This is the journal of my trip to San Francisco, I have edited it since I got home, but it is largely untouched and contains my experiences and feelings about my first (and probably only) trip to California.

Saturday Dec 10^th

I got out of bed at my usual weekend time of 10am, after getting an early night at midnight on Friday. That didn't help much, I don't sleep well before any "special" event.

I did some running around in preparation for my trip but I had already decided to stay up all night so I wouldn't miss the 4.30am taxi.

Sunday Dec 11^th

I went online to check out my luggage allowance on Virgin, two suitcases and one carry on, but when I checked my allowance for British Airways for the Manchester to London leg, it was only one suitcase. As we had already packed two cases, I had to get up in the loft and get one of the big ones out and re-pack everything.

I also printed out my boarding pass, which came in useful when I got to Manchester. The queue for check in was a snake of about 50 people. And the nice BA lady pointed for me to join it. I let her know I had printed my boarding pass and she then pointed to the fast bag check-in desk where there was no queue. Hurray for our side. I passed that hurdle and the security one with no incident.

Heading for the passenger lounge and getting peckish I decided to avail myself of the facilities and got a breakfast - “no black pudding, no tomatoes for me please” I got an extra slice of fried bread but no extra sausage.

It didn't take long to finish that off. Then I settled down for a long wait. Of course my flight was delayed...

My flight was called 25 minutes late.

So I hustled down there and got into my rather cramped window seat for the 70 minute flight. I missed most of it. As there was no catering on this flight due to staff shortages, there was nothing to keep me awake, so off to dreamland I went. I woke up just in time to see the landing.

I had made arrangements to meet up with this bloke who I am buying a bike off, so while I was walking through terminal one, I phoned him and he set off. Then I found out I was on the wrong side of the security barrier, so I decided to ring him again and say that I couldn't make it, figuring that the effort of explaining why I was on the wrong side when I was trying to get back in was too much hassle. As it turns out, by the time I got to the gate, my flight was boarding. Thank goodness I had the foresight to have my suitcase forwarded so I didn't have the added delay of retrieving my case and lugging that from terminal one to terminal three.

On this second, longer, flight I had the dubious pleasure of having an aisle seat. This meant that I was hopping up and down whenever the two in the other seats wanted to stretch their legs. Each time they did, I used it as an excuse to take a turn up and down the plane.

Someone once told me (I think it was Ben Elton actually) that if you order a special meal, you get it much sooner and usually hotter than everyone else's. I ordered a diabetic meal and it was rubbish. A piece of chicken and some veggies in one container and some dried fruit in another and some fruit salad in a third, oh and one with some green stuff in it. Not a bit of flavour in the whole thing.

Later on the flight I got another diabetic option a wrap with chicken and salad, no dressing on it, so it was like eating a bit of cardboard wrapped around a pair of shoes. I was grateful for the three glasses of orange juice, and the two glasses of red wine.

As the flight was a little over ten hours, I managed to fill the time by watching some movies, some of which I dozed in front of – I'll leave you to guess which ones from this list -

War of the Worlds

Miss Congeniality 2

Sky High (I think it was called)

The Island

I kept doing the leg exercises, but I still wish I'd been in first class for the extra room. I must enquire how much an upgrade would be...

The pilot told us all to look out of the left side to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, but the two who were nearer could see all this, but I missed out, not being able to see through their heads.

The landing was uneventful, standing about for ages while the people nearer the doors got themselves sorted and off the plane was the usual headache, but what's new? It reminded me very much of arriving at Euston on the train.

After queuing for what seemed like an hour I eventually got through immigration. I had joined a queue and the computer decided to crash two people ahead of me. The aisle was closed and I had to move to another one.

Baggage collection was a doddle, I stopped at a likely looking point and saw my bag coming towards me. Then I went towards where the bags were being scanned and opened but I was directed off to the side and straight outside (nearly) I followed the signs for hire cars and found myself on a train station. Very nice station, no way could you fall on the tracks, because they had windows and doors all down the platform edge. A driverless train arrived and took us the wrong way around the airport to the hire car area where I got a car in record time.

