Meet the Cast Monday #31: Guest Starring Word Up Bro

Okay, this is my first ever Meet the Cast Monday featuring a guest star! But, if you read the blogs regarding our wine tasting and karaoke adventures in California a month or so ago, you know why Word Up Bro deserves his own Meet the Cast Monday. He got his blog nickname because he told us that he really liked watching Heidi and Spencer and enjoyed Spencer's favorite phrase, "Word Up, Bro."

You guys are learning about him along with me here.....but what I can tell you is that this guy is an absolute riot and So.Much.Fun. I could not be happier that our paths randomly crossed and that for a short period, he guest starred in the plot. I only hope he will continue to make more appearances in the years to come!

Meet Word Up Bro!

We met on your first trip to the U.S. Tell us where all you went, your favorite part, your least favorite part?
I BEG YOUR PARDON!!! It was not MY first trip to the USA, it was The Swan's however.... I have been like totally 7 or 8 times.... though first time to the west coast i admit..!... So we started in the "concrete jungle where dreams are made of" never have truer words been spoken!! .... Then flew to SF, then Los Gatos, then Carmel, Montery, Big Sur, San Louis Osbispo, Malibu Vegas, Palm Springs, and finally LA baby! As much as I wanna say wine tour for best bit, I feel it is a loaded question.... so I have to say Vegas Baby.... because I just pure love the hedonism of it all!! The worst bit was definitely doing the laundry in the Tenerloin SF. I mean A...i have never done my own laundry...B I never knew what a laundrymat was (we have our own washing machines). C.... The smell of the poor people was awful (and I know that is awful to say), but to give them there due, they do seem to take good care of fluffing and folding their own clothes. {On the wine tour, they were reeling from this experience---if you've ever been to the Tenderloin, you understand. I mean, laundromats are bad enough, but this would be like the worst possible location!} Tell the story of how we met and about our day wine tasting from your perspectives.Sooooo My friend The Swan and I go on this wine tour to Napa from San Francisco.... we were boozed the night before, so we were feeling a wee bit delicate... {How much do I love the way that Scottish people tal? Wee bit delicate. I'm going to start using this phrase!} anyway dam the bus that picked us up at our hotel about 2 hours earlier than required...... so we sat down like naughty boys near the back of the bus... and had both checked out the other tour guests.... who all looked like something from a day release programme from a category C prison.... Except one group that caught our eye.... "the Gossip Girls" ... so called named as Blonde Oklahoma Girl was telling a story as we walked past which included words such as "like totally, and oh my gosh".... {LOVE this!} anyway after that point it all becomes a bit fuzzy... not because i had drank then, but because of how much i had afterwards.... it was something about either I asked BOKG or she asked me to take a photograph... blah blah blah...and the friendship was born!
What is it like living in Dubai?
Living in Dubai is Glamourous and Oppressive, Rich and Poor, Hot and less hot, Dusty and less dusty, Hectic and chilled, Fun and boring, moralistic and hypocritical, Expensive and Cheap,.... I could go on... its just full of ridiculous contrasts.... but hey ... I pay no tax...so what do i care!!!

Why do Australians hate kangaroos? {I learned about this fact on the wine tour and was in shock! We asked a lot of questions about this issue.}
Kangas is for The Swan to answer... but i think i know one of the reasons...being his mum keeps crashing into them.... and that can be dangerous...coz they are heavy beasts and tend to defecate when they die… which can be rather unpleasant if their arses are through the windscreen of one’s Ford Escort!!! {You can see the sense of humor that drew us right to these guys, no?}

