RULE NUMBER 3.

Mr Pacino - Not in any order!

Rule Number 3.

Literally!

Good morning...its 7am Sunday morning for us - 11pm same day in Melbs and 8pm same day in Perth. Today we have both woken up after our first normal (though very short) sleep. Despite having a cold my spirits are buoyed having just seen one of the great actors of all time strut his stuff on the planks.

right, lets back up.

where did this cold come from i hear you asking? Well, on the day of the first snow (first time ever for me despite living in Melbourne for 12 years!) i was joyfully skipping down the very fashionable Broadway St in Soho....my face turned up to the sky catching snowflakes on my tongue. Hours later i will learn that i was basically freezing my insides starting with my proboscis and throat....boom, you gotcha self a man flu son :(

fortunately, my long suffering wife is well versed in the art of removing a small splinter from a pouting bear's paw...

so, friday night was basically a chill out night. There are so many little delis around this area...cool little foodie hangouts where one can purchase all manor of worldly produce and traditional Italian/American goodies. Friday night and saturday (the day of great manflu of 2011) we dug into some soups/fruit and deli sandwiches (one of 80 choices on the board) from the closest deli - Gracefully Grocery.

unfortunately, the apartment is a little loud...some much noise inside and outside being in one room...heating, fridge, door buzzer...and the bed is only a double but otherwise its good to go. Jo, Amie and Steve...all i can say is prepare yourselves for the buzzing of the entry door at all times! big city living at its finest.

Sat, was a white wash. I felt awful so we watched the box and learnt even more about American culture....shows like Basketballers Wives, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew and some sport called Basketball (there are games on all the time!!!). We did manage to join up at the local health club to help combat the food delights...will make our first visit any day now.

Sat night...after a much needed arvo sleep, we cabbed it to the Theatre District to see the Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino and a bunch of other familiar faces. I was drugged up with all manor of anti cold pills and lozenges and felt pretty good. We collected the tix and had a potent drink at Sardi's. The place is an institution apparently so it was the fitting thing to do. My vodka orange was mintox and worked a treat with my self medication (don't try this at home kids).

Well...what to say about the play? Hoooo-Ahhhh....it was awesome. Gem and i are not Shakespeare buffs but the play was brilliantly acted, quite funny and the stage/lighting/sound setup was very modern and dramatic. We got goosebumps as soon as the little man walked onto the stage (he played Shylock). As good as Pacino was he was upstaged a little with a standout performance by David Harbour who played Bassanio, a friend of Antonio. Very funny stuff and our seats were close enough to see spit.

We tried to get up close to Big Al at the end of the show but it was like a violent mosh pit around the exit door and the annoying paparazzi were in full voice. There are some photos above - its like playing 'Wheres Wally' but he is in there.

today is a day of rest and possibly another walk in Soho to buy that elusive jacket and gloves. Tomorrow is the first day of my course so i need to try and lose this cold asap.

one final thing friends (the most important thing)...we are having a baby! Yep, Rule Number 3. We are obviously over the moon...a little nervous but over the moon. Gem has an excuse to eat twice as much now! And yes...Clancy and the 'Horses' gang...Gem was preggers whilst lugging camera equipment up and down the dunes in Lancelin during our crewless shoot together ;)The girl is a trooper!

We bid you adieu,

love Ads and Gem xx