Then I found out my first big mistake. I had forgotten to print an area map. Trusty GPS to the rescue. Well, no actually not. The GPS can't pick up any satellites here in California so it was a waste of time bringing it, the lead to connect it to the PC and my hopes of using it to save myself getting lost. I did think it was the batteries and changed them, but it wasn't them.

Very nervously I set out onto the highways of America and within half a mile I missed my turn. I had to take the next right, U turn in an industrial area (lucky it was Sunday) and get back to the turn again. Then onto the freeway.

I followed that and kept looking for signs for Cupertino, but there were none. I should have been looking for Sunnyvale but nobody told me that. Eventually I found I was entering San Jose which I knew was too far, so I turned off and turned back on my self down unknown (to me) streets and such. I found myself in beautiful downtown Burbank, with it's charming Victorian wooden houses, all painted in pastel colours, surrounded by chain link fencing.

Finally I found myself on Stevens Creek Road, now I was getting somewhere! I followed that for what seemed like too long but eventually I got to De Anza Boulevard, tuned and found the hotel, right where it was supposed to be. THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT.

I checked in with no problems and wasted no time in phoning home as promised. It was 2.15am there and I was worried about Lorraine not getting enough sleep. After a short chat about this and that, I went out in search of food. I found a burger bar around the corner (surprise surprise) and ate there.

Then I went shopping, bought bananas and mouthwash.

Back to the hotel and put some coffee on, but fell asleep before it was ready. I woke up three hours later, and had a cup of cold coffee, no sweetener or milk. (non-dairy creamer, yuck!) then straight into bed. I woke up at 7am.

Breakfast was uneventful, and soon over. I set off for Cadence at 8.30, for a fifteen mile ride. I missed my turn again, I kept looking for the signs for the freeway I wanted (880) but when I saw one it was just to my right. I came off at the next off ramp and doubled back. I arrived at 8.55, just in time for coffee and bagels, donuts etc. I settled for coffee.

The course numbers are small this week. Only five of us altogether. One loudmouthed New Yorker, one Californian woman and a couple of Asians who keep pretty quiet. And me.

The tutor hasn't done any teaching for five years, having been in support for the interim, so whilst he knows the software pretty well, we don't know yet how good a teacher he is.

We have done pretty well today, about a quarter of the first very thick book of two, so I don't know how we will be able to up the pace sufficiently to cover both books in a week.

Lunchtime we had vouchers to use in the cafeteria. I got a mixed salad, a piece of pizza and a double cheeseburger. Too much food for lunchtime, I really must try less tomorrow.

At 5pm when I came out I tried to find this huge mall, but it was dark, and I missed the miniscule sign. When I had travelled enough down the Sacramento road to figure I had missed it, I did a U turn and found it easily on my way back, problem was I was in the outside lane of four, so I carried on and headed for the hotel. Just before I got there, I spotted Wolffe road, and decided to look for the Duke of Edinburgh pub, because according to the Californian in the class does “really great English food”. They might but I didn't fancy anything on the menu. I had the one beer at $5 and left.

Straight back to the hotel and a stroll down the road to the Outback Steak House where they serve Aussie chips and a variety of steaks. I must be feeling hard to please, as all I could order was the chicken and chips. It was crap. I managed to force down the bulk of the chicken and some chips but I had to get out of there, the heat was beginning to bother me, it was stifling in there.

The walk back did me good, I called at a petrol station and bought a map so hopefully I won't be getting so hopelessly lost in future. When I got in I showered and did a pot of coffee to keep me up until I could phone home. I sorted out some emails while I waited for 11.30 to arrive (7.30am UK)

Tuesday 13^th

I did it, I finally got to overtake a black and white, and when I looked in the mirror, there was another one behind me.

That was this morning and tonight I overtook a Santa Clara Sheriff's dept. car.

Speed limits are just numbers at the side of the road, they have no relation to the speed everybody blasts past them at, and I just go with the flow.

Outside the training centre at Cadence there is a basketball court, and a volleyball court and today a bunch of guys came out at lunchtime, dressed for a workout and proceeded to have a good time on the basketball court. You just don't get that happening in England.