And now for a special treat, we have a guest appearance in the guest star blog from The Swan to give us his Australian perspective!To all outward appearences, it would appear that Australians like kangaroos. On the official symbol of Australia - the Coat of Arms, a Kangaroo stands opposite an Emu, both supporting the sheild. They owe this recognition to the fact that they are both native Australian Fauna, and it is often claimed that both these animals were chosen as neither can walk backwards.....progress and all that. The Kangaroo is therefore an iconic symbol of Australia. Personally, and I may speak for others, I do not like them at all. The are large, powerful animals that run wild at night time, often bounding across major roads and highways that run through the bush. It is so scary driving at night time wondering if at any moment a Kangroo will bound out and smash into your car, causing chaos. Its happened to me, its happened to my parents and when you drive around the streets and see dead Kangaroos lying on the side of the road, you know its happened to lots of others too. The thing is, if you do hit one, you want to make sure it doesnt come through your windscreen (like it did to my parents), and you want to make sure it is dead, else it will scratch your face off with its paws. These are some of the reasons Australians may not like Kangaroos

Favorite songs? {Had to ask because let me just tell y'all, this guy is killer at karaoke!}
Fav songs... I live for the moment, so although i have many from over the years... I will refer to my IPOD for the 25 most played and take my pick.... All the Lovers - Kylie Minogue,,,Empire State of Mind Part 2 - Alica Keys and Jay Z, With every heartbeat - Robin, Happiness - Alex Jordan, Price Tag - Jessie J, Hello - Marin Slovieg Feat Drangonette, Hold it agaist me - Britney Spears, Judas - Gaga, Just cant get enough - Black eyed peas, I want all of you tonight - Neyo + Pitbull Favorite childhood memories?
Watching Splash and Back to the Future over and over with my wee sister. Getting my Dog Trixie who lived for 18 years, and my cat Topsy who lived for 21 years! BMX bikes and skate boards in the summer, and just going off for miles care free before pedophiles seemed to exist! Sledging down the hills, and snowball fights in the winter, when there was Snow in Scotland before Global fricking Warming ruined it all!! I’d like to say opening presents on Christmas morning, but that was often overshadowed by my friends in the street getting better pressies... ... I hated Santa for that!

What's your take on the Lochness monster?
The Loch Ness Monster is great, because the local tourism industry in the area thrives from silly American tourists coming to see if they can catch a glimpse of it....... and they spend all their hard earned dollar in the gift shop on worthless crap like monster fridge magnets and beer coasters and teapots etc... {Classic. But now I really do want a Lochness monster teapot....}
You have traveled a lot--what is your favorite place that you've been and why?My fav place outside the UK is New York… I really love the vibe there, the architecture, the shows, the people, the history, the hustle bustle, Central Park, Sex and the City, Friends (so 10 years ago) {You watch your mouth, mister!}, Bacteria filled Hot Dogs, Yellow Cabs, Gypsy Cabs, Dollar Cab, Holler Back.

My fav place in the UK is Cornwall, it is just lush and beautiful and quaint, and has an amazing tranquil feel about it, and one of the most stunning coastlines in the world.

What is something you know about life you did not know when you were 18?We learn from mistakes, we learn from pain, we learn from solidarity, we learn from experimentation, we learn from taking measured risks, we learn from good experiences, we learn from bad experiences we learn from listening to others, we learn from being selective and careful with what we listen to. {So true!}
Tell us what you're most excited about for your next American adventure to the Bible Belt.
I am going to search for Vampires, just like in Tru Blood. {Seriously? None of the Bible Belt dwelling girls he knows even watch Tru Blood. We were planning on taking him two stepping, out for a big steak, and to a college football game. He'll like that better, no doubt!}
What is one (or more) item(s) on your bucket list?I think most of my bucket list items are a bit rude for nice bible belt blog! {Love it!} I could say the standard “swim with dolphins” but I have done that now, and let me tell you… it was good… but soooo glad it wasn’t my dying wish… it just aint all it is cracked up to be.

I am going to have to be boring… I wish to have dinner with my favorite pop star, the gorgeous pint sized pop diva from down under: Ms Kylie Minogue. {Safe to say that's a new answer to this question that I ask every week!}