Paul Incognito

Weekend in Nice

2010-08-08T13:06:00.001-07:00

Grooving in speedos, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Nice... Rocky beach but strange and interesting people abound...

Two gentlemen in Verona

2010-08-08T13:02:00.001-07:00

IMG_0734, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

On route to the opera on a warm Saturday evening... So warm that people were passing out at regular intervals. I'm assuming it was the heat not the quality of the Zeffirelli production of Carmen...

Lake Garda

2010-08-08T12:30:00.001-07:00

IMG_0518, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

After all that fresh air and walking in the mountains, it was good to chill out for a few days around Lake Garda at Limone and Riva.

The town of Riva was also an excellent place for catching the semi-finals. There were loads of Germans watching it and they reacted very well to not making it in the finals. It was very civilised...

Up to Col Rodella and Back

2010-08-08T12:27:00.001-07:00

IMG_0467, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Not content with one walk in the Dolomites, the following day we caught a lift from Campitello up to Col Rodella (in the top right), around those mountains (to the left) and back down. It was lovely and green and along the way there were cows, a marmot and a few gravel roads to slide along... While it could take up to four hours to walk it, we kept at a brisk pace and did it in three and a half hours, including stopping for half an hour at a refuge for a hot lunch...

Veneto and the Dolomites

2010-08-08T12:14:00.001-07:00

IMG_0313, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

There is nothing like some fresh mountain air during a warm summer... After spending a few warm days in Venice, we headed for the mountains for a few days where these sort of views abounded... The Tre Cime di Lavaredo was a mostly safe walk with spectacular views. Only once did I feel impending death due to the instability of the ground and my ability to stay upright on it... Could be that clumsy gene I have...

Gothenburg Sunsets

2010-06-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

Gothenburg with its open spaces, parks, canals, harbour, trams and dramatic sunsets is a sensible way to spend a weekend. If it isn't up there in the liveability stakes it sure should be. Wandering the streets or sitting in the parks just seemed so calming... And curiously quiet for a city of around 500,000 people...

The locals look like they are straight from some catalogue for successful living... Well dressed, gorgeous and tanned. And oddly mostly hairless... Many made the advantage of the warm weather and endless sun by stripping down to the bare essentials and nobody was complaining... Of course this is a university town too so the fountain of youth was probably in greater abundance than normal...

The only drawback is flying Ryannair... Endless delays, dirty planes and irritating announcements every fifteen minutes flogging their dish of the day, (it was macaroni... there was no mention of cheese which made me wonder if you wanted it with that it would be a few extra pounds...) come as standard with their flight service... Still it is only a short flight and probably worth that brief irritation...

Cannoli in Noto

2010-04-13T16:22:00.001-07:00

IMG_0103_2, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Shortly after this photo was taken, this cannoli was devoured...

Granita in Noto

2010-04-13T16:19:00.001-07:00

IMG_0051_2, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Pity about the 22.5% service charge... But it looked rather lovely

Scenes from Taormina Sicily

2010-04-13T16:16:00.001-07:00

IMG_0074
Originally uploaded by Paul-in-London

The lady is smokin'...

Meat-o-rama

2010-01-01T11:12:00.001-08:00

Meat-o-rama, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

No trip to Australia is complete without a barbecue with dead animal and sausages cooked on a giant grill outdoors in the fresh air and sun and humidity.... Even if the meat tastes better... (and this could be construed as heresy) in Europe... It might have something to do with the cattle being happier when they aren't in a drought...

Still a fitting farewell to oz... Especially when the meat is medium-rare...

Scenes from Brisbane Real Estate Boards

2009-12-25T21:52:00.001-08:00

IMG_1428, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

There is a trend in Brisbane to post pictures of estate agents on the billboards... They might do better business with paper bags on their heads but go on... Give Charmaine a call... She will give you a huge reduction apparently...

Love on a tree trunk...

2009-12-25T03:16:00.001-08:00

Love on a tree trunk..., originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

They have funny ideas about proposing marriage in Brisbane... Or at least they did five years ago...

Anatomy of a pineapple tart

2009-12-25T02:53:00.001-08:00

Anatomy of a pineapple tart, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Down on the Gold Coast these things sell out... They are pastry base, a tiny amount of pineapple, butter cream and industrial strength icing.

Guarenteed to give you Type II diabetes... Maybe surfer dudes burn it off but the rest of the people on the coast certainly don't...

I'm on vacation...

2009-12-17T22:37:00.001-08:00

Well it looks pretty if you like that sun, surf, sand and blue skies. Our family used to holiday near Coolangatta (which was the location for the film Muriel's Wedding)...

For those of you not enjoying the summer, you can take solace in the fact that the Gold Coast is still full of bogans (chavs) and has no nightlife once the sun goes down (unless you call nightlife throwing yourself or falling off off your balcony).

Posted via email from paulinlondon's posterous

Typical Australian ad

2009-12-17T05:36:00.001-08:00

IMG_1413, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Of course "thongs" are "flip flops" elsewhere...

Serving up in Brisbane

2009-12-17T05:35:00.001-08:00

IMG_1402, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Strange things they put on pizza in Brisbane... Particularly on the Southbank...

The $4 coffee

2009-12-14T18:09:00.001-08:00

The $4 coffee, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Brisbane people love their coffee and nowadays every 100 metres there seems to be a coffee shop, hole in the wall, coffee cart selling the stuff. But this is perhaps a sign of the (inflated) times in Newstead Brisbane: a takeaway flat white (that's a less milky latte) for $4. There were slightly larger sizes for more. In any currency that was a tad expensive, particularly when it wasn't that hot and the beans were a bit odd. If coffee is any measure of the state of the economy, things are getting a little crazy here...

Still the cardboard cup it came in was lovely so I thought I'd make the most of my purchase with some flattering photographs of it before it was thrown in the garbage.

Concert: Spirit of Christmas

2009-12-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

Friday evening I ventured to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre to see their Christmas concert Spirit of Christmas... It features a cast of thousands... Well at least the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and four local choirs along with local celebrities and a reverend (to remind everyone about Jesus). Ten years ago I last performed in one of the choirs so I was keen to see what had changed. Well QPAC is obviously keeping up with tradition (and being frugal) as very little of the show had changed. In fact I could have got up and sung along with them as I knew most of the arrangements. One new addition was an African Noel that had the giant massed choir moving and swaying... I was surprised to see that many of the old timers still could move it. They could teach the LGMC a thing or two... It was a pity there wasn't more of the choirs given I understand they had them practicing every night of the week just for three songs and bit of colour behind the singalong carols...

