On Toilets, TVs, Telephones and Texas Blues

January 27, 2015 katheross Leave a comment

I want to share with you some of my thoughts on US toilets….warning, this article may contain some references that readers may find disgusting.

But first, here’s a word from our sponsor.

Ads, ads, ads. Try as you might you can’t escape them. TV today is obsessed with the blizzards up north on the east coast of the US. Lots of cancelled flights and lots of snow in heavily populated areas. No one getting into Boston today by the sounds of it.

And the breakfast tv presenters are pursuing the notion that in nine months time there will be a baby boom due to the storm.

You can purchase your very own unique baby name for $30,000…

Anyway, back to the issue of toilets – or more generically, bathrooms.

Apparently the editor of the New Yorker banned the use of the word ‘toilet’ in his publication in the 1920s as he found it so loathsome.

Now, please do not take offence US friends, but for a highly developed nation with some amazing labour (or labor) saving inventions, colossal civil engineering constructions and well, you also put a man on the moon (ffs), your toilets/bathrooms, are, frankly, somewhat lacking.

Let’s start clean. The first observation is on baths.

Those of you who have visited the US will be familiar with the puddle sized bath provided in hotel rooms, but you are usually thinking – ‘well, it is the centre of New York after all’ or ‘well I prefer a shower anyhooo..’ Well let me tell you – this appears to be a NORMAL size of bath over here. Yes, that’s right, fine for a 4ft 11in tiny wee adult or indeed a child, but anyone over 5ft – your legs will need to be straddled either side of the taps for comfort.

And the shape. The bath may look spacious – and I suppose it is really, it would amply take the girth of most large people, but no sign of the lovely curved back which makes a soak in the bath that much comfier.

I suppose it’s a case of what you are used to…and taking a shower is more economic on water usage which is in much shorter supply here than in Scotland.

Before I move on to more intimate areas of bathroom observations, telephones and their usage here, as in the rest of the developed world, is ubiquitous. But to the extent that phoning or texting while driving are not strictly illegal here. The only instance where texting (in this state) is illegal is in a school zone. I have seen many drivers phoning and texting while driving – along 6/7/8 lane highways – oh yes. Very scary. Specific companies will have a ban on their employees engaging in such dangerous practices and I imagine that if they did and were involved in any accident, insurances would be invalidated.

Another ad – this time for Houston Centre for Spinal Laser Surgery….one of the better ones.

Back to bathrooms.

Getting a bit more intimate – the issue of cubicles in public bathrooms. I remember so clearly the horror I felt in 1972 when I first came to the US and had probably my first experience of public ‘loos’ at High School. Dearie me – they are not too private. The cavernous gap at the bottom of the door barely covers your modesty. Certainly sound effects can be clearly heard, and well let’s not talk smells. These are not places you want to linger and to be honest, keeping one’s legs crossed or bum clenched till you get home is preferable. Why? Is there a shortage of cubicle door material? Is there a perceived safety issue? Or are we just too damn modest in the UK and really it’s odd not to want to share our sounds and sniffiness with the general populace.

Toilets at the Cypress Saloon were surprisingly clean and tidy – but did have ‘stable’ doors – no, actual stable doors. The place is ‘done out’ in true spit and sawdust style and was the venue on Saturday for the Houston Blues Festival. A really great venue, intimate, basic, full of character and the music was wonderful.

Rick Lee was playing when we arrived and he ended up playing his guitar using a Coors bottle as a slide, then a chair, then he did something with his guitar and a woman who volunteered that thankfully I couldn’t see properly – but lots of the men were taking pics and crowding around! He was an excellent and highly entertaining guitarist.

After a couple of other acts, Buddy Whittington took the stage around 10pm. Already nearly past our bedtime, we stayed on until 12.30am and thoroughly enjoyed his fantastic set, full of surprises and covering the full spectrum of blues from near country to rock. Our first gig since coming to Houston, although we did see Jefferson Starship in the summer at the Miller Outdoor Theater. This is a great venue which provides open air free gigs in Hermann Park – a wonderful facility and right next to where our new home is going to be.

