Wolves, Lizards and excited Americans.

Watching TV in bed at around 10.30pm and I heard weird noises that I assumed were

coming from the TV. I turned the volume down and heard what can only be described as something from a horror movie. There weren't just one or two coyotes/wolves howling but several squealing and howling over each other in a frenzy of noise. It sounded so close and probably was! Lulu cocked her ears and looked up, but didn't seem too fussed as it was probably out of her noise experience, so I'm sure she assumed it was the TV too or she'd already met them at the back fence and they'd come back for her. I will rename her 'Dances with Wolves'. I was on my own, so I put all the lights on and made sure all the doors were locked. No sign of them since thank goodness. I have bought a very large and very heavy torch now, so they'd better beware!

Ive looked Coyotes up on google and they look quite cute actually.

I missed everyone this week, so I got on with my web searches and investigations.

I sent an email out to 'Ahhh Capella', a singing group, who sound lovely. I will have to audition and they give you a piece to practice for 6 weeks and then you have to perform it to them - scary stuff.

I had some lovely emails back from two of the ladies, one of which is a graphic designer and also got my 'zaphod' email reference. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, it is from 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' - Zaphod Beeblebrox. My lovely brother nicknamed me Zaphod.

Also joined 'Brits in LA' on Facebook. where there are lots of lovely messages to loads and loads of Brits, so its not personal, but its still nice to connect. The 1000 plus members post Brexit jokes and love to get together in British pubs doing quizzes. There are also people who post that they are coming over to be in a pilot, so some good connections should I need it.

Lulu has been in the garden investigating her space and despite the coyote noises in the night, I feel a little less worried about her climbing to the top of the garden.

Yesterday I spotted her looking down in amongst some large rocks and wagging her tail at something. I panicked thinking it was a rattlesnake that got in. I reached her and saw her practically nose to nose with a lizard, who probably wondered what the hell was this golden giant who just wanted to play with it. There is anti rattlesnake training advertised, but it involves Lulu wearing an electric shock collar (this appears to be widely used here) and being' introduced' to rattlesnakes in a grassed scrub area. The advert assures us that the snakes have their venom removed, but still! I realise I am probably over-protective, but I'd rather not put Lulu through that! I will be keeping her on the retractable lead when we walk out the back of us in Escorpion Park - I ask you - what a name!

I'm continuing to go to the Aqua classes and met a new lady teaching us last Wednesday called Smiley Julie. She was full of life and it was really fun. I did want Monday Linda with the stick to come and see the difference! I have now committed to doing this twice a week and so have bought a flowery swimming cap so I fit it with the bath-cap and head towel ladies.

On Monday, Linda with the stick was a totally different person. Yes she still had the stick, but she was dressed in trainers and gym kit and smiled and talked to us. She also had her gym whistle which she loved using. I think the Angelenos are different when there is sun, but I suppose aren't we all?

Now I looked up what people were called from Los Angeles and google told me that the descriptive word for a people from an area is called a demonym.

So people from Los Angeles are Angelenos; people from Calabasas are Calabasers and people from where I live in Bell Canyon are called Bellites or Bellers. Tee Hee.

Another thing that's been good for my soul this week, is actually doing a little gardening. How very middle class and middle aged of me!

I have bought some terracotta pots and filled them with lovely plants, that would normally be found in the glasshouse in Kew Gardens. I have a large olive bush and two lovely aloe blue elf plants. I bought these in Home Depot in their outside garden area which looks much like B&Q, but there were several humming birds drinking from the aloe.

I mean, how magical is that?

In Home Depot they are always making announcements which they say in English obviously, but also repeat it in Spanish. I think DIY and gardening appears to be a dominant occupation of Mexicans as they have definitely cornered the market on all gardening chores, pool cleaning and construction. They appear at all the houses in the street on various days making it all look beautiful.

I have also been proactive and written my CV, something which I hadn't done for a number of years . It is now with Mark's company and they are seeing if they can get my Green Card too.....

