Weapons of mass destwuuction

Yes...the bestest bloggers in town are back...we're heading to Israel by way of Sth Korea (hence the weblink above and here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh_9QhRzJEs). Let's hope the transition from Kim-Jong-il to Kim-Jong-iller goes well...Pyongyang...its a city not a fungus....

The new addition to the gang will be accompanying us - young master Jonah Haim Brooks has joined the club (pic below showing amelia propping up his spherical-orb-like-head) otherwise known as the "FatMan", aka "Jonah the Whale", aka "Bert Newton"...we expect him to provide a barrel of laughs and a gallon of dribble. So anyways we'll try and keep you enthralled (or at least only mildy bored) with our updates...so stay tuned to the world-wide-galactic-web.... hopefully 1st post from Seoul in coupla days...

The City that never sleeps...and always eats

Being based in Tel Aviv we have taken the opportunity to get the know the city better and its been one long eating-drinking-shopping-avoiding-stray-cats-and-panhandlers-and-eating-drinking experience. Seriously, you go out at 7:00am for a coffee, the cafe's are busy...and...you go out at 12:00am (don't ask me why)....and the cafe's are busy....not sure when they sleep and work. Or if they sleep and work. Amelia is getting right into the cafe culture, waving at bartenders and the odd security guard who waves back (whilst polishing his loaded-glock 9mm.)...hmmm...Its also been interesting to see the contrast at say a traffic junction where a hassid (sweating away in full garb and trying not to look at the young lass in a 'summer dress' next to him)...with both of them giving a donation to roving charity collectors, whilst one smokes (the hassid) and one drinks a power-juice (the lass) and both are screaming down their phones (screaming being Israeli for talking) arranging their Rosh Hashana dinners.....

The Wedding Crashers

Its a done deal - Benzi and Pnina got hitched and what a wedding it was - brilliant atmosphere, energy and spirit. The Chuppah was at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, out on a podium that provided views all the way across Jerusalem...and if you looked close enough to Jordan as well.

Benzi has set-up his own Facebook link of photos and we're still compiling ours, so start with a few Facebook snaps / Benzi's links below we'll and go from there

We danced like energizer-battery-bunny's and pretty much collapsed afterwards like Varta-battery-charged dolls (that was not an endorsed comment). There's something to be said for attempting Chabad-inflected-reggae moves on the dancefloor with your mates whilst wearing a formal suit that doesn't give much in the shoulders....That was the other thing, great music which kept pace with our BPM...an amazing night!

The Israelites

We did it, with minimum fuss and little damage to international travel protocols - the three of us arrived in Israel on a balmy Monday night to a mild 32 degrees. Since then its been as hectic as rush hour in Tel Aviv - but there have also been enough chances to relax and take it all in - family (nephews and nieces growing up at an alarming rate - and who have a particular prediliction for Hannah Montana and Metallica...), Benzi and Pnina's wedding (amazing - a separate entry later) and the many activities in-between (remind me to tell you all how Nissi and I crossed assorted 'separation walls' and borders to try locate an ancient site....that was just down the road (I think we're on a few interpol lists now)....








Amelia ensuring that Traffic control in Tel Aviv is expecting us










Amelia with 3 of her 4 1st cousins










Sunset on Tel Aviv Beach (if you look closely that's me with the six-pack and natural tan)










Amelia holding court with assorted nefarious characters - Yoni, Nissi and Tali and their son Marlon (isn't it all so 'St.Elmo's Fire')...just need the Debbie Gibson soundtrack.

Days of our lives

It has been many moons since our last entry....and a lot has happened...namely the addition to our family of little Amelia Suzie Sarah Brooks....(insert gushing parental remarks here: ), yes I could start a whole new blog around her, but no won't do that. Will suffice with posting stacks-o-pics of her on this blog. Also, wanted to revive this blog as Nic, Amelia and I are heading o/s again for trip to Israel (with a leisurely stop in sunny - yet civil-war-ridden, yet beacon-to African-liberators - Sth. Africa) on the way back. Can anyone say "Baby-Elephant tusk key-rings and matching tiger-cub carry-on-bags"...? Na, just kidding, we'll bring back the baby tiger-cubs alive and healthy to roam free in....our backyard...

Blinded by the light

How do we sum up one incredible adventure....whilst beginning another? We're trying to think of the right superlative to 'capture' it all, or the right song...Yes, that might do it. So we've trawled through our 'iTunes', as well as our "legacy" collection (i.e - real-life-endangered CD's). Could it be Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac)...not quite the song. What about Where's your head at (Basement Jaxx), hmmm, too many connotations there. Aha (no not the band) - we've found it!...Across 110th St. treet Life (Bobby Womack) gimme one last HooHaa!!!

So what happens now, do we simply let this blog die a slow byte-by-byte death. Is there still someway for Nic and I to still vent, pontificate (as well as postulate)....well here's an idea...The mrs. is pregnant. "Gee-willy-winkies" you say (well let's leave sleeping willy's where they are for now)....she's preggo, a bun in the oven etc. et al...what about some continued, aimless ramblings about the changes that Nicole (in a different way) are going through. Sure, lots of people we know have already gone through this experience (a few times by some count). We don't suppose to know or understand anymore than those before or those that will come after (I sound like the voiceover from Waterworld)...also we're not trying to be indulgent. Its not about us, us, us, - wejust want to share some thoughts etc., that we may well have as this 'journey' moves along - that is all...will it be interesting? dunno Will it last? dunno Will we give it a shot? Oh yeah baby!

Winter Daze

Ok, its been a few days since the last entry. Lots been goin' on. Vegas, now LA, soon home. Where to start....well, Viva Las Vegas for starters. We definitely enjoyed the 'City of Sin' - although I spent the whole time looking over my shoulder expecting joe Peschi to be there with his baseball bat from Casino (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112641/)! The highlight had to be the live show "Love: A Tribute to the Beatles" by the Cirque de Soleil troupe (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/love/intro/intro.htm?sa_campaign=internal_click/redirect/love). For those of you who Cirque de Soleil, it was another 'amazing' performance, for those of you don't know Cirque de Soleil....it was another 'amazing' performance...

We didn't win big at the casino (what!!!???) - in fact we essentially 'contributed' to the employee retirement fund at the Wynn Hotel...but hey we went down with a smile....definitely the coolest casino to drop a few dollars in. All round quite an adventure...some photos below.