Shootings. This one an example of the vastly different approaches the LAPD take in comparison to the Melbourne Police. A domestic, police called . A guy retreats and appears on balcony with gun . 15 shots to the body and the police quickly wrap this situation up ,all on live tv .No 24 hour sit and wait ,no take cover and wait and talk him out . Lets finish this up asap.Bacon ,that’s what this guy looks like now.Check it out, no nice round piece attached. They don’t have it on their bacon.Also this bacon happens to be the least processed we can find . Apple smoked ,maple flavoured ,double smoked honey . Shoot me now. The result is the bacon is extremely fatty and salty . You have to cook it crunchy which EJ loves ,but I’m so so with it .Eggs,taste normal but have a brighter ,lighter yellow to the yolks .Finally, bread is almost always sweetened.Recently got the organic 9 grain ,wholemeal , brown  bread . The’ healthiest out there’. Yep ,you guessed it ; it tasted like a donut with a thick grainy texture. You can get sour dough but as is the normal there is no subtlety . It’s very sour. So that’s the thing; sweet or salty ,food colourings , comedy and crime is all dealt with a heavy hand . Had my eggs and bacon for brekky while I watched this guy get shot up on tv . It’s the normal over here . …. The Assault Of the Senses.

Car insurance. Turns out I have to pay the maximum .Of course having a company car for 7 of the last 8 years has meant that I have only the last year in Australia as a recent record. No that’s not enough . The insurance companies need a complete history of my driving record . Speeding fines . I’ve had 6 in my life time and 5 of those over that 28 year period are speed camera fines . All under 10 km over . Driving over 40000ks a year exposes you to camera network in Victoria.Unfortunately in the US this is taken into account . Of course you’re not going to get fined over here for those type of misdemeanours,with no speed cameras and a more considered tolerance for sensible driving according to the conditions. So with 1 speeding fine in the last 10 years I’m considered the highest risk driver according to the insurers here .Yep who would’ve of thought those nasty cameras would sting a 2nd time . As they say you do the crime you the time …….again. Next step , studying for our US licenses.

2 years.Thats the minimum we’l spend in Hermosa Beach. All the locals ask , ‘your not going home ,no one leaves Hermosa Beach .Why would you’ .I reply , ‘have you been to Australia ?………..’The locals think their in paradise and when you compare it to the rest of LA you can understand their bias. We live in Monterey boulevard,aloft a small rise that looks down on the Pacific Ocean. Views are limited due to the density of 2 storey dwellings, but there are glimpses.The sea breeze ,heaven sent.700m to your right we are in the centre of restaurants ,bars and cool shops of downtown Hermosa Beach. 1.5 k to your left we are in the restaraunt and tourist precinct of the Redondo pier and marina.Behind us a park , below us the strand.400m further up the hill you hit the major highway ,Supvuleda way. Try and pronounce that . Anyway his some photos of our digs.its expensive realestate this unit is worth well north of 1.2 million 

The seasons are not separated by the end of the month in the US.June 21 represents the official beginning of summer ,ending on September 22.They follow the solstice and equinox dates in separating their seasons.Its immaterial in this part of the world as the summer weather has been here for most of the time (April15)we’ve been here . Right now California is gripped by its 1 st big heat wave for the season . Most of the state and surrounding states have temperatures hovering around 40 . Palm Springs is 48 today , Las Vegas 49 and if you wanted to head into DeathValley today to say you’ve been to one of the hottest places on earth they are saying 53.Since we are going to our 1st little weekend away in Palm Springs for July 4  weekend I’m praying for a drop in temperatures. The South Bay where we are situated is mostly immune to theses heatwaves, to date. The sea breeze kicks in by late morning keeping temperatures hovering in the mid 20s most days . The mornings almost always start with an ocean fog (marine layer or June gloom),before the sun burns it away. Here’s the thing ,we live 400 m from the ocean but if I was to walk inland 3 km up and over the rise that looks down on the Southbay the temperature will quickly rise into the mid 30s . This is where the flat suburban sprawl disappears into the  haze . The heat and smog suffocate the masses,an area they call the’ Inland Empire . ‘Air conditioning is considered a luxury in LA .The majority will do without . This is where you don’t want to live ,but most do. So today is the last day of the school year and the summer break begins. Here we go ,now my peace ends until August 24 when they go back to school. We won’t be cold. It’ll be tough,so I accept you’re sympathy. 