Highlight of the evening however was when singer / host / minor celebPeter Cousens asked a young boy on stage if he could go back and sit with his father, to which he replied he didn't have one. This was met with howls of laughter from the audience. We were a cruel lot. I gather that for the Saturday shows he was a little more careful with his words lest any more orphans came up on stage to sing Christmas carols. I hope they managed to fix the sound as well as the "QPAC amplification" sounded like everything had a pillow over it... The strings weren't that bad surely that they needed to be muffled? Still it was an enjoyable enough concert...

It was the first time I had seen the venue since its renovation, and one can only wait another twenty five years for the return of the coral coloured seats. Ok sure they were relics of the eighties, but so is this building and horses for courses. The brighter scheme didn't work for me (and it didn't seem to work for the lighting guys who weren't particularly adept with the LED lighting moods). The foyers with their chocolate carpets and steel mesh bits already are embarrassment and hardly an improvement for congestion either...

Britney goes to a bottle shop

2009-12-12T03:09:00.001-08:00

IMG_1395, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Observing fashion trends in Brisbane has been... interesting. Maybe Kath and Kim isn't ironic afterall... But I did like Britney showing up in the bottle shop to buy some Vodka... Some girls can't pull that sort of look off, but this one was just... Toxic...

Dressed Yule Log

2009-12-12T03:04:00.001-08:00

Dressed Yule Log, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

And for something different... French cooking class on Thursday night ended with this little marvel... It is meant to be a Yule Log but essentially with chocolate, butter cream, sponge and a bit of chestnut puree it is a device for inducing Type 2 Diabetes... It is still sitting in the fridge awaiting to be eaten... It will be some wait...

Scenes from Brisbane's new square

2009-12-10T04:36:00.001-08:00

IMG_0027, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

The newly opened King George Square has attracted controversy from locals as they think it isn't shady enough... From this angle it is a bit hard to understand their point... Perhaps more troubling are the slabs of granite walls and the "no skateboarding" signs which give the square a less welcoming feel...

The square doesn't really design out crime either... The local youths already have claimed some of the many nooks and crannies of this new space. A bin had been set alight when I passed by.

Still it is an improvement on what was there and makes the best out of being on a bizarre sloping hill that should have been levelled when the city was originally built... Give the trees a few years and it should be a bit shadier as well...

Scenes from an early lunch at the GOMA

2009-12-09T00:25:00.001-08:00

IMG_0031, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

To tie-in with the Asia-Pacific Triennial at the Gallery of Modern Art, the cafe there was doing some Asian Fusion food... This was sushi with raw salmon... Even with the special sauce it was delicious...

Travel to Brisbane: Travel tip on Emirates

2009-12-07T23:54:00.000-08:00

Somewhere between London and Dubai around 1am Monday morning I found myself a little damp. The entire contents of a glass of champagne dropped into my lap after a flight attendant tripped on something or other (it might have been an aisle passenger's foot). It was a little bit alarming as I had successfully spent the last five months avoiding getting my Nudie jeans too dirty so I didn't need to wash them and now some clutzy flight attendant was going to force a premature wash...

The whole flight crew seemed a little accident prone (well the ones providing the inflight service anyway), as they kept dropping things, running into each for the whole six hours as if they were Keystone Cops... Determined not to let a little champagne spoil the flight I suggested that if they gave me a towel and a glass of it then I wouldn't say anything further. Alcoholic drinks are complimentary on Emirates flights, except for their champagne which they charge some ludicrous price for... It might have been a dud swap as their finest champagne was a bit crap... If it happens next time on the flight back I will ask for the dry cleaning bill instead...

Scenes from the N196 to Bonifacio

2009-07-12T13:53:00.001-07:00

Corsica July 2009 009, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

The baguettes are bigger in Corsica...

Goodbye for now...

2007-07-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

Ok I've had enough. I'm boarding a plane for London (via Singapore) shortly... Goodbye Brisbane and hello Singapore then London...

Scenes from Brisbane skyline Monday

2007-07-23T07:46:00.001-07:00

230720071888, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Brisbane is home to the most ugliest tall buildings in Australia... After Sydney, The Gold Coast, and Perth... This one is a particular favourite. The angle doesn't give the penis er fin of the building on the top left justice, but captures the concrete bunker visuals quite well I think...

Tall buildings in South East Queensland are all the rage. Even if doctors on work visas want to blow them up (they don't but the story did sell the Sunday papers)...

Mind you after visiting the Q1 tower the best thing for it would be to demolish it. Like everything else on the Gold Coast it's tall, big and looks pretty cheap. Word is that only aspirational flight attendants live in it as it makes them feel posh...

Scenes from the scene Sunday night

2007-07-23T07:25:00.001-07:00

220720071863, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

All a bit wearying...

Scenes from New Farm Sunday

2007-07-22T02:55:00.001-07:00

220720071821, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

I hear it is the biggest cock in New Farm...

Scenes from New Farm Friday

2007-07-22T02:52:00.001-07:00

200720071746, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

When you've gotta go...

Scenes from the Brisbane River Thursday

2007-07-19T07:11:00.001-07:00

190720071705, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

USS Kitty Hawk is in town for a weekend... If you look hard there are people on board...

Scenes from Melbourne Sunday

2007-07-18T18:46:00.003-07:00

Scenes from..., originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

If you go down to Collingwood today...

Scenes from Melbourne Sunday

2007-07-18T18:46:00.001-07:00

Scenes from..., originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Scenes from Melbourne Friday

2007-07-18T18:45:00.001-07:00

Scenes from..., originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Not that I would like to admit it normally, but on Friday I did see Miss Saigon as it was either that or Menopause the musical (making its third return to Melbourne)... Miss Saigon is a show that takes itself a little too seriously and does go on forever (especially during the prancing er marching soldier sequences)... The cast seemed a little tired as well as if they were over the show before it closed... Although when lead David Harris appears in a floating bed in his boxer shorts in the first act (don't ask) I was hitting Adrian for his binoculars so I could get a closer look at the production...

I was disappointed that the little brat in the show (who yawned at least once) didn't get his own song too... I think he could have done with a number like "There is a rice paddy in a field"... But I guess we can't have everything...

Finally I think the message for the show is that if you are going to give your girlfriend a gun, make sure it only has one bullet in it... It is in Brisbane for a few weeks from Sunday but like Miss Saigon, I think the production needs a bullet...

It wasn't the only show I caught in Melbourne. I caught an amateur production of Cabaret while I was there. It was fascinating for the fact that the average age of the cast was 12, and that the woman playing Sally Bowles in her black wig looked like Jackie Macdonald. When she appeared later in the first act in a pink feather boa... It looked as if she was wearing Ozzie Osterich...