Forgot to say that we have definitely got the house now! This is not the original one we looked at due to a grippy landlord, but a lovely spacious home in a ‘gated’ community near the Medical Centre. We move in this weekend so more on the house to come.

My final thoughts on toilets.

I think that the fact you are provided with a plunger as a standard piece of equipment in a serviced apartment speaks volumes.

Look out for these features next time you are in the US:

Toilet pedestal height – this is low! Just when your bum thinks it should be meeting the seat – oops no, it has another 6 inches or so to go!
Water level – this is high! so I will leave the consequences of this to your imagination.

And please, do flush often. Or that plunger will be put to very good use!

Post script on toilets – please read!

According to the United Nations, 2.5 billion people do not have access to proper sanitation, including toilets. If you haven’t seen it, this article on the BBC news site is a reminder that we are lucky people and should not take our plumbing for granted. I have poked fun at US toilets – read the stories here and see what others have – or more accurately, don’t have.

In pictures: My toilet

Facts and figures

Did you know…?

January 19, 2015 katheross Leave a comment

That Houston’s metro area population is larger than Scotland’s?

This and other interesting facts can be found on wikipedia.

The Greater Houston Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (Houston CMSA) consists of eight counties which cover 8,778 square miles, an area slightly smaller than Massachusetts but larger than New Jersey. The actual city population is 2.1 million – it was only 2,396 in 1850.

Of all the facts about the US which I learn every day, I am always astonished at the pace of growth of this country in such a short history. And it is a history that is preciously guarded and looked after. Many cities have regenerated their downtown areas, their city centres, and re-invented these as areas for visitors with interesting places to see and to go to and things to do.

I can’t imagine the current plans for Marischal Square in Aberdeen attracting such crowds, other than to protest the lunacy!

Houston is also home to the Texas Medical Center – the largest medical centre in the world, apparently, with a local economic impact of $10 billion. More than 52,000 people work within its facilities and look after some 4.8 million patients each year.

We all know that the medical systems of the UK and the US are worlds apart. Our NHS is as preciously guarded by the UK population as the Alamo is in San Antonio. It does provide us with a totally different psychological approach to healthcare. In the UK we just expect it. In the US we pay for it so we expect more. However, that expectation of ‘more’ has resulted in a strange symbiotic relationship between the health of the patient and the healthcare provider, where insurance providers are a third parasitic organism intruding into this relationship and feeding off the spoils.

Ultimately it is your healthcare insurer that decides the extent of your treatment and what can and can’t be paid for. There are two contrasting possible side effects here – you don’t get all the treatment you actually need as your plan is insufficient or you choose to get treatment that really you don’t need, just because your plan can and does provide it.

And day time tv provides some interesting evidence. You have got to love daytime tv in the US for the adverts alone.

I can’t say I have ever seen a gastric band surgery advert in the UK.

And as for the ads for pharmaceutical products – the disclaimer informational statements are longer than the actual ads.

Other than the occasional car and furniture sale ads, the rest appear to be for all types of food.

These ads do provide an insight into the state of the nation’s health. Obesity and all related illnesses are particularly prevalent. So the population ingests vast quantities of food – way more than it needs – then spend the twilight years of life paying the penalty, and paying the insurers and healthcare providers to look after them. Economically it is what makes the country tick so you can see why there was such a backlash against so called ‘Obamacare’.

It would take generations to adjust to a different mindset to health care here. With a massive health care facility providing employment and rich pickings to so many, slap bang in the middle of Houston, I can’t see it happening anytime soon.

Which brings me to our next important task – to find a doctor. Type ‘doctors in Houston’ into a search engine and you will see the extent of this task!

A round up of a few more firsts this week. We purchased an EZ tag. This allows us to travel on the toll roads and automatically charges us for the privilege. It proved to be a relatively EZ task – although getting to the EZ tag store was a bit of a chore. Hopefully we won’t have to do that again.