Ok switch off if your not into your surfing.Hermosa Beach sits on a west facing  coast . A bit of a wide exposed bay looking out onto the Pacific  Ocean . From the Sothern tip you’ve got raised headland with cliffs and uber expensive real estate that would arguably rival the views of the Hollywood hills. It looks a lot like the 1st view you get of MtMartha when you descend into the village ,but only bigger .This area is known as Palos Verdes and does have cliffs that remind me of Cape Schank . There are a couple of waves in these areas that are legendary in not there quality but of the localism that protects them from outsiders . At this stage I havn’t felt the need to go there to catch a wave or a headlock , just yet. Hagertys is 1 one of the spots that can light up . YouTube it.Moving north back into the bay you’ve got Redondo Beach . This is a long stretch of beach with a coastal road that sits about 50 meters up, with hotels and apartments overlooking , giving you some great views as you cruise along or park . Waves are generally small here as any swell from the south is shepherded by the Pallos Verdes headland .Still, I have seen it cranking along this stretch when I was waiting for my boards to arrive. A pier and safe harbour split Redondo Beach from Hermosa Beach . This spot is packed full of restaurants, water attractions ,a fresh seafood shop selling giant crabs , lobster (all alive) and heaps of stuff that I thought only Australia had a mortgage on . A lot to see ,drink and eat . A large rock groyne protects it from the swell of Hermosa Beach . The safe harbour would be double the size of Stkilda marina with as you can imagine , some serious money floating around. Hermosa beach stretches north from this point , with a large pier right in the middle before stretching to just South of Manhatten Pier .This coast runs up through Manhatten beach and Elsugundo  beach (aka el Porto) . The surf gets bigger the more north you travel but it’s still rarely big.Eventually you hit the chevron refinery sitting like a monster on the coast separating the southbay from Marina Delray,Venice Beach and Santa Monica .The waves are made for all types and are rarely dangerous making it the perfect spot to learn . Small , shifty and on sand .Yep my mate Russ Spiers would love duck diving his bald head through these little waves .

Yep , it came and went yesterday in the USA. Got the call from Tex to come and get him and his mate at 630 to take them surfing . Is that what I get? The privelage to drive the kids around ,and without even having breakfast or any other pre breakfast   ……… stuff .In bed….. and all  before the kids get up . Shit ,where was I ? Yeah so I got the privelage of watching the kids surf in waves that were too small for yours truly. Had to get back in time so Em could go to Pilates . Fuckn great.Couldnt even mope around and watch the sport as Leroy was watching his 3rd straight episode of sponge bob square pants . Like an untouched corn kernel stuck in a turd , I’d been flushed and forgotten. Fuck it , I’m going on a long walk to find myself a nice tree branch to hang off for a while . But , oh yeah I’d been setup . Had to suck up the tears and blame it on the hay fever .A knock at the front door and there it was . A bike ,an not your normal bike . A retro cool black cruiser that is Hermosan .My 1st bike since I got my Malvern star dragster in 1979. With my new grown beard I’m just about ready to rock the strand . If I can get some roids and do another million push-ups i’l even get my top off. Even went to lunch at Gene Simmons ‘Rock and Brews’ in Elsugundo .See it’s not all cooking , house cleaning and bare foot in the kitchen , occasionally I get appreciated for all the heavy  lifting .who would of thought I’d get a bike for Father’s Day and actually be stoked to have 1. Then to go and have lunch ,washed down with a few beers at Gene Simmons ‘Rock and Brews ‘in Elsugundo . I’m not a kiss man but this is a pretty cool joint . This can’t be real , surely I’m getting sent back to face reality soon.

