The devil is in the detail.

The flights have been booked for months, the hotels for almost as long. A car needs to be arranged but that's no biggie. I even got my ESTA. As Murray Walker would say it's "go go go" for my trip to Las Vegas. But what new places to visit when I'm there. It's all very well going back to the old favourites but the boundaries need to be stretched. Last year it was Todd English Pub , a fine LV drinking establishment with a typically American large central bar, bare brick and white tiles. An extensive range of domestic and imported beers. Sadly no dollar domestics when I was there. I couldn't stay long as the two pints I had in there was breakfast. It had been a long night. This was something to do with my room overlooking Carnival Court not the quietest of locations.

This year one place I want to visit is Stage Door Liquor , a taste of old Vegas. Passed it a few times over the years but never been in.

That's one down, several more to find.

Help yourself

Of all the images from the recent disorder in English city centres and Gloucster one of the most shocking things for me has been the return of Hazel Blears to our tv screens. I hoped we'd seen that last of her after the MPs expenses scandle when it came to light she was flipping her houses to avoid capital gains tax.She stands there and lectures on law and order.  You might remember her clutching a cheque which she was going to give to the Revenue to make everything ok. In her world it'll be ok for the looters to stump up the full retail price of the stuff they took and go on their way.

Although that was nothing compared to her asking yesterday, in a Sky News interview, why the looting youngsters weren't at school. It had to be pointed out to her it was the school holidays.

Again, that's enough politics. It's Sausage Saturday and I'm just about to start cooking mine. They're call dragon sausage but I'm not sure if they have dragon meat in them. I think a couple of fried mushrooms will go nicely with them. After that a brief hike to the Royal show and a look into the beer tent there with possibly some best in show action.

Hacked

It's never ending this phone hacking thing. Heather Mills is trying to jump on board now. I wonder if she'll be more successful that the last unpopular has been to try: Gordon Brown. He fell flat on his face and it turns out he was for ever meeting News International bigwigs.

Anyway enough politics. My main concern is how am I going to take my dollars to America. I normally take cash and then top myself up at an ATM. I might try a prepaid debit card this time. It's a better rate and no charge for using it. It might only be saving me a couple of $s but better in my pocket for more cocktails later.