It's going to be a big week It's been a quiet weekend which was the plan really as I try to regain my sleep pattern, for what it is. I was in bed last night at 8.40pm, which with the clocks going back today meant I was up v early. Today is Halloween and it's huge here, although I did notice more of a fuss at home last week than ever before. I read that 75% of the adult population dress up in fancy dress today, which is a higher percentage than American kids!

When I flew back from London to Chicago on Thursday it was a year to the day that I arrived here with my couple of bulging suitcases and a work visa. In many ways it has flown by but in others it has not. I miss a lot of people and Charlton (sometimes) but I have no regrets, it has been an amazing experience and I learn more everyday about people and myself and as the days pass I love this City more and more.

One of the people I miss is a top mate of mine called DG (no not that DG, although it only adds to his brand image probs) but he arrives here on Thursday to stay with me for a week which I am really looking forward too. Of course before then we have the small matter of the Presidential Election and I thought I would get in the spirit of things and have a few boys & girls around for dinner & drinks on Thursday night to watch the results come in. The general opinion is that the winner will be known by midnight Tuesday.

The polls are neck and neck with the tide seeming to be with Kerry. It will all come down to what they call the Battleground States, of which there are 9 - Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, New Hampshire and the scene of 2000's cock up Florida where mainly old grannies and immigrants will decide on the future most powerful man in the world. Quite scary really.

The election of course is all about image - the total cost is estimated at more than $2bn - or is it? Grown up men and women point, with all seriousness, to all kinds of other factors and not just the sudden appearance of Osama Bin Laden, but more significent factors such as which plastic Halloween face mask is the biggest seller (Bush), who is the tallest candidate (Kerry), who has the shortest name (Bush) and more famously today's Washington Redskins v Green Bay Packers match which history has proved as crucial.

The Redskins’ final home game before the presidential election has always accurately predicted the White House winner. If the Redskins win, the incumbent party wins. If they lose, the incumbent party is ousted. Final score 28-14 to the Packers. Goodnight Mr Dubya.

The ever paranoid septics are already worried about a significant chance of fraud at the ballot boxes affecting the result (the lawyers are rubbing their hands) and with 50% of the adult population still believing that Saddam Hussein was responsible for the World Trade Center atrocity and another 16% of Americans thinking that the world could end (yes, actually end) in their lifetimes this video (courtesy of my friend Inspector Sands) will truly send the cat amongst the pigeons. Watch it in full, it is very interesting.

I must also mention the 'World Series' victory by the Boston Red Sox who ended the 86 year curse of the Bambino after sweeping the St Louis Cardinals 4-0. Next year must be the Cubs turn with or without Sammy Sosa.

Enough of here, I want to finish by mentioning a couple of home things. First of all one of my best ever memories was seeing Soft Cell play live circa 1983. They were something else and to this day some of their early stuff still sends shivers down my spine so I for one wish Marc Almond a speedy recovery after he was injured in a motorcycle crash two weeks ago today.

I have also found out that The Times have announced that they are doing away with their broadsheet format after 216 years. Gutted. After years of having no real attachment to any paper I finally settled on The Times a few years back and it's on my list here of one of the things I miss because quite frankly the papers here are 'flick throughs' at best. Admittedly the tabloid size (sorry compact edition) will be easier to read on the Tube but I liked nothing better than on a Saturday or a Sunday morning to lay in bed or sit on the carpet with it spread out in front of me. Real shame.

And finally a big thank you to the late John Peel because if it wasn't for him Teenage Kicks by The Undertones would not be one of my favourite all time records. As The Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield said "he was a lifeline to hearing music I would never have heard otherwise." RIP.
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