I had my first proper driving lesson. I managed to drive on the ‘big roads’, although my palms sweat so much when I do that holding on to the steering wheel becomes the biggest challenge.

We had our first power cut – construction work in this street sliced through a main cable – so our ‘shining’ corridor was pitch black for a while – a bit scary.

And the water supply dried up too – possibly for the same reason. Our street was closed with emergency vehicles flashing their lights – we assumed a major water pipe had been breached.

BTW I am watching daytime tv only while at the gym! In case you think that’s all I’m doing over here.

My viewing has included – a piece about an internet craze for teens to set themselves on fire and film themselves doing this (seriously), another about a girl who was beaten to death by an angry mob because she photobombed their selfie, and the beating was also filmed and no-one stepped in to stop the mob – of girls, and a story about a girl who slashed the tyres of someone who unfriended her on Facebook. First world problems.

But the sun is shining and the temperature is due to rise to around 22C tomorrow. This city is massive and surprising and does have some lovely corners. The population is interesting and diverse – from all corners of the globe and all religious permutations. Vietnamese Baptists being one such unlikely combo.

And at last we seem to have secured our home. Not the one I reported last time, a greedy landlord spoiled that plan. But a lovely house in a secluded street – very close to – the Texas Medical Center…so we’ll be good for health care when we need it!

Getting started

Home alone

January 11, 2015 katheross 1 Comment

It’s been a week of firsts.

Maurice went to work in the Chevron office in Houston and I was left at home alone for the first time since we arrived.

It was strange being left behind in the apartment all by myself. I pottered around for while and then set off to walk to the nearby TJ Max which is basically TK Max – with a J instead of a K – strangely.

While shopping, Maurice called to arrange for us to meet up with Matt, our realtor guy, again. He came to the apartment mid afternoon to collect me and we met Maurice at another property to view.

The property was very nice, a spacious modern house in a lovely street, but in a gated complex which provided very little outside space and a cramped feel at the sides and front of the house. We did not rule it out – the area was certainly a good one. This was the ‘Medical Center’ as it is so close to all the hospitals in Houston. I imagine many of the residents around here will work in these hospitals, although I think the consultants will be living in the mansions we saw when we were practising driving the other day. Outrageous palatial homes with huge grounds and ornate features which line the desirable boulevards of Memorial Drive and River Oaks.

We checked out another property in West University. It was ok, had a spacious feel, plenty room for us, although the kitchen was pretty tiny, but the garden was flooded and plumbing problems were in the process of being fixed. We didn’t think this was for us.

Then we went back to Buffalo Speedway, also in West U, and re-visited a lovely house with a pool. We decided to go ahead and apply to become tenants with some modifications to the original proposal. Just had to wait and see if we would be accepted.

The next day I visited the gym in the apartment complex for the first time. Not a bad wee facility, all the machines you need and tvs to watch too – with rather macho ‘Dave’ style tv channels chosen. I was the only one there.

After my gentle work out, I had a go on one of the massage chairs available. This felt rather like being in a car wash for humans, without the water. I was poked, squeezed and vibrated from all sides in an unpredictable sequence of electrically controlled undulations that successfully removed any stiffness from my muscles. Very strange.

Later that day we heard that we had successfully secured the house on Buffalo Speedway! So just the paper work and money to sort out now.

Wednesday passed pretty much like the other two days home alone, this time I walked to the Galleria and rummaged around in a few of the huge choice of stores, really just to get out and get some exercise.

When Maurice came home, we set off to see a car that he had spotted for sale online – a 2011 Nissan Sentra. A tad more sensible than the Corvette. And before we knew it, he’d bought it. Spurred on by a young sales guy who said another customer was interested and coming along ‘any time now’ to buy, and a reduction of $500, Maurice said yes – and initialled what can only be described as a scrap of paper with a handwritten note on it saying – ‘I will buy this car if you reduce it by $500’. I thought it was all a made up wee story about the other customer – but then he arrived and even said to us – ‘you beat me to it’! So he wasn’t fictitious he was a real person.

