And back ...

Well, I finally believe that San Francisco has fog! Had a fantastic trip - worth the 10½-hour flight. Weather was wonderfully sunny (apart from one afternoon - unfortunately the one when we were walking in Muir Woods) but quite windy at times.

Some decent food too -- though the notion that the Michelin Guide uses the same standards for everywhere it assesses is, clearly, false. Food was good - but not great- in 2* restaurants and the service was adequate (but you can do better in Birmingham!).

Went to the Napa valley on a wine-tasting trip (I still don't really like Californian wines, I've tried, really I have) which was fun (and HOT) and saw the Coastal Giant Redwood trees in Muir Woods.

Off we go ...

So it's off to San Francisco in the morning (ought to be a song title, really). The cat's in the cattery and I just have to sort out our seats with Virgin Atlantic and we'll be fine (it's a bit odd that when you book as 2 people together they allocate you to opposite sides of the plane...).

Anyway, there are restaurants booked and a couple of trips planned (Muir woods where the giant redwoods grow and (of course) Napa valley for some wine tasting.

The Book

The end's in sight! Liz & I have been working unbelievably hard over the last couple of months in particular and the finished manuscript will go off to the publisher at the end of the week.

At more or less the same time, we're flying off to San Francisco for a well-earned break! Hooray!