What no Whales?

We spend New Years Eve looking for whales, driving up Highway 1 to Pescadero which has a fantastic family owned bakery. We sat in the car and ate a garlic and artichoke loaf with some good brie watching. No whales were to be seen, so we headed up the road stopping off at San Gregorio State Beach. It's been a while since I was here. I think the last time may well have been with Paul when we met up in California for a driving vacation in the early 1990's.

The beach was beautiful and Fiona had a great time running into the surf.

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No Fish Today

Today we thought it would be a good idea to head down to Monteray Bay Aquarium. It turned out it wasn't. The Tiger incident in San Francisco meant that had been planning to to go to the zoo went to the a aquarium instead. We took one look at the line of cars for the car park and turned round and headed back up the coast. It was a long drive for nothing, but we did however spend a pleasant afternoon on the beach in Capitola afterall.



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The Tale of the Tiger

One of the things that has always tickled me about Alexanders childhood innocence was time he asked to go and see tigers. It was a few days before Christmas and he was 3 years old. So we jumped into the car and I took him to the Big Cat house at San Francisco Zoo during feeding time. It was quite impressive to me. The tigers prowling back and forth angrly awaiting their meal, snarling and banging their water bowls.
Out of the blue Alexander asked me "Can I pet one?" I said "Well no, it might bite you." and Alexander replied "Well, it might not." I concluded the glass was definitely half full for this young man.
So, I was sad to read that this Christmas Day a tiger (I think, exactly the one Alexander wanted to pet) had gotten out and killed someone.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/26tiger.html?em&ex=1198904400&en=2f5bafe69cad194f&ei=5087%0A

Christmas Day

Christmas Day at Bob and Marty's was a great occassion for all of us. Not least Fiona who discovered two new loves of her life- chocolate and candy canes!



Alexander, resplendant in his new Scotland soccer jersey led us outdoors to play with his new (American) footaball in the street. Fiona wan't too sure about it at the beginning- balls are afterall supposed to be round aren't they? However, she got into the spirit of the game and was soon running around enthusiastically trying to get the ball.

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Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Bob and Marty's and managed to get a game of cards in while Alexander worshiped the TV.



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We do Weird so well!

California home of the polictically correct...felt pens?

Only in America would you find these. Yes that's right, "Multicultural" felt pens a color for every race and creed! I have to say this is certainly the most bizarre set of felt pens I have every come across.

Visiting Santa

Santa comes to town every year to find out if you've been good or at least if you think you have been good or at least if you think you can make him think you have been good. This year he didn't require you to pay to have your picture taken. You were allowed to do it yourself, so we did.

Alexander put Santa to the test requesting $1000 to buy and XBox-360, Nintendo Wii and a Nintendo DS Lite. I wasn't amused. This being silicon valley and all, it seems that most of the kids in the neighbourhood have one or more of these devices and it looks like Santa's integrity is going to be put to the test.
Suffice to say, while I might be delighted that the Nintendo DS Lite several ARM chips inside, it doesn't mean I am delighted at the thought of our kids loosing their grip on reality. Still if he doesn't have one he will certainly become a social pariah, since "Pokemon Pearl" is all the 2nd graders seem to talk about.

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A picture is worth a thousand words

Still all in all it's been a good year and I have worked with some really great guys and done a lot of cool stuff.

Non-smoking is now passe

With the smoking ban now fully in effect across the UK. Restaurants and pubs have to come up with new ways to attract their customers- non smoking dining is no longer a gimmick. In Kettering (that bastion of western culture, second only to Market Harborough) the locals have come up with the ultimate way to attract new clientele. Seen on the wall of the "Three Cocks" in Kettering: "New heated outdoor smoking area!"

The Big Christmas Tree Chop

Back from my exciting time in the UK and Boise, it was time to head to the mountains to get the family Christmas tree. This is one of those things that Americans kind of do well. Drive up into the hill in your 4-Wheel Drive. Wander into the woods with a big saw and chop down the tree of your choice. Fiona found it all most intriguing.


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