Life and Times in SoCal

Winter 2022

Winter is finally here in SoCal. We’ve just had our first winter storm of 2022. we have lots of snow on the nearby mountains and lots of localized flooding in our back garden! I know its not as wintery as in the UK right now but it is still colder than Julie and I would like. Julie was summoned for jury service in Thanksgiving week, this’d been postponed from the end of October. So we decided to have our thanksgiving lunch at a local restaurant as we weren’t sure if she would be sitting on a jury until Thanksgiving eve, as it was she was discharged on the Tuesday before turkey day. The restaurant was very good, the usual choice of Turkey or Beef and all the usual trimmings but without all the cooking and washing up afterwards.

We have just about completed our Christmas shopping, like probably most of the western world we shop on line using various vendors in both the US and the UK. This makes shopping for gifts easier but not necessarily more enjoyable as its nice to have that personal touch.

As I mentioned last time, my mom is now with us for the bulk of the UK winter. She has been here a few weeks already and is slotting in to our lifestyle quite well. We aren’t doing all the usual tourist stuff with her, she is just being part of us and doing the things we do as a regular part of our lives. The first weekend in December we celebrated the holidays with some close friends at their place and we took mum along with us. we had a great time eating, drinking and having a good laugh. They all made mum feel very welcome and special. Its good to see friends but very good to see them during the holidays. 

As some of you may already know it will be my birthday at the end of December. I too will be having a number finishing with a 0. Since the start of 2022 Julie has been asking what I would like for my birthday, and as usual I had no idea what to suggest. However, when Chris and Wendy were out in November we went to Laguna Beach. This place has some great art galleries so we called in to one.

Since we have lived here I have wanted a painting from a local (San Diego) artist called Steve Barton, however, I wanted a particular type, a picture painted on a surfboard. Steve paints these periodically and occasionally you can buy one from some galleries. I have been reluctant to make the purchase on the rare occasions I have seen them,  as we have moved around quite a lot in the past 12 years and as they are 6 feet long I was concerned about having a wall big enough to display it!

We were chatting with the gallery owner and she said she knew Steve and would ask if he would paint one for me. So after some texting and phone calls we commissioned Steve to paint a Surf Board to our liking. Normally Steve would paint a couple of deck chairs and a small "surf" hut as part of the scene but I didn't want them so asked for them not to be added. The picture arrived and now has pride of place in our dining room,  that's it at the top of the page what do you think of it?

As we now start the final countdown to Christmas we are getting ready for a traditional Christmas with turkey and all the trimmings, including Christmas pudding! Julie as usual has made a Christmas cake (fruit cake for my American readers) in October and I have been feeding it with brandy for the past few weeks, sadly anyone under 21 can't try it, but I can't wait to have a piece with mature cheddar or Wensleydale and cranberry cheese and a glass of whiskey.

Finally, I would just like to say a big Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my family, friends and readers. I hope the coming year brings health and happiness to everyone

Ciao

Paul & Julie

December 2022

As an addition to my last blog.

I had a great surprise between Christmas and my birthday. Mom, Julie and I were sat watching the TV on 12/27 when there was a knock on the front door. Julie asked me to get it as she was expecting a parcel from Amazon. I trudged to the door to collect the parcel, on opening the door I was amazed to see my brother Chris and his wife Wendy stood on the step surprising me with horns and shouting "SURPRISE"! They had just arrived from the UK to surprise me for my birthday! To say I was shocked was an understatement, I can't think of anytime in my adult life I have been lost for words, this was a first.

It was great having them here to celebrate my birthday. Thank you brother you truly made my day!

More on this next time.

January 3, 2023.