I also caught a rather depressing show Saturday evening about a woman who was throwing away the ashes of her dead son over the South Pole. It is off to play the Edinburgh Fringe and the cast were asking about what they should do to fix the show. I suggested lose the raffle for a balloon over Melbourne (although that may not have been part of the production). Afterall, when something is this dire there isn't much else to do... Mind you I was told it was better than their previous production "Macbeth on Ice" which was not about crystal meth (although I did ask as it seems to be the nation's favourite recreational activity)...

Scenes from the Gold Coast Thursday (later)...

2007-07-18T18:41:00.001-07:00

Scenes from..., originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Sand boobies...

Scenes from the Gold Coast Thursday

2007-07-18T18:40:00.001-07:00

Scenes from..., originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

A telling reminder never to eat on the Gold Coast... The fish at Q1 Beach House tasted like some frozen dead sea beast... And how it was presented was pretty hideous too... Well at least they are consistent...

Scenes from New Farm Riverwalk Wednesday

2007-07-11T02:06:00.001-07:00

Scenes from New Farm Riverwalk Wednesday, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Or in other words, this is the only part of the river that the council hasn't flogged off to developers to build gray and silver flats so they can't get them to pay for it...

Scenes from a New Farm Supermarket Monday

2007-07-09T02:05:00.001-07:00

090720071369, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Every household in New Farm has at least one coffee machine so it makes sense to have cardboard cups and lids available at the local supermarket when you want your Gaggia to go...

The New Farm supermarket is an interesting place. Apart from a great cruising zone I saw a woman who looked Cruella De Vil in the toiletries aisle. Melinda didn't appreciate me hissing "Kill the puppies make the coats!" behind her... Really I should have asked her how many polyesters died to make that carpet she was wearing...

Scenes from the Gallery of Modern Art Monday

2007-07-09T01:47:00.001-07:00

090720071366, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

A trip to the new GOMA can be a bit of a freakin' trippy experience...

Scenes from Teneriffe Sunday

2007-07-08T01:42:00.001-07:00

080720071313, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

In the drought it is all about bragging who has the bigger rainwater tank... Especially with these tough new rules around...

Scenes from New Farm Park Saturday

2007-07-08T01:37:00.001-07:00

070720071284, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Kubb in the park (not near where the trees were down)...

Not the news: Storms in Ipswich

2007-07-08T01:15:00.000-07:00

A major cyclone (Cyclone Shazza) and earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter
scale hit Ipswich in the early hours of Friday with its Epicenter in Queen Street, Ipswich.
Victims were seen wandering around aimlessly, muttering "Faaackinell".

The hurricane decimated the area causing approximately $30.00 worth of damage... Three areas of historic burnt out cars were disturbed.

Many locals were woken well before their Centrelink cheques arrived. The Ipswich Times reported that hundreds of residents were confused and bewildered and were still trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting had happened in Ipswich.

The Australian Red Cross has so far managed to ship 4,000 crates of Bacardi-Breezers to the area to help the stricken locals. Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings, including Health Care Cards, Jewellery from Kmart, and Bone China from Big W.

An appeal has been set up to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in this disaster. Clothing is most sought after - items most needed include: baseball caps, tracksuits, singlet's (blue & white) white sport socks, sports boots and any other items usually sold in Crazy Clarks. Donations $15.00 will be taken to buy a packet of winny blue 25s and a lighter to calm the nerves of those affected.

Scenes from Brisbane Queen Street Mall Wednesday

2007-07-05T19:20:00.001-07:00

040720071162, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Brisbane boasts more performing arts venues than any other city in Australia... There is a venue on every corner...

Scenes from under the Story Bridge Tuesday

2007-07-03T06:57:00.001-07:00

030720071128, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Remains of a piece from Expo 88 or is it air conditioning ducting...?

Conversation at a homeware store

2007-07-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

Woman behind counter (on telephone): Yeah... Yeah... You are? Yeah... Nah... Hold it a mo'.
Paul (to woman): Can I just get these slippers?
Woman behind counter: Oh ok. But could I interest you in some beaaaautiful tea towels? They are three for ten dahlars.
Paul: I think I'm right for tea towells I just need the slippers.
Woman behind counter: Oh ok then.

And the purchase ensued...

News: Terror comes to Brisbane

2007-07-03T05:06:00.000-07:00

No not my nephew, but the news that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the Glasgow and London bombings in Brisbane.

First of all... It isn't me. Mind you some people here would be happy to see me arrested after being here less than a week and disrespecting a local clairvoyant to the stars. I suggested that her predictions were a bit of a fraud after noting she was passing off 2-year old pics of Ricky Martin with his half brother as proof he has a current gay lover. Her other prediction was that she was in a London pub and saw only skeletons (clairvoyant-speak for seeing impending DEATH). I have been to Comptons on Old Condom Street in Soho too and seen the same thing... It's a shame really but at least the older gays get out a bit.

Anyway from one soothsayer to another, I particularly liked the fearless reporting of the local newspaper The Courier Mail, and the graphic (sampled below) which captures the terror hunt from Glasgow, Liverpool, London all the way to Gold Coast hospital. And there I was thinking that the main terror at the Gold Coast hospital was surfie dudes and their barefoot girlfriends hurling abuse and broken bottles of XXXX.

Anyway, while the story omits the fact that the doctor hasn't been charged with anything and may at the end of the day be free to go, The premier has reassured the state by noting "It's really important that everybody understands that while we have recruited overseas doctors, 99.9 per cent of them are good citizens who are working very hard,". It is just that 0.1 per cent Queensland Health employs were you get a Jayant Patel or some terrorist... That's the bummer...

Source: Courier Mail website 3 July 2007

Ok now back to our regular blogging...

News: The Pasha Bulker has been freed. Newcastle is officially boring again...

2007-07-02T15:26:00.001-07:00

A national obsession (for the last three weeks anyway) in Australia has ended. The Pasha Bulker has been freed. It is such a shame as the container ship that run aground near Newcastle is probably the most exciting thing that ever happened in that city. It has prompted loads of creative output on Youtube (as the movie below demonstrates) and had mothers with their babies queuing up to be photographed alongside it (wait a minute that's my sister)... Newcastle just won't be the same again...

Scenes from a Sunday lunch

2007-07-01T06:02:00.001-07:00

010720071036, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

Humps of cauliflower are a popular side for the Sunday roast here... Best not eaten alone (or without the chef's special white sauce)...

Scenes from downtown Brisbane Friday 13:43

2007-06-29T06:20:00.001-07:00

29062007971, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

As temperatures plummet to 19 degrees, the coats come out... Ok it was a bit breezy...