The dealers make it very tempting and easy to commit to buy, then hit you with the usual array of paper work. It’s not a whole lot different to buying in the UK but different enough to feel quite alien, when you don’t know all the legalities. A very lovely lady called Becky guided us through the finance and then that was that. We couldn’t drive it away, but everything had been put in place.

Maurice works a 9 day fortnight and this first Friday was the planned ‘TDO’ or tenth day off so, a four day week for him to start the year nice and gently. Thursday was his last work day this week. I went to the gym again and braved some more ambitious settings of the massage chair – the ‘relax’ setting I found to be far from that – and watched some more bloke tv about trains braving the elements in Alaska through all weathers. The train hitting a dog on the track was a low point.

We had a ‘date night’ at a local Galleria hostelry in the evening to mark the start of the weekend.

Then Friday was a very busy day!

We had all the finances to sort out for the car and the house and were panicking slightly about how to get much needed funds over from the UK accounts to the US in the most economic way. I happen-chanced upon a recommendation on the Martin Lewis Money Expert website which proved very fortuitous and we managed to navigate our way to a reasonably smooth money transfer. After an initial delay when I thought we had signed over all our worldly goods to a total stranger, a confirmation popped through and we could breathe again. Phew.

A morning of emailing, phoning, transferring and confirming passed in a flash. Later than intended we set off for Maurice to get a hair cut and to buy a satnav for our new car.

The barber was ‘Mike’s’ although precisely who Mike was remains a mystery as the establishment was entirely staffed by Latino women who spoke in Spanish, very fast, and in a screechingly high pitch and volume up at max. Only one apparently occupied to actually cut hair, although there were half a dozen barber’s chairs lined up in this pretty basic shop, each with a plaque above, hanging at various jaunty angles and proclaiming that the named individual was a ‘certified cosmetician in the state of Texas’. A tv in the corner was showing a Spanish game show of some kind and one of the ‘cosmeticians’ was riveted to it. It appeared to be quite an amusing programme as the regular, deafening squeals of laughter testified.

The hair was cut – looks ok and only cost $6 plus tip. Can’t complain about that. But don’t think Mike’s will be for me, certified or not.

Best Buy is a bit like Comet (RIP) but of course bigger, like all things Texan. We selected a cheap satnav and spotted some good bargains for future reference in the fridge and tv sections too. Here’s hoping Best Buy doesn’t suffer the same fate as Comet, or at least, not until after we have bagged some bargains.

World Market was next door. Liked the selection of furniture and accessories in here and not too pricey either. Another place to keep in mind when we need to start getting ‘stuff’.

After lunch at a Thai cafe we headed back to the apartment before going out to collect our new car. By this time it was nearly rush hour and I was not confident about driving alone so we took a cab to the dealership, got the keys and drove our first owned US car back home. It is a lovely roomy car – very comfy and of course, automatic. You get a lot more car for your buck over here, that’s for sure. This one will be Maurice’s work ‘mule’ and will do very nicely.

It was Friday night so we popped around the corner to an Argentinian restaurant and lounge for a beer and a wine or two. There was a guy playing flamenco guitar there which was lovely and the place had a great atmosphere. We didn’t eat here but the menu looked good – a possible for another night.

Saturday was baltic. Absolutely freezing – well nearly. And at one point, colder than Aberdeen.

We had elected to complete a 6 hour Driver’s Ed programme to help us pass the theory test which was set at the end of the day. We were a collection of nationalities, a group of around 15 mainly Chevron employees, it appeared. We went through the driving manual section by section and heard some colourful driving tales from our teacher Mrs Bo-something (she didn’t give us her first name – strangely). Her husband was there too – but in an unknown capacity other than being called upon to answer a question relating to school buses, and her mother was the secretary for the day, her father having passed away some 9 months prior. Quite the family affair.

