with enough booze to fire a rocket into space in a tittie glass (no less) and Tuk will do a show at the bar with a straw in her ear aka the Thai Madonna...beats the shit out of working.

Movie Review: The devil wears Prada ( and we love her for it)

Wow...I thought 'Dream girls' was going to be the film Du Jour of 2006 ( probably still will be be after it's release...oh and the new Bond 'Casino Royale') AHEM but in the meantime I would like to introduce 'The Devil wears Prada'...

Based on the book of the same name, which was loosely based on Anna 'Nuclear' Wintour, editor-in-chief of American 'Vogue' (this fact could be debatable likewise the success of last seasons Jimmy Choo slingbacks) - A young bright journalism graduate (Anne 'That Girl' Hathaway) is looking for a job to start her on her way in NYC...and gets one as a personal assistant('the job a million girls would kill for' quote) to editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (Meryl 'is there a role this woman can't play 'Streep) at 'Runway' fashion magazine...
And as the title suggests this new image of the devil has impeccable taste and also unbelievable power...regardless of the cool exterior of this well-heeled-fashionista-empress, pure evil is delivered to her subordinates in such a way that one would rather die being choked to death in a Vivienne Westwood Corset than submit failure in her presence..or is that just me?

This is a real snapshot of the influence that some people can wield in their chosen field...obviously characters and plot enhanced for your viewing pleasure...but still a great tale of girl working for the boss from hell...(no pun intended - honestly)

What I love most about this film is that it has all the right elements...great cast - Meryl & Anne are brilliantly cast as well as Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt and Simon Baker in supporting roles), the drop dead style of the flick and unbelievable fashion that would even make Diana Vreeland sit up and take notice...or is that just me too?

(Right - more like a scene from Macbeth maybe?)

This film won't change your life but for a few hours of entertainment it's so worth the watch.

PS - wear something fabulous to the cinema otherwise you'll feel like Bjork in that Swan frock from the Oscars a few years back after seeing those clothes on the big screen.

4 choc tops out of 5.

Big Trip from 2005 - Viva Italy! Part 6 - Florence & Roma - LOST IN TRANSIT

Well I have no photos to post as my camera decided to die so I have only have actual photographs (Yes people still have those !) and as I dont have a scanner I can not load them!

Oh well...Well just quickly I had a wonderful time in both - Rome well not so much...

The next destination was Phuket to meet up with Andrew and some of our friends...other than the 24 hour flight over to London this journey was only slightly better...Let me explain...

- Leaving the Hotel at 1.30 on Thursday to catch the subway to Roma Termini

- then the 45 minute train ride to get to Aeroporto...then transit lounge until 5

- then a 3 hour flight to London...met up with Tony & Jez ( who had just returned from Russia & Ireland and joining on the Phuket leg) at yet another transit lounge...

- at 10pm UK time we caught a 12 or 16 hour flight to Bangkok....

- then 3 hours at another transit lounge at Bangkok Airport then a flight to Phuket...

- then a 1 hour coach ride to the hotel ....arriving at 9pm Friday night!!!!!

Needless everyone met us at the hotel...Andy and I went to the hotel room so I could give him all the gifts...then he gave me the best shag of the year (I got a bruise on my arm and still do not know how) then we all went to Tuk's Bar (our new friend) and got pissed.....

Big Trip from 2005 - Viva Italy! Part 5- Venice, Murano & Bologna

The Rialto Bridge..another landmark you don't realise you are on until you see the view of the Grand Canal...

A short ride over the lagoon from Venice is the Glass Mecca - Murano...

A spent most of a day there being an avid collector of glass, especially Murano glass...













As I took disposal cameras as well as the digital I have only these...which knowing me is probably a good thing...otherwise there would be glass for days


Bless the Italians...they certainly know how to do a chandelier...

After a few Days in Venice, Ronni and I said 'Ciao' - she was off to Sicily and I was off to visit the city of Bologna...known for three things..the 'learning'(of the University), the red (of its walls) and the fat(the fantastic food)...

Noel and Alberto met up with me from London and it was fun weekend...in a nut shell

- Get to Bologna...raining...Hotel room flooded so they put me in a serviced apartment...we wander around the city and visit some it's great cafe's and bars...We meet up with Mirko, a friend of the guys, he takes us to a Friends house for dinner...car breaks down as battery flat...Mirko's brother comes to our rescue then an hour drive to Modena for dinner... Dinner was ace and got very drunk...we drive back to a Bar in Bologna at 1am in the morning...Noel and I fall asleep in the back of the car...Wake up and go to Bar...drinking continues as the most odd gay bar ever I have been to in my life...leave bar at 4am and crash...wake up very hungover...go shopping and eat a fantastic lunch...then need to go to the toilet for over an hour...Say ciao to Noel & ALberto and catch train to Florence...Sun is shining...

Noel and I before the drunkiness...

A nice shot of Alberto and me trying to impersonate a lamp...I have a whole collection of me doing this...lamps, vases, flower arrangements and furniture...but that's not for here...

Big Trip from 2005 - Viva Italy! Part 4 - Venice!

So after the beauty of Paris..I caught the train to Venice...other than the water, and the city has been the same for hundreds of years...the fact that no cars are present enhances what was one of the most unique experiences of my life...

The Garden Gate at Peggy's House(I thought the B & W pics of her in the house and the history of the Pallazzo and of Ms Guggenheim was far more interesting that the art!)

Me on the Academia bridge - Trying to blend in as a local...not succeeding

Meet Ronni...we met at Italian Class (yes I did a crash course in Italiano! Not that I was any good mind you) and she so happened to be in Venice so we hung out and saw the sights together...that was another highlight of my time in Venice...

St Marco's Square at 8am

St Marco's Square at 1pm

Moral: Go early

What I loved about Venice was that time moves at a different pace...No cars present so that helps...the air is very clean because of this so the locals ( if you can find any remaining) say...Yes you pay 18 Euros for a Bellini at "Harry's Bar" and you need to sell your grandmother to eat and for your hotel room, but the experience of this amazing city on stilts has to be visted at least once in your life...