Here’s photos from this morning’s expedition with the dog. You may wish to skip the black-and-white-birds-on-telegraph-wire ones, I got carried away again. Nice to know this ind of landscape is all within walking distance of the house.
Just to bump that photo of me ‘below the fold’, have a video from The Onion:
In The Know: Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?
And have a through the viewfinder of some pumpkins.
Here’s the dog before 6 hours sedated in a cage:
more vids soon… Wish us luck!
David Bowie and Bing Crosby are singing in the background and we’re heading to Oakland tomorrow…
Season’s Greetings y’all
Well, we’re here but there’s going to be some form filling/ cheque writing/ queueing fun before the week’s out. They were not happy at LAX last night. and 1:30 am is not the time to be dealing with petty-minded bureaucrats who want to take your green card off you. Luckily Sally and Martin were waiting for us at the airport with their calming influence and Atticus was extremely excited to see us again after his bath earlier that day… Guadalajara airport is a modern affair, a bit like Bristol airport, with friendly staff, expensive but nice locales, ample parking. The taxi driver was great, he recognised us from a previous trip and we talked about politics, universities and sci-fi films. Even though I’d dressed up smart and smiled tons at the check in, no upgrade to 1st class for us. Looks like Sita has to travel alone for that kind of treatment… anyway Mexicana was a nice airline, good food, free full bar, minimal voiceovers about safety etc. and I listened to a goodly few podcasts on the way. Anyway then we arrive in LAX and you can actually feel the karma levels dropping to sub-zero levels around you as you head for the control checks… Whereupon Sita nearly went postal extremely pissed off as they wouldn’t let her talk to the git in control who was examining my case. Eeh well, shall chill out a bit today and take the week as it comes. M & S have done a fine job on the house, I’m not sure there’s much more left to do to be honest. Very impressive all round. Shall have to go and check on the bunnies and see if they’re as happy as Atticus was. Cheers
I’ve been mightily impressed by the efficiency of TelMex’s DSL service. Ordered it Monday morning, modem arrived Tuesday and plumbed in by Thursday. I’d’ve had it going two hours earlier too but I had to ring the help desk as it didn’t like my password (beautiful renditions of ‘Octopus’s Garden’ and ‘Oh, Darling’ on hold though).
The phases have been pretty much: travel 1700 miles, find a house, meet up with old friends, fill house with furniture, get DSL & cable, get studying/working. We’re entering the last stage there. But over the last week or so have really got to know the city well just from running errands. Last time we were here (2 years ago) and it was all public transport, and when I was here in 1998, even moreso. Driving is a lot easier than it was made out to be. The only real challenge is from the whole tope (speed bump) vs traffic lights thing. One obviously on the ground and ready to put your steering and suspension out if hit at over 10 mph and the other hanging stupidly high and keeping your vision off the ground. If you’re looking for street signs as well, that puts another hazard in yer way. Yet I managed to drive with a flat pack office desk, 4 plastic chairs and a table from Plaza del Sol to our house in rush hour yesterday, so all’s well. Maybe I’ll add ‘Guided Tours’ to my already eclectic business card.
Plenty of room for visitors, book your flights to Guadalajara now and we’ll pick you up at the airport… It’s still gorgeous weather too.
Skyped me folks yesterday, and was informed that Dad had made another foray into photoshopping. I’ve got this creation of his as my wallpaper for now.