I was left feeling, I never wanted to ever, ever risk driving in Texas ever, ever, ever.

We both passed the test – a two part test of regulations knowledge and traffic sign identification. So we can now progress to the practical test once we have been resident in Texas for 30 days. I will book some lessons to get my confidence up, that is definite. Once I am behind the wheel I’m not too bad, but moving between lanes is still a bit scary and certainly driving on the Freeway is not my idea of fun. I guess I will get used to it.

So, a new car, a new house, a first haircut in the US, a load of new experiences from ‘driver’s ed’ to massage chair.

First impressions from our first 2 weeks: it may just be because we are ‘aliens’ but imho this is a bureaucratic country (or maybe it’s this state), soooo much paper work. And the form designs will never win any plain English awards – legal terms of obscure origin appear preferable to the everyday alternatives. But everyone we have met has been really helpful and friendly. It is just a tad concerning when the driver’s ed teacher tells you she owns a gun ‘there are some crazy people out there’ and keeps it handy ‘especially for over this holiday period…’

At least there is some familiar cold and miserable weather. Beginning to feel at home.

Getting started

Cars, trains and flying saucers…Phil Dunphy and Gustavo

January 5, 2015 katheross

Driving the wrong way and heading towards a train which has dazzling headlights on and is sounding its horn, in a thunderstorm is not to be recommended…more of that later.

We awoke pretty early on New Year’s Day and had a leisurely start to 2015. The weather was not great – again – so we decided to go for a drive and take an external look at the houses we have selected to view tomorrow.

First we ventured to a couple slightly to the north of where we are currently in an area called Rice Military. These were relatively new build houses, looked smart, but had very little land space to speak of and were in an area that looked a bit random – lovely one minute, shabby the next. We drove around and felt that perhaps one had potential.

We then headed south and drove to an older property that looked drab and shabby from the outside – very brown. However, on the plus side the neighbourhood was wonderful. Maurice had a squint through the windows and confirmed that the inside looked pretty run down. Shame really.

We drove past another couple in this area which were more promising and took note of these for our visits the next day.

Then we drove to the Lexus car dealership which was open on New Year’s Day.

Well, it’s all very tempting. Firstly the dealership was amazing. Not a bit like Arnold Clark! It had it’s own little cafeteria with free eats as well as coffee and tea. The salesman, Ken, was extremely helpful and not a bit pushy. I don’t know if there is a subtle shift in sales technique over here of if it is just how it has always been but the emphasis is on making the customer relaxed and happy. Very low key, very effective. We checked out a couple of options but didn’t get to the test drive stage – hopefully that will follow. I was impressed though.

We were going to go to CarMax but saved that delight for another day, heading back to Sage for some lunch across the road at a Mexican restaurant. This was an interesting place – the experience was not unlike visiting Los Pollos Hermanos – maybe slightly more upmarket to this. And I would not have been surprised if the top man there was called Gustavo.

The rest of New Year’s Day passed…

On the Friday we were up to meet Matt our realtor. I hope he doesn’t mind that I think he looks identical to Phil Dunphy – only a good deal younger. He is a lovely helpful guy.

We had researched a few more promising places to visit and set off with Matt in his Jeep. The first we visited was the very drab brown house. It was equally drab and run down inside. A great place to buy and make over, but not to rent. But the area was fantastic. We checked out 2 more in this area, one with a pool which we were both taken with. It was a bit old fashioned and the pool was both a plus and a minus as the cost reflected it, but it quickly became our preferred choice.

Then there was another very brown house. On the inside this time. All on one floor, very dingy and very brown. Again, such a shame as a bit of TLC would have this place very desirable.

We were getting a feel for the area and what you could – or indeed couldn’t – get for your money. This is your AB15 equivalent in Houston. Your West End of Glasgow or your Morningside of Edinburgh. Lovely but pricey.

