The big day had arrived!

So we had a leisurely start to the day with a very hearty and unhealthy breakfast to help the hangovers out of the way. I had been the designated driver so was perfectly fine, though tired, and became chief breakfast cook. The husband was delighted with his presents and overwhelmed and touched by his many cards and good wishes from back home.

We ventured over to Hermann Park again so that we could have a ‘cruise’ on the lake in the pedalos. The sun had come out and we enjoyed the warmth on the lake and the occasional spray from the fountain to cool us down. Ice creams and smoothies followed and a walk back home to get ready for our early birthday meal booked for the evening.

We signed up and tried Uber for the first time. What a grand concept this is. You call your car only 5 minutes or so before you wish to travel as there are always cars nearby. Your credit card details are stored and automatically debited for the amount of your fare and there is no need to tip at all. Our driver arrived promptly, chatted on the way there and had just qualified as a doctor. He was Uber driving to pay his fees and would soon be heading to Oklahoma to take up a position – hopefully qualifying in Orthopedics eventually. The fare is also incredibly cheap.

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A lovely if rather pricey meal was partaken in Prego’s of Rice Village and then we headed to a different pub for a few beers before calling another Uber to take us home. The manager of Bar 55 was very chatty and enlightened us to a few more Texan essentials. He was ‘Persian’ by way of Austria, rather unusually, and now lives and works in Houston.

A melting pot of cultures, Houston does seem to draw an amazing mix of people from all over the world. Readily available employment, plentiful housing and an economy boosted by the major oil and gas industry, despite the recent oil price downturn, makes Texas unique in the US.  A combination of available land and lending regulations have kept housing prices comparatively low and helped Texas avoid the real estate depression that dragged down many other state economies. It has natural advantages over other US states: cheap and plentiful land, a location that enables international immigration and trade and abundant natural resources. The cost of living is considerably lower than the US average. Housing, which represents roughly one-third of a typical household’s spending, is particularly inexpensive.

Thursday was Rodeo day! The visitors started the day with yet another extreme breakfast – courtesy of Leigh who was in head chef mode. We travelled to the Cypress Retail Outlet village in the morning for some retail therapy and headed back to base before our Rodeo experience. Our chosen mode of transport today was the metrorail and this was ideal, dropping us at the entrance to the NRG stadium where the Rodeo takes place. As well as all the fun of the fair, the Rodeo is an immense version of the Royal Highland Show, Texan style with the added spectacle of all the cowboy skills in an amazing multi-discipline competition. Each day is also topped off with first class entertainment from a country superstar and tonight we would see Blake Shelton of US version of the Voice fame!

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Our seats were at the top of a cliff. No, seriously, they were as high up as you can go at the very back row of the NRG. Row T in section 639 was vertiginously placed, at a height I did not think I would reach. I had to be led to my seat and I did not look down – well, only at my feet – until I sat down. Oh dear God this was high up. But the view was stupendous. We could see everything very clearly – although binoculars would have been helpful.

New to Rodeo, I was not sure how I felt about the rough treatment of the animals in the stadium. However, I quickly realised that they did not seem too bothered, and any discomfort they felt was very short lived. Unlike the discomfort felt by the cowboys doing bareback bronco riding or worse, bull riding.

There is an irony about being advised not to walk up the escalator for ‘safety reasons’ in the NRG then watching young lads taking a beating from the back of a young horse or bull like you have never seen anyone withstand before. How do they do it? They must be made of elastic.

Aspiring teenage cowboys and girls take part in the Calf Scramble where calves are released to a group of youngsters who then try to catch and contain them. The main method employed appeared to be to catch their tails.

But for me the most unusual and somewhat baffling event was the Mutton Bustin’. This consists of wrapping a five or six-year old child around a sheep, to which he/she holds on for dear life, releasing said sheep and seeing how long the kid can stay wrapped around the sheep. This is close to that ‘a’ word – however most of the children emerged smiling and happy if a little bruised from their experience. They did wear helmets – which looked particularly necessary as a few stray mutton legs flayed in the direction of a child as they slid to the ground, inevitably, at the end of the run.

The main act started with a bang and being above the stage meant that the fireworks and light show looked all the more spectacular.  I’ve been to some great gigs with light shows in my time – but this has to be one of the most amazing for the angle we watched from if nothing else. Blake Shelton was a fitting end to a great evening with a rollicking repertoire of oldies finishing with Footloose which got everyone dancing – well – in their seats at least. I certainly could not stand up.

And over in flash – the girls’ visit was at their last day. Our last tourist trip was to Twin Peaks. We are ‘lucky’ enough to have one locally and the place did not disappoint particulary Leigh and Maurice who admired the view inside. It was full of men on an early weekend drinking session and others out for lunch. The girls and I were definitely in the minority of mainly male customers. Our hostess and waitress were perfectly pleasant, if a little under-dressed, and  the food was pretty good too.

Off to the airport and we said our goodbyes. Maurice was a bit down after their departure so it was good that we had yet another gig that evening. This was all the better as it was both unexpected and free. Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park puts on all manner of shows over 9 months of the year for free. You queue up on the morning of the performance for your tickets and you get a seat under cover. If you don’t want to do that, there’s the grassy hill to sit on behind the covered area with a great view of the stage. Blankets to one side and camping chairs to the other to allow all to get the best view possible.

I had queued up that morning for tickets before anyone was up and was rewarded with great seats to see the Spencer Davis Group. I had convivial conversation with the others in the line, all of a certain age, who could actually remember the Spencer Davis Group.

So we set off around 7.15 for the park and took our seats along with the other mainly grey haired audience. It did not disappoint. The old numbers were interspersed with a good few unknown ones, all very bluesy and right up our street.

Our third gig in a row came the following evening when we set off for the Rodeo once again.The weather had taken a turn for the worse with torrential rain so we Ubered to the NRG for the princely sum of around $5.00. This time Brad Paisley was the main act and once again we were treated to a feast of cowboy skills. The finals of some of the events were taking place so the stakes, and the prize money, were high. Another Calf Scramble, another Mutton Bustin this time with a wee girl taking the honours, confidently chatting away to the commentator after her event like a seasoned performer.

The star performance though was the winner of the Barrel Racing – a pure speed event where a woman/girl rides her horse as fast as possible around three barrels and back out again. The winner has won several years on the trot (!) and is 57 years young! Find out more about Nancy and see her ride. 

Brad Paisley was pure class and wonderful with his fans.  Our seats were a bit nearer the action, still on the 6th level though so we had spectacular views of the lights and fireworks. Paisley treated his fans to a walkabout by the ringside, shaking hands taking selfies and even a short video for one lucky fan, while all the time singing and playing his gee-tarr.

Back down to earth again today (Sunday) and Maurice has toothache. A search for a suitable dentist has started. This will be a challenge.

Google has provided 3043 search results within 10 miles of our address….