New York, New time zone

Well I'm in the hotel's internet cafe because although it's 5am here my body thinks it's 10am. So, I thought, what better thing to do than blog?

This week I have been listening too Jojo's new single, reading A Spot of Bother and watching Big Brother, Ugly Betty, Almost Famous and Friends. I have also been enjoying driving our new Mini and arriving in New York.

Now I know this is a bit sad but I really like Jojo's new single. As R&B headed pop it is cookbook but that's not always a bad thing. It's good to have a nice fresh sounding track like this every now and again and the production on this latest one is top notch. Although has anyone else spotted that she looks quite a lot like Lindsay Lohan?

I've just finished reading Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother, another tale in which he explores the mind and life of someone with mental health problems.

Although the book does not incorporate all the random drawings and diagrams of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime (his previous novel about a boy with asperger's), it still documents the lead characters road into insanity in an extremely colourful and real way. He is a writer who will go into the finest detail, normally to make you realise how extremely horrible things can be.

It's a well-written and well thought out book that is both a quick read and an extremely satisfying one. I look forward to more from this fresh thinking and bold writer.

I won't dwell on Big Brother very much as I can't say anything that hasn't been said in all the column inches and pixilated ponderings that have already been written elsewhere.

I just want to beg you all to not buy a single thing that is going to lead to Jade Goody getting money. We just have to ignore her like that mad man on the bus so that eventually she'll get the message and go away.

Ugly Betty on the other hand, I now really like. I was a little unsure at first on account of the fact that it seemed like it was going to be exactly like Devil Wear's Prada, which I've already seen and don't need to see again in a drawn out 24-episode version.

However the characters are beginning to blossom and the relationships between Betty and the Mode crew are starting to improve. I don't think I'm have been able to cope if each episode saw the loveable misfit being bullied.

It's no My Name is Earl but it will do.

I really enjoyed Almost Famous, mainly on account of the fact that I know the feeling of trying desperately to crack into the world of music journalism. I also really like it because it has Kate Hudson in it and by a rule of thumb I love everything she's in. Except may be Le Divorce; that was terrible.

I watched a lot of Friends this week in preparation for this trip to New York. God I love that show. Although it's not actually filmed here being in New York still feels like a Friends pilgrimage.

They do a Friends tour here but I can't understand where it takes you, as, like I said, it's not filmed here. I think I may just do the Sex and the City tour instead. Bring it on!

Yesterday we wondered around Central Park where I squealed with excitement when I saw places I knew from both Sex and the City and Home Alone Two. It's like being on a pilgrimage.

After that we wondered down to Rockefeller Centre where we took the lift to the Observation deck on the 67th floor. Just thinking about it now makes my hands go clammy but it was really amazing up there.

Obviously there are loads of tall building to climb in New York, and the view it pretty similar from each. The best thing about this one was the fact that you could see the Empire State really clearly as it's not too far away. Clearly this is something you can't do from the Empire State itself.

Today we're going to take a bus tour around Downtown Manhattan. We're going to get off in Greenwich Village to do a Lonely Planet walking tour. Then we'll take the bus again down to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

It's set to be the coldest day of the year here today, and on account of the fact that I lost all feeling in my face yesterday, I'm quite nervous about that!

But this is New York so you're never far from somewhere warm.

Before I wrap up I just wanted to say we got our Mini last Saturday and she's lush. We spent all of last weekend driving her and just couldn't get enough. Man those cars will go if you want them to. Not that I want them to. But she's great fun to drive and very cute.

One final thing. My mate Dave Cornthwaite this week completed his 5000+ miles skate across Australia. It was on the Beeb and everything. Well done to him. To find out what possessed him and how to give some last minute sponsorship see the Boardfree website.

I'm going to either hit the gym now or get some more kip. Take care of yourselves guys,

Lobby dwelling Lauz xx

Photo by boxercab