Saturday all day today

We took Lena with us to look at fittings for our Belize project. It was good to be able to discuss finishes and preferences in person and now we should be able to move the first stage of our project to completion.

Later on we met up with Solei to have dinner. Thai food was the choice tonight.

A Real Pigs' Ear

We went to a restaurant in Noe Valley named Incontro with a couple of Friends. It was a brilliant evening. Company was good, the food was great and Antonella chose an excellent red wine that we drank all evening.

This was the night that my chosen starter was Lambs Liver, Frogs Legs and Pigs Ears! The ears were fried which made them actually quite delicious. While eating I also tried to extol the delights of eating cow's feet but for some reason everyone wasn't convinced!

Folsom Street Fair

Well hello boys!!! If you are visiting San Francisco in September when the fair is on, YOU HAVE TO GO!!!

Leather and naked bottoms everywhere, and those are just the regular people. It's a leather fetish fair which attracts mainly "The Boys" and there is the usual San Francisco, live Music and food in the streets.

It isn' an event for children though. If you don't look where you're going you could trip over the odd blow job!

You can see some pictures here.

The weather was perfect and the mood and energy was really great.

Shakespeare in The Park

Not in person obviously. But the San Francisco Shakespeare Society put on an open air show tonight in the park at the Presidio.

They performed The Tempest and did a stirling job. Even though the night turned cold and damp, they managed to hold a large audience right through to the end of the final act. Interestingly, the show was free, the programs were free and they even gave us free blankets.

One of the other spectators summed it up oerfectly as he walked by where we were seated on the grass. "San Francisco is an amazing city, we're really lucky to be living here".

Cold Call

I was supposed to go and watch the Oakland A's play baseball tonight but I'm at home on my own going to bed instead. Took some cold relief to speed up the recovery process.




Antonella went and managed to take a photo for me though.

Hula La Ha Ha

Not feeling great today. Probably just a cold. The sun is out though so I didn't intend to miss out. I met up with Antonellas' Hoop - friend after they had finished their hooping practice session at Duboce Park. Her friends boyfriend came along too and we all had brunch at Zazie in Cole Valley. The food was great and the guys are really nice people to pass the time of day with.

As we left , someone had the thought that we the "boys" should be given a hooping lesson. So we wandered off to the local green to show everyone what we had! It wasn't much! The girls were fantastic though.

To see just how good they are, click here

Barbeque Days and Cocktail Nights

Today was the Summer Party hosted by our company in Golden Gate Park. There was a substantial Barbeque and a really good DJ kept the ambient groove "on"! We had a good turnout and it was nice to meet some of the "other halves" and the children too.

Antonella and I had cycled down to the park so we tackled a couple of San Francisco hills on the return trip. We spent the evening round at our neighbours having more food, cocktails and fun conversation. We met someone who knows Snoop Dog and were treated to some brilliant "gangsta" stories.

And we're off

It's a very busy Monday. Lots of filmwork going on in the office today. London have sent their film over and we are just finishing up our rendition here in San Francisco. At one pint we ended up in a pub, but like the great people in the past, I didn't swallow! or is that inhale!?

Linda Platt is in town so we'll need to have a night out! This week will probably turn out t o be quite busy socially.

The weather seems to be warming up again and the sun is out. No complaints there.

Park and Ride

Nice easy day today, if you count riding up and down a few hills as easy! Once we were in Golden Gate Park the sun came out resulting in a lovely afternoon.

Rode past the "disco" skaters and then the outdoor Swing dancers before riding passed the Bison who seemed totally unimpressed with everything. I wonder what is in that grass. They seem so chilled just lying there chewing and watching the world go by.

We cycled back up to Cole Valley with up being quite an operative word. Picked up a couple of things from the shops in Cole Street before returning home again.

Antonella cook a really tasty meal before we vegged out for the night.

Speaking Easy

Met Ricki and Biki after work happily ending this weeks' work. Afterwards zipped home to meet Antonella and get changed. We headed off for Bourbon & Branch. Here's what the blurb says about it, "Bourbon & Branch, a 1920s-inspired speakeasy, has quietly opened for business in an undisclosed location in the Tenderloin. When you call for a reservation, you'll get a password that'll get you in." It's quite a fascinating joint and although still establishing it's claims, I'm sure it'll be one of the hot spots over the next few months.

Afterwards we met some more people we knew and went on for dinner. Lots of merriment was had by all.

Downs & Ups

Work was a huge let down today but Ricki and Biki are in town so, YEAH!!

Past still Present

I had a really pleasant treat a the office today. The guy who first employed me at my current agency dropped by to say hello! He oriinally emplo me in the London office 6 years ago. He then went on to leave and then re-join again but in the New York office. Now here he was sitting at my desk in San Francisco. He's still the same, charismatic and full of energy. Really good to see him.

We're still ploughing through all the work and we're producing a film too so loads to get done.

Back on the job

Once more into the breach dear John, for this time we have an awful lot to deliver! Yes it's more of the same crazy hectic days we have been having for a while. We had a management meeting today too to introduce some new facilities that have become available to the office.

Anyway, I'm back in full swing so it's onward and hopefully upward!

Sunning in Sausalito

Wanting to be sure of catching some serious sunrays today, we head down to Sausalito across the Golden Gate Bridge. It's Labour Day and the last day of the holiday weekend. We're quite serious about catching the sun today and make our determination public by dressing in shorts t-shirts and sandals!

Bingo! It's lovely, warm and sunny as we take our seats on the deck of Horizons restaurant overlooking the bay. Antonella has plenty of time to eat her meal and begin sunbathing because I ordered the Crab dish which turned out be be food for probably 20 people! I love crab so I confidently rose to the challenge of savouring all of that delicate, delicious white meat. It did take some time and at what point we wondered just how many legs this particular crab originally had. It seemed that no matter howm many I ate there were still the same amount left!!

I was victorious and after finishing we went for a walk and some window shopping before getting some drinks to go and sit by the fountain and watch the world go by.

Oh yes, and work on Antonella's tan!

You Say Tomales I say Tomales Bay

After a slight delay waiting for the Brazilian contingent of our group we were on our way. It's a beautiful drive up the coast to Reyes Point where we stop off at The Tomales Oyster Company for a Picnic, Barbecue and of course, Oysters!

There was champagne for everyone and a great spread of food. Conversation was brisk and witty and the oysters were delicious. As the afternoon rolled on it became very, very cold. I almost began imagining myself back in the UK at one point.

The return drive was spectacular too with the sun setting over the bay creating perfect picture postcard scenes.

Easing Into Labour Weekend

Saturday Morning. Antonella has gone to practice her hula in Golden Gate Park with some of her friends. I go to the Gym. Today is the first time I drive the BM properly. It's not quite as sporty as the Alfa, but it does have a lot more power and should be perfect for all the long distance cruising we're planning on doing. I was going to do a lot of the work I've taken home today but I decided to have a complete break instead.

Back in the DMV

At The Smog Station

After a meeting at work 1st thing, got to go to the joy and delight that is referred to as the DMV ( Department of Motor Vehicles). We had an appointment to get the BM registered today. Seriously, even though it's supposedly the general public in there, everyone looked suspiciously like hired extras in some sort of wierdo Kismet movie!!!

For a moment it all seemed to be about to go pear-shaped but they suddenly came through and gave us the documents we needed. The only shock was the additional $1000.00 tax that I hadn't been expecting from buying the car. Yes, even if you buy a car privately you still have to pay sales tax!

Got the papers and got the car smog certified so now we are properly on the road, Californian style.

Something a little odd about this sign and the timings?!