Special visitor from the UK

25 years later, a special someone came to visit me here in Chicago. This someone has been there since the very beginning, since the land before my time.

The thing is that after a few months here, the family didn't really know what I was up to. But they were very suspicious. They didn't know where I live, nor what Chicago is like. All they had heard was that this city was once the home of Al Capone and his mob. This tiny bit of detail didn't really help.

So, to investigate, they sent a person to represent the family (unarmed of course) to check that everything was in place. This little investigator was my Mum, luckily with some harmless English treats in hand (good old Dairy Milk chocolate and a couple of English newspapers!)!It was a nice little visit. We made sure we enjoyed the sights and tastes of Chicago. I even saw things that I had never seen before!On the first night, we went out for some dinner and afterwards we walked along the lakefront pass lots of cyclists, joggers and rollerbladers - a bit of Miami here in Chicago and a bit of an eye opener for my Mum!We even joined in a couple of times renting a bike and cycling down the lakefront which simply goes on for miles!At one point I played up to the camera, much like I had seen other tourists do. It looked fun!However, my Mum wasn't having any of it and thought she was helping, somewhat.Sunrise in this place is pretty spectacular (Mum took this as I was asleep wasn't I!).Even more spectacular was Circe Du Soleil who were in town and what we saw was simply extraordinary!As a treat one night, we headed up to the top of the John Hancock to The Signature Lounge on the 95th floor for sunset.We also managed to check out Sears Tower and the views from the 103rd floor.Now, I am faced with reality, when I return from work there is no dinner waiting for me, nor no chocolate cake.How will I cope!

Boston and New York visit

In mid-August, a little work trip to Boston and New York beckoned. The great thing was that I had never been to Boston before and it also marked my first return to New York since I left in April.


It was a quick but productive trip!

Barcelona FC in Chicago

In early August, the mighty Barcelona came to town to play Chivas, a Mexican team, at Soldier Field. Although the maestro Messi wasn't playing, we did see Eto'o, Henry, Gudjohnsen, the new signing Helb and a very talented up and coming 17 year old called Pedro. Barcelona won 5-2!

Chicago Thunderstorms

Boy oh boy. When the weather hits this place, it really does hit it hard!

This chap had no idea. I had only just got back into my apartment for the evening taking a look out the window to check out the rather tranquil evening sky. It all looked so nice. But, at the same time, some rather menacing and significant storm clouds were incoming.The sky changed in a second. The black clouds had already arrived, passing the windows at some mph with such breathtaking force. The apartment was now dark. The building was creaking. We were now at sea again.

I've never seen such fierce winds loaded with water flowing through a whole city. It truly was phenomenal witnessing such a storm.

Well, I say 'was', but actually it looks as though the storm hasn't quite gone yet. The lightning is now overhead, bursting strobe-like lightning across the dark misty clouds and the sound is heavy. It could be a long night...

Check out the video to see this event before your eyes in the comfort of your chair in relative harmony!! If you can, listen out for the eerie piper who returned again to play out the storm.

Professionals in Chicago

I never would have guessed it.

After playing football Tuesday night, a couple of us went to get a beer. We decided to head to The Globe, a English football pub, never guessing that 4,000 miles away from home - we would have some professionals for company.

I've never had the pleasure of being in a pub with some Premier League stars, but here I was in the company of five Everton professionals and the manager David Moyes!

Everton were on their pre-season tour, with a game the next night against Chicago Fire. We walked in and with an abundance of Everton fans in the pub, I knew something wasn't quite right!

Venetian Night

On Saturday a couple of friends and I went down to the harbour to watch boats decked out with lights and props sail around the harbour. Quite a few other Chicagoans were there and according to estimates - some 600,000 of them. Well, it didn't seem like that quite that many people but you just never know.

The best part was the flyover of several planes, not quite the Red Arrows legends of the world but they managed to keep in formation nonetheless, quite gladly too. The fireworks were also pretty good and presumably, very expensive, this show went on for about half an hour!

Northerly Island

Last night we headed to Northerly Island just outside the city in the newly developed Millennium Park area to watch a couple of bands play. It is one of the best outdoor venues for music in Chicago with the beautiful backdrop of the Chicago skyline.

A couple of bands played including Umphrey's McGee who originally came from Chicago. They played a fair few guitar rifts which was good and they even did a couple of Pink Floyd covers too which was even better!

Apartment 6309

World's Biggest Block Party

Apparently.

Well, the Americans don't do things by halves, and this certainly was a big party around a block!! We saw Rusted Root and Ben Kweller play before heading to a couple of bars afterwards to celebrate a friend's birthday.

Birthday photos

Chicago skyscrapers

25th birthday!

As it was my birthday it merited a special boat tour of the city down the river and out onto the lake.

It was a great little voyage with great views of the Chicago skyline from the lake. The buildings along the river are pretty spectacular too, especially the curved building aligned with the bend of the river and a great view of Sears Tower too.

Apple i-phone queue

It's amazing just how far people will go to get the revised i-phone!

View from 63rd

John Hancock

After living in my new apartment for nearly two months, I discovered the monthly resident newsletter underneath my door with an article titled "Let's learn about the 'icon' in which we live!". It made rather interesting reading!

When completed in 1969, this not-so-little tower was the tallest building in the world outside New York. And, now it is the twelfth tallest building in the world with 100-storeys. But, when measured at pinnacle height right up the top of its antenna masts, it stands at 1,500 feet (457m) making it the third-tallest building in the world (after Taipei 101 and Sears Tower).

The swimming pool on the 44th floor, with all its magnificent views of the Chicago skyline, is in fact the highest indoor swimming pool in the country!As for me, I live on the 63rd floor which is high enough!!! In fact, the weather has been quite good but from time to time the apartment lies just above the clouds which is quite a surreal experience, day or night!

