Day trip to Poland

So to be honest I wasn't really looking forward to it! I had a vision a grey - drab - miserable place full of grumpy poles!

I was pleasantly surprised! Caught the 6.35am flight - and arrived into Warsaw to a sunny day and blue skies. I was traveling with a work colleague - so the jump in the cab experience was worry free, and we spent the day at the office discussing process improvement -- did a couple of store checks in the mall - and was very impressed by the shops. Been a long time since I'd seen a C&A!

Airports - the other side of the pond

So I arrived in the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow. How Fab. Even this arrival terminal was better than the LAX departure terminal. The LAX authorities need to wake up to the fact that they have a captured audience in their departure lounges. Travellers - bouyed by the idea of distance places, have money burning a hole in their pocket.

If you go to Heathrow - departures. It's like a Mall -- nothing but shops, shops, shops, restaurants, bars etc. Plenty of opportunities to spend money. This is what travel and airports should be like

Airports

I left LA yesterday, and it never ceases to amaze me - how terrible LAX airport is. I left from the Tom Bradley terminal - and I bypassed the cafe and bar in the departures hall, fully expecting a better choice of establishments the other side of security.

Boy was I disappointed. There was one tiny bar which had a hot dog stand as the only form of solid sustenance. Well I don't eat meat - and to be honest I'm not sure I'd eat them if I did. My vodka and orange cost nearly 10 dollars - and the tinney speakers belched out bad covers of early disco.

Just about to get on the plane to visit home. No matter how long it's been since I moved to LA - England is still home.

LA Life: The beauty of Whole Foods

Now it may sound odd - going to a supermarket to eat dinner - but Wholes Foods is a great dinner location. They have a wine bar in the store - it's only small - probably sits about 10 at the bar, and another 10 along shelf seating. You can pick up anything in the store, and take it to the wine bar to eat, and then grab any beer or drink, or get them to pour you a glass of wine. You can even go to the meat or fish counter, and pick your produce, get them to cook it for you and deliver it to the wine bar. It sometimes feels odd to see folks wandering past with their shopping carts doing their weekly shop - but, being able to enjoy a meal for two and a drink each - for less than $30 bucks it a great LA institution.

They conduct special nights during the week -- wine tasting, beer tasting.... check it out if you're in the Venice area. Wine Bar Calendar.

Expat Life in LA: Accent

I've been here for so many years, that it's easy to forget that I'm an Expat. But as soon as I open my mouth -- the jig is up! My accent is one of my treasured possessions -- I never want to forget my heritage, but it's an effort to keep hold of it.

There are really two things to keep hold of. Accent and Vocabulary.

Vocabulary:

Even after all of these years, the memories of my first few weeks in New York are still will me. "What's Up?" -- this regular NY greeting made me balk -- and I responded with "Nothing!"

To my English Ear "What's Up" translated to "What's the matter?/What's wrong with you?" - concern with a hint of attitude --- I thought the New Yorkers all saw me as moody or upset all the time.

I struggled against getting comfortable this greeting --- it just felt so alien to to be asked a question that didn't require a logical answer.

It took a couple of months, but soon I was responding to every "What's Up?" with a "Hey What's up with you?" --- the slippery slope had started!

Accent:

One word continued to elude most New Yorkers if I asked for them in English. Water. Is there really that much difference between War-Tuh and Wah-du? Obviously so! Many a corner store owner - looked at me with furrowed brow each time I asked where the War-Turr -- I got frustrated with not being understood -- saw the listener as a complete idiot -- and did the British thing. Said it reaaallllllyyyyy slowly and a little bit LOUDER in my own language -- Waaaarrrr-Tuuuuuhhh -- who was I kidding?

So began a new ritual. Speaking with my English Accent, until I needed water. And then mid sentance - I transformed into a Yank -- and asked for Wah-du! Well a girls got to drink!

Labor Day Weekend trip to Solvang

Solvang is a Danish town in the heart of Santa Barbara Wine Country. We needed to give Alexander Chilli Pepper (our Mini) a run out. All he'd had was a few trips around town - so the Ginger Prince decided to take us for a spin up the coast to Solvang for breakfast.

The trip didn't start of too warm. We had the top down, and cruised up the coast in the marine layer.

Then the fog started to lift and we saw a little bit of blue sky:

And by the time we got to Solvang - it was Blue Sky City!