Knott's Berry Farm & Camp Snoopy

On the Tuesday of our visit to Palm Desert we drove just over 200 miles across the state of California to LA and to Knott's Berry Farm, the home of Camp Snoopy. The Peanuts Theme Park. Both Mrs EB and Myself are very big Peanuts fans and we have wanted to go there for ages. I have been a Snoopy fan since I was very young and have read the books nearly all my life!!! I am the proud owner of 2 Snoopy watches and various Books and other bits and bobs. It isn't every day you get to meet your Hero's but we did at Camp Snoopy...

Though some of the locals didn't talk very much?

We had a great day, Mrs EB went on all the roller coasters and I watched!!!

Knott's Berry Farm is a great theme park and again we were very "Lucky" as hardly anyone was in the park the day we went? So Mrs EB could just walk up to a coaster and get on it with no queue.

On our way round the park in the "Camp Snoopy" part we found this plaque dedicated to "Sparky" Charles M Schultz, it made both of us shed a small tear.

Mrs EB now has 3 new friends Snoopy and two of his brothers Spike and Olaf, and I got a pair of Snake Skin Cowboy Boots.

TTFN St Tone of Sedgefield

Tony Blair has annouced his resignation today, he is to stand down on June 27th 2007. A long time coming, but also Tony has been an amazing PM and I thank him for that, he has taken the country from a complete mess thanks to Maggie T and John "greyboy" M. To a strong and fairly fit country.

I have had a lot of time for St Tone, though the past 12 month has seen my enthusiasm wain, as he ums and arghs and basically looses the plot.

We need a strong socialist Prime Minister, one who cares about the poeple, Education and Health, one who doesn't care what the USA thinks or what Europe thinks, but one who actually cares about those who have elected that party into power, the people of the UK. I really do not think it is Gordon Brown and New labour, I wonder who it could be? I don't think it is any party out there yet.

I really wish we had an Honest Christian Party of MP's...

IPods and ITunes

I am one of those people that likes things in some sort of order!!! I know if you are Mrs EB reading this you have now raised your eyebrows so high they have hit the ceiling. But I do, I am a messy person. I can't keep things tidy to save my life. I love it when they are tidy I just have the ability to mess things up in seconds. But that doesn't mean I don't like order. I load the dishwasher I put things in, in a certain way it gets things clean and I can get a full load in the dishwasher, its neat and tidy...I know, I know...it must be some form of OCD.

Anyway I like order, that is why I love my IPod. In ITunes I can order my albums and music into various categories and folders. (Before I had my IPod I actually couldn't stand ITunes, now I think it is the Bees Knees) Both Mrs EB and I use the same ITunes to load our IPods, and I generally load the music, so I know where all my music is. Order!!! with over 4200 tracks there needs to be some sort of order.

Whilst in Vegas (told you I would mention it again) I went to NAB, a media trade show, one of the reason we went to Vegas when we did was so I could go this show. I bought some more Sound Effect CD's for my studio. These are extension packs for a Collection I have already called The General. There are 110 CD's in this collection and I have plenty of other collections as well. I have decided to rip them all in Tunes and Burn DVD ROMs as a back up and stick them on my Spare Hard Drive ...

"Why?" I hear you cry.

Well I like order and when you rip them you get a full track listing and with the search engine I have it will be 10x faster to find the tracks off HD rather than CD.

I have had a really nasty stomach bug since Palm Desert and I am in a bit of pain, the past two days things have been a little worse and I am stuck in the house in leaping distance of the loo, so with my time I am being quite a nerd with CD's and Itunes and DVD ROMS, nothing new there then.

Next posting will quite possibly be about Camp Snoopy!!!!! in LA

Palm Springs (Palm Desert)

A 4 hour 280+ mile Journey across the Mojave Desert.Not very much happens in the desert, apart from a rest stop for breakfast in a Denny's Diner that is best left well alone...Hicksville USA with the dirtiest bathrooms ever. We did see 2 roads signs the first is just screaming for a Country and Western song to be written about it "25 miles from Yermo".

The 2nd sign, we have no idea how to pronounce it? May be Yankie Doodle could help?

We arrived in Palm Springs then we drove a few more miles to Palm Desert. Wowwwwwwwwww what a place; it is beautiful. All very clean and tidy with white sand and tall palm trees. The Apartment we had was really nice with a balcony that over looked a lake and the mountains. Each day Humming Birds would be busy collecting nectar or cobwebs.

