Life, And Other Natural Disasters...

So,  Friday in Pleasanton CA was a bit of a cr@p non-day to a certain degree.  Two very cranky sleep-deprived bears biting at each other.  Eventually, I left the hotel to the local Burger King and some coffee as I was definitely awake and felt the best thing to do was let His Lordship sleep.  Rang albadger and we met up for more coffee and to get a USB charger for the car since, despite the fact that we have three of the damn things at home, guess who forgot to pack even one of them!  Plus point was got a ride in Al's nifty new Soul. Got back to the hotel to find His Lordship awake.  We didn't do much else that day - I went out to the local Outback for dinner with Al and bigjohnsf, as His Lordship didn't feel like eating.
  Saturday morning was a different affair.  We'd both managed to get a better night's sleep and a decent breakfast, before setting off to Ukiah via. Santa Rosa.  Managed to find osodecanela's office and went out for a Salvadoran lunch, which was another pleasant taste surprise.  Can't remember what we ate, but it was good!  Visited the Burbank Gardens for a post lunch meander, then bade our farewells to Weaver and headed up to Ukiah.  Hotel had no lift which was fun with two very heavy suitcases, but comfortable enough.  Forraged for food at the local Safeway.
  Sunday - bit of a bun fight for breakfast as only 4 tables in the breakfast area, but managed to eat reasonably well.  His Lordship decided to take a trip out to the nearest Ross Dress For Less to do a little clothes shopping.  Lunch at Applebees then took a drive around the Mendochino County area, finding a nice little general store for coffee and cookies. Got back to the hotel and I decided to try the pool.  Bad move.  Despite temperatures in the nineties, the pool was absolutely freezing!  Relaxed in the sun for a little while instead.
  Monday - checked out and stopped off at the local JC Penney for more clothes shopping, then headed up to Fortuna, stopping off at the Chandelier Tree for a picnic.  Arrived at Fortuna in time for a quick swim then out to Burger King.
  Tuesday - drove up through Eureka to Arcata and a cup of coffee and cake at the local wholefood store.  Very much a student town.  We drove back down to Eureka and then on to Samoa to the beach.
  Wednesday saw us drive out to Ferndale, pause for coffee, then drive out to try and find the ocean.  And drove up.  And up.  And up.  And up.  Eventually, we didn't seem to be getting anwhere so we turned back to Ferndale and ate pizza instead.

To quickly re-cap - Edinburgh trip went well; visited koalas; made a new friend completely by accident.  Which was nice.  Work goes on as always; the usual mix of clients from the ones who just sit and say nothing to the vociferous ones who over run by ten minutes...!

And now to the holidays - Spending Xmess in Crawley with karendunn and family and friends.  Dearly Beloved Aged Parent is not too far away in the depths of East Sussex with his sister and long term partner.  New Year sees me heading to the Valleys and also to Cardiff to see the old one out/new one in...

Secret Santa present from work?  A book of food porn by Gordon "F*cking" Ramsey.  I will probably never cook any of the recipes in it but I will admire the unadulterated food porn within.

I am on a continual search for the ultimate Chocolate Pudding.  I have tried "Entremets Flan" from France - a bit like a chocolate-y Creme Caramel and has to be cooked a little like Blancmange.  There's Swedish chocolate pudding - I impressed myself by being able to read the instructions.  The Angel Delight that we get over here is just bland and soap-y.  Currently, I am sourcing Jell-o Instant Pudding - initially from E-bay, but I have since found that I can get it in the two main department stores in Birmingham.

I am, naturally, curious as to what else is out there.

However, nothing has yet surpassed the Chocolate Cream Pie at Jim 'N Nicks in Birmingham AL.  And I am stuck in the wrong Birmingham!

Visit from Dearly Beloved Aged Parent passed ok - didn't really do much apart from drive around a little.  Had a meal out in one of the local Balti restaurants (when in the Midlands...)  And made a, rather fine if I say so myself, Shepherd's Pie...