‘It’s not the will to win that counts but the will to prepare to win that counts.’Ok, this is a line from a sign up promo for the LAPD cadets program .At 15 your kids can become police cadets . A course that opens up career prospects for the police force and also it provides partial scholarships into college . Why ?At this age does your kid really know the boundaries from right and wrong . Will to win . Ha? Some kids over here have got the right and wrong mixed up with the will to win . As I’ve previously stated you do not get into a high speed pursuit, and when caught , as on every occasion so far , you better believe in god and hope you don’t get turned into a sieve.Another pursuit and shoot out . Yeah seen it most days on the news here . This time it was 3 kids who decided it was a good idea to steal a police car and then play starsky and hutch before being rammed ,cornered then sprayed with bullets.Surprise ,surprise they were captured alive . Turns out they were cadets that pinched keys for the patrol car and compound . Obviously these kids didn’t get to the shoot to kill part of the program . They decided for some reason that they might be able to have some fun with there trainers and win this little life and death pursuit against the LAPD with helicopter and media in tow. They were 15 years old .From police cadets to juvy or even jail awaits their fate. I better not put Tex in this course.

I think I’ve seen that much arse and skin it’s starting to become the everyday.Is there something wrong with me?I am a booty man and this joint thinks it’s Copacabana. God bless the need to have the bikinis pulled up tight around the gluteus maximus.The problem is the age range . From 13 to 60 . There’s trouble at both ends but how old are the young girls with there taught , round , beautiful derrières. See , you just don’t know? 13 or 18 . What’s acceptable for a 47 year old man to be looking sideways behind his sunglasses. It started creeping in back home but it’s show time here. It’s crazy what the locals are comfotable in showing . Walking the strand we had an Asian woman walking two Rottweilers ,rollerblading in a g string with a laced top on . 1st week in I would of fell over my tongue ,now I give a nod of well done ,keep up the good work . I had a sore neck early days now it’s just always loose . The South American factor has a big influence and sometimes its the right influence . Yep , just another arse on show . I think i’l drink to that ​

​ just another normal weekend on the strand

Love a Friday arvo. 30 degrees and just backing off as a beautiful sea breeze wafts through the balcony . Oh yeah , smells like summer in June . Yep that delicate smell of salt and suntan lotion mixed in with a hint of musk rising up from the armpit . Another tough week slides by ,our 9th in California.. It’s not easy staying disciplined when you don’t have to get up every morning and drive to the city and then get down on your hands and knees all day .Seriously cheap alcohol and an inviting climate are a dynamic duo that tag team every afternoon . I want it , I’d like ,I love it ,I can taste it . I fuckn need it now cause then I won’t kill these kids .But no . It’s too easy .An affair that can only become a mistress .You could easily drink every day here . It’s affordable and it’ll make watching tv , or not , oh so easy . So from Monday to Thursday abstinence is a must . The count down clock has started and I can’t wait to have that 1st cold alcoholic beverage looking out towards the Pacific Ocean from the other side of the world .So here’s cheers to all you  Aussies back home​

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Fishn chip shops . Don’t have them. Greeks, where are you?A staple in Aus doesn’t seem to exist here.Shocked that this type of takeaway shop can’t work,There’s your fast food style KFC like set up on the corner of your highway that does it . I won’t go there as it’s not the type of fishn chips I want . That’s not real. Here at Hermosa Beach it would be an absolute goldmine. Unique,cheap and easy. A beach town with a crammed in population all within walking distance . I’m serious ,a good fishn chip shop would soon be an institution here. The chickens don’t taste good . At least in the roast format.The birds are bigger but have less meat and very little flavour . 5 roasted versions; two bought already roasted 3 I did myself .The last 2 I had smothered in butter and garlic ,stuffed with onions and bread crumbs and very well salted . Only a rich gravy can bring them up to average.I guess they gotta be deep fried  to work best.That leads me onto your charcoal chicken joint . Not here .They love their chipotle joints.Chipotle is an acquired taste I hav’nt wrapped my tongue around yet.Seriously , charcoal chicken has to work as they love their char grill and the hot crunchy chips with chicken salt ,oh yes that would tempt these young fit fuckers to spend their daily allowance on pimpling up their faces after school. Mexican and pizza seem to be the only ones who set up on your street front in your traditional sense. Both great ,but they could do with some new competition.     P.S.   no bakeries either. Not like home anyway.