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I know I know, I’m a bit late commenting on this, as it’s been all over the news for the last few weeks. But I’ve been very busy going away on holiday for my husband’s big birthday, which was amazing, a week with our best friends, celebrating day and night, no kids, no work, just Read more

Time for a bit of lounge-blogging. I’m sat in the VA lounge at SF airport, waiting to board a plane to London, drinking a Virgin Redhead (which involves raspberries and LOTS of gin and has thus nothing virginal about it, and is of course all the more delicious for it). A whole week of holiday Read more

It’s the 31st January, and I haven’t written much at all this year, have I? But this is a good sign! I mean, I haven’t been sat at home depressed by the normal January doom and gloom. Quite the contrary. It’s been a fantastic month – and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the rest Read more

Another day of beach life. What bliss, and what a treat in January! And we spent it with friends, which is even better. Happy faces all round, and one step closer in our quest for friendship! Read more

Oops, it’s already the 17th January, and I haven’t written a single thing! I’ve been adhering to resolution No.1 and taken things easy. So obviously maintaining my blog has to be resolution No.2! I’ve also been very lax in terms of exercising and eating less. So more exercise and less sugar are No.3 and 4 Read more

Ok, I need to revise my last blog slightly (which I knew would happen). This post is not strictly about Californians, but about the melting pot factor that shapes this State. And it’s about the English. Well, first things first. I explained how nice it was to be surrounded by people who were laid back Read more

Even though I miss Europe and its diversity a lot, I’m starting to really appreciate the Californian attitude to life. And I’m saying Californian rather than American, because I’m under no illusion that it might be very different in other parts of this vast country. In my (admittedly limited) experience, Californians are generally very laid Read more

Nine months in, and I’ve lost it. Culturally, I’m in No-Man’s-Land. I still haven’t got a clue who people in this country are, which hasn’t bothered me much, but which I might have to do something about if I want to integrate myself more. It feels kind of liberating though, to be all detached. I Read more

Ah, Christmas. We had a few days of snow up in Tahoe, which was beautiful. The trees looked like they had a thick layer of icing sugar on, and we expected Santa and his sleigh round every corner. But now we’re back home, and it was way too warm to feel the spirit. But hey-ho, Read more

So today, the earth finally shook for me. Quite disconcerting, really, although it was a minor quake (3.1), but it certainly hinted at how a bigger one could feel. No damage done, a quick surveying the scene resulted in one Christmas ornament that had fallen off the tree (undamaged). I could hear this loud rumbling Read more