RIP French Champion Amscot Jetsetter

Sadly Harvey's sire Jet died today. He was 13 1/2 years old (not bad for a Gordon Setter) and full sister to the only dual champion of this century Champion Amscot Irresista Belle (Trisca). He lived in France with his owner Francine.

RIP Cool Hand Luke!

Yesterday the world mourned the passing of one of Hollywood's greats, Paul Newman. Today virtually every newspaper had his face printed across the front page. By all accounts this handsome icon was loved and respected by all who knew him and those who only knew his films - and of course his salad dressings :)

Rest in peace Paul Leonard Newman.

Leaving Las Vegas....again!

Our last night in Las Vegas and we met up with my very good friend Nik and her friend Rosie. We met in Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville for lunch and then later at the America bar in New York, New York then onto the bar near Coyote Ugly (who's name escapes me). I got talking to an all american guy who had heard that us Brits are taxed on out TV (well maybe that's what the licence is) and that all pubs have their own brewery out the back LOL!!!

Nik and Rosie left us later on so we gambled and I believe they went onto Rok then off home to Phoenix in the morning!

Again, I'll be so sorry to leave this outrageous town!

The Book Thief

What can I say about this extraordinary book? It's a tale told by Death about World War II as seen by normal Germans who didnt particularly embrace Nazi'ism. I totally enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes a clever book with a very serious message.

Reel 'em In!

We decided to check out out old haunt tonight - the America Bar in the New York, New York and as ever it didnt disappoint. I had this wonderful spinach and ricotta ravioli, Alan had a pizaa that could have served a family of four for a week!!

We then went to the casino floor and after days of disappointment I found Reel 'em In - in fact possibly the very same machine's I used to play on when I've been in the NY,NY before - they were the old machine's not the newly created 'classic' - this is the best slottie!

VMware Party

I stayed by the pool sipping cocktails and reading the third book of this holiday the very weird and very interesting The Book Thief.

We then went onto the VMware party which this year was held at the Las Vegas Speedway track. I have to say this wasnt really my bag - I hate arcade games and would much rather it had been a party like the last one with just a band with food etc BUT......

The evening was made by the fact that we both met Danica Patrick ( Indi-car driver of great renown) was there but even better was that the photographer had to seperate us as she wouldnt stop talking to me about her days in the UK when she raced for Formula Ford.

Other notable things were the food was very good (mini-burgers, skewers, pizza, ice cream etc etc), the band playing rock were exceptional (didnt think much about the funk band) and the amazing drummer who I believe won the most recent America's Got Talent series. Very talented young guy.

Compare and Contrast. Look at the photo above of the beautifully fit race car driver, Danica....then check out these two fatties - welcome to America!!!

....another day by the pool!

....another day by the pool until amazingly enough it started raining. Not a lot of rain but enough to scare the b'jesus out of any sun loving locals!

I the evening we went to the famous Cheesecake Factory. Good food but far too much. I had Medeira Chicken - with cheese on top??? That's a new one on me!! Alan had Orange Chicken which although tasted really nice was again enough to feed a family of five!

.....a relaxing day by the pool!

What a hard day I had. Alan and I had breakfast by the pool (see picture! That IS a foot long chocolate maple eclair!!) then Alan went off to his conference and I sat by the pool drinking Sour Apple and reading (The Pirates Daughter).

In the we had a fantastic meal at one of our favourite eateries, P F Chang. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Chinese. The wine, food, service, surrounding and atmosphere is second to none - something of an example of everything that's good in America!

....and so onto Las Vegas...again!

We left Santa Barbara early moring to get to Las Vegas for check in ti

me at 3pm. On the way. as usual we make a half way break for food at Barstow - it was 103 degrees outside! We stopped off as usual at Carls Jr and had (we are creatres of habit) our usual hamburger - it was superb!



Five hours after leaving the quiet, classy, affluent town of Santa Barbara we were in the even increasing urban sprawl of Las Vegas.

We checked into the Flamingo (once owned by Bugsy Segal no less) and asked about upgrading (always ask at the time of booking in - you can quite often get a bargain) and we were successful. The room is quite amazing. We have a shower room with directional jets, we have a TV in the bathroon mirror, we have a large flat TV, two very nice queen sized beds and best of all a great view of the Bellagio's fountains and the Strip!

Downtown Santa Barbara

Today we spent a day in Downtown Santa Barbara. It's certainly somewhere I'd like to explore more. The beach and pier is as ever with Californian beaches, well kept and very user friendly (unlike the UK's beaches where it seems these days that nothing is allowed!)

There is a large shopping area which includes the Santa Barbara Cheese Shop which low and behold is owned by the same guy who owns the Carmel Cheese Shop and who we've seen on TV a number of times - you can tell he's very passionate about cheese!! We bought some bread,cheese and salami and ate in the seats provided outside the shop.

Then onto the beach end of State Street. Wonderful eateries and bars including one called the Kings Road which is pertaining to be a Britsh bar - hmmmm....had a nice pint of pear cider there though and a good suggestion for a pretend snake bite is half pear cider and half Newkey Brown - must give it a try.

Sideways and Solvang!!

So onto the main reason I wanted to stay n Santa Barbara - the vineyards. Made famous by the wonderful film Sideways, this area is now a pilgrimage to anyone how like me, loves wine. So off to Fess Parkers vineyard. Fess Parker was a very famous Hollywood actor in his time, playing Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett in the 50's. He gave all that in to make wine and I have to say after doing the tasting course it's very good!!

