Night of the Twisters

Haven't posted for awhile on here so thought I'd tell you a little bit about a trip I did on my own back in 2008 to the "City of Fountains".





Ok now you are thinking Rome but its actually Kansas City not the Italian capital I'm talking about, apparently of the two places Kansas has more fountains.

To be honest its not the most interesting city I've ever visited and not too much comes out of the memory bank about it. The people were friendly, nothing wrong just not many places of interest to visit for a tourist.

Do remember a good museum dedicated to the Great War but not much else.



As for nightlife there seemed to be three main areas, the Power & Light district which to be fair I only visited at daytime as it was a fair distance from my hotel and needed a bus or taxi to get there. Think it hadn't been open long but there seemed to be plenty of good bars, clubs, restaurants so imagine it would have been fun.

Walkable my hotel (Best Western) was another modern area "The Plaza" and although i found a couple of ok Pubs when I tried it was mainly restaurants (and shops) so much better for singles and not solo travellers.

Also walkable from my hotel was Westport which for those that don't know the old part of town, a few Pubs and bars, bit rundown but much more to my liking. As I said earlier the locals were very friendly and I met a good few caractors up here.
The history of the area was also of interest to me (been a western fan) its where the wagon trains split for three great routes west (Sante Fe, Oregan & California trails).

Well one night I'd got ready and was walking up the hill to Westport I noticed the sky had gone real dark and what i thought was an air raid siren started sounding. When I got there I visited a Pub and asked about the Sirens to be told "Tornado Warning" and advised to find somewhere safe.

Well found a cellar bar and fortunately they had a live group performing (whom had arrived). Now think it was to do with the imminent weather but was only about 10 people in the place but the band played anyway.
They were called "Project Chameleon" and played on and off all night while we sheltered from the weather and tried to drink the place dry.
Because so few people in the audience got talking with the front man and his wife (who sang) strange thing he also played the flute and only other group i recall with one in was Jethro Tull.
They did Rock covers and were quite good was an enjoyable night, asked if any of us in the audience wanted to get up and sing. I declined (cant sing) but one American cha did and sang "mary had a little Lamb" not the nursery rhyme but the Stevie Ray Vaughan classic. As SRV is one of my favorite acts it pleased me.

Eventually think about 5am made my way back to my hotel for breakfast, apparently the twisters had hit north of the city and we had just had a bit of wind, still turned out to be one of them unexpected great nights.

So Americans don't like Soccer

As its World Cup year I thought I'd tell a little story from the competition back in 2006 when I was in America for the final.
I'd watched England go out to Portugal in a earlier round while I was in St Louis when Loony Rooney got sent off because of a cheating Winker but was in Chicago for the final.

I had decided to watch Italy versus France in my favorite Irish Pub "Fado".

As a soccer fan I just can't be neutral so I decided I was going to support Italy in the final and thought it would not be right to wear my England shirt. So when I got up in the morning I choose rather than wear a National shirt I would wear my Club colours the uniform of the mighty whites.

Now kick off was not while 1pm Chicago time so I decided to go for a walk up Michigan Avenue for some last minute shopping (well coffee and cake) during the morning and make my way to Fado's for about 12noon. To my amazement for the first time in the US I was seeing as many Soccer Shirts as Baseball shirts (even more surprising was that the White Sox were entertaining Boston Red Sox that day).

Eventually I made my way to Fado's and when I got there I was shocked there was a line of people 50metres long waiting to get in. As I made my way to the back of the queue assuming they were waiting to open I remember passing a group wearing them Red (Manchester) shirts who seemed to glare at my White Gods top (we never did get on with them from over the hills) I was also surprised at the number of French supporters waving their flags.

Once in the queue it became apparent that it wasn't moving very quick so a girl in front of me went to find out what the problem was. She came back and said the pub was packed and it was one out one in. Now I realised most people will be in the pub to watch the final so wouldn't be moving so we had no chance, Fado's was closed due to crowd congestion.

So I moved on to "Rock Bottom" one block away to find the same problem a great long line of people trying to get in to watch the match.

I moved south a couple of blocks where I knew a sports bar "Mother Hubbards", now this is a baseball bar so I had my doubts. However they do have a lot of televisions and I thought they may show the match on one of the smaller screens, you can only ask.