Scenes from Brisbane Airport 08:47

2007-06-29T05:18:00.001-07:00

28062007950, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London.

After a long flight one needs coffee, muffins and fruit toast... Oh and some water to keep the fluids up...

Why do the wrong people travel?

2007-06-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

As I prepare for flying to Australia on Tuesday evening, I have been taking care of the essentials:

Packing noise cancelling headphones
Burning DVDs to iPOD
Trying to pack only one USB cable... Hmmm

I'm sure I will have forgotten something... Oh passport... Spare money from last trip... Thank heavens for electronic tickets...

I'm still flying...

2006-10-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Coming up to the tenth hour and flying somewhere over Eastern Europe I have given up on reading and watched an episode of Kath & Kim and saw the movie "The Devil Wears Prada" again. I actually slept through some of the final scenes which I thought improved the film as I just don't buy anyone walking away from the job just when they got the hang of it and just after they slept with that blonde Aussie actor...

The best part of the flight is that there are only 80 people on board and everyone has plenty of space on the 747... Obviously a good time to fly... And I am making the most of the free internet service. It is going to be withdrawn at the end of the year as Boeing says there is no market for it at the high prices they were charging for the punters to use it. Now that isn't rocket science...

Flying and turbulent times

2006-10-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

I should be trying to get some sleep. Instead I am using my PDA to update My blog while flying over the Indian Ocean with the plane bobbing up and down. I have also read the first few chapters of the Latham Diaries which I picked up in paperback before leaving Oz. Have made mental note to write more like Latham... He May have been a bad leader but he does have a way with words. Bit depressing that Beazley is still the Labor leader too but it probably doesn't matter since they have no chance getting elected next year... Oh the fun things to do on the flight to London... Only ten more hours to go...

Day 16: Singapore 7.23am

2006-10-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

Taking a break in between flights I have set up in a lounge and decided to post my thoughts following a few cups of coffee from a Nescafe machine... The machine makes interesting coffee. If you select the milk option it gives a frothy brew that tastes a bit like coffee and a bit like it has been infused with the goodness of monkey spunk. Nevertheless if it is the only thing on offer monkey spunk coffee is the way to go...

The coffee combined with the compression stockings I just put on (I couldn't be bothered putting them on the first leg of the flight as it was only seven hours) gives one a sense of invincibility no matter how misplaced...

The flight from Brisbane provided a few laughs including a fat Singapore man still in the loo as the plane was about to take off. The flight attendant was about to haul him out but he managed to waddle out and back to his seat just as the plane lifted off... I found it a hilarious sight and laughed out loud. So did the two very Australian ladies sitting next to me. Dunny humour... Gets us every time...

Reflecting on the two weeks in Brisbane I managed to do a lot of things. Including getting to an accident and emergency room on the last night after having a bit of a meltdown from the very warm (and a tad smelly) Virgin Blue flight back from Sydney. It wasn't just the cool talk by the flight attendants that was creating a funky atmosphere on that flight... And no the three cocktails and bottle of white wine for lunch had nothing to do with it...

Anyway... In around fifteen hours I will be back in the UK and will continue writing from Paul in London...

Day 15: Scenes from Emporium Brisbane Tuesday 14:09

2006-10-17T04:18:00.000-07:00

Day 15: Scenes from Emporium Brisbane Tuesday 14:09, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

One last lunch before flying out tonight... Depot in the Emporium precinct in Brisbane is great for lunch... And the staff are friendly (although the one in the background seems to be giving a bit of 'tude... I could have done with more sleep having been up into the wee hours of the morning with a drip in my arm... Then again my friends were expecting me to make a call into accident and emergency this trip and it had become a running joke, so I couldn't let them down...

Day 14: Scenes from Sydney Opera House Monday 15:49

2006-10-17T02:24:00.000-07:00

Day 14: Scenes from Sydney Opera House Monday 15:49, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Cocktails McDonalds style at the Sydney Opera House... There is a designated section where you have to pick them up...

As for the cocktails... They were rubbish as they weren't made with crushed ice... The guy made a mojito as if he was serving a soft drink. The drinks got better later in the day at the top of Australia Square at Orbit bar with AP, D and C... Great views too...

Day 14: Scenes from Sydney Circular Quay Monday 14:41

2006-10-17T02:15:00.000-07:00

Day 14: Scenes from Sydney Circular Quay Monday 14:41, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

A fine wine and a view of the harbour for lunch... Pity about the fish and chips at Doyles being a bit on the scarce side... Although what was provided was great, I wondered whether they had run out of chips and fish by 2pm and if Sydneysiders don't know the concept of a late lunch??

Day 13: Scenes from Brunswick St Sunday/Monday 00:47

2006-10-17T02:12:00.000-07:00

Day 13: Scenes from Brunswick St Sunday/Monday 00:47, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Monday morning and all is quiet... And a bit of a blur...

Day 12: Scenes from the kitchen Saturday 21:14

2006-10-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Day 12: Scenes from the kitchen Saturday 21:14, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Meat-o-rama

Day 12: Scenes from Wellington Point Saturday 12:11

2006-10-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Day 12: Scenes from Wellington Point Saturday 12:11, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Boy on ladder with Calvins showing...

Day 10: Scenes from New Farm Thursday 17:57

2006-10-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Day 10: Scenes from New Farm Thursday 17:57, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Crap design 101: Queenslander meets abattoir...

Day 10: Scenes from UQ Thursday 16:51

2006-10-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Day 10: Scenes from UQ Thursday 16:51, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

A boy in a candyman's store...

Day 9: Scenes from Ann Street Wednesday 22:05

2006-10-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Day 9: Scenes from Ann Street Wednesday 22:05, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Not a lot happening out there tonight in the Valley...

Day 9: Scenes from a Pizzeria Nundah Wednesday 19:26

2006-10-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

Day 9: Scenes from a Pizzeria Nundah Wednesday 19:26, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Waiting to take away...

Day 8: Scenes from Noosa Tuesday 13:30

2006-10-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

Day 8: Scenes from Noosa Tuesday 13:30, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

No trip to South East Queensland is complete without visiting Noosa (pronounced Nooo-sarh for those in the know), even if it is just for lunch. Lunch was fish and chips with a tomato and goats cheese side salad at Season restaurant. We were told that it was pronounced Seasaahn but that was just a wind up. The wait staff call it Saysun love...

Day 8: Scenes from Hastings Street Noosa 14:31

2006-10-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

Day 8: Scenes from Hastings Street Noosa 14:31, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Coffee on Hastings Street is always a sensible thing to do. You never know who you will run into... Ex-colleagues, men with their shirts off, the possibilities are endless. Oh and Crocs in all different colours were popular with the punters, but this guy was wearing thongs (flip flops as they are called everywhere else)...