We discussed with Matt the pros and cons of this area as opposed to the lovely larger houses elsewhere and both of us feel that location has it over house size. There are only the 2 of us so provided our house has enough space for the odd visitor then we can be more practical.

Then we saw Plumb Street. A lovely little house in an amazing street. The house is perhaps not so little, but the kitchen is tiny, the rooms smallish by US standards and it is a curious shape and layout. Most odd is the huge room in the loft which is shelved on both sides from floor to lie in ceiling. We are very curious to learn what went on in this room with so much shelving.

Anyway, it quickly became our number 1 choice both due to location and price.

We went up to the Heights area to visit another we had identified previously, so that Matt could show us a newer house with all mod cons.

It was lovely but too big really for our needs. The ground area round about was miniscule. So we set about putting in an application for Plumb. A bit of paperwork to complete – and we are still waiting to hear…fingers crossed.

One of Maurice’s old Harley buddies, and former neighbour of ours, was in town on a lay over with his job – he works for BA. So we made contact and headed into the downtown area to meet him for a drink on the Friday night. But meantime the heavens had opened and we were treated to a major Houston thunderstorm. Rivers of water ran alongside the roads and pavements. Maurice drove – windscreen washers set at full speed couldn’t cope with the combination of torrential rain and spray from the other traffic.

We were glad to get into town in one piece. Parking proved a challenge but we eventually just parked at Paul’s hotel, met him there and crossed the road to the Flying Saucer pub which was pretty busy on a Friday evening. A couple of hours of chat and beer pleasantly followed.

I was the designated driver for going home having stuck to Perrier.

My condition had been to stay off the Freeways – I know you can do this – but even though the satnav was programmed thus, I found myself hurtling on to 59 North or whatever, and wanted off again immediately. Coming off was a mistake.

We got lost in the dark one way system of downtown which also has the added peril of the metrorail.

This is a tramway system – the rails for these pop up in unlikely places and you are left puzzling over if you are allowed to drive there or not. I figured not when I was faced down by a large tram with its headlights on heading towards me – I was apparently going the wrong direction on a one way tram line/street. A sharp turn right and I pulled in to the side of the road to both calm down and to get our bearings.

I decided to brave the freeways. I was relieved to come on to the 8 lane highway which seemed so preferable to a warren of one way dark streets. I navigated home with the help of satnav and Maurice who remained remarkably calm throughout this whole experience – must have been the Lawnmower beer.

I needed a few vinos when I got home.

The next day, Saturday, had a bit of a strange feel about it. One of those in between days when it is hard to figure out what day of the week it actually is.

Our mission today was to look at used cars at CarMax.

This is a supermarket for cars – mega, mega huge with a confusing choice of options. Maurice had seen a Mustang he was keen on (I’m not) and so we sat down with the ever-so-helpful sales person to look at the deal. One thing about CarMax – you get what you pay for and there is no negotiating involved. What you see is what you get which does make things straightforward.

We do need to buy a car before 12 January or pay for additional rental costs ourselves. Chevron pay for 2 weeks and give you that time to get sorted.

We also checked out the VW Tiguan and Maurice kept salivating over the Corvette in the showroom – a truly ridiculous car that he would love and I would hate.

Onwards from there we stopped by The Burger Palace for a lovely lunch before heading home.

After a short break we headed out to the Galleria where I had been the day before, to give Maurice an idea of how close we were and what was there.

He did think that over $2000 for a skimpy jacket in Neiman Marcus was ridiculous and I thought $500 for a really uninspiring work style skirt was completely overpriced.

We won’t be shopping there routinely.

Sunday was a lovely day. We headed to Hermann Park for a walk and a wee trip on the kiddie train.

We tested out routes from our preferred house on Plumb to the office and Maurice practiced driving to Smith St for the start of work tomorrow. I practiced driving too – with less success but still – I managed, albeit it always nearly ends in divorce or tears or both! We lunched at the quiet Thai restaurant near Randalls and then chilled for the evening so that Maurice could be rested for his big day tomorrow.

