So here we are and as per l’ve packed wooly socks and jummies for the Christmas festivities. It’s in the low seventies and the only thing being tested is the deoderant. The plan for me this time is to take loads of pictures of what I think are a great feature of LA life and that is the billboards or signs.

They will take just about any available space to put up a massive sign, for almost anything, thinking nothing of erecting a load of scaffolding atop an apartment block to add to the advertising free for all. In addition to the signs I’ll be writing here and there with obsevations about how they deal with Christmas here. Mince pies are thin on the ground for a start. The concept is foreign to them, whereas in the UK its gone bananas with mince pieces available from early September and by Christmas stacked to the ceilings in supermarkets.

As well as Christmas I’ll  pop in some stuff about various art galleries and what we see. having been to two already I can tell you its a visual treat.

With this is a photo of a US telegraph pole, well why not?

The Getty is on a hill overlooking LA. It’s worth a visit just for that but add in some stunning architecture and some equally stunning art and you have the makings of a great day out.

It’s free to go in, you just pay for the parking. There are loads of amenities as well as loads of sculpture and art to suit all tastes. I have a liking for the impressionists and works from the 1800s.

I was never a big fan of David’s work but this simple portrait is a stunner and comes with the added bonus of being of the daughter of one of the French revolutionaries, so has a bit of a story. David’s usual work is somewhat monumental, but this simple personal piece has a unique power for me.

I hope you like it as much as I do. I’ll post some more on the next blog.

Incidentally they also have the enlightened view that it is ok to take photos of the paintings as long as you don’t use flash. So no smuggling occurred here.