Oak Street Beach

Last Friday was the fourth of July, a rather special occasion with lots of celebrations across the country. This was Independence Day.

Here in Chicago, the celebrations began with numerous fireworks across the city on the 3rd July. Although it was quite an American affair, this British chap went along with the celebrations nonetheless and woke up to the morning sun in the John Hancock. This was quite apt as this skyscraper was named after John Hancock, the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The day of the fourth was spent wondering around town, starting with a visit to great brunch cafe near Rush Street. After some shopping, it was time for another visit to Oak Street Beach, just around the corner from where I live. I've never really lived this close to a beach, nor such a vast lake, so it's pretty special!These Chicago guys certainly know how to make the most of the summer months as these palm trees are definitely not native to this city!
Saturday evening was spent at Green Mill, quite an unassuming venue, but the funky jazz music by the Garaj Mahal was pretty good with a very quick and talented guitarist.
The following night was spent at Taste of Chicago in Grant Park where all the best restaurants in the city decend to showcase their food. The event is also mixed in with some musical entertainment and we were able to see Bonnie Raitt, who is very popular on these shores.

There's nothing like a three day weekend to recharge those batteries!

Chicago sunset

Sears Thunderbolt

A couple of weeks ago one early Sunday morning, the little window I have on the 63rd floor began to open and close with quite a lot of force. Enough to wake this little kid up. I wandered over sleepy eyed, only for an almighty wind to burst through again, opening the window teasingly and then sucking it shut rather abruptly.

This was a proper wind as this is a tough little window.

So I shut the window and locked the catches. I then looked out across the city. On the one side the sun was just coming up over the lake, and on the other, a fierce set of storm clouds were approaching, menacing and fast.

The rain soon hit and the ferocious wind gathered pace. In fact, I began to hear some beautiful music. At first I thought some guy next door was playing his flute, trying in vain to block out the sound of the impending storm. But, it soon became apparent that the wind was making some music of its own. It sounded quite amazing. Mother nature at her eerie best.

Then, scarily, the building began to creak and shudder. Almost like a ship in the middle of a storm. Luckily, doing some calculations, I knew that this probably wasn't the first time this building had been hit by a storm, nor the Chicago wind. And, if the building did fall it wouldn't be the worst death and I wouldn't be the only one.

So, I began to relax a little, sat back and watched as the storm floated over and hit the city. The Sears Tower got a direct hit, and not just once, hence how I managed to capture the scene on a video!!

I don't think our building was hit but then you never know. I did get a small electric shock later on, but that was nothing compared to what those guys in the Sears Tower got!! Check out the video!

The Swell Season

The good thing about Chicago is that there are lots of concerts and festivals. Luckily, I managed to get some tickets to see The Swell Season. I hadn't heard much of them until the days leading up to the concert but they sounded interesting indeed.The concert was sold out on each night they were playing, so they are pretty popular here. The concert was simply brilliant and a great way to spend a Sunday evening. If you can, check out their music, it's fantastic!

Back in England

After a quite surreal five months, this young, albeit slightly older looking chap was on his way back to the UK.The last time he had been gone this long was on the intrepid explorer adventure. That final journey back from Hong Kong, after five and a bit months, and so many places, was punctured by this chap falling asleep, only to discover in his dream-like-state that he never had been away. Luckily when he woke up in a cold sweat, he found that it was just a nighmareish dream and after so long, I was finally heading home!

This time the plane set off from Chicago, over the great sea-like Lake Michigan, before flying over the farms of Michigan and then rising above the clouds. Flying overnight, on the sleeper plane, I couldn't really sleep. I think I was excited.Soon enough, the hours ticked by and after several hours, we were finally approaching the motherland. The plane slowly sank through the clouds and there she was, the beautiful green hills of England.We flew over the all familiar Bristol channel and a few moments later at some hundred miles per hour, we were coming into land at Heathrow!

My bro Charlie came to pick me up from nearby Twickenham to take me up to Nottingham. It was great to see him, but he was wearing a cap, which was slightly unusual. Luckily on the trip up to Nottingham he revealed all...It was a little hairdressing accident. Apparently his trimmer broke halfway through cutting his own hair in the late hours of the night before. Luckily, he found another trimmer in the early hours of the morning, but, unfortunately, this too broke (some hair eh?!). So, the hair was partly shaved at the front, but intact at the back! The result was quite a good Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon impression, perhaps somewhat fashionable at a fancy dress party, but not so much in broad daylight!!

After catching up on stories and tales on the motorway we stopped off at a service station. Less of the Wendy's, Taco Bell and Burger King here, this place had an M&S, and a missed M&S at that. I quickly raided the sandwich shelf, going straight for my egg cress sandwich. One wasn't enough, so I had two.

It was a beautiful sunny day and we arrived late morning in Nottingham at the all-familiar family ranch.Much of the day and the rest of the weekend was spent catching up with family and friends as well as eating cakes and supping tea in the garden. Quite the English experience!Sadly though, this wasn't all cakes and tea. It was also a work related visit, so I headed down to HQ in Malmesbury for the week and caught up with a few people from the office. The good thing about Malmesbury is that it is quintessentially English and situated in the Cotswolds, not far from where I grew up.Some were shocked to see me looking so rugged. Apparently I left a boy and returned a man. I am still trying to work that one out! I mean, I didn't look that young did I?!

The final weekend was spent in London near Richmond Hill with my brother Charlie and the now pregnant Jo!It looks like another Swinbourne will be causing some mayhem soon!! And gladly so. I could do with some help.Talking about mayhem, I also caught up with close friends in London for numerous quite epic stories from the past and present! It was great to see them.