Day 8: Scenes from Noosa Beach Tuesday 14:14

2006-10-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

Day 8: Scenes from Noosa Beach Tuesday 14:14, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

All that sun, surf and sand...

Day 7: Scenes from the street in New Farm Monday 21:47

2006-10-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

Day 7: Scenes from the street in New Farm Monday 21:47, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

One of the drawbacks of living on the corner of a busy street (this photo is from a Monday night so it is less busy) is that when eating on the verandah the passers by want to talk to you... Such as the chap in a beanie and the bottle of XXXX tonight who asked if we were having herbal cigarettes. I think he wanted to bum one. We actually were having rib eye fillet off the
bone which is a little different, but maybe he couldn't see the steak knives from the road...

Day 7: Scenes from New Farm Park Monday 17:45

2006-10-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Day 7: Scenes from New Farm Park Monday 17:45, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Irony in the park...

Day 6: Scenes from the nursery Sunday 16:55

2006-10-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

Day 6: Scenes from the nursery Sunday 16:55, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

My contribution to baby blocks saying "Peace" and "Baby"... Rather appropriate for what Grayson was doing most of today...

Day 6: Scenes from New Farm Sunday 09:46

2006-10-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

Day 6: Scenes from New Farm Sunday 09:46, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Walking to the Continental Café for Sunday brunch you couldn't help but notice the odd sunburnt person in a bikini...

My feature debut

2006-10-08T05:25:00.000-07:00

I made my debut on Ben and Melinda's blog yesterday. They are giving me shit about not wanting to be called uncle Paul and I mentioned I was happy to be referred to as just Paul, which has now been referred to as "Just Paul"... Hmmm... Of course, who wants to be just another gay uncle?

Grayson no doubt will eventually have a say in this. Incidentally I threw in conversation today that Grayson will no doubt find himself being called "Gray" for short... Or "Gracie" if he has a club act...

Everything is the same, but differnt

2006-10-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

People have asked me if people in Brisbane have changed. I would have to say yes. But they still all wear Industrie...

Buying Crocs before arriving was a smart idea... They are in all the shops already and are about to be the shoe of the summer here (if there is such a thing as "shoe of the summer")...

Day 4: Scenes from Wellington Point Friday 18:13

2006-10-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

Day 4: Scenes from Wellington Point Friday 18:13, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Moonlight over Moreton Bay...

Day 4: Scenes from Moreton St New Farm Friday 12:30

2006-10-06T17:59:00.001-07:00

Day 4: Scenes from Moreton St New Farm Friday 12:30, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Suburban bliss 3

Day 4: Scenes from New Farm Friday 12:17

2006-10-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

Day 4: Scenes from New Farm Friday 12:17, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

More suburban bliss

Day 4: Scenes from a dress shop Friday 11:31

2006-10-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Day 4: Scenes from a dress shop Friday 11:31, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Gowns and garbage trucks... The gowns are by the lovely Paul Hunt... Garbage trucks by Sita environmental solutions...

Day 3: Scenes from a Valley Bar Thursday 23:03

2006-10-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

Scenes from a Valley Bar Thursday 23:03, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

There were more poker (slot) machines than people out tonight. I asked
around where the people were and the reply was that they only come out on Saturdays...

Day 3: Scenes from Post Office Square Brisbane 13:29

2006-10-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Day 3: Scenes from Post Office Square Brisbane 13:29, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Sartorial elegance in the square... Of sorts...

Day 3: Scenes from a burger bar Brisbane Thursday 21:01

2006-10-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Scenes from a burger bar Brisbane Thursday 21:01, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

A gour-fucking-met burger from a local burger shop that seems to be more closed than it is ever open... After several attempts trying to go to the store when it was open I finally got a one... It wasn't bad but not as good as GBK...

Day 3: Scenes from Brisbane Thursday 18:36

2006-10-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

Scenes from Brisbane Thursday 18:36, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

What Brisbane is all about... Traffic jams...

Day 1: Scenes from Brisbane Tuesday 13:47

2006-10-04T01:09:00.000-07:00

Day 1: Scenes from Brisbane Tuesday 13:47, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

On the street where I live in New Farm (for the next two weeks)... Lots of punters walk by here on the way to work so it will be a very interesting place to be...

Day 0: Scenes from Brisbane Hospital Monday 21:09

2006-10-04T01:05:00.000-07:00

Day 0: Scenes from Brisbane Hospital Monday 21:09, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

After dropping my things off I went to hospital to visit my new nephew, Grayson Alexander. Ben and Mel didn't see that I arrived by white limo... It was a bit ostentatious though...

Day 0: Scenes from Brisbane Monday 20:13

2006-10-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

Day 0: Scenes from Brisbane Monday 20:13, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Arriving in Brisbane Australia 24 hours after leaving London, R arranged for me to be picked up in a white limousine... It's going to be a wild two weeks... The J who came along for the ride got to know the limo driver but apparently he was married...

One last view from NYC

2006-06-15T16:15:00.000-07:00

One last view from New York: The view from the Wintergarden of the World Trade Centre site (WTC7 just opened on the far left)

The triple threat and other adventures...

2006-06-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

There is one last story from New York I will mention. After catching The Drowsy Chaperone I decided to head down to Splash Bar. People rave about Splash Bar and if you live in New York it might be the best bar in town, but what gave the place a reputation was lost on me. The punters kept telling me the recent refurbishment of black tiles and chrome bath fittings was such an improvement I was perplexed to think how dire the place must have been before that.

Wednesday night around 2am they use the bathroom fittings to shower a whole lot of gentlemen wearing white underwear. This seemed to be a popular event. But I think people up for this sort of thing should wear their best white underwear and not some tired old pants that look like they were thrown in with a dark wash. This was obviously not an important consideration for those boys up on this elevated shower-stage. Presentation aside, the art of tease was also something that these performers knew very little about.

Anyway, a little while after the shower scene I found myself chatting to this gentleman who called himself Luke. He was sitting by himself and was waiting to speak to the manager about something. He suggested I bought him a beer and I figured the drinks were cheap enough to overlook this presumptuous suggestion. A couple of Budweisers later, he told me his name was Luciano and he was a personal trainer and an "exaaatic daaancer" from "Joisey". I began thinking to myself that usually if you did those two there was a third of escorting (making the triple threat), but there was no mention of that. Oh and his family were from Sicily. There was some mention about him being the black sheep of the family as well.

