Satchmo was right!

Currently I am sitting in my hotel room in Johannesburg having travelled all the way from San Diego. My itinerary was via Heathrow. Very simply, just want to detail something I saw on the way which proves just how beautiful this planet of ours is. And, why we need to look after it.
After taking off from Heathrow on British Airways BA057 at just after nine in the evening, we climbed into the clouds. England at this time of year still has daylight savings and the sun was still bathing the green countryside with it's fading warmth as we set off.
When we poked through the clouds I got to see the sun shining over what seemed to be a pillow of the softest fabric you'd ever feel. Glistening like a perfect kimono. Then, the pilot banked the aircraft to the right in order to head us toward Africa. At that moment, I got to experience the exact opposite sensation. The moon in all its full glory. Reflecting the suns rays down onto the same pillow of cloud. What a sight. Won't forget it in a hurry. Also one of those times where not getting the preferred aisle seat was a bonus.
What a wonderful world!

Now I know why they call it LAX

Hello everyone. Sitting in LA airport right now tapping away this update and am thinking how boring this airport is. No shops to speak of. No televisions to speak of. Nothing to occupy yourself to speak of. Now I know why they called it LAX. Because those that planned it were "lax" in thinking about passenger comfort. Perhaps the LA Airport corporation should take a trip to Singapore and check out the airport there?
Anyway, it's been a busy two weeks in San Diego. As Murphy would have it we got the best weather today - my last. I am mentally exhausted from the week and hope to sleep for a large part of the next flight to Heathrow. That airport at least has some decent shops to look at, if nothing else.
The next time I will be sleeping in a normal bed again will be in about 40 hours from now. Joy.
Looking forward to getting into Johannesburg again though. The little hotel we stay in is very relaxing and I can switch off from the world for a bit.

Only in America

Hi Peeps!
Simply want to say I'm missing the family, love them very much have received a couple of emails from home which is always very welcome and nice.
Also want to relate a few observations of things that could only happen in the mighty U S of A. Only in America:

• will you get a weird look for walking up to a Drive-In ATM
• will you find a bar that has four different baseball games on four different large screen TV's going on at one time - on a public holiday
• will someone boast about only getting 10 miles to the gallon (considering the current oil prices)
• does the number of pick-up trucks outnumber small cars by ten to one - when I say 'small', I mean like a Toyota Sedan. A Yaris would be considered a scooter here.
  

Opening a Beer bottle with no opener

Today's update is going to mention nothing about work at all, but the power of the internet. Indulge me, if you would. Imagine a man who has worked three days straight with a sum total of about twelve hours sleep. Jet-lag is a killer. Also imagine walking into the supermarket five minutes from the hotel and finding they sell nice, cold, inviting beer! Imagine, if you will, this exhausted man, buying a six pack of Sam Adam's pale ale - a very nice drop. Now imagine getting back to the hotel room and realising the bottles are not twist top. There is no bottle opener in the room. Nor is there one in the kitchen down the hallway. SHOCK.
Here's where the power of the internet comes in. More importantly, those brilliant guys at Google. So, you need to find a solution, open up an internet browser to the google homepage and type in, "how to open a bottle without an opener". Hey presto, lots of solutions.
All I can say is - thank god for metal door latches. Simply open the door, place the bottle in the cavity where the latch would normally sit and Bob's your uncle - watch out for the spillage.
Have Fun - I am.....now.