Then onto this gorgeous little - not even sure you could call it a town - Los Olivios which is very similar to Sonoma in size. It's full of antique shops and wine tasting rooms advertising the local produce. Here I went into the Epiphany tasting room which belongs to Fess Parkers son, Eli. By this time I'd just about had enough wine!! (cant believe I just said that!!)

So off to the very weird, Solvang. A Danish town in the middle of America. Only photos can really describe what this place is like - words cannot do it justice - wonderful little place and we had a top tuna sandwich as only the Americans - and in this case American/Danish know how!

Save Now

September the 11th - seven years on

Today we travelled from Anaheim to Santa Barbara - the only part of the PCH we missed out last year. This meant we took in the very famous Malibu area that we've never been to before. The area is incredibly wealthy with every other car being a Bentley or a Mercedes coupe.

Losing track of time I'd kind of forgotten it was 9/11 so when we saw the most amazing display of american flags outside Pepperdine University it took a while to realise what it was all about. It was a very sobering display to see a flag flying for every victim of the attack.

So onto Santa Barbara. We are in the Pepper Tree Inn - a Best Western motel and very nice it is for a motel. From what I've seen of Santa Barbara so far it looks very nice and again pretty affluent.

The Outcast

My first holiday book for 2008 and what a book. My interpretation of this very deep novel is how that lifes dealings affect people far more deeply than the outside world would know.

It was a great book, a lovely ending and I would recommend this to anyone who likes a thought provoking book.

Take me Down to the ball game!

......and we won, yes after giving the Angels the kiss of death every time we go to see them at last they won in style!! We beat the Yankees, yes the NY Yankees - we have seen the very famous Yankees and we (the not so well known) Angels beat them - good game, good day, good result - beats a day in the office any day!!!

Breakfast in America!

First full day in California. We went straight to Dennys for our long awaited breakfast - the South West Skillet which we'd drooled over on the Denny's website. It didnt disappoint! It was gorgeous!

Then onto Disneyland. It was deserted. We made it into the main gate by 10am and by 11:30 had done most of the rides - in some cases up to four times!!! This is the way to do theme parks! The only down side is after being shaken around and going on high speed rides all day you can feel the pain in your neck - and I'm not just talking about Alan LOL!!

We returned to the hotel at about 4:30, chilled out then got ready for our evening out. We met our friend Suzette in the Napa Rose, Grand Californian hotel for a superb meal. I had the lamb chops which were divine. It was a superb evening, great company and good food!!!

Welcome to America!

Here we are back in America once again, and back in good old California. We landed in Lax at about 10.10 UK time 14.10 US time. Picked up the the hire car - upgraded to something ENORMOUS (a Chevvy Suburban) and checked in to the Red Lion, Anaheim.

We had to stay awake, painful as it is until at least 9pm so went off to Main Place shopping mall, looked around and had something to eat in CPK (Californian PIzza Kitchen).

Went back to hotel room and collapsed into a coma!! Slept well, the new beds are very comfortable!!

again.....Global warming huh?

In the last 24 hours a whole months worth of rain has fallen in England. It's pretty wet here but Wales and Birmingham has areas of flooding and there are 80 odd flood warnings. This August was the dullest in recorded history with some people are already suffering from SAD syndrone and the summer as a whole has seen very little sunlight. From a personal point of view I can see that my plants have suffered from this lack of sunlight in that some have simply not bloomed and things like tomatoes have adopted a winter browning off in August when they should be bearing the most fruit! This is the second really bad summer we've had in a row - if this is global warming I'm emigrating - hang on, didnt I say that about this time last year? I'm so pleased I'm going to California on Monday where at least I can be guaranteed a bit of sunshine!

Phew!! Lets hope I can now relax and go on holiday!

Harvey came home after a night spent at the vets being filled with fluids after three days on not keeping food or drinks down. He is now a little tucked up, not totally sure about whether to trust me again - very hungry and pleased to see his girlfriend, Daisy - and she was cock'o'hoop to see him - she came running up the garden when I brought him home and went straight up to him - what a weird pair!!!

"Chooksbury' - the hens new house!

This is the new hen house which looks a lot better than the improvised old kennel they used to live in!

The Nightmare continues....

.......just as I thought after nearly three months of hell regarding Harvey and his health I am back in stressville. I have just six days before I go on my long awaited holiday and Harvey is sick again, this time he cant keep food down, has brought everything up for the last 48 hours. It's looking like I wont actually get on that plane......2008 really hasnt been my year. I guess I chose the wrong week to give up alcohol!!

I am no longer a Surf owner!

Today my faithful Toyota Hilux went to a new home.....in Bolton!! Thankfully though it went to a true Surf fanatic which is good because it was such a fun 4x4 and although I have this new swanky Pathfinder I will totally miss the fun of my old Surf!

Beejay does it again

Beejay is still winning. He attained best puppy this weekend with a grading by Moray Armstrong of 'very promising' and this is the critique:

Pleasing head, good eye + expression.
Excellent bone
Very good shoulders, ribs + quarters.
sound, stylish puppy with
excellent side profile.

1 Very Promising
Best Puppy.

But even a superstar has to chill out sometimes....