When I opened the door I was amazed it was packed, the soccer was on, Italian and French flags (plus others) were everywhere. Luckily there was a spare seat at the bar and I ended up next to another Englishman from Oxford (not everyones perfect).

The atmosphere throughout the match was fantastic with a mix of all nationalities including many Americans totally absorbed.

The staff who were not expecting this turned out worked their socks off keeping everyone supplied with food and drink (they were totally undermanned), extra time and penalties must have killed them. The girl working the bar on her own was smashing still managing a smile despite running around like an headless chicken, Baseball was never like this.

Anyway the match is now history with Italy winning the shoot out and Zidane becoming the first uniformed Frenchman to win a fight since Napolean with his stupid headbut, what a idiot, must be related to Rooney I remember thinking.

From what I saw America is slowly starting to realise this is the world game and a sporting nation like them needs to get serious about it (3 billlion people world wide can't be wrong). Lets face it playing a World series against yourself is a Joke.

Discover Mallorca - Are Singles Holiday companies just a dating agency ?

Are Singles Holidays just a dating agency ?

Well I've done a few now so probably in a position to answer this common question. I would actually say if you booking a holiday and are just looking for love this isn't the place.

Sure people do meet and appear to hook up on these holidays but it is very few and certainly no more than if you put 30 or so singles at any other function or event.
In fact I would estimate on average maybe somewhere between one and two couples possibly get together per holiday, whether these relationships last who knows.

What I would say is lots of friendships develop and i hear of many reunions and of people holidaying together again. Done all that and have lots of friends I keep in touch with.

I go on holiday because its the holiday I want to do and certainly don't go looking for love, the vast majority of travellers are there for the same reason. I have on rare occasions spoke with people who are looking to find someone but in my experience finding a partner is something that happens when you are least expecting it.

Saying all that I have met someone who I had a very good relationship with on a holiday, in fact we dated for almost a year and are still good friends, just didn't work out because our lifestyles were so different (but thats another story).

As you'll have guessed it happend on the Discover Mallorca holiday at Easter in 2011 with Just You, we actually first met at the baggage carosel at Palma airport (was only looking for my luggage honest).

Think it was about the 2nd day of the holiday and a large group of us were exploring the resort (Santa Ponsa) together. Anyway as lunchtime approached  spotted a Pub that looked ok but most of the group wanted to head back to the hotel but I decided diferent. Anyway the lady in question decided to join me while the rest moved on leaving just the two of us.

We chatted and discovered we got on really well and also the added bonus was we lived close to each other. In fact we got on so well we spent most of the rest of the holiday (others did join us).
We actually met the night after we returned to England and the rest is history so they say.

As for the holiday if I'm honest ther than finding love I can't remember too much, think my mind was elsewhere. Not only with the start of a relationship but my Mum had an accident while I was away and was in hospital.

If I remember correctly the hotel wasn't really that good for singles it was more a family complex with kids entertainment until 10-30pm in the bar.
The food was poor and remember we abandoned the half board we had paid for and ate in local restaurants which were good, well some of us did and numbers grew each night.

We did some nice excursions, remember Palma was good and also the Soller train journey but there was definately a few others. Also remember ding a boat trip in a glass bottomed boat that we arranged ourselves.

Mallorca is a nice place and well worth a visit, maybe I should return sometime, hope you enjoy the photos.

My Stories - Tales from Toronto

Here are some short stories from my trip to Toronto back in 2006 :-

Story One - Watch Who you sit with
One night i had been out for a meal and on the way back decided to have a pint in a pub around the corner from my hotel. Went in and sat at that bar and got talking to another chap at the side of me, like me he was from out of town and he was friendly a genuine nice guy.

A young lady came into bar and must admit to been slightly disapointed when she sat on the stool next to the other bloke and not the empty one at the side of me.

She joined in with our conversation and we were all three just having a laugh.
After about 20 minutes the doors opened and another bloke came straight over to where we were sat and accused the other bloke of chatting up his girl friend. He was obviously drunk was shouting and the girl tried to calm him.

However he flipped and threw a punch at the other chap (no real damage) before the bouncers pounced on him and pinned him to the ground.

Police were called and he was escorted out of the premises.
Just think it could have been me she sat next to and me that got punched for my trouble.

Story Two - Beggars Belief
Toronto like many cities has its fair share of street beggars but all isn't always what it seems.

