Libby Hobday

Over the past weekend I went on a sunset cruise with my friends on the Hudson River upstate. The Hudson River being former haunts of George Washington and Arnold Benedict and the home of the Sleepy Hollow.

My girlfriend, also from Melbourne, moved into a beautiful 200 year old restored butter cream factory, beautiful little place upstate. Her cottage was originally apart of the centuries old Vanderbilt estate. She has gorgeous angora rabbits out the back under her big old trees.

Her boyfriend keeps a yacht at Hyde Park and it was a natural progression that We all went out on the canoe to the yacht just as the sun was setting.

My girlfriend and I had 2 bottles of Rose’ wine which in true Aussie style we were swigging from the bottle. Everything was rosy, trailing my toes in the cool water, UNTIL I saw a large piece of rubbish floating right by. Litter on our earth really really upsets me, and it was absolute instinct that made me fly into the river to retrieve the rubbish. I had a life jacket on but swimming in the Hudson River is not the smartest thing to do.

Soon enough I was in a current and way down the river far from the yacht AND at the same moment it became pitch dark. It felt like a scene out of Titanic I was calling out and I could hear people calling out to me but neither could hear each other. I wasn’t scared as such, as I had been drinking I was like well “whatevs” I will just swim to the other side of the river. Yeah well that wasn’t happening considering the width is up to 2 miles wide.

Eventually and luckily somebody got a canoe to me and I made it back to the yacht. But it was a very dodgy situation.

When I was back on the boat although people were disturbed that I basically vanished and could have been taken under just like Jeff Buckley….. We soon all got over it so much so, that a few hours later and more chugging of rose’ us girls decided to jump over again and take another dip.

It was all lovely and fine, except this time with no life jackets I drifted again far away and way faster. This time it took a lot longer for me to get back to the boat…

The story goes on and on and it gets really messy and although I am sure you would all love to hear the details I am going to keep them to myself just because you might change your opinion on me. OR maybe when I have more time I will fill in the blanks.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS DO NOT DRINK A BUS LOAD OF COLD WINE, WHILE ON SUNSET CRUISE, WITH OTHER AUSTRALIAN CHICKS, ON A HOT SUMMER NIGHT, ON THE HUDSON RIVER, OR ANY RIVER FOR THAT MATTER XOXO

Yes I am still on the Master Cleanse - amazing!!! Day 3 today with no food and no wine and no wine and no food. BALLS!!!

Today I seem fine so far. I am not hungry at all, but I am a little vague. Last night though was another story, it was so hard for me not to drink the wine in the Fridge. I also had to throw out a lot of the food in the fridge and the pantry as I have a tendency to sleep walk and eat food.

The Master Cleanse is meant to be wonderful for your body if you can make it through the whole 10 days!!!

Another bonus of doing the 10 day cleanse is that you lose weight. I have lost close to 6 pounds (almost 3 Kilos) since Saturday which is really cool. Beyonce lost 24 pounds (almost 11 Kilos) when she did the cleanse before she started shooting the movie Dream Girls.

Read here for a really radness article that was in NY TIMES.

I have 8 days to go now.. well 10 really. As on the 11th and 12th day you are only allowed to drink Orange Juice, and on the 13th day only vegetable soup and raw vegetables.

ROLL ON THE VEGGIE SOUP AND RAW VEGETABLES. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

Starting the day by drinking a huge Gatorade bottle of warm salt water is not the most pleasant experience!!! Today is Day one of me on the Master Cleanse, also known as the lemonade diet. Wrongly so calling it a diet as it really should not be the reason you do it. The Master Cleanse rids your body of all toxins and makes one feel squeaky clean again.

I am solely going to survive on a mixture of lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup.

I have 9 days to go without food, and 9 more days starting the day with drinking warm salt water!! BALLS.

Days of joy are heading my way.

The first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere brings the 25th Annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island, New York.

It’s time to celebrate sand, water, summer breezes, pearls and shells and seahorses, and the beach weather to come.

The place that so many know and love is on this magic boardwalk…

This year localalites Reverend Billy is King Neptune and his wife Savitri D is the Queen Mermaid.The Queen Mermaid has publicly stated that she will not return to the sea until Coney Island is saved, she is also planning to go on a hunger strike till she gets answers. She will probably die of hunger before that happens.

The landmark seaside amusement destination for working class New Yorkers will soon be transformed with a two billion dollar makeover sparking fears that the parade will be discontinued. But nobody knows for sure and depending what way you look at the new and revamped Coney Island could be a way better vibe.

How did so much time pass without me writing one little thing?? This week I am going to tell a “shy borderline” story every day - just watch and see.

I always get distracted by being distracted.

I love Awake Energy Drink - it’s my little juice wake up call in a can. I really honestly and truly cannot get out of bed unless I guzzle down a white one (less calories)! Because I love to sleep like a big grizzly bear. Buy It and Like It!!

In Taipei the largest city in Taiwan you can eat at one of 14 really cool themed restaurants called The Modern Toilet. The Modern Toilet is a really alternate, creative and clever concept, but kind of strange, especially as they use the words “TO Eat or TO Pee? Go To Toilet!! Deliver UR Shit” on the company web page representing all of the restaurants.

The Modern Toilet restaurants are popular with tourists and locals alike in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. And word on the street is that the food rocks.

The stores are all very colourful, geniusly modern and ironically clean looking. Of course All of the food is served in miniature toilet shaped dishes as well - Love it! Another cool thing is that customers can wipe their hands and mouths using toilet rolls hung above their tables.

Sit down on one of the many toilet seats and order the popular chocolate soft serve ice cream in the shape of PooPoo… hmmm I don’t know!!!

A few photos are below for visuals sake, but the youtube with the crazy Australian lady as the host at one of The Modern Toilet Restaurants really takes the cake.

I sit now, as I write, in a beautiful summer storm of dark skies and random blinding light.