City of Angels

We'll gloss over the 8 hours spent in Papeete, 'twas only a pit stop. Mrs P and Camille and Darren got themselves dropped off in the centre de ville whilst Gubbins returned to the hotel with all the bags. Happy to do so as I took a a distinct allergy to Papeete. Feel sorry for people who save up to cross the globe to go there for their long dreamt holiday/honeymoon/money laundering. Maybe the island has hidden treasures. The junior poodles were glad to see REAL shops again after the stores of The Marquesas which resembled the general stores of Allihies 35 years ago except less well stocked and less well lit. Mac Donalds was visited.

At 12 midnight we set off for the airport where we queued and waited for the 2.30 fight to LA. It was 28 degrees at this time of night and seemed like 100 per cent humidad (skipping ahead to Mexico there).

The 8 hour trip on the modern Airbus was a dream after the hair raising Marquesan flight.

Georgie and I both thought that LA might be a lower part of our trip and how wrong we were. Certainly the security at the airport was all we expected but, once let out, we had a ball. This was maiñly (Spanish keyboard inserts a tilda) due to our hosts, Meiert and Sarah Avis, old and true friends. We stay in their new garden room, an old garage with it's own outdoor loo and shower overhung by lemon trees and paved with lovely Mexican tile details.

It really felt like home to see them again and good for Georgie to get to know them and the two boys. We aim to spend our last three days there before crossing the Atlantic.

Prejudices run deep in me as you know doubt read on these pages re. the evil empire called the USA (well who has been involved in more wars both overt and covert in the 20th century and who provides 25 per cent of the world pollution and refuses to sign Kyoto... stop it Tim you are starting to rave again). So here's a welcome little detail; on the bus into Santa Monica I couldn't find money to feed the automatic ticket machine, correct change only. 2 ladies, one white and one Hispanic, spontaneously offered me money. SO people are people wherever you go. Neo-con administrations are another matter.

An aside: tourist spotting this morning in the main square of Oaxaca (it takes one to spot one) I saw a fleet of maybe ten red headed American ladies in their forties and fifties. Was this a specialised tour for red heads? As they passed I noticed one had 'I'm a US star' written on the back of her T shirt. Just in case she dies on the Marquesas no doubt.

In LA we caught the virus again, the shopping virus. Try Abbot Kinney and Main Street O reader. We spent some time, well maybe two hours, in a shop called 'Goddess'. The Mexican girl was real welcoming, who wouldn't be when winterpoodles are out with their wallets, and made some jewellery for us. Meanwhile I photoed Perks sticking out of a pair of knickers with Goddess written on them. The indignities of being a stuffed monkey. In another shop he was photoed with the proprietor and also riding a stuffed dog.

The best part of the visit was spending time with Meiert and family and meeting up with Kate Purcell and kids Isabella and Mia. Also their friends Casey, friend of k d Lang, and an Indian godfather of the kids. As always there were many good laughs to be had with Kate who is two months away from giving the world a new being and looking great on it. We hope to see the Dad, Dr Bill, on our way back.

On a whim and with the advice of our hosts we decided to spend a week in Oaxaca, Southern Mexico and maintain the warm winds that we have become accustomed to.

Thus , we set out to LAX and lined up for the interminable X raying and screening. We have a wonderful picture of Perks proudly surmounting a sign that reads :

' Making any jokes or statements regarding bombs, and or threats during the screening process may be grounds for both criminal and civil penalties, all such matters will be taken seriously. We thank you for your restraint in this matter.'

Never have I been thanked for not joking. Have a nice day.