The whole atmosphere in California is just so laid back, it's catching. I took a wrong turn on the freeway tonight and wound up in Santa Clara, so I didn't panic, just pulled over, got out my map and worked out how to get back to familiar ground, then did it. No worries.

I called for a Big Mac, fries and coffee followed by a huge frozen yogurt - that was the best meal I've had since I got here, outside of Cadence that is.

For lunch today I had Hawaiian style pork, and when you consider the plate was piled high with food, and about half of it was pork, you understand when I say that it was good value at $5.65 and delicious too.

I was travelling 880 tonight when I heard a sound that I recognised, but only from TV and movies, so I looked around and there it was - a late sixties Mustang with open pipes and knackered suspension. It was bouncing all over the place but it sounded SO good. I couldn't take a picture, because as it was dark, the camera would have flashed and I'd have got nothing.

I found my way into the Great Mall, and walked my feet off. The discovery channel has shops! Also there was a Radio Shack, long gone in England.

Wednesday 14^th

Today I got to do the MSN thing with Alice this morning, but no audio. Alice is using my PC because hers has the same problem that Catherine's had the other week. It looks like it's going to be re-installing XP time when I get home. What a pain in the bum.

Managed to be 15 minutes late this morning, despite setting out at the same time as I did yesterday and Monday. Missed that Oakland turn again, must watch that one tomorrow. At lunchtime I had my first turkey of the season. A real American turkey dinner. Delicious. And filling (again). I managed to make couple of people laugh too, I was asked why I lived in a house full of vegetarians and I replied that it was too expensive to leave.

After work I set off to find Fry's Electronics, and Pete was right, it's huge. I managed to contain myself and not buy anything. I then found Sears and had a look round there. They had some nice coats at good prices. I also went to Target, a real discount store where I spent some money on things for home and Dave's coffee. 3 for $8 was a real saving.

Across the car park was a Noodle cafe where I had a combination on rice and it was really good, filling too. No pud today, so I set off to find the hotel and successfully managed that again. I'm definitely getting used to the driving thing, and finding my way about.

Picked up a free newspaper this morning and looked up what's on TV, to find Lost was on, so I watched that – they are about a series ahead of us... no matter.

Thursday 15^th

I did it again today, missed the Oakland turning but I'm getting better, I took the next one off, like I did before, but realised sooner how to get back on track and did it. The traffic was very heavy this morning for some reason, but I just made it in time.

A good morning session followed by chicken pie with a salad plus my usual bean salad on the side made an excellent filling lunch. While Jan and I were looking for a table, a bloke came up and said hello to Jan. Apparently they have known each other for years, Jan introduced me and I said hello. So when a table came free I excused myself and went to sit down. I was joined by Jan, Karren and Dave (the instructor). After a few minutes this bloke came to the table and gave Jan a parcel and wished him a Merry Christmas, then he gave me a parcel too! I was surprised. It turned out to be a large Cadence mug. At the end of the day, Jan gave me his mug, saying, “Heck, I got three of these already, what do I want another for?”

This afternoon I got a visitor in class, it was Umar Shah with my software! Hurray. At last I have it, now I can get it installed when I get back to the office. In January.

This evening I decided to go and look at this shop that I had read about “Big 5” a sports shop, they had some really nice shoes for $13 but not in my size.

So I went for my tea to a Mexican food place and had a Chipolte chicken salad and it was lovely. Very hot, but I expected that. Now I know why Speedy Gonzales runs everywhere. Round the corner I found a small local store called Trader Joe's and bought some unusual crisps, peanuts and sugar free chocolate and bananas for snacking on in the evenings. I was back in the hotel at 7.30pm. I'll just have coffee and snacks, watch some TV and surf the web for a while.

Friday 16^th

I didn't miss the Oakland turning today! Now I don't need to worry about that one anymore. I'm not going to Cadence again. On the way I was overtaken on the wrong size by a silver topless Corvette, driven by Santa Claus! I took a not very good picture of that one!

Last day of the training course, and we were all feeling whacked, even the instructor. We finished so early it was still just daylight. We were all glad to get out of there. Dave the instructor is heading back to Denver tonight and will get home at about 11.30 Mountain Time, which is about 2 hours behind us, Jan flies back tomorrow morning so he's not losing too much sleep, and me, I'm hanging around, like I have nothing better to do.

