TOP O' THE MORNIN' TO YA! ........ St. Patricks day drew me to the town of Shamrock in the east of the Panhandle. This town is on the old route 66. As well as hosting the annual Paddy celebration, it is home to the 'U-Drop Inn', one of the most photographed route 66 landmarks.


The wet weather didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the parade participants. Needless to say, given the terrible wild fires that afflicted the area this week, the rain was welcome, and it felt more like the real Ireland!


In nearby Britten is 'The Leaning Water Tower of Texas'.
Green was the order of the day.

BROOKES AND DUNN........
The 'Texas country music series' brought this duo to the Amarillo Centre for performing arts. They put on a blazing performance of country classics like 'My Maria', 'Rock my world (little country girl)'.
Yes, im a country convert!

HEY,'DUDE'!....
The 'Running R' ranch in Bandera is a beautiful spot in the Texas Hill Country. Dude ranches are commomn place retreats for 'city-slickers' like myself. You can pretend to be a cowgirl (as long as you stay in the Donkey line.. a little frustrating now that im ready to run!). Nevertheless, id recommend it o anyone.
Banderas nightlife!
No explaination needed!
Our Cowgirl cabin.... complete with washboard and porch.

AUSTIN, TEXAS....STATE CAPITAL

Spring break and a week off... Yippee!! Tyler and I drove down to Austin, and were there in time for the South by Southwest film and music festival. Managed to get ourselves roped in to the press circle at a film premiere (dont ask me how!)... didnt recognize a soul but everyone else was very excited. Austin is a lovely city though very self-consciously "cool"!

EXTRA,EXTRA......more evocative Texas shots, admittedly plaguerised from Andrea and Pamela (but i was there!)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK.....
Ground Zero......














Dawn and Jo flew in from Birmingham,England, to meet at half way point, New york City. We walked and walked, and ate, saw the musical 'Hairspray' on Broadway, and ate some more........

Couldnt resist buying some 'Dallas Cowgirl' makeup... the power of packaging, eh?!

On the Brooklyn bridge... Jo conquered her fear of heights!

CENTRAL PERK.......
After a late night on the town we were grateful for the relative peace and quiet of central park.

We took a 'Penny waggon' ride, (apparently new yorkers dont like the connotations associated with 'rickshaw'!?), which is where we got one of the nicest views of the weekend (cute 'buns'!!hahaha)

THE NATIONAL CUTTING HORSE FINALS...
This has to be the 'cricket' of rodeo in my opinion. Slow, relaxed but great to watch (well better than cricket in that respect!)
The aim is for the cowboy to pinpoint one cow in the herd and 'cut' it out from the rest, making sure it doesnt get back to the herd before the buzzer goes. very skillful and only the best trined horses can do it.

PAMELA AND ANDREAS AMARILLO ADVENTURE....
Fulbright friends, Andrea and Pamela came to sample life out west and loved it!!!
Inevitably, we had to get them kitted out with cowboy gear....


An unexpected highlight was meeting 80's rock 'sensation' -LOVERBOY (They were massive here, honest... think Van Halen, Foreigner..). Anyway, we wangled ourselves on to the guest list and even got some backstage action! (sparkly water and fresh fruit for them these days!)