My 'wheels'

Finally got my hands on the hire car yesterday. It's a Chevrolet 'Sonic', and is very high tech, with lots of buttons.
Took me an hour to read the manual. It's a small car by American standards, but considering what I used to drive in the UK (see below), it's taking a little getting used to. But i love it!

I managed a trip to a supermarket, and picked Richard up from work which both went well. Now looking foward to driving to Las Vegas or something. Once I fill up on 'gas'...

Road and buses...the American way

I crossed a road today. Not the first since I've been here as I've been walking everywhere, but it was a mammoth road called Lincoln Boulevard. Basically this highway becomes route 1, which takes you all the way up the west coast.

Anyway, I pressed the button, saw a man on the other side (I used binoculars) and was glad I wasn't the only one attempting to cross. The white man (traffic signal I mean) came on and I proceeded to walk/jog across.

It took me 25 seconds!! Walking very fast! I felt very, very small.

All turned out well, however, when in the supermarket I discovered a fantastic flavour in 'Lays' crisps: Chile Limon! Delicious.

These would later help Richard get over his bus journey home, when he observed the following:

 "This has to be the most weird town on earth - especially on the bus. One old guy handing out fliers and a group of strangers at the front having a discussion about it. The guy in front is on a laptop writing peace and harmony documents. Some cougar type woman gets on drinking beer and starts chatting to some old guy. Then an African man with a twitch gets on and starts sharing her beer. Oh, and there's a fairground where my bus stop should be."

(Bear in mind that we live a stones throw from Venice beach so everything above is explained by that fact.)

If you're not familiar with Die Hard, then you may want to skip this post

Because here I am, at the Nakatomi building! Otherwise known as Fox Plaza in Century City. The building itself was unfinished back when the first Die Hard was filmed, hence the interior scenes where Bruce Willis is scampering around in construction zones. 

But the forecourt, if you can call it that, was there from the start of the movie..the familiar round shape, and the big glass front doors. Very cool! Fox studios itself was across the road...we didn’t see Mr Murdoch or Homer Simpson either.

After all that excitement we headed to a Westfield shopping mall in Century City. I enjoyed a Watermelon Mojito while Richard tried to keep his composure after ordering a "Nit Wit" beer...very brave!

Hasta la vista, baby...

Or should it be: “lo siento, no hablo español”. Yes, after a week and a half of living among Los Angelinos, I’ve had to perfect “Sorry I don’t speak Spanish” as I’m regularly mistaken for a ‘latina’ lady. Which is absolutely fine of course, but not so great when I’m asked for directions.

When I do eventually speak to people (like at today’s driving lesson), my English accent is a hit. I drove through Beverly Hills today. Didn’t spot any celebrities (I was too busy keeping my eyes on the road of course....ahem) but there isn’t a shortage of entertainment programmes to keep up to date. Whether it’s Access Hollywood, Entertainment tonight, Extra, E! News, The Insider...the list goes on. I now know what Katie Holmes was wearing on the day after she announced her divorce from Tom Cruise. Even her hairstyle. It’s pretty crazy.

Funny thing is, I don’t get the feeling from most day-to-day Angelinos of really caring about Hollywood stars or celebrities. It just seems confined to ‘news’ casters and weather girls. Speaking of the news programmes over here....they’re not great. It seems that anything goes and everyone is keen to share their (sometimes libellous) opinions.

And they pepper their scripts with inflammatory words. Boy do I miss the BBC. A LOT. The male newsreaders on US TV are all older, leery men, paired with female news anchors that can barely read. But they look amazing, which is what matters in LA! Where is Moira Stewart when you need her....

I also miss BBC radio 2...4...5...all of ‘em. American radio stations are so segregated in terms of genre. There’s an easy listening station here similar to Magic, that plays at least 2 Sade songs every hour. Ok, I liked Sade, back in 1990. But enough is enough! And they’ve played Adele songs to death.

Thank God for Spotify. J On that note, David Bowie awaits.  

Running up that hill...(well, not exactly)

I've found a nice little running route of about 5k, stretching down to the end of the marina here at Marina Del Rey. It does make a change from running along the A41 in Edgware, over the footbridge. I wouldn't say it's better, just different! ;).


Very warm today. Just like yesterday...and the day before that....but we DID see a few clouds on the weekend!

First driving lesson

I'm taking a few lessons this week just to get to know the rules of the road. You can drive for 1 year in the US on the UK licence, but then have to take a test and gain a state licence.

I drove a Corolla today, much like this one! Drove up to Pacific Palisades, over to Westwood, and on the Pacific Coast Highway, finally down Santa Monica Blvd. The hire car arrives soon and I'll be able to join the throngs of people using their cars for everything. I'd like to think I will still walk to the supermarket to pick up a few things. I've also found a new running route, along the Marina.


There's a strange paradox in LA of driving everywhere while running everyday and driving to the supermarket to buy supersized food and drink. All the adverts on TV are either for cars or for the kinds of medicine you can take to alleviate the symptoms of sitting on your butt in your car for too long while stuffing your face. Silly isn't the word!

Out and about in Santa Monica

Our first full Saturday, and it was a hot one. We got a bus up to Santa Monica, via the 'Venice canals' near our apartment. Beautiful canals and houses....


We strolled around an area of Santa Monica known as "Montana" and managed to find some garam masala at a 'Whole Foods' market. Which means I can now make a curry as all my spices from the UK have arrived, too!


Having stopped for lunch, we stopped for some lunch, finding a decent spot and view. It could be worse....

Santa Monica pier reminds me of Brighton! But a bit warmer....


We found an 'English pub' showing the tennis. Richard got asked for identification (which he didn't have). We weren't sure if we were going to get served....but the barman used his common sense and realised we were both over 21.

Quite a serious issue I've discovered is that Americans don't seem to use jay cloths when they're washing up. Richard didn't seem to know what they were, but then he hardly washes up....it caused quite a public row! I'm over it now, but still no UK style-dish cloth :S. i'll let you know how I get on.