Things my mother never told me-

1) California is not always warm. Who`d have known that California is not always sunny and warm. As we drove into beautiful Yosemite park, past all the signs that said, ` chains on tires needed` we knew all was not well. Despite the chains we did a little tour of the beautiful Yosemite, and took a few pictures. Due to the annual winter snow however most of the roads in the park were closed. So its a good job we have only packed for warm countries and only have thin waterproof coats with us. we felt like such fools. On the way to Las Vegas we had to phone ahead to check in the road was open, which it was, but got caught in a snow storm just after we had done the trickiest pass!


2) Snow burns. Don't touch the snow in Minnesota with your bare hands it hurts. Here is me trying to recover, although putting two burning hands together also has limited effect.


3) America is the country of opportunity. I LOVE America. Ever since i was an exchange student there and met the Russell's, i have adored it. In fact i am often quite nervous before i go back, as i`ve built it up so much to be this paradise of a place (people included) that i am worried one day it will fall from the pedestal position i have placed it upon. Everyone knows that Americas economy has not been doing so well, but it is tough to see the effect that this has on real honest American families. In my family there are 3 sons (30, 32, 34) of these, only the youngest now has a job (part time at the moment), the other two do not, both have house payments and families to support (neither wife is working either). These are perfectly employable hard working young men and women. This would not happen in the UK.

The Russell's and us at Christmas! They made us do all the washing up and vacuuming but it was worth it. Joking. They wouldn't let us do anything and even brought us presents!

4) Vegas is Crazy. Vegas is not crazy, its not too over the top, there aren't too many show girls or crudity, but there are a lot of ways to gamble. It is nice to see all the hotels and free things, but that is it, the free stuff is limited so as not to detract from the gambling, everything is limited so as not to detract from the gambling. Since we don't gamble, there was only so much to do. For Xss that meant eat, and we managed to get great value out of our all you can eat 24 hour passes (ended up being 45 dollars for breakfast, lunch and two buffet dinners!)

Thanks for a great Christmas Russell type folk. Until next time......