more LA

Well, this blog is either a famine or a feast, hey?! We have had irregular internet connections so have been saving up our blog posts for one massive dose!!

We had 3 wonderful days in LA with our friends Connie & Chuck Parrish and Minda & Joey Toyoshiba (and their 3 lovely daughters). In 1985-6 I lived with the Parrishes (Connie, Chuck, Heather, Minda and Kelly) on a school exchange and we have seen them occasionally over the years since then. My family (the Lamberts) and the Parrishes have become firm friends.

Connie & Chuck generously offered to host our family (not a small thing - in 1985 there was one of us, now we're 6!) It was so lovely to see them and be treated to true American hospitality. They had gone out of their way to welcome us and help us adapt to the US way of life! In our 3 days there we ate Mexican, Country Fried Chicken, burgers, pizza, cooked breakfasts and all sorts of snacks (our boys loved it!).

We also had a day at Knotts Berry Farm where Joey works which was a day where our boys started our nervously on the roller coasters and by the end were unstoppable! (Well, all except Aidan - he and I braved the giant swing and both nearly didn't survive! After that we stuck to small trains and cars!)

Our third day there was a trip to Hollywood with the Toyoshibas. Hollywood was seedy but a drive to the Griffith Observatory was lovely - to see the Hollywood sign and a view over the city, also to go in the observatory itself.

And it was a delight to be able to celebrate Connie's birthday with her! An added bonus!

We are now at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. More to come tomorrow!

Karen