From the category archives:

California

An English Rose wilting in California

by Lorna Harris on January 7, 2010

I have received some very strange observations about my appearance recently which has led me to believe that there must be a certain look to English women.
My first experience was being told at a party that I looked liked ‘Steve Martin’s ex-wife.’  I knew whom the person meant but neither of us could remember the [...]

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etnies – a European tribe in Orange County

by Lorna Harris on November 25, 2009

My youngest son is a skateboarder and a BMX rider.  He wrecks his shoes.
For the first few years of his life we headed into Clarks, England’s main children’s shoe shop, to make sure the computer measured his feet correctly.  Then the best black leather shoes were chosen to fit his feet perfectly so he would [...]

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Living in a ‘War Zone’

by Lorna Harris on November 19, 2009

We do.  We live in the middle of chaos.  On Friday and Saturday nights, parties rage, music thumps, groups of people on bicycles cruise by looking for parties to attend.  We moved here from a quiet English village.  A village so small, there was no street lighting, at night it was pitch black and a [...]

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Discovering The OC and Expat Communities

by Lorna Harris on November 6, 2009

I’m flying home for a few days tomorrow.  I don’t really need to go home.  I’m not missing the weather, the culture, the food or anything else, not yet.  But I do miss my friends.  I miss my girlfriends who have supported me in the move to the US, who have shown that wherever I [...]

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LA Darling, Accidentally on Purpose

by Lorna Harris on October 6, 2009

I’ve changed.  I know I have.  Since moving to California, I hang out with celebrities in LA and neglect my friends.  Well, that’s what I did on Friday night anyway.  A group of bloggers were very kindly invited to the set of Accidentally on Purpose, a new sitcom from CBS which airs on Monday nights.  [...]

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Coffee Cake, a cultural misunderstanding

by Lorna Harris on October 5, 2009

You’d think after 20 years of visiting or living in America there’d be no more misunderstandings.  You’ve worked them all out.  Faucet = tap, elevator = lift and so on.  But every now and then something catches me out and a small cultural misunderstanding takes place.
This time it was Coffee Cake.
I love coffee, particularly lattes [...]

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Only in California: Surfing Dogs!

by Lorna Harris on September 29, 2009

Surf lessons for dogs?  Of course!  How else is your pooch going to be ready for the Surf Dog Contest in Huntington Beach on 11th October?!
I saw this advertised last week and was fascinated.  Can you actually teach a dog to surf?  Or, is it more a case of teaching the dog’s owner how to [...]

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Shockingly Creative: Duffy Electric Boat Names

by Lorna Harris on September 15, 2009

Shock Cousteau, Cutty Spark, Spark N Ride and Amply Endowed are some of my favourite electrically inspired names Duffy owners create for their boats.
Newport Harbor is home to the Duffy Electric Boat.  They’re unique boats with an awning on top used mainly for cruising around the harbor in a very civilized manner, drinking cocktails, eating [...]

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Sea Lions: An Update!

by Lorna Harris on September 13, 2009

A number of people asked me about the sea lions featured in the post below and how on earth do you get them off your boat?  Well, during another trip out in the harbor this weekend, we found out.
They don’t like being squirted with water and not only do boat owners use this technique to [...]

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The Sea Lions of Newport Harbor

by Lorna Harris on September 6, 2009

The sea lions of Newport Harbor have been causing a few problems of late.  The harbor is filled with luxury yachts and cruisers.  It’s one of the biggest harbors in the US and great to people watch, but it’s the sea lions that provide the most entertainment.
The sea lions take no notice of the cost [...]

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