The Hotel in the grounds had a lake with Flamingo and Black Swans which was just wonderful to see.

In the grounds as we walked to go to one of the two or so swiming pools in the 100+ heat we even saw a "Meep Meep" Roadrunner!!!! this made Mrs EB laugh as I was running after it to try and get a photo!!!!! But I did eventually catch it in my own sort of Wyle E Coyote way ;-)

Las Vegas 3rd and final posting?

Ok here is the final instalment on Vegas...Huzzah I hear you say. (I have to be honest and say it probably wont be the last as we saw and did loads and as I keep remembering stuff I will without doubt blog about it...sorry)

mmmmmmmm Romulan Ale (tasted just wonderful)

Well we went to a Bar called Quarks...Now I am a Sci-Fi fan and if you know your Star Trek you will know where Quarks is from? Star Trek Deep Space Nine!!!! And yes The Hilton had gone and built a replica of the Deep Space Nine Bar along with various characters

it was a real fun place and I had a Romulan Ale, a blue beer, that tasted amazingly like a Bud!!!

We also visited Down Town Vegas where you can get your body pierced 24/7 for $10 or £5, why would you need to get your navel or elsewhere pierced at 4:30am is beyond me, but what do I know?

Also it has the worlds largest gift shop with just so tasteful advertising.

Now I am all for free speech and I am all for enjoyment but Bikini Bull Riding? I just don’t see me going along, for one I would look awful in a bikini...

As we went up towards the Down Town of course there are loads of wedding chappels even a drive through? (I did wonder if you got fries and shake with your wedding?)

I really liked Las Vegas, though once the weekend came round I found it a little busy for my liking also a little loud, I have never heard so many woops and shouts as someone wins a few dollars. I did think I would feel scared in Vegas as I have watched COPS and other programmes on the crime in this town, but neither of us felt threatened or scared. In fact I felt very comfortable walking about at any hour. There are a few downs, like the timeshare sales in the hotles and the "flick flick guys" (they flick busines cards (with ladies details on) and try to give you them) on the streets but all in all a good fun adult playground.

That was the week that was

I have had a busy old time since we have been back. My mind is a little scrambled as I have had a stomach bug and sleep has not actually been happening.

Thursday I went with some friends to see Thin Lizzy, Styx and Deep Purple at the NEC, a brill evening. Lizzy were just fantasic, STYX!!!! my fave american band ever!!!! where just perfect, they finished on my fave tune "Come Sail Away" and blew me away. Purple were Purple and I loved them.

After the show I was starting to feel a bit rough which is nothing new as I tend feel bad if I push myself anyway. I was rudely awaken by a migraine at about 4am. and then at just after 8am to be very sick. I spent the rest of the day being ill. I nearlly didn't make the weekends planned getaway!!!!

Anyhooo over the weekend Mrs EB and I visited Bournemouth, we went with Amy and Amiability and Skip and stopped at Amy's Mum and Dad's amazing sea view apartment. I had never been to Bournemouth and thought it was beautiful. One incident happened whilst there. Saturday night, I couldn't sleep, I had bad stomach cramps so I was listening to Mike Oldfield on my IPod and thought I would go stand on the bedroom Balcony (Told you it was an amazing apartment) and look at the sea, it was about 4:30am and the world was peaceful. I had been out there about 10 or so minutes in my PJ's and the wind was just making me a little cold so I turned around to go back into the bedroom and there was Mrs EB standing there looking at me!!! I jumped out of my skin and nearly over the balcony!!!

Mrs EB said she had been speaking to me but as I had got my earphones in I hadn't heard her.....mmmmm. I think she just wanted to see how high she could make me jump!!!!

Last night we popped round to the TARDIS for tea with the Timelord and had a jolly fine evening...though by now with lack of sleep my mind was not working very well.

Well after taking a nightol Last night I actually got a good sleep the first for a long time

Crikey this my 200th Posting!!!!!

Las Vegas pt2 (pt3 the final part next)

In Las Vegas there is a hotel called The Mirage. Famous for the Siegfried and Roy Magic Show before a tiger attacked one of them and they retired. They have opened an area called the Secret Garden with White Lions and White Tigers also Dolphins.