One night I had gone out looking for somewhere to eat at about 7pm, I spotted a Small Bar/Grill that looked ok so went in. I sat at the Bar as the chap next to me was just getting up, I noticed him because he didn't look right. He was wearing a oldish out of fasion jacket that was too small and his trousers were at half mast (far too short).

Anyway he paid his Bill with a credit card and actually turned to me and said goodnight, I didn't think anymore about it apart from "he was a bit scruffy".

Later that evening I was walking down Queen street near the main square and youv'e probably guessed it this man was sat on the pavement begging everyone that passed for money. I was totally disgusted he was obviously a con man.

This reminds me of a night out I had in York last year a few of us passed a young girl begging for money in a doorway outside a trendy wine bar. She was sat on a blanket and had a little puppy with her.

I remember while in the bar actually feeling sorry for this girl, I thought to myself I'll give her a couple of quid on my way out. However when we left the girl wasn't there, a young man was in her place and surprising he was on the same blanket with the same puppy. Must work shifts.

Some people will lower themselves to any level to con us out of our money, this really irritates me.

Story Three - Like finding Gold
I've always been a bit of a music fan and bac in about 1980 I often went to watch groups and saw a act called "The Photo's" who were from Evesham I believe.

Anyway I bought their album and actually really liked it, the group never made it big because they broke up but where tipped for the top and their music was likened to Blondie.

Trouble is the albm was a vinyl and as my turntable had long gone I decided if ever i saw the CD I would buy it.

After years of searching record shops (actually like doing that) I found the CD in Sams records a independant store on Yonge Streetin Toronto, came home happy i'll tell you.

My Stories - Lone Leeds Fan in Nashville

Back in 2006 I found myself in Nashville with a problem, I'd booked at the end of the football season and my team Leeds Utd had made the Championship Play Off semi-finals and I was desperate to watch the first leg against Preston.

Before I left home I asked on tripadvisor if anyone knew of a bar in Nashville that would be possibly showing the match. I got a reply from someone saying that he watched his team Ipswich Town while in the city at a Sports Bar called "Two Doors Down". Just to add this person had the name Mick Mills, could it have been the Mick Mills that played for Ipswich and England in the 1970's, good player but I'll never know.

On my first day I went to find the bar and couldn't believe it was only across the road from my hotel, went in and the confirmed they would get the match for me.

Match day came and to settle my nerves after a eavy night decided to go for a morning walk. As I got dressed what to wear was not an option as my White Leeds shirt came out of the drawer, also my Leeds cap was to be worn the locals were about to be educated.

Proudly I walked from my Hotel to downtown Nashville parading my colours for all to see.  Around 12 noon my pre match nerves were twitching so I made my way to the sports bar for a beer or two to get me in the mood. As I'd missed breakfast I checked out the bar menu and noticed todays special was Fish & Chips, now this is a Yorkshire delicacy, the gods are with us I thought, my order was placed.

When the Fish came it turned out to be Catfish which was not good (never again) so I had to quickly swill it down with another beer.

I got talking to a couple of locals that were watching another TV stressing the importance of this match but they kept watching the bull riding on the other channel, couldn't understand that.

Kick off time 1.45pm came I ordered another Beer but no match I was panicking what has happend but relief came when the message came on the screen "kick off delayed for 15 minutes for crowd congestion". The pictures then scanned Elland Road Stadium it was packed to the rafters and long queues outside.

It the showed the players in the tunnel Leeds in White, Preston in Yellow when one local Fruit Cake came over looked at the teams, looked at my shirt and asked the question "Which is your team ?" I was polite with my answer.

The match started with Leeds on top, I was continually up off my stool in excitment which was also helping the beer dissapear at a good rate. During the first half penalty turned down by blind referee, Leeds hit the post, things not going well.

Half time came so I ordered more beer and tried to teach the locals the words to "Marching on Together" but I think they were a little shy about their singing.

The second half started and after a few minutes disaster struck, a rare Preston attack, our defence stood like statues, goal, one nil Preston, I ordered another beer and slumped back on my stool.

For the rest of the match play was scappy I was quiet until 15 minutes from time a Leeds attack was stopped by a foul, free kick 25 yards from goal, was this our chance. Preston formed their wall and up stepped our AMERICAN International Eddie Lewis. A thunderous curling left foot shot into the top corner, weve equalised, I love Americans, we are back, I ordered another Beer.



The match finished one apiece so it was going to be decided at Preston while I am at Chicago airport on my way home on the Monday..

