Week20

Well, after a couple of weeks of sometimes incessant rain, the sun and warmth has finally come back to Southern California. A week last Wednesday LA was hit with 4 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. The rain has left fresh snow on the mountains and the view from my apartment has never been better, as you can see here.

There is now less than 3 weeks before I return to the UK, so as things begin to wind down I have used the opportunity to take a few days holiday to play a bit of golf and take in some sights.

As you can see on page1 of week 20's photos, before the Oscars were held I visited Hollywood and the Kodak Theatre, where the Oscars are held. Full preparations were under way for the show, with the red carpet being laid and all the tv equipment being prepared. Also on display were the actual Oscar statues to be handed out, security was tight but they didn't mind photos being taken.

In between the rain a couple of fine days led to visits to Laguna Beach and Long Beach. In the Long Beach photos, not only will you see the Queen Mary as well as another ocean liner just off-shore, you'll notice steel barriers alongside the roads. Preparations were underway here for the Long Beach Grand Prix of the 2004 Champ Car World Series.

I've squeezed in four rounds of golf since the last update, including a round at the Oak Quarry Golf Club which is set in a disused quarry. This is the most stunning golf course that either my father or I have ever played with some amazing scenery and a course where a lot of imagination has had to be used in order to create an awesome spectacle.

Check out this hole, the 14th - a par 3 - playing 179 yards from the white tees. It is an imposing sight stood on the tee looking at the green in the distance, but I hit a perfect 4-iron for which you can see the result here. Unfortunately I just missed the birdie putt, but was still pleased with a par on what has been voted the no.1 par-3 hole in Southern California.

Although a lovely warm and sunny day, we played under near gale force winds for most of the day, which was epitomised by this hole. At 292 yards from the white tee, the 4th hole is only a short par far and downhill, but has a very tight fairway. But with the wind behind me, I hit the best drive of the fourball I was playing with, with my 3-iron finishing just short of the green. A pitch and a putt resulted in a welcome birdie.

This is probably the penultimate diary update before I return home on the 25th March, but work has gone so well that the client wants me to come back, so who knows - I may not be home for long! But there's Euro 2004, the Eurovision Song Contest and Sheffield United (hopefully!) in the play-offs and getting promoted to consider first!!

Click here for more sights in and around LA, or here if you have a passion for golf courses.

Late breaking news is that the supermarket workers strike is finally over and they went back to work last week. They went out on strike just after I arrived, they held out a long time but the supermarkets wouldn't budge so the unions had to compromise, but at long last the pickets have gone and I can shop in peace.

Until the next time, take care and see you soon.

PS. Oh, did I mention the weather!
Been in the 80's the last couple of days - 87 yesterday - with a forecast of in the 90's today. Sorry!