Vegas

When you first arrive at your hotel in Vegas - the sights and sounds are unfamiliar. The first trip from the check in desk to the guest elevators is achieved by following the signs, that weave you the long way around the slots. The path you follow is carpeted in a plain pattern, so sub consciously you are pulled around the desired route. It takes a couple of trips before you become aware of the ploy - slip between the slots and head directly for you intended destination.

Day one you amble along the carpeted route taking in the sights and sounds. Day two you do your best to sidestep dawdlers and navigate the casino like a pro. Day three you're a snipers nightmare - as you dodge punters and slots to exit the battle field unharmed - sanity in tact.

The garish decor designed to stimulate your senses on day 1 - pain those same senses in the coming days.

The call of the slot machines, enticing you to play, the clink of clay chips as they hit the green baize, the whir of the roulette wheel spinning with the machine gun splatter as the ball finds its slot, the gentle thud of the dice hitting the padded backboard and the baize of the craps table - all of these sounds entice your senses when you first arrive. These same sounds become Chinese water torture in the twilight zone. By the day we checked out - we ducked and weaved through the casino - our mission to reach the exit in as short a time as possible, anxious to breathe fresh air and hear the laconic sounds of traffic.

Left la at 8am and it took 4 hours on foggy roads to get to vegas. Wasn't really looking forward to the drive, and its a bit dismal when you drive into vegas diuring the day. But its a balmy 56f - and am looking forward to strolling around.

Slice of NY in LA

I had an out-of-state experience yesterday.

I spent 2 years living in Manhattan, and have many vivid memories of my early days there - visiting a deli to order a bagel and coffee - and being intimidated by the frenetic pace and quick fire questions of the counter staff. The get-'em-in get-'em-out - "wadda-u-want?" approach to customer service took a bit of getting used to, especially since I was fresh off the boat from jolly old, gentle-paced England.

I knew I'd transitioned from "visitor to NY" into "local" - when I could order my bagel and coffee during the daily quick fire challenge, and got annoyed with "visitors" who fumbled and umm'd over what they wanted to order.

Bagel places in LA just don't have the NY edge. Most of them are Californian watered down, sanitized versions of their NY counterparts. So the bagel experience just isn't complete.
I was in on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica yesterday. Not a usual haunt, but as I walked to my car, my senses were assulted by the smell of fresh coffee and toasted bagels, and I was drawn, hypnotically, to the outside of New York Bagels & Deli.

It's an unobtrusive store front, and truth be told, a little dodgy looking. But the aroma's lured me to the front door, and that one step over the threshold transported me 3,000 miles, and once again I was in Manhattan.

The interior decor and ambiance was classic NY, and the bagels and coffee didn't disappoint! And for that extra touch - all the staff wore, classic blue NY Police Department tee-shirts - with the shop logo - NYBD. I left there smiling, vowing to return.

Giving Back

Determined to break the cycle of work home work home work home, I planned out a change in activities when I flew back from the UK in October. The fab thing about transatlantic flights, is you get an opportuntity to do a lot of thinking and planning.

Of course my number 1 new activity was the increase in Blog frequency, in attempt to find my "voice". I also signed up to start a JC in Feburary, to start working on my degree. And just to balance it out, I'd like to give back, and do some volunteering.

I reached out to a couple of learning institutions. An Adult Literacy School, and an Kids after school program -- both to teach English. My first option was the Kids after school program, I submitted my application, but didn't get a response. When I followed up they were most contrite, but by then I'd already reached out to the Adult Literacy contact. And I have a meeting with her in 20 minutes.

How great is this sketch?

I found it on runawayjane's blog. She has a great blog about Travel related topics, and includes some of her sketches.

She also publishes an eBook out which you can buy. It’s called the Independent Travel Resources, and was created with the aim of providing any backpacker or independent traveler with a specific collection of resources, for everything they need both pre and post departure.

Expat Blog

Success! I tried getting my Mavi Skies blog onto Turkey Expat Blogs-- but because I don't live there (yet!) - I couldn't.

As I'm an Expat in LA - I created Roving Jay and started blogging about LA life. And yesterday I got added to the LA section of the Expat Blog. I'm going viral!

Thanks for reading.

Oldest school-kid in town!

Yesterday I applied to West LA College! My Education journey has been quite sporadic since being in LA. I've always wanted a degree, and probably about 10 years ago, I started doing a BA degree at University of Phoenix. It was an accelerated degree program - one night of school a week, followed by a specific number of Study Group hours -- I really wasn't a fan of the school or some of the students -- but I did love the learning. I especially loved the Philosophy classes. I got quite a few credit - it was so long ago, I can't recall how many. But I eventually stopped going - even though my Company were paying the $300 per credit - that's $900 per 5 week class!

A few years ago - I enrolled in SMC - Santa Monica College - I signed up for 2 classes my first semester - a Photoshop class and a Psychology class -- I loved the Photoshop - but the Psychology class was a nightmare - masses of ready - and my head hurt - so many concepts to grasp - so I dropped out.

I've kicked myself back into action - and have signed up for the Spring Semester in February 2011 -- yesterday I completed my on line application, and today I received my student ID and my acceptance email.

Tonight I logged on the student website and took the Online Orientation class -- I think I get 1 credit for doing this!

I have signed up for my English and Maths Assessment on November 30th - but I may try and do it sooner.

My registration date is on December 14th!

DMV on a Monday morning

Tips for visiting the Culver City DMV! Don't go on a Monday Morning. I had to renew my driving license - and got there bright an early - or so I thought -- the line was already around the corner of the building.