I had been told about Christmas in the Park down in central San Jose, so I drove down there to take a look straight from Cadence. I almost cried. It was so beautiful, the children were beside themselves with joy at all the displays and all the street lamps had snow blowers attached to them, so when you walked past, you got “snowed” on. I had to get out of there and back to the car as quick as possible, before I showed myself up. I got upset because there I was in California, the trip of a lifetime and I was all alone, and nobody to share it with.

While I was strolling from the car park to the displays, I passed several unusual sights, there was a two storey fitness centre that was completely glass fronted, so you could watch everybody sweating away in there and another one with a huge climbing wall inside, nothing else. Obviously shops turned into another use. Not a bad idea for re-using facilities and providing a service. Neither place was really busy at the time I was there, but they weren't empty though. Another place was a glass ornament shop had set up a glassblowing workshop outside with a bloke giving a running commentary on what he was doing. There were rides and two big wheels there as well. All very bright and merry for the families. I just got so sad that I was there on my own taking pictures to take back to show what a wonderful time they had missed...

I set off back to the hotel and as I went along San Carlos Avenue, I passed several interesting looking places and stopped at a few. One was an Italian and Triumph motorbike shop. I should have gone in to get a free ticket for the motorbike show that is in town this weekend. Maybe I will tomorrow.

When I got back to the hotel, I decided to have a movie and a pizza in my room, so I ordered the pizza, got the tape and tried it, but the VCR was not working. b*mmer! The pizza took an hour to arrive, but it was very good.

Saturday 17^th

Day off! I woke up at the usual time, but made my way slightly more leisurely to breakfast. I had a chat with Alice online and then went out to find Ham Radio Outlet where I met Art who was on the one hand friendly and encouraging and on the other belligerent and unhelpful. So I left without buying anything. I believe I may go back next week and buy something, but at least he won't get the commission.

After that, while I was in the area, I went round the corner to Fry’s again. Then I went back to the hotel and phoned home, giving Lorraine a fright, as it was Saturday evening. Got to chat with Alice as well.

Then I set out for San Jose to see if I could find any good shopping and the Convention Centre. No good shopping in downtown San Jose, so I hit the convention centre to do the Motorcycle Show and walked my feet off. Got to photograph Arlen Ness, his son Cory and his son Zack. I picked up some goodies for me and for Alice. Met a bloke from York! Small world.

I had a really good snack of Nachos at the show, so when it came time for an evening meal, I wasn't particularly hungry, so I went for a burger and a milk shake. Sorted.

The VCR in my room had been repaired, so I got to watch the film I had the evening before (Matchstick Men) and it was very good.

Sunday 18^th

Day off again! The morning dawned very, very wet. I was downhearted as a result. I set off or San Francisco, as this was to be my only opportunity to see the place for myself. On the way it didn't look good, the rain just got heavier and heavier. By the time I got there I had been through several flooded sections of the freeway and felt like turning round and coming back to the hotel, but I pressed on. I went to Fisherman's Wharf and bought Alice another T shirt. Then I went to the Presidio in an attempt to get a half decent shot of the bridge in the mist. I got a couple of shots of Alcatraz and several mediocre shots of the bridge.

I had lunch in the aptly named Warming Hut. A very nice veggie soup made with chicken stock! Go figure, and a lovely turkey salad sandwich, with coffee of course.

The cable cars were not running. The road to the best viewpoint for the bridge was closed due to unnaturally high tides and all in all it was pretty bleak. I wound my way out of the Presidio following the signs for the 49 mile scenic route. I didn't follow it all the way around, just as far as my highway back to San Jose.

Passing through San Bruno, I saw my first car wreck, a pickup truck had pulled out in front of a semi and was totalled. There were two police cars, two fire trucks and an ambulance there when I came upon it and we all had to cross to the other side of the road, because our side was totally blocked.

I am writing this early today, as I had two days to catch up on, so it's only 4.45. I may just stroll down to the bar at 5 o'clock to see what all this “happy hour” fuss is all about before I go in search of food. Given the weather I may go for room service again. Two VERY large whiskeys later, and I decided the room service thing is a pretty good bet.

