Greetings

From San Luis Obispo, after a blessed fortnight with no UK news at all, though I gather the Iran 'hostages' have been released.

Too many holiday highlights to bore you with - the bear I found raiding the bins at Lake Tahoe and my first look at Yosemite rank pretty high - but for the kids I think the opportunity to blast at targets with a Colt Python .357 and a Mossberg 500 pistol-grip shotgun ('that is mental' was my eldest's verdict) were at the top.

Much though I love it here, I look forward to finding out from Dumb Jon, the Philosopher, Norm, Harry, Scott and co what's been going on back in Blighty. God and Air France willing, normal blogging will resume this weekend.