Half an hour later I was still only half way there:

But that wasn't the end of the experience. Once inside, I was assigned a number - and had to wait another hour to get my chance of speaking to the person at the counter. I tried to work out how the numbering system worked - but couldn't figure it out. I was a G# - and they called G's for a while, and then none for 20 minutes. I was going to wait for 30 - before I started to complain -- just when I was starting to get annoyed - I noticed an electronic banner on the back wall - advertising "wait time at the Inglewood DMV 0 minutes"! Thanks for rubbing it in! The G's finally got back on track - and the lady at the counter was really nice - and there was no line to get my photo taken.

I've had the same photo on my license for 10 years - so I'm not sure how I feel about being updated! One bonus is - that although my photo will be fresh and new - my weight was kept the same!! I'll never be 105 lbs again... but each time I look at my license - I can relive those glory - skinny puppy - years!

Three of us this weekend!

Had a bit of a gallavant this weekend.

Out for dinner on Friday night at: Waterloo and City

Fab Gastro Bar within walking distance - highly recommended.

Out for dinner on Saturday night at: Kaizuka

Our fave Sushi Restaurant on the Westside

Out for dinner on Sunday night at: Whole Foods

Sitting at the bar having salad and a glass of wine - while shopping troll by with their shopping carts during their Sunday Shot -- only in La-La Land!

On Saturday and Sunday - there was three of us at dinner - me, the Ginger Prince and his new iPhone 4. For the past couple of years, I've managed to convince him that he doesn't need an iPhone - he just makes calls and sends the odd text message. He doesn't use a computer for work - so isn't really tecchie savvy - but that's all changed now. We bought a Mac a couple of years ago - and since then - he's been getting more familiar with surfing, hunting out music - we have about 16k songs, and surfing through our photo's - nearly 18k, and this year - I introduced him to Facebook - and he's now an FF -- a facebook fiend! Never a day goes by, that he doesn't check in to find out what's going on with his friends back home.

So I couldn't fight it anymore -- the time had come - and I dragged him off to the local AT&T store. Don't go to the one in the Marina - they don't sell iPhones - how mad is that? AT&T is the only service provider in the US - and one of the 3 stores in the area's doesn't have iPhones.

We were heading to Santa Monica to the Mac Store - but on the way, went past another AT&T store on Lincoln Blvd - so stopped in there instead. What a fab store! Joclyn helped the Ginger Prince get his phone. I also caved, and traded in my ancient phone in for something new and snazzy - looks like something a teenybopper would have -- but it has Blue Tooth -- my new mini has blue tooth, but my old phone didn't - so it was a good enough reason to upgrade.

I spent about 15 minutes getting to know my phone - the GP spent all weekend snuggled up with his!

On his way to work today he emailed me a photo he took of the Coliseum - so I guess he's figured out how the camera works!

Mar Vista Farmers Market - LA

Mar Vista Farmers market on a Sunday-- used to be nothing in the area - now we have this!

Follow this link to view more details about it: http://marvistafarmersmarket.org/

The Mar Vista Farmers’ Market is a non-profit organization.
It came about as a result of local business owners and neighbors’
desire to create a Mar Vista Town Square.

The first Mar Vista Market took place August 6, 2006.
In just a short time it has more than met it’s goal of bringing fresh,
direct-marketed produce from California farmers to the
community. Sundays are a bustling example of Mar Vistans
coming out to shop, eat, and visit with their neighbors while also
achieving broader social impacts – from community development,
to health and nutrition, to preserving family farms.

Toasted Tea Cakes

My trip to England is coming to an end. It's 2 days short of a month - since I arrived in the UK for work and of course multiple trips to my Mum's. It was an early start this morning - and I'm sitting in Norwich bus station waiting for my coach to Heathrow.

I've just had a trip down memory lane with a toasted tea cake. It was as good as I remembered.

As a teenager - my school crew and I used to hang out at the local Wimpey - this was in the days of the sit down burger joint. As high school students we didn't have much money - so we used to order the cheapest thing on the menu - a toasted tea cake and a cup of tea. Nothing better on a cold afternoon - than a hot toasted bun smothered with butter.

The toasted tea cake tasted as good as I remembered - this time washed down with a Cafe Americano. Can't wait for proper coffee back in LA -- but without a toasted tea cake of course.

Back home in the wilds of Norfolk

I've been working in the London office for a few weeks - and consequently have been having weekend trips to Norfolk to visit my parents.

Trips here are a training ground for Turkey. I go on long walks - there nothing for miles around and I spend afternoons in the potting shed - transplanting and potting up plants.

I love the tranquility of the existence. I know I'll be good with this as my new life - I can amuse myself quite easily.

I read a blog the other day - detailing an Expats move to Turkey - and the importance of having a plan. I do nothing but planning - and when I go back to LA - I'm going to kick one of them into action.

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!

1st year Rental Round up

Wasn't sure what I was expecting for the first year of renting - but I'm happy we got some visitors - and happy there weren't too many.

It's odd to have people staying in the house that you view as your new home. Each time the property management company (PMC) send the monthly photo's - the house looks different .. where's the tablecloth gone? Why are there cushions out on the roof deck? When I left the house last September, after a 2 week visit - it was staged better than a West End play! I stupidly thought that it was stay looking the same... wonder if the PMC can follow a photo script and put it back how I left it?

I'm glad we invested in a gardener. It's starting to look like a country garden again. One of the first things we fell in love with was the split level garden - the previous owner loved her garden and watered it with lots of love - and it flourished. But then we bought it - and didn't pay it any attention for 6 months. When we went back to Turkey, to complete the Tapu - it looked like a jungle. The neighbours were great - they lent me a pick axe to plough through the weeds - but were very animated when I left the poppies untouched. "Hayir.. Hayir" -- I come from Norfolk UK - Red poppies are my fave - I was torn between keeping a little bit of England in my garden - and appeasing my neighbours ... the neighbours won.