Looking like a luxury yacht at anchor this place is near Larchmont in Los Angeles. Most of the house around here are in a range of styles from faux Mexican villa to English Country cottage on steroids. This one was quite different, and lovely in its way. Super lines and some clever tree planting. The blue sky which is quiet normal for around here, sets off the white of the building . I love it. Probably owned by someone in the media, who only sleeps there. Too busy for the rest of the time earning enough to buy something bigger. … Continue reading House 19. Ship inspired perhaps?

I doubt that the little red wooden house here still exists. It was in Ontario, Canada, where we went a few years ago and was really the last holiday we had with the kids in tow. Heading north east from Toronto we were looking for the end of a family trail. We did rather underestimate the distances we needed to travel and spent many hours in the hired car. No wonder the kids never wanted to go with us again. They were also tortured as we got into country areas, by me insisting on stopping at any unusual Canadian barn … Continue reading House 18. Red house, Ontario.

In a typical Lancashire way my Aunty Winnie, who used to make a massive meat and potato pie for us whenever we moved house, had a way with words. Not unlike the great Hilda Baker who’s , comedy routine was based on getting the words slightly wrong but in an odd sense right. “Those evangelists have been painting the walls near the Town Hall again Dorothy!” Evangelists? Are you sure Winnie? “Yes of course I’m sure,saw it with my own eyes, take my word for it” The only bit of the word she got right was the “van” and she … Continue reading House 17. Cable Street, London

The roads, especially the freeways. They were built in the 50s and intended to be used in case there was a need to evacuate the population in the event of a nuclear war. When I found this little know ( to me ) fact, it occurred to me when being driven down one of these roads: “ Why did they build them both ways then?” It also illustrated the paranoia around the 50s about the likelihood of such an event. If they intended to evacuate everyone, where to? All very odd. The photograph above from the Runyon Canyon summit was … Continue reading It’s all so big.

So to celebrate a couple of weeks in La La Land I’m just going to post a few of the images that will stay with me from the recent trip. Big thanks for all those who’ve been liking this stuff and giving me undeserved encouragement. It’s a little like encouraging that bloke in the pub to “Tell us more about your holidays then Sid”. I’ll just go on and on, and my dislike of flying will rapidly surface like Jaws on a hungry day. Security was tight at the Airport, and the Americans seem to be perfecting the art of … Continue reading Airline food and a return to rain. Lots of rain, so here’s some sunny moments.

Driving a few blocks across the city to take the children to nursery school. Gives a flavour of the place. Continue reading Car photos, the morning/afternoon drive

I love art galleries but can only really take them in small doses. Two hours is about as much as I can realistically look at the framed stuff before I get the itch for a cup of tea and a cake. The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena was today’s cake trip. Pasadena is rich in these places and had the benefit of our company on a few days. I was attracted to this place by the promise of works from La Belle Époque. It did not disappoint. Here are a few of my favourites from the show. It has the … Continue reading Choose your favourites before you reach saturation point.