Watching American TV is interesting. Many of the programmes are what we recognise, but it is the news which is incredibly alien! All the presenters have opinions and they are very much navel gazers, with the majority, if not all the news centred around America only. Thank goodness for BBC World news. I did however see an American version of the Singing Detective with Robert Downey Jr. which I enjoyed. I have also found a whole channel based on house renovation and love both 'Fixer Upper' with Chip and Jo and 'Love It or List It' with Hillary who is a British designer and David. I think they are remaking this for Channel 4 with Kirstie and Phil.

Mark and I have also decided that we need to revisit all seasons of Game of Thrones before the last season in April. It will be a marathon for sure!!!

8 weeks to watch 8 seasons of 10 episodes...….or is it 7?

Easily done, if a little intense and stressful!!!

We are already seeing things we missed first time round and it is equally brilliant second time around. I already re-hate Joffrey, Little Finger and Jamie! Already obsessed again!

We wanted to furnish two of the bedrooms cheaply, so we decided to visit IKEA in Burbank which is situated on IKEA Way.

We sat in the slightly smaller IKEA restaurant than Reading or Southampton, eating meatballs with mash and mixed vegetables (no peas) and listening to 'Our House' by Madness. We had fun watching several people walking along the six lane queuing system aisles only to find there was no queue and you could walk straight to the food counter. I don't think Ive ever experienced that in Reading or Southampton. Maybe they don't like the meatballs like we do. I do find they have an addictive quality.

So this week I have been mostly making up IKEA furniture (Fast Show reference). I always start by opening up the package, looking at all the pieces and the large booklet of instructions and think what on earth was I thinking and wouldn't it be better to buy fully constructed pieces. When you get into your stride and get though the first 6 pages, you start to feel that the IKEA elves are ingenious in their ideas of construction and you start to admire the wonderful perfection of the instructions. I now have a large collection of alum keys and simple but functional guest bedrooms.

This Sunday we went to a charity concert to commemorate the Thousand Oaks shooting last November. It was a lovely building and reminded me of the New Victoria, Woking Theatre, but with beautiful fountains outside, with a fantastic view across the valley. We queued to get a drink when we arrived and a few people ahead in the queue was a loudish Brit who stank of booze. We kept very quiet!

The concert was very moving and there was a talk by one of the parents and a police officer who had been at the scene. Rita Wilson performed (Tom Hank's wife and producer of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'). She was brilliant - who knew she could not only sing, but also wrote a number of the songs herself - definitely worth a listen.

Colbie Caillat was great, but the highlight for me was Jason Mraz. He writes such wonderful songs and has such a beautiful voice. Mark and I were moved to tears a number of times.

What I did notice was the audience's need to shout out and be heard at the worst times. Then when the song had started, take at least until the chorus to actually realise what was being played. At this point they feel the need to break into applause and get excited! That's not a real fan - I recognised the song in the first few notes!!! I have put the videos on Facebook so you can see what I mean. If I was performing I would have told them to shut the hell up!!! Weird!

I am starting to not get lost and actually have stopped using the sat nav for a few of the journeys. Vanowen Street, Valley Circle, Castle Peak, Victory Boulevard, Platt, Fallbrook, Randi, Ethel Boulevard, Shoup (like the Cher song), Canoga, and Catanga - try saying these with an American accent. My British Google maps reads out hilarious pronunciations. In fact try saying Catanga and Canoga without sounding like something out of the 'Lion King'.

My favourite British town names are Warrington and Liverpool as I always say them with the Eddie Waring accent from 'It's a Knockout', for those of you who remember that.

Other favourite signs are Jerry Gooze Real Estate and signs offering Psychic readings in the front of peoples gardens. Who dares me to have a go...…?

I was in Ralph's today buying my vegetables and saw that they have a spraying system that sprays water on all the veg at regular intervals - great, but not so good, if you were me leaning in to look at courgettes getting a light spray.

In other news and I am sure you will be smug to hear it, we are experiencing biblical rain. We keep being told it only rains twice a year, but its rained heavily at least four times since Ive been here.

Anyway love to you all and have a good week.