Mustang Sally

Phew ! Back to the California sunshine - and here's Susan with mr avis' nice hire car - do you want a Mustang for $4 more per day ? (let's phone a friend!!) - anyway it's great fun and Susan looks good cruising. Susan got a much better deal on the hire car than Doug, that is not PC but who cares ;-) Having a relaxing time now back in San Diego at sea level, even feeling somewhat fit ! Here's Susan soaking the sun on the veranda of the hotel room, reading the paper and generally kicking back

Bluegrass @ record lows

Blimey it's cold ! Denver has changed a lot since we were last here - downtown 16th street is packed with bars -HOWEVER it is minus 22deg C so we settled on the first bar we came across, Appaloosa !

As it happens there was an electric bluegrass band ' Armando Zuppe' www.armandozuppa.com playing electric banjo et al - the bar was so cold could see breath all night, & banjo dude moaning about couldn't feel fingers. Nevertheless this is a well cool band, makes me think 'will learn country scales ' :-0 Don't panic Rory !

Here's Doug in the bar which was well below freezing all night :-) Sorry about the photo quality again, hope to improve :-)

March of the Penguins

Those penguins have it easy ! There are only two seasons in Summit County, Colorado - winter and july :-) It is very cold here mum, and this is July ;-) Doug's suit is 15 years old btw - still draws comments, mostly about being colour blind !

Meanwhile, here's a bar with a difference in Breckenridge...........

and you couldn't write a better typo than this restaurant ad.............. (sorry photo is dark)

Dude food

Don't worry, we won't starve in Colorado :-) Despite being 24 below, just remember there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing according to our good pal Biff ! In Breckenridge, skiing is naturally awesome, and it's not that cold really, and who needs to breathe anyway.......according to my cardiologist anyone who can ski at 12000 ft can't be too ill....I'll probably get run over by a snowmobile tomorrow!

My spiritual home

Guess where we are, boys ?












There's a great new bar on the 64th floor of THEhotel call Mix which is an ultralounge with an outdoor patio about 1000' up, way above the strip....super views......in case of emergency, use the stairs!!












Drawn like a magnet, it didn't take long. Bellagio, sanctuary ! We needed an ATM but this was nearer. Here's Susan getting some cash out..........

A bucket of gherkins please

Here's Doug in a great diner in Hillcrest San Diego. The Seeburg jukebox tablebox works, put in your quarter and off you go - real 45's like Elvis, Mama's and Papas. I chose 'California dreaming', Susan chose 'Teddy Bear'. Later watched the superbowl in a sportsbar, got surprisingly drunk and rowdy according to Susan....apparently I thought it was fixed !

You can be replaced

Message from the guys at RM :

"You'll be pleased to know that we've already drafted in a suitable replacement - Rangdo the Aspidistra" :-))

They said my replacement uses less air and has improved conversational wit. Swines.

Somehow strange to see the 'old' desk, but very nice not to have to think about work.