SUNDAY 16th SEPTEMBER 2012

DAY 1: VENICE BEACH.
We know some of you have had trouble getting into the blog but hopefully that is now resolved (see Steve's latest email). Many thanks in particular to Keith and Louise for their helpful comments , and to Matt in Auckland for reassuring us that in NZ at least there were no problems.

Yesterday being the 50th anniversary of Marion, Ann and Sue starting at the Convent and becoming friends,  we'd decided last year to celebrate. Originally the plan had been to visit the Convent and then go somewhere special. Ideas ranged from the opera, to eating at Bray or Raymond Blanc's 'Quatre Saisons'. Sadly the Convent proved a non-starter, and then the time of our flight was brought forward radically so.....we duly met up at Marion's (Steve being an honorary WOGA .........Willesden Old Girls' Association...........member for the evening) and celebrated in style with champagne on the balcony over-looking the Thames and a great meal. But despite an early night and a modicum of alcohol...both VERY unusual for us when we all meet up....it was a horrible shock to get up at 4.45a.m. Ann was driving us to Terminal 5 for the 9.40a.m. flight and would have had us leaving the flat at 3a.m. if she'd had her evil way!!

By 3p.m. Los Angeles time we'd arrived at the hotel. Dire warnings of 3 hour delays getting through Immigration and Customs proved a myth, the only glitch being a very pleasant and willing taxi driver who unfortunately spoke no English, couldn't use a SatNav and didn't have a clue where our hotel was.
Venice Beach Suites and Hotel  (www.venicebeachsuites.com), recommended in Sue's bible, the Moon Guide, dates from 1912 and is right on the Venice Boardwalk. It more than meets up to its description in the guide as 'a surprisingly lovely and affordable little Venice hotel', right on the beach. We've even got a kitchen, where I'm sitting writing at the moment at 4.12a.m., the TV having suddenly woken me at 2a.m. (previous occupant setting an alarm call they didn't cancel?) and jet-lag obviously kicking in.

We took a preliminary amble down the Boardwalk this afternoon. Locals apparently call it 'The Zoo', which seems a bit unfair. The beach goes on forever. It's not short of kitsch with an array of souvenir shops, tattoo and piercing parlours, medical centres offering assessments for 'medicinal marijhana, food stalls and much more. Lots of families, teenagers, dudes with their surf boards, a house festooned with a 'We Back Obama' banner, and VERY enhanced young ladies finding it hard to keep their balance. The highlight had to be a dog, complete with hat and sunglasses, sitting on a bench with its owner.