Monday 19^th

Into the office today, I got to the car park, and looked for a visitor space, but they were all full. So I used the American way and parked in a regular space. Not a problem.

I got in there and met some people who had no idea who I was or why I was there, so they gave me coffee and sat me in the meeting room to wait for somebody who knew about me. I didn't have long to wait, Nita arrived about five minutes after I did. We got on from the start, I had a feeling we would.

In the course of the morning it was decided that I would be able to collect my Thomson emails while I was there, but that proved to be a bit of a non-starter, due to the VPN! So I had to be satisfied with a PC that I could get at web based emails, but that wouldn't let blue yonder work. So I had to send an email to everybody using my email.com account. I hope it works.

It looks like I am working next week, Wednesday to Friday so I need to get the software installed if possible, and somehow get my holidays re-imbursed for my trouble. Let's hope the plan comes together.

At lunchtime I went back to the hotel to get my PDA for Pete's home number and rang him, but he was unable to help with the email problem. So I rang home and got an earful from Lorraine about the state of the stuff in the loft, because that was where she was when I rang, getting the Christmas decorations down to deck the tree. I got to say hello to Alice and tell Lorraine the news, and as a result of all the trundling around I didn't get any lunch. Not a problem, I have been overeating since I got here.

Tonight I went down to Santana Row, and looked at all the designer shops. As I walked along one street, I passed a young girl on her cell phone, who suddenly yelled out to her friend (who was in a shop) that “He said yes! I'm going to Hawaii!” I guess it must still be a big thing even in California.

After walking till I was tired, I set off to find food. I felt like something different, so I went up De Anza until I saw a steakhouse and went in and ordered a steak with fries. It came with a salad for a starter, a coffee and when it arrived, there were three veggies with it, besides the fries. Which were real English chips. After I had that, all I wanted to do was head back to the hotel to put my feet up. And that's exactly what I did. I watched the Teutels put together their Santa bike, and then follow that up with a sleigh to tow behind it. Cool. Fell asleep and missed the end.

Tuesday 20^th

Another hard working day in the Valley. At lunchtime we went out in Nita's car to a Vietnamese restaurant where we got an excellent meal all for just ten dollars a head. As there were six of us, and one guy spoke the language, we did pretty well. This was after the worst breakfast since I got here. That mess and scrambled eggs again, so I passed on that, just had cereal, yogurt and one piece of cake with maple syrup.

After work I went on the hunt for Lorraine's Christmas present, but failed miserably. Checked out the biggest book shop I could find, and even they have a coffee shop in the middle. Then I went up to Stanford and looked around all the shops there, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and all. Came back to Cupertino and checked out the camera aisle in Fry's again but couldn't make up my mind. I wound up back at the burger place round the corner. Then back to the hotel for some room service ice cream.

Wednesday 21^st

Well, it has arrived at last, my last full day in America. I got to play with the software some more, and learned some more stuff off Nita. I went to Mervyns at lunchtime for some more Christmas shopping. And I went back after work and got some more.

In the afternoon Eric came into the office and we had a few words, but I didn't get time to get my TOCOM training today, so I will have to go into the office in the morning for a couple of hours before I head for the airport.

I went to Target and got a small pizza and coffee for my tea after I had shopped at Mervyns again. After that I was so tired I decided to head back to the hotel to pack ready for tomorrow.

Thursday 22^nd

Going home today! Hurray! Well, not before I go into the office for TOCOM training. But that was a total waste of time, so about 11 am I got the attention of Eric and bid him farewell and happy holidays. I said bye to Darleen, Tricia, Tom and Sherman. Just about the only people I had been introduced to. One person I managed to pigeonhole before I left was Kathy Thorpe, she of the timesheet emails! Nice lady. She suggested that Pete and I get over to Indianapolis next year to get full TOCOM training, but we'll see.

