California here I come, right back where I started from...

What to say, what to say?

Out the flat at 5.30am, kindly accompanied by Les to the Airlink bus, into Edinburgh Turnhouse, checked in immediately (bag weighs in at 21kg, thank goodness) - the kind lady at the desk even changed my seats on both flights to exit row seats, seeing as I was the type of gentleman who most benefitted from the extra leg room. No issue in security, bothered Daryl for some free coffee then made my final calls and texts to say goodbye before everyone ran off to work. After this, Daryl was too busy to chat so I went to look for some breakfast...

It's probably just me being picky, but the breakfasts offered in the airport are not ideal. All expensive, and not much basic, simple food. I just wanted a cheap bacon roll that I could take away. The closest I found was the Costa bacon sandwiches which were pushing £4. I think Daryl knew where such elusive grub could be found but, as mentioned earlier, he was a bit busy satisfying the hordes of caffeine addicted jet-setters.

Plane was on time. My seat was just at the entrance into the plane - miles of leg room but no table apart from the silly ones in the armrest, and the queue for the toilet often had to be asked to avoid standing in front of the tiny TV screen. I watched both of the in-flight films (Kung-Fu Panda and Doc Hollywood) and read the entirety of Hollywood by Charles Bukowski. The two in-flight meals (or meal and snack as they called it - a pretty substantial snack) were standard plane food, I've nothing much to say about them.

Bang on time into Newark. I was pretty anxious that the stopover would be tight but everything went like a dream (probably 'cause of my lovely blue passport) and, due to the delay of the flight to LAX, I even had and hour to while away before boarding.

Another standard flight in all respects except I had the better type of exit row and one of those new-fangled touch screen back-of-headrest TVs with games, TV shows, music, and a wide range of films. I only had time for two films - The Forbidden Kingdom and The Son of Ranbow - and an episode of Two and a Half Men.

Sick of the detail already? Have no fear! After all the time awake my standard of observation was slipping rapidly away so observations on the cultural differences will be saved for a better day. A 2 hour car journey took me to Casa de Godparents, a lovely lakeside home. We finished the day by eating out at a lovely little Thai place. Delicious. I then retired early to rest up for today and all the wonders that it might bring...