Can’t believe we have done so much in such a short space of time. We know (roughly) where we would like to live, we have options on cars – just need to choose and get Maurice to remain sensible, and we are beginning to quite like Houston.

That could now all change – we really can’t take the house on Plumb – they only want to lease for 6 months which is no use so back to the drawing board…

Arrival

The paper work – Happy New Year!

January 2, 2015 katheross

Oh dear God the paper work!

We have to get Social Security Numbers – forms to complete and a visit to an office which is every bit as you may expect.

Although, on the plus side, not a mega long line and it doesn’t take long. I find it quite an old fashioned place, no automation, but as Maurice said, maybe it’s actually quite nice to just have the personal touch. It strikes me that there must be a more efficient way of doing this. It is very staff intense – but then again – at least these people have jobs. Many of the others queueing up just don’t and maybe can’t work. I shouldn’t knock it. And it had very clean toilets.

A short interview and then, phew – that’s out of the way.

Next – a phone. This is not easy. However, an hour or so later and I get a brand new iPhone 6 and a contract for a ridiculous amount of money. Probably 10 times my previous cost. I had maximum loyalty benefits from Orange. Starting from scratch over here – no credit for loyalty in the UK. Most hilarious were the ‘security’ questions. Have you ever lived in any of these streets – answer ‘none of the above’. Have you ever worked in these companies – answer ‘none of the above’, and have you ever lived in any of these cities – you guessed it ‘none of the above’. Passed security with flying colours. Oh well that’s that then.

Lunch – chicken wings and chilli. Thinking I am needing to get a major ingestion of vegetables soon. Feeling bloated and unhealthy. Still a bit jet lagged but have finally located my melatonin so that will be taken before bedtime tonight and tomorrow – I’ll be in the central US time zone. Just in time to welcome 2015 which I’ll have to do at 6pm and midnight!.

We forgot to fill in an important customs form – but actually I thought we had to leave it blank. So not guilty. It has to be printed and filled in and then what? Not sure – have left that to Maurice. Honestly, it is no wonder this country has so many immigration issues – most people would really just not bother, not because they are doing anything illegal, but just to avoid the mountain of paperwork. And actually not sure that the government has the resources to bother pursuing you either.

The bag finally arrived – 2 days late. But thankfully with all the contents intact, and that was important. Maurice will sleep better tonight.

Hogmany dawns another ‘gy dreich’ day in Houston. The weather could not be more Aberdonian if it tried, albeit not as cold.

We venture out for shopping with me in the driver’s seat – back to the rather nice store Randalls which we discover is actually a Safeways. We get the store loyalty card too to benefit from their saver prices. And then spend rather a large amount on what appears to be not an awful lot…

Maurice in Guitar Centre — Kid in a sweetie shop

We find the local guitar centre where Maurice was like a kid in a sweet shop. An amp had to be tried out. Lots of passing shoppers in there commented to Maurice on his playing which gave him a thrill – he is good and does need to be reminded that he is! I bought him a tiny gizmo which fits into his guitar for silent jamming – a mini amp and it connects to headphones and iPod to provide his backing tracks. And was amazingly cheap. Christmas pressie sorted, a bit late.

Back in the apartment we chilled and I cooked a large curry before skyping the girls and Maurice’s sister after midnight UK time. That was hilarious – to see people rather merry when we were stone cold sober in the US. And unsurprisingly rather butterfingered with their tablets and phones. Screens went blank a few times. I have already skyped Iain and Sheila too – while they and we were sober – it is amazing how technology can bring you so close to people at the other side of the world.

We could barely keep awake for midnight. I watched a Hard Day’s Night and then 10 minutes short of all of Gimmee Shelter to keep me going and to see in the New Year. US non-contract tv is a bit pants but you can find some hidden gems if you search hard enough.

So Happy New Year to one and all! Hope y’all have a very healthy and positive 2015.

Whole Other Country

Monthly Archives: January 2015