March, April,May and June...Our feet haven't touched the ground....literally!

So.... my last 3 months have been nuts!!

A Blackline BBQ at our house, a trip to Mexico for a week with Mark's top performers from Blackline and a few days in New York, where I visited galleries and museums while Mark worked and in the evenings we saw Little Shop of Horrors, off Broadway and Billy Joel at Madison Square gardens, had my dog walker friends round for tea....and then....

We had my youngest son, Jake over to see us with his lovely girlfriend Laura. It was full on as they wanted to travel everywhere and so after they had been to New York on their own for a few days, we took them to Las Vegas for his birthday, where we took a golf lesson where the instructor told us that some people arrive drunk and throw their clubs onto the driving range instead of the ball and funnily enough while we were there a club came flying on the course from above us as they had a balcony with people on it too – I wonder if anyone’s been injured before? We booked to see Lady Gaga’s trumpet player at a club that didn’t open until midnight and because Mark knew Lady Gaga’s body guard through one of his LA colleagues, we sat in one of the front tables. It was an amazing atmosphere and just like you see in the movies (a little like the Anchorman Jazz bar scene, where he gets on a little stage between the audience to sing and play). We loved it! We also had gambling instruction from a professional gambler who told us all about the inception of Las Vegas and the mob involvement, adding that he wished the mob still ran Vegas as there was less crime - 🤣 I’m still on the black jack and poker machines though, as I’m happy playing with 25cents a time……I was there for an hour, spending $20 and got 2 free drinks – a bargain I say!

After that we traveled to a very basic cabin on Big Bear Lake and had booked a fishing trip and Kayaks, but it was so windy, it all got cancelled, so we stayed on the balcony overlooking the lake for 2 nights, then drove home. When Jake and Laura returned home they invited two beautiful black labrador puppies into their home called Sunny and Bo. I'm very envious.

After that Mark went to New York on business and onto Portugal and it was my Mum and Dad’s turn to visit us. I drove them to the Del Coronado Hotel in San Diego (which was featured in the film – Some Like it Hot) for a few days which they loved and then they wanted to go to Las Vegas too, to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in advance of next year! We booked the Graceland Chapel and ‘Elvis’ took the ceremony and sang to them. They had a wonderful time, but it was a slightly slower pace than when we were with Jake and Laura – thank goodness - Im feeling my age! Besides that my poor Dad and Mum struggled through the itinery I'd set, as Dad arrived with food poisoning and later Mum got a bad cold.

We had a day in the hotel pool surrounded by muscled bronzed people left and right, when suddenly the life guard shouts at everyone to get inside as the pool was closed. It turns out that it was so windy that people were at risk from flying umbrellas and the like. I guess in America they have to cover themselves incase anyone gets sued. They do say that there are more lawyers in America than in the rest of the world!

Back at home we recovered and relaxed for a couple of days in between me taking Mum out – she’s a shopaholic…..and seeing an amazing live big band at the local Herp Albert Jazz club. All this time, we were very privilidged to have Hettie the Hummingbird build another nest onto the one she built last year, but this time, she actually hatched the tiny eggs and we had hummingbird babies!!! so cute! I name them Harry and Megan.

On the day before they were due to go back (and I was going to breath a sigh of relief after the visitors and catch up on my art and emails etc), Mark said he needed to go into the London office to sort out some issues and would I like to come too. I said yes of course, as it was the Jubilee weekend and on top of that Dani (Max’s wife) had a plate put in her foot as she had broken her foot bones and couldn’t drive and Max had been very poorly with tonsillitis, so it was a great opportunity to look after my grandson Arthur and be useful….

So, off we flew with Mum and Dad back to our old house and dear old green blighty. Max and Dani are staying in our house looking after it for us while we are away. We had a small street party too and it was nice to see the neighbours again. There were union jacks and bunting everywhere, while we had salads and cream teas and played British music and sipped prosecco. The last time we Brits did this, was when Megan got married to Harry, though when I tell this to the Americans they don’t believe we ever supported Megan. I was able to drive Dani around and take Arthur to creche. Dani got the all clear from the hospital when I took her, so now she can drive thank goodness.

Mark flew back to LA after a few days, but I have stayed on, meaning to go to my daughter Poppy’s 31st birthday party and meet up with old friends next week (I did manage to see a few friends in the first week)……but I tested myself as I felt I had the beginnings of a cold and ….yes….you guessed it, I have picked up Covid! I tested at the same time as Mark a couple of days before he flew back and we were both negative then, so I can only think it was from his trip to London as I’ve been home with Arthur most of the time apart from a trip to Marwell, where I bought the tickets online and it was all outside.

So, I’m stuck in my room, as Max and Dani have tested negative for the last 3 days, but I am now finally able to see to emails and catch up on some art. I cant look after Arthur and cant see friends and family, but I am risking that at the end of the week in the garden if we stay distanced…. I just hope I’m clear for my flight next week.

I’ll be flying back to the hottest weather California has ever had, with a massive water shortage and a hose pipe ban and huge risk of fires in our area. There is also the mad politics, gun rights, Fox news, conspiracy theories and Trump to contend with – what a mad, mad country, but being away makes me miss it in a way..... we have our fair share of plebs and charlatans in the UK dont we - bloody Boris and his parties? The Jubilee and Royal family are something we can be very proud of, despite the best efforts of Megan and Harry!

I like living in America and all the adventures weve had in the last 4 years, but I wouldn’t want to live there permanently for sure! Maybe it's time for a new adventure now...

Next.....Back to LA - I hope......

Hope you are all keeping well.

Love Zoe x