Anyway we started chatting about the difference between Manhattan and New Jersey, what was an Australian who lived in the UK doing in New York, and other finer points of popular culture. Around 3am he suggested we go to a great little after hours place in New York.

The concept of an "after hours" venue had to be explained to me as it was a little foreign. In London if you aren't staying out late enough to catch the first tube home in the morning, you're making a scientific analysis of how many drinks you can afford for the evening measured against the amount of time it will take on a night bus to get home, divided by how much enjoyment you will get from getting home quicker on the last tube. New York being the city where there are plenty of cabs that are cheap and a subway that runs all night obviously has a different culture.

I figured I wanted to see some more of the city, so I found myself jumping in a taxi to go to an after hours in the East Village. It was a bit of a circuitous route given Luke was not the sharpest tool in the shed and he had a vague idea where the place was ("you know, it's somewhere roundabout 'ere, you know" etc. etc.). His thick New Jersey accent didn't help things either. I could have done with a translator at times and so could the cab driver. I did help out the driver at various points such as by saying "I think he means turn left at the next set of lights," anytime Luke muttered something that was quite unintelligible. After touring the East Village we finally found the place. But it was closed. There was a police raid a few weeks back for trading late (something about their license), so they now were closing early.

But upon hearing that I was Australian and it was my last night in New York for a while, Lucy, who was leaving the bar, suggested the two of us join her next door for a drink and it would be her shout. I thought hey why not. I could sleep on the plane home tomorrow evening. So we all went into this little bar in the East Village having some beers until the wee hours of the morning talking about (in no particular order) terrorism, Katie Couric, London versus Australia, New Jersey versus New York and so on.

By the time it was 4am, this bar was closing and Lucy went to the bathroom. Luke was pretty eager to get some coke and had been asking me all evening if I wanted to get some. I kept telling him that I was way too anally retentive for that but I think he interpreted that as something to do with my preferred way of ingesting it, so he kept persisting. Lucy's trip to the bathroom was his chance to ask one of the other punters if he knew where he could score. One said he would ask around so Luke saw this as an opportunity to ask me for money. "He's going to get some what have you got on you". All I had was $20 and that was for my cab home. "That'll do as I need to give him something," he hissed. I started to detect a sense of desperation in his voice and he was starting to tremble a bit. I thought to myself, he doesn't deserve the $20 but that was a small price to pay for getting him off my back. God bless George Bush. May he continue to run the US economy into the ground so the greenback remains cheap for European travellers (it is almost half the value of the £ at present).

Telling this story over the last week or so to people back in London I was told I should have asked for something in return for the $20 but as it was 4.30am it was my turn for not being the sharpest tool in the shed. The irony however wasn't lost on me that I was giving a rent boy $20 to get off my back.

Lucy and Luke decided to go on to find another after hours, but I was ready to get some sleep. Lucy gave me $10 for the cab ride back home and we all exchanged numbers. I said look me up whenever you're in London (as you do – well I figured Luke wasn't going anywhere). I think I managed to get back to the hotel by 5am in time for the early morning news. I was up by 8am and checked out by 10. My flight wasn't until 11pm that evening but I still managed to check out a few museums and places and began thinking that it wasn't such a bad trip to NYC. Oh and thank you Red Bull…

So there it was. A brief sojourn to New York filled with a variety of strange and interesting experiences. Who could ask for anything more? Well, maybe tickets to The Pajama Game… Not that I'm a fan of musical theatre…

Theatre: The Drowsy Chaperone

2006-06-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

My last full night in New York I caught the Drowsy Chaperone. It isn't so much as a musical but more a comedy monologue full of knowing jokes about the state of modern theatre, which just happens to have old-style musical numbers peppered throughout it. How it does this is by getting a single man in a cardigan who happens to like show tunes play an old record that he has from a long forgotten musical called "The Drowsy Chaperone". Then it comes to life and he gives a running commentary on the proceedings full of such knowing things as one actor "died after taking an overdose and was discovered half-eaten by his poodles"… Trust me it was hilarious…

The show has become a hot ticket in New York. It is probably because if you weren't into vampire musicals or crap songs by Phil Collins (oops that's a tautology) there isn't much out there. It is also a comedy and that helps. Also the cast is terrific and inject life into a show which otherwise probably shouldn't be there.

A particular standout in the cast is Sutton Foster. She is fantastic (and rather flexible) in her show stopping number "Show Off". The number goes on, and on and on but it was the best thing in the show so it was quite enjoyable.

Unfortunately the rest of the music was awful (with the exception of the "Show Off" number) would have to be an understatement. I was hoping it would be like Foster's other musical turn "Thoroughly Modern Millie" but alas no. Standing in the back row which several rows of Southern women all in varying shades of green dresses with shoulder pads (I hear there was a reunion show of Dynasty on US television but this was ridiculous) a decent tune would have made the experience more enjoyable. But alas it didn't happen.

And finally on the subject of a narrator and comic who sits in a flat in his cardigan and slippers playing old show tunes… Was I the only one slightly disturbed by this scenario? Well one expects it to win all the Tony's next week so I guess I am a lone voice here…

One other thing, the theatre was the Marquis Theatre in New York (part of the Marriott Hotel chain). It is a large theatre in amongst the concrete pylons built in the early eighties. Apparently it has very comfy seats but I can't comment on that bit. But it was such a hideous building that it is worth mentioning (it is even sent up in this show). Parts of Manhattan are full of awful architecture from the last 30 years. It made sense that Sydney is doubling for New York in films now…

When the fuzz fill Times Square

2006-05-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Times Square and squad cars, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Every couple of weeks whole lot of squad cars converge on a point in New York as a test to see how quickly they can get to one point in the city. It also is a bit of a show of force for a city gripped in fear for the next calamity. On the Tuesday I was there this happened in Times Square, which tended to frighten many of the tourists who thought armageddon was just about to break out...

And sure they may drive fast and carry a gun, but I couldn't imagine any NY cops running too far with all that extra weight they are carrying. They aren't thin and they sure don't look fit...

It also probably means it isn't a good idea to run away from a NY cop as they will probably either run you down with their squad car or shoot you...

Postcard from NY: Birdland and birds...

2006-05-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

Monday nights in New York is a great chance to catch Jim Caruso's Cast Party at jazz club Birdland. It can be quite a happening place where aspiring singers, Broadway stars on their night off, and other "talent" get up and have a sing. And since Patti LuPone's solo gig at the Lincoln Centre had sold out I figured it was a worthy second thing to do…

The audience consisted of the standard issue of musical theatre afficianados, aspiring singers and the odd startled tourist who was expecting jazz on a Monday night at the club. Shortly after arriving at the bar I felt a tap-tap-tap on my shoulder. It was a woman next to me. "Excuse me," she began. "Do you mind if you pretend you know me in a minute as there is a guy about to come over and talk to me who I would really like to avoid?"

