Cakes, cakes, cakes

I've not updated the blog for a couple of weeks, so here's a quick report. Richard's in London this week and I've been holding the fort. It's all going fine, aside from the odd Coyote warning and earthquake. We've seen a few posters warning of Coyotes in the area. They're like a bigger version of a fox, and closer in relation to a wolf, which is a bit exciting and worrying at the same time!

I started my pilates class last week at Santa Monica College. It's a really enjoyable class and a good workout. Very different to yoga, but deceptively exhausting.

I also travelled up to Sherman Oaks this week for a meeting with the charity I'm volunteering for. If I thought it was hot down in Santa Monica, it doesn't compare with the oven that awaits you when you travel further inland and into 'the valley'. Too hot for me!

One thing that I've been impressed with is the huge array of freshly baked cakes at the local 'Ralphs' supermarket. Cakes, cupcakes, pastries...leaves our UK supermarket bakeries in the shade. I've 'sampled' the carrot cake and chocolate cake, both of which were delicious and not as sweet as I expected. The carrot cake is especially yummy, and close to the one I make (which features half the sugar the recipe calls for.) I guess I should take on the important task of trying them all, and report back to you!

Signing off now, and about to watch the first Strictly Come Dancing on IPlayer. Compared to American entertainment shows, including the new X Factor over here which is terrible, it's Newsnight and Question Time rolled into one.

Labor day weekend

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here in America. 'Labor Day' honours the labourers of the US and marks the informal end of summer. Though the end of summer here in Los Angeles is quite far off I think. It's been 30 degrees centigrade all week and very humid, too. We're glad we don't live in 'the valley' where it gets up to 40+ degrees!

Despite this, we still enjoyed a delicious mocha and cappucino at a local cafe. Starbucks is still everywhere but has some competition in the form of other Californian coffee chains (like 'The Coffee Bean' and 'Peets Coffee') as well as small, independent cafes.

We walked along the ocean front park to Pacific Palisades on Friday, which is north of Santa Monica. A range of huge bungalows and houses where every so often you'd peek through a gap in the property through to the valley beyond and admire the homes nestled in the hills with what I can only imagine as breathtaking views of the ocean.


Last night also marked a rare 'blue moon'. So called when there are 2 full moons in a month (not because the moon actually turns blue or anything.) I managed to take this grainy photo from the bedroom window of our apartment. Not a bad view if you take away the rooftop opposite and satellite dishes...

Quite a poignant moment considering Neil Armstrong passed away this week.

The presidential race is hotting up here. We've just had the Republic convention and it's the Democrats' turn next week. Mitt Romney reminds me of Principal Skinner from the Simpsons in all respects. That's not a compliment.

The Republican convention was quite entertaining if only for the overly patriotic and empty and absurd speeches. We're hoping the Democrats will show a little more intelligence next week.