I set off for the airport a little after eleven o’clock and I was glad I had set off so early when I hit traffic on 101 heading North. I stopped off for a coffee and a snack at a roadside café, thinking the airport food would be very expensive. This based on English airports and motorway services etc. I got to the airport in good time, stood in a very long queue to check in my case for what seemed ages. While I was standing there, a group of carol singers went by dressed for snowy weather in Dickensian England and as I stood there sweating in my shirtsleeves, I was struck by the incongruity of it. I decided to put my coat in my suitcase at that point, as I figured I was going to be in air conditioned air until I got to Manchester airport where I would be reunited with it so I really didn’t need it. And I was right! Except for the short walk at Heathrow from the bus to the aircraft… still, not having to carry a coat all that way was well worth the slight inconvenience of those few moments.

I decided to drop off some cash at the burger bar – I had my last American meal, an excellent burger with all the trimmings and a coffee for the princely sum of just under nine dollars. What a contrast to the next airport meal I would eat. I went through the security checks next and found myself a seat until my flight was called.

As I sit here in the airport, I have a bloke called Troy next to me (I know this because he has made several phone calls, each one starting with the words, “Hi, it's Troy again”) and he is so intent on his phone calls that he failed to notice that they had called his flight, and they had to make a special announcement for him to get on the plane!

Now Troy has gone, I can relax until they call my flight…

The flight was delayed setting off, but the flight crew were confident they would make the time up and they did. After all, what’s 15 minutes into ten hours? The flight was very boring. I sat between two sleeping women and tried to either drop off or watch the movies without falling on either of them. I must have slept a little but I really don’t remember much about it. The films were pretty low quality as was the delivery system. The food was naff (especially the diabetic mush) and if I ever do go again, I’m going to ask how much an upgrade will cost.

I arrived in Heathrow and at my first opportunity I rang home, then settled down to my wait of almost six hours. I decided to spend a little of that time getting a reasonable meal, but I was sorely let down by the British way of fleecing people. After the American experience this did come as a small shock, but then what did I really expect? I got a pretty naff breakfast and got well fleeced for it too. Then I settled down to wait until my flight was called. It was a far cry from the wait at SFO. It was dirty, and untidy and too small for all the people waiting, all in complete contrast to the minimum waged, over staffed but incredibly clean waiting area in San Francisco.

When the flight was called, it was to get on another bus to be transferred to the plane. One question I have to ask is, when I get a seat at the back of the plane, we all get on at the front and I have to make my way the length of the plane to get to my seat, then I get a seat at the front, and we get on at the back and I have to make my way the full length of the plane – was it something I said?

The short flight to Manchester was made more enjoyable by the bloke I shared my seat with, he was jolly, in holiday mood and had a sense of humour like mine. So the flight was over in 25 minutes and we bid each other a merry Christmas and went our separate ways. Me to get my bag and him, who knows where. The wait by the carousel was remarkably short and I got my jumper and coat on as quickly as I could. People must have noticed me until I had my coat on!

I got to the last set of doors before the outside and rang the taxi first, then home. The taxi was late due to traffic and I finally got home at a little after eight o’clock. So my total journey home took from lunchtime Thursday until 8pm Friday. Just what you need the day before Christmas.

This visit to America has been a real eye-opener. From the signs in downtown San Jose saying that littering is an enforced fine of $1000 per violation to the other sign saying “Red light violations $281 fine” I have had real pleasure driving over there. The motorists in general do not give way at all, you have to know what you are doing and where you are going at all times and if you miss your turning, tough! But the grid system of road layouts makes getting back on track a much simpler proposition than in the UK.

The people are very polite, and cars give way to pedestrians at all times. I guess my more aggressive stance on that has put the wind up them sometimes, but I guess I would get used to it given time. Not that I would want that time really. It’s a nice place to visit but I certainly wouldn’t want to live there. Not permanently anyway.

Well, now I am back in the comfort of my own home and having had time to reflect, I guess I am getting used to the idea that now I have been there and done it, I know what to do if there is ever a next time (which I doubt there being but I certainly don’t discount it if offered the option) I have had time to come to terms with my experiences, the sights and sounds of the places I went, the people I met, the food I tasted and I am finally beginning to realise what a time I have had.

I would not have changed a thing except perhaps the timing. I do wish it had not been so close to Christmas.

I know I am not the most travelled person around, and accept that, but still, there’s no place like home… it's so good to be back.