In the area that Siegfried and Roy used to do thier show has been converted into a round theatre where Cirque du Soliel perform the best show in the World "Love"

I have written about the show beforein earlier blogs, but I will say it was the best show I have ever seen. I will mention the Revolution Bar an interactive Bar to have a drink in. It is Beatles themed and is amazing, it has walls that change pattern, windows that become portholes. Staff that wear naff 1960's outfits. It is just the tops and I loved it in there.

Also around the Casino is an area to win an Orange County Chopper Themed Love Bike, I really wanted it but I bet a couple of Dollars and the winning line didn't come up.

a Confession

Well I am a complete idiot...please don't agree to readily without reading why!!!

When we arrived at Gatwick (I didn't actually get more than 20 minutes sleep in over 24 hours) I was waiting at the luggage carousel for our suitcases, and our bags came out as 3 of the first out!!!! Crikey I thought lets go!!!! I waited for Mrs EB to join me.(she had been to powder her nose) Off we went past customs...(phewwww, why do we always sweat at that bit?) We waited for our car to be delivered. and off home I drove. Well I did the M23 and M25 to the M40 then Mrs EB drove us home.

Once home we unloaded the car, I put the suitcases and our holdall in the Kitchen. Mrs EB was about to open the holdall and looked at me. She said that isn't ours, it doesn't even look like ours!!!!

I have never felt so ashamed and awful in my life, and I have done a few bad things in my life. My heart sank, I panicked!!! I didn't know what to do, the person who's bag I had must be panicking and feeling awful.

Mrs EB phoned Gatwick then Virgin. I had to go back to Gatwick, I wanted to go back there and then. Mrs EB said NO. I was in no fit state to drive 350 miles with no sleep in nearly 36 hours. We had a bit of tea, and went to bed.

I woke at 5:30 the next morning and drove to Gatwick again!!! went to the short term car park at £3.40 per hour!!! and then to Virgins help desk. I waited there for 20 minutes for very helpful young lady to escort me to arrivals baggage claim. I had to go through a special screening with the luggage I was bringing back!!! which was so scary what if that bag had got drugs in it or anything? then we tried to take that bag back into luggage claim. NO it wasn't my bag, even though it was screened I was not allowed to take it through or be with it when it went through, only the Virgin rep could? so we took that bag back to be re-screened, then she took me through person screening, where I was searched, more thoroughly than I have ever been searched before. Then onto baggage claim, and there was our holdall sat on the floor next to a window with a jolly chap. He checked my passport and boarding card and ticket stub, He was happy it was mine. Then through nothing to declare (sweats again) and a goodbye to the Virgin rep. Then I had to find my car!!!! Not easy as Gatwick short stay is huge and is spilt into colours, why didn’t I notice that when I parked??? all this took 58 minutes.

Then a Drive back to Sutton, I was back in Sutton for 11:30am...which I think means I went over 70 at one point. When I arrived at home I realised I had driven off that morning without actually taking my house keys!!! Mrs EB had to drive home and let me in!!! I am now a complete IDIOT.

Las Vegas pt1 (crikey that means pt2 must follow)

Las Vegas is a amazing place; it is fast, loud, brash, seady, fun, and very big. This is New York. New York the hotel opposite from our hotel. This is a front view (partial) to give an idea of size. The next photo is from the one side, a replica of Manhattan Bridge runs down part of the side!!! please see how small the people look!!! The 3rd photo is the other side. Inside it just gets bigger (timelord knows about that with his tardis) On the gaming level they have a whole New York block with houses and eating places ets... Totally amazing.

This was our Hotel the Excaliber, a fun place to stay at, though we were on the 22nd floor of the tower block on the left of this picture!!! 2nd and 3rd photos are taken from the room at night.

This is the Strip from a bridge from our hotel

The hotel on left was the Luxor, which is just beautiful inside.

We went on a Helicopter ride!!! to see the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead a 150 mile man made lake. The onto the Grand Canyon the next 2 pjoto where taken from inside the the Helicopter so there is a little glass glare.

The above photo is of Spirit Mountain, the native Indians belived they could see the face of their ancestors in the side of the mountain. Below is a close up of the mountain, and below is a face.

The helicopter landed on a so called Cowboy Ranch!!! well at least there were Joshua Trees on the Ranch.

Mrs EB with a Joshua Tree.