Love, Simon

A seventeen year's old school student, accepting that he is gay, takes tentative steps towards coming out to his family and friends.

'Love, Simon' is packed with Hollywood style attractive characters living a privileged lifestyle which is probably far from the experiences of the majority of viewers of the film. More fantasy than realism.

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Santa Monica

Palm Springs

Our accommodation in Palm Springs

The pool area

The surrounds

Blue sky, cool weather

Shopping at Palm Springs

Shopping at Palm Spring

Las Vegas

Arrival at McCarran International Airport

The scene from my bedroom at the Park MGM Hotel

The Conservatory at the Bellagio Hotel

The water feature in front of Bellagio and other hotels across the road

All these buildings constitute one hotel called New York, New York

Excalibur Hotel

Mandalay Bay Hotel

Luxor Hotel

Hello punter!

Treasure Island (left) and The Venetian (centre and right)

The Venetian

The Venetian

The Ricky Martin Show gets underway

Ricky Martin

New York to Las Vegas

The snow returned for our departure from New York.

Unloading bags at JFK Airport

Boarding our flight to Las Vegas

The plane was hosed down to remove snow and ice before take off

Melissa Errico

Another flashback to New Orleans. Whilst there we attended a concert by Melissa Errico, a performer with an interest in performing Broadway numbers, especially those of Stephen Sondheim.

An excellent concert.

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Out and about in New York City

The Oculus Transport Interchange at the World Trade Center

Skating on the Concourse at Rockefeller Center

The Oculus with the World Trade Center behind it

Tradies taking a break at a snow covered Hudson Docks

Washington DC

I took one day out of our New York stay to travel across to Washington DC to catch with friends from our days in Beijing (1980-82).

The view towards the Capitol from Union Station

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

The Capitol

The National Lawn towards the Capitol

Elektra

The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Centre, before curtain up

On our remaining night in New York we decided to see the Opera. Had we chosen earlier nights we could have seen Puccini's Madama Butterfly or La Boheme; two operas with which I am very familiar but on our last night the programmed performance by the Metropolitan Opera was Richard Strauss' Elektra; totally unfamiliar to me.

The music didn't appeal to me and visually the staging was not exciting but I could appreciate the quality of the singers and the orchestral performance. I'd rather have seen the Puccini but I do know now what it is like to attend the Metropolitan Opera.

Grand Central Station

One of the most famous railway stations in the world.

The Parisian Woman

'The Parisian Woman' is a contemporary drama and satire on political life in Washington and those jockeying for positions of power and favour.

Uma Thurman is the wife who is balancing both husband and lover whilst manipulating those around her around to achieve her political and personal goals.

A delight for those into political intrigue.

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Jerry Springer the Opera

I have seen 'Jerry Springer the Opera' previously at the Sydney Opera House and was interested to see it again in its current off-Broadway season.

Act 1 replicates a Jerry Springer show with its tangled, scarcely believable, relationships and situations with an audience baying for metaphorical blood followed by a homily from Mr Springer. Act 2 takes Mr Springer into a spiritual realm of his own facing the wrath of God and the Devil for his own behaviour.

Funny and bizarre with excellent performances.

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Three Tall Women

British actress Glenda Jackson is the lead name in Edward Albee's 'Three Tall Women' which we also saw in preview in New York ahead of its official opening.

It is a long time since I saw Ms Jackson in a film and the first time I have seen her live on stage. She is superb, her stage presence is astounding and she is well supported by the other two women in the cast, Laurie Metcalf and Alison Pill.

Albee's play relates three stages in a woman's life; a woman of some privilege whose family relationships have broken down.

A marvellous acting experience.

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Times Square and snow

Returning to our hotel from a night at the theatre, passing through Times Square with the snow swept against gutters.