Well that's something you don't get asked everyday. Naturally I said yes to the woman, thinking it was pretty funny; just like when Terri Hatcher asked Kyle MacLachlan to pretend to know her in a recent episode of Desperate Housewives. Hang on, wait a moment I thought. MacLachlan's character was pretty animated and did a lot of improvising. He was pretty funny too. I quickly drank my gin and tonic and ordered another in preparation to be animated… And funny…

By the time my second drink came it was time to pretend to be old friends. I found out her name was Louise and she actually was blanking the guy so I didn't have to improvise as much. I just commented that he looked a bit of a dodgy character and we kept laughing and carrying on so he didn't bother getting to close. At one point Louise asked if I was interested in musical theatre which I denied completely. Well, I hate that stuff Disney churns out (Tarzan with music by Phil Collins bleah!), and I am not that fond of anything Lloyd Webber writes, so I figured I was being factual. Only later did I wonder (particularly after this question was asked of me several times during the week) whether this was a euphemism for "gay". Oh well live and learn.

The guy eventually left her alone and more friends of Louise's arrived so she was safe. Only then did I realise that she also was there to sing. She got up and performed a Cole Porter number. And she was awful. She forgot the words and gave the song as much feeling as someone dialling for home delivery pizza. Thinking quickly as she returned to her seat next to me all I could say was that she was fantastic. I'd only been there for an hour and already I was as sincere as anybody in the musical theatre business…

Well anyway, that was enough to get her phone number and email address. Fortunately the rest of the performances were pretty hot. It included a performance on the ukulele and a woman from the Johnny Cash musical (don't ask) "Ring of Fire" singing "You make me feel (like a natural woman" with men as her doo-op backups.

Oh and as luck would have it, a relative of Louise's passed away so there was no time to catch up again for now…

Theatre: The Light in the Piazza

2006-05-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Theatre in New York was a lot of fun. Day one in New York was the chance to see The Light in the Piazza at the Lincoln Centre. It was a big winner at last year's Tony awards. It didn't win best new musical (that went to the Monty Python show Spamalot) but the production, music is so good that the punters have still been coming to it one year on.

Actually last year was a good year for musical theatre on Broadway as all four new musicals that were nominated for best musical are still playing. This contrasts starkly with the mostly crap they served up this year. I was only in New York for a few days and several plays and musicals closed while I was there (including West End transfer Festen and another vampire musical bomb, Lestat).

Piazza was still playing with Victoria Clark in the lead. Clark won the best actress Tony for her role in this. The show takes place in Italy in the summer of 1953. Margaret Johnson (Clark), the wife of an American businessman, is touring Italy with her daughter, Clara. While sightseeing, Clara loses her hat in a sudden gust. The hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli (now played by Aaron Lazar who I last saw in On the Town with the ENO last year), an appropriately handsome Florentine, who returns it to Clara. This brief episode, charged with coincidence and fate, sparks an immediate and intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio and lots of fabulous soaring melodies. There is a plot twist in that Clara is a little bit intellectually challenged but nobody finds out that until the second act. Besides, none of this should get in the way of a good musical...

To say that the music in this show is amazing is really to sell it short. Adam Guettel (grandson of Richard Rodgers) has composed a fantastic piece of musical theatre that is destined to become a modern classic. The soundtrack has become a best seller and hopefully other artists will record some of the music soon (iTunes sells it with bonus tracks performed by Guettel as well).

As for the rest of the show, I wasn't so thrilled by the book which panders a little too much to the inward-looking perspective of American audiences (such as attitudes to foreigners etc) but these were really minor issues. Maybe there is too much comedy and not enough character development but when has musical theatre ever made logic? Kelli O'Hara who originated the role of Clara has gone onto bigger things (The Pajama Game) but Katie Clarke was excellent as Clara as well.

The finale "Fable" sung by Clark is such an emotional outburst of music (which wasn't as obvious to me just listening to the cast album) that it was easy to see why she got the Tony. Like all good pieces of theatre, Piazza builds and builds to this moment in the show that once she finished the entire audience leapt to their feet applauding and carrying on. Not even jet lag could diminish having such a good time with this show.

Scenes from Central Park Thursday 15:08

2006-05-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

Scenes from Central Park Thursday 15:08, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Jogging along the reservoir, east side...

Overheard at Better Burger Thursday evening

2006-05-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

Black Man: Man youwere a good cook. You cooked me up somethin' once... Ahhh I don't know what it was, but it sure was good...
Black woman: Uh huh...
Black Man: So what you doin' eatin' here?

Scenes from Times Square Wednesday 23:04

2006-05-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

Scenes from Times Square Wednesday 23:04, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Fleet Week starts today so the place is crawling with men (and women) in uniform... Some even save in the armed forces...

Scenes from the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Musical, or how to make an unscheduled appearance on a Broadway stage...

2006-05-24T09:00:00.001-07:00

Scenes from (after) the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Musical, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

I didn't go to see the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Musical to be one of the four members invited on stage to be part of the show. I was approached after entering the theatre to consider putting my name forward. It was then I remembered reading about the audience participation in this show where audience members are invited to be "spellers" too. I was going to this show to appreciate the music as I am a fan of (composer) William Finn's music.

I told the woman interviewing potential audience involvement members this and she asked "Oh so you're a fan of musical theatre?"
"No!" I lied. Just like I did the previous night at the jazz club. Either that or I was still thinking about that Tarzan show. The conversation then continued somewhat along the following lines:
"Are you a good speller?"
"Yes." I lied again.
"Do you play any sort of word games?"
"Um I play scrabble." Another lie.
"That's a good answer. And would you be nervous getting up on stage?"
"No probably not…" I think I was laughing about the prospect at this point…
"Would there be anything that would concern you about being up on stage?"
"No not much. I would just be worried that I would look like an idiot…"
"But you're here by yourself, nobody knows you so what have you got to lose?"
By this point I realised that it was a perfect excuse. And since it was just getting up on stage to spell before going back to my seat what was the harm in that… I even thought I might be a good way of drawing attention to the fact that I was here in New York… And single too…

Well, it wasn't quite all that. Five minutes before the show began I along with three other lucky audience members were told we were going to be in the show. We were given our special badges, some rather brief and vague instructions (including the bleachers we will be sitting on will spin at some point) and instructions on how to enter the stage from our seats. We were told repeatedly that we were not to use funny voices or ham things up, but to just be ourselves and the actors on stage would tell us what to do (if anything). We weren't allowed to talk to the actors unless they spoke to us first, as they were doing a job…

Anyway, first musical number is over and then it was our cue to get up on stage. The ushers and people around me were very excited for me. I wasn't so enthused. A few years of London theatregoing had made me a bit blasé about this whole endeavour. London audiences hate audience participation and expect to be entertained without having to contribute anything other than polite applause and the occasional cheer.

