Rhys vs USA & Canada – Plan 1

Over a bottle of wine last night, I planned the first draft of my travel plans – when I head to the United States & Canada for a bit. Here’s the first draft.

Following last year’s holiday, I’ve decided I really enjoy watching sports when I’m abroad (plus it’s content for You’re Supposed To Be At Home), so the plan is to watch WWE Monday Night Raw in Richmond, VA, the New York Red Bulls in (oddly) New Jersey, and the Yankees as well. Unfortunately the Mets are on a 10 day stint away, so I can’t watch them again. I’ll see if I can fit in a game of something in Chicago & Toronto.

Already the plans have changed though from the above though! After speaking to my brother, he thinks I should have one less day in Richmond (which is fairly easy to do) and one less day in Toronto. Instead put that time to either an extra day in New York or Washington, as well as fit in a trip to Niagra falls.

With that said, I’m chuffed getting it off the ground at long last. Anybody been to Toronto? Worth it for a couple of days? Any ideas or suggestions for how to add to the trip or any things I must see (done New York, so I’d like things a little off the beaten track).

The Sound of the Entire World Marking Out

As some of you know, I’m involved in the wrestling business here in the UK. If I can get even one percent, of one percent, of one percent of a reaction from a paying audience as big as this, then I can die happy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BII1rjoHdeU[/youtube]

Three of the global trending topics when I woke up this morning – this is huge. Put it this way – when it was The World Cup Final, only 2 of the trending topics were about the game (after the game it did pick up a bit).

A few people I know that’ll read this work in social media – if you ever need an example of a paying audience who follow your brand with such passion, check out the WWE.

Big thank you to Craig – who gave the idea of the blog post title. I’m pretty sure the video may be removed from Youtube soon, so go watch it!

Six Nations 2011 – It Begins Today!

Yes! The most politically correct sporting tournament begins today – the Six Nations!

It’s a tournament that pits England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France & Italy in a league format in Rugby, to see who is the best nation in the Northern Hemisphere

I bloody love it, it’ a marvellous tournament, that unites a nation like no other tournament on a yearly basis. Furthermore, it’s provides the sort of banter you can have with your fellow nations that doesn’t involve a glassing. As much as I love football, rugby players can really teach them something on how to act on the pitch.

To give a sample of such banter, I ask my followers the same question: “What do you think their chances of winning the Six nations are?”

Mike CJ (English) of Camel Media Group said the following:-

http://twitter.com/#!/mikecj/statuses/33296097363496960

Barry Adams (Dutch, but lives in Ireland) of The Great Websites Blog said the following:-

http://twitter.com/#!/badams/statuses/33454888323129344

http://twitter.com/#!/badams/statuses/33455020217208832

James Jackson of Ogge said the following:-

So what of Wales chances? I’m not confident. Injuries & the fact we’re approaching a World Cup generally means we’ll be poor. As lovely as it would be to beat the old enemy, I’m not confident. Still I’ll still be singing hymns & arias. Dewch ymlaen Cymru!

Who do you think will win?

TNA Maximum Impact Tour 2011, Manchester Photos

Good news everybody! I survived the weekend (just). Mancseo was great fun, as we drank the night away in a private room of the Black Dog Ballroom, as was the time in Leeds with my university friends.

But the other highlight of the weekend – the TNA Maximum Impact Tour – is what I’m wanting to focus on. It was a great day & I got the chance to take some great photos. Here’s some of my favourites.

A full writeup will follow on You’re Supposed To Be At Home soon.

A Mental Few Days

If I’m still alive on Monday, I deserve a medal. Over the next few days my normally manageable social calendar has exploded into a plethora of wonderful things to do & people to see.

  • Thursday Night – Mancseo. Thursday night is the monthly Mancseo meet, and my first anniversary since my first one – when I was a North Wales SEO. Enjoyed the night so much in the House No 9 that it was a catalyst for changing jobs, and the rest – as they say – is history. Anyway, this month’s is in the Blackdog Ballroom, Church Street, Manchester from about 6pm. If you’re in SEO in Manchester (or can get to Manchester) then it’s well worth going to. It’s a great way to network (although I didn’t meet my present employer at the first Mancseo, he was there!).
  • Friday – TNA Wrestling European Tour. Last year the day after my first Mancseo was TNA Wrestling’s European Tour, which stopped in Manchester for the night. Last year’s was a great day, with afternoon beers before the show which was incredible. So we’re doing it again :). Bit of a different lineup compared to last years (both us & the wrestlers, unfortunately a few nasty injuries & emergencies mean that the card is a little weaker than last year), but it should still be good fun. Also, it’ll provide content for my new blog – You’re Supposed To Be At Home (I’ve posted about NEO Ladies Pro Wrestling this week).
  • Saturday – Scarborough & Leeds. Finally on Saturday I’m meeting up with a few university mates & we’re going to Scarborough for the day, followed with a rather cultured wine tasting evening at my mates (followed by a few less cultured piss up in Leeds). If anybody’s out & about in Leeds, let me know!

So yes, even though nowadays more than about 2 or 3 pints ruins the day after, I’m going to be running on fumes by Sunday. I’ll be hitting the gym next week – I bought some scales this week & like all good SEO’s, I’m analysing the ongoing (hopeful) drops.