Dorittos, Xbox 360 and Other Mysterys

On Saturday night Fin, Damien and I decided we should test out the 360 in style.
With Marg out of action due to her farewell hangover, we decided to drag the big tellybox downstairs and get amongst it.

Fin bought exotic snacks that baffled Damien's senses... Dorritos. Yep that's right apparently Kiwis don't know what they are (well Damien doesn't anyway). After that mystery was solved we hooked up the 360 and got in contact with Mikey for some online fun.

Whilst playing Perfect Dark Zero it took all four of us plus several others from around the world to work together to finally beat our arch nemsis "Katru" who turned out to be some pre-pubescent American kid. Our egos took a battering but it was great fun.

(1) Fin and I trying to take down Mikey (2) Damien [AKA Dorittos] and Fin posing
in front of the setup (3) Fin! (4) More posing in front of the rig

We're looking forward to Australia Day tomorrow and plan to celebrate in style b heading to the Walkabout pub for the first (and probably only) time.

Farewell TMW

Friday was my last day at Tullo Marshall Warren...

The crew sent me off in fine form beginning with a great lunch (thanks Alex!) at Coopers Arms followed by cocktails at 'Crazy Laura's Bar' back at the office (thanks Laura!)

We then headed out for drinking games at Babuskas and then podium danced the night away at Crazy Larrys...

Thanks again for such a great night everyone - I have had a ball working with you all and look forward to may more nights out together very soon...

New job!

I got a new job! I will be working at a small agency in the city working on the Fosters beer account - boo ya!

The office is located right in Piccadilly Circus so I am l looking forward to spending more time exploring the city. They seem like a great bunch of people so I am really excited!

Marg

Somerset House

On Friday night we headed out for more ice skating - this time with Wes' work crew at Sommerset House. It was pretty magical skating amongst all the old beautiful buildings.

After we headed out for many a cocktail in SoHo. So much for the New Years detox...

The Xbox 360 has arrived...

Wes finally got his Xbox 360 and as you can see is a very happy boy.

He has been playing it constantly (!) and most nights is playing against Mikey in New York. It is pretty cool because they can talk to each other with their little headphones while they play so it is like Mikey is right here!

WES: And let me tell you it ROCKS. It was waiting for me when we got back from New York like some wayward present left by Santa.
Mikey and I have been having a ball shooting and swearing at each other all weekend (After he finally linked up to Live).

Tom, Rod, Fairley, Waz and anyone else with an Xbox, Xbox 360 and Live is welcome to send me an invite for a game of Halo 2 (something we can play together across new and old Xbox) Just look out for 'MalteseGoat'.

Williamsburg Bridge

After walking around the ghetto for a while we headed for a beautiful walk across the Williamsburg Bridge to the East Village (again - we like it there) for our last brunch in New York.

After doing our some last minute shopping (two more suitcases to fit in all our purchases - one entirely full of shoes and an Xbox 360 for Mikey) we headed back to Brooklyn to say bye to Mikey and his flatmates who had put up with us for the last 2 1/2 weeks.

We had such an awesome time and are already planning when we will meet up with Mikey again for more adventures. ..

Big thanks also to Alex and Judith for their hospitality.

Central Park Ice Skating & Knicks

My favorite day... the day we went ice skating in Central Park. After witnessing a confrontation with some locals who were not happy about paying the weekend fare for ice skate hire on a Friday (they did have a point...) we put our skates on and went for a spin. I've still got it!

After a great lunch at The Boathouse in Central Park we headed into Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks thrash the Washington Wizards. Complete with massive beers and oversized foam hands we cheered them on while enjoying some celebrity spotting and being amused by the efforts the crowds go to to distract the Wizards when they are trying to shoot...

Lady Liberty, Crazy Indian & Rock

We decided we better do some more tourist activities so Wes and I jumped on board a ferry and headed to Liberty Island.

Tip: Don't get a seat on the 'sun deck' of a ferry in the middle of winter.

Anyway... we walked around the island, took some silly photos and stared at the statue for a while.

After that we had worked up an appetite so headed into the East Village again for some Indian (because we don't eat enough of it in London). The place was hilarious as you can see from the festive decorations which stay up year round. After dinner we headed out for a quiet night (or not) at a local rock bar...

Letterman & Gobo

So Wes and I were walking through Times Square when some random came up to us and said 'You guys want tickets to Letterman?' Um... YES PLEASE!!

These tickets are quite hard to get hold of so we were stoked. We lined up outside the 'Ed Sullivan Theatre' and got our seat numbers. A strange little Yankee then g'd up the crowd and got us all in the mood and reminded us that it was very important to clap and laugh at all David's jokes as the show is recorded and aired pretty much straight away!

Our tickets where in the nose bleed section... but as they were ushering us in and we were about to go up the stairs I had an excitement attack (much to the embarrassment of Mikey and Wes). But it all turned out pretty well because they liked my enthusiasm and put the three of us in the third row right at the centre of the stage! It was so fabulous! Pierce Brosnon was the guest on the show and we got on the camera a couple of times!

After the show we headed into the East Village as Mikey wanted to take us to a new veggie restaurant. Wes and I were a bit dubious about the hippy food but it turned out to be great and there was another celebrity in there as well! (Some surfer - not Kelly Slater so I wasn't that interested)

5th Ave & Comic Strip

Today we headed into 5th Avenue and explored the mecca Tiffany&Co store... After a quick visit to Saks 5th Ave, Trump Tower and the Rockerfeller Centre we headed to a fabulously dodgy bar in Brooklyn called Capones. Apparently the whole bar was flown in from in Chicago and the legendary criminal used to frequent there.

That night we headed into the 'Comic Strip' where comics like Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld started out. I am sorry to say this - but female comics are just not funny! How many jokes can you make about being a desperate single 30-something or a new mum?!? The other (male)comics were pretty funny and included a semi-celebrity who is on some show with Pamela Anderson called 'Stacked'...

Downtown and Hard Rock

New Years Day we headed for a lovely walk downtown and then headed to the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square for a lot of beer and far too much food...

Grand Central Station, The Bull Wall Street

Battery Park, New York Stock Exchange

Ground Zero, Trinity Church

Downtown, Times Square

Hard Rock Cafe