On stage while the actors act in that show that I paid to see we get further directions by the actor Lisa Howard (playing character Rona Peretti). Again we're told no hamming it up. Then the actors come to us and tell us where to sit on these bleachers.

"You're on the third row in the centre," one hissed to me. Ok I can follow that instruction. I flopped down a little on the bleacher (hey I was being myself) and felt the whole thing move and shudder. One of the actors made some comment but I didn’t quite hear it. It could have been something about being a clod.

So far it wasn't going so bad. I had heard the cast album countless number of times so I figured there would be few surprises in the rest of the show. I was wrong. It is one thing to sit in the audience and hear singers belt out numbers but when they are sitting either side of you and in front of you it can be a little surprising, and loud. I don't think I jumped but I sure as hell felt like it when during the second number "The Spelling Rules" the cast around me belted out

"A SPELLER… MAY ASK QUESTIONS…"

On the CD it sounded so soft and sweet, but on stage it's enough to startle the shit out of you.

It eventually came time for me to spell my first word. Every speller is given an introduction as they walked up to the microphone on centre stage. Mine was, "Paul likes to scare the other spellers by dressing like a theatre critic". The audience cracked up. Ok it was a pretty good jibe to keep me in my place. And there I had been thinking that I was looking rather funky in my smart new A&F t-shirt I bought from their 5th Avenue store (the one where the shop greeter is a shirtless adonis). The word I had to spell was "Mexican". All spellers had to ask two questions which were "Can I have a definition please" and "Can you use that in a sentence". Both provide the potential for further cheap laughs. In my case the definition (something about anybody looking remotely like they were from anywhere in Central or Latin America) had the audience in hysterics. It was one of those moments where you knew you were a foreigner as you just didn't get the cultural references (notwithstanding the debates in the news about illegal aliens). After getting the word right I got to go back to the bleachers.

Ok I was still on stage. A couple more numbers pass. Watching them from the stage you realise that it is not the same as watching it on the audience. I began to look forward to my next chance to spell as I imagined it would be a tricky word and would kick me off the stage back to my comfy seat in the audience.

It was while thinking about my comfy seat that one of the actors hisses in my ear "get up and follow me". Hang on. This was the musical number "Pandemonium". There was nothing said before the show about participating in a musical number. Before I know it I'm on stage linked arms with the actors. "Sidestep!" one of them hisses at me. Sidestep? What's that? I try not to fall over and take heart that the two other audience members on stage must be grappling with the same issues. Next thing I hear hissed is "Move your shoulders!" Did they mean up and down or side to side? I start to notice there is a lot of audience laughter. We three audience members were then reunited and told to hold hands. Then an actor hissed at us to jump up and down on the spot. So we did. As my back was partially to the audience I have no idea how the scene looked. But by the time an actor told us to stop jumping the audience was in hysterics…

The number eventually was over and we went back to the bleachers. It soon was my next chance to spell. As I walked up to the microphone my introduction was "Paul has just recovered from a nasty case of head lice". That was somewhat funny, but I couldn't resist scratching my head at this point, and I think I got just as much of a laugh. Hey, they did say to be ourselves and I figured I would have done that in real life. The word this time I had to spell was Cenacle. Not knowing my religious (or Latin) texts as well as I should I spelt it with an S. It was time for Mitch the comfort counsellor to appear and give me a apple juice and a hug. Mitch was a big African American with dreadlocks and he wanted a big hug. I didn't give him enough of a hug. So while the rest of the cast sang "Goodbye, you were good but not good enough" he kept pulling me back to have a proper hug. I tried to pull away twice and the audience just fell about laughing.

Eventually I did get back to my seat and was able to enjoy the remaining part of the show. Spelling Bee is a great musical full of very funny songs, fantastic characters and a lot of heart. One other audience member (a young boy who actually was a good speller) lasted one more round before the show settled down to the rest of its story. The audience cheered him off.

Oh and after the show at least 10 people came up to me and said how wonderful I was. They were all women of course. And I was just being myself… I can only imagine (possibly with fear) how that must have looked on stage…

Scenes from Central Park Tuesday 18:05

2006-05-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Scenes from Central Park Tuesday 18:05, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Rollerblading is popular here if you are fit, young and know how to work those inner thigh muscles...

Scenes from the Meatpacking District Monday 19:12

2006-05-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Scenes from the Meatpacking District Monday 19:12, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Some of the area is a gentrification work in progress... Most of the area is just so... Who would have thought meat houses could be so chic?

Scenes from the Empire State 102nd floor

2006-05-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Scenes from the Empire State 102nd floor, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Well, this is a nation of barge-arses... Not since that trip to Southend-by-Sea have I seen so many fat people...

Scenes from Danny's Sunday 20.14

2006-05-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Scenes from Danny's Sunday 20.14, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Blossom Dearie and Paul...

Blossom Dearie (just turned 80) is one of the great jazz vocalists of the last five decades and has recorded for Verve and her own label. She sounds just as great as any of her recordings (her own label is finally re-releasing some classic recordings) and is a master of the hip and understated comical lyric. Cool and clever and she is a master of the witty song and her numbers included "I'm Hip", "I'm Shadowing You" and my favourite "Bruce". Being such a fan of her style of music I couldn't help but get a gratuitous photo and autograph on some of her CDs. She is a regular at Danny's Skylight room and insisted to everyone that they come again. It's a great venue for jazz and cabaret, even if this sort of music no longer gets the punters in like it used to...

Afterall how can you not like songs with lyrics like:

"Happy as can be, just you J Edgar Hoover and me" (I'm Shadowing You, J. Mercer / B. Dearie)

Overheard in Bleaker St Drugstore...

2006-05-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Assistant: Did you see who that was buying cough syrup?
Chemist: No.. .
Assistant: That was Darryl Hannah!
Chemist: What? And you didn't tell me?
Assisstant: What was I going to say to her? Excuse me but the
pharmacist wants to take a look at you?

Scenes from a Chelsea cafe restroom

2006-05-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Scenes from a Chelsea cafe restroom, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Well that's nice to know...

Scenes from Times Square around 3pm

2006-05-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Scenes from Times Square around 3pm, originally uploaded by Pauly_.

Things are pretty big around here...