After the match I had a few more beers with the locals before making my way back to my Hotel at 5.30pm. I thought I'll have a couple of hours nap on my bed before going out for the night and my evening meal.

I had the nap but didn't wake while after 1am a little late for getting ready to go out and I was starving so it was a raid on the Hotel vending machine for junk food that night.

One good thing was the fact that I made breakfast for the first time during the holiday the following morning.


Further Story - On the way home I couldn't find anywhere at Chicago Airport showing the 2nd match. I arrived back in England not knowing the result and was desperate to find out.

I got to Manchester Airport Railway Station got on my train with my luggage when I noticed a shop on the platform, my train had 6 minutes to go so I asked a man to watch my luggage while I ran from the train grabbed a newspaper and went to the counter to pay, as soon as the lady asked for my money I realised my wallet was full of American dollars my English money was in my bag, I apologised gave her the paper back and ran back to the train.

It wasn't while one hour later when I got to Leeds station that I found out the result a 2-0 victory, Leeds in the final. this match is against Watford in Cardiff next sunday 21st May with the winners getting promoted to the Premiership.

Photo is of Leeds players celebrating after the 2nd leg in Preston.

My Stories - The Crazy Couples Divorce

On my travels I've had many strange incidents and met even stranger people, here is one such story.

In December 2005 I was in Chicago for a few days and this is what happend one night :-

I had been out for a meal in one of the bars just to the North of the river and was feeling a little tired. It was very cold so a lot of places were not that busy so I decided to make my way back to my hotel for a early night.

I was staying at the Hotel Allegro which is on the same block as the Palace Theatre on Randolph Street (behind the Thompson centre for anyone that knows it). There is a small bar between the Hotel and theatre called "Encore" and I decided to call in for a last drink.

The bar was quiet and been on my own I sat at the bar, I find this is best for meeting other people.
No sooner had I got my drink the door opened and a bloke in his thirties walked in and sat on the stool at side of me. He was ranting and raving about how bad the show was and how he had left his bitch of a wife in there watching the show.

When he heard my Yorkshire accent he started to talk to me about when he visited England. He introduced himself as Trent an historian from pennsylvania, he asked what I did and I showed him my buisness card.

He gave me the impression of a typical rich kid whose millionaire parents pay his keep. Anyway for the next hour he insisted on buying my drinks and bore my silly by telling the history of every war there as ever been. The bar staff saw this and were cracking up laughing at my totally bored face.

By this time the bar had filled up with people and all of a sudden he changed the subject and pointed at a girl across the room stating that she was making eyes at him.
He said something along the lines of "I think she fancies me, save my stool I'm off to chat her up"
I said reluctantly "ok" , but thinking to myself the ather large chap this girl was with was not going to be impressed.

Within a few seconds of him leaving his stool a absolutly stunning blond girl came and put her handbag on the bar and sat down on Trents stool.
Reluctantly I told her the stool was taken to which she replied "Yes I know I'm with that ass". Yes it was the wife.

She introduced herself and I told her my name pointing to my buisness card on the bar. She picked up my card and put it in her handbag.

Trent came back round the bar and they had a short argument before he wandered off again to try chat up every other girl in the building.

I felt sorry for the girl so I bought her a drink and chatted with her. After about five minutes she asked me a stupid question "Do you like dogs ?" to which I replied "I don't mind them but have not got one". This was a mistake as the next hour I spent my time looking at photographs of her dog much to the amusment of the bar staff.

Trent came round again for another argument to which the girl told him what a prat he was put her arms around me and told her husband she loved me. Trent wandered off a little bit grumpy, the bar staff were now in stitches.

She got out her digital camera and got one of the bar staff to take a photo of me and her as she hugged me tight. She then promised to send me the photo and some photos of her dog to my e'mail address on my buisness card. I tried to tell her it was my works e'mail and be careful what she sends as our help desk may block and read it (never did get that photo).

Shortly after she went to the rest room to powder her nose and straight away Trent came marching over to me. He said "I've seen you chatting my wife up" I thought oh dear I don't want trouble. However he then he added "I don't mind I'm going to divorce her anyway, you can have her" He then stormed out of the building.

She came back and I had the task of telling her he had gone. She seemed pleased with that and was only concerned about where she would sleep.

Before anyone asks the answer to the question is No I haven't a clue where she slept.