Orange County Fair

Because we were on holiday visiting friends we ended up doing a lot of things that we wouldn't have even known about otherwise.  The Orange County Fair was a good example of this.  It was vast, and seemed to centre on eating and fairground rides - not necessarily the greatest combination but it seemed popular.  It was here I tried a corn dog; okay but not great.  Won't be rushing to repeat that one.  

Elsewhere there was the agricultural fair, which it was presumably what it started as, bands (had we stayed we could have seen the 'English' Beat play) and plenty of exhibitions and competitions.  I spent time in the photography section and absolutely loved the pictures in the competition there.  Most of what I saw was in the youngsters and youth categories and it was miles better than the photography that I saw later at the Getty Centre.  

An interesting slice of Americana, great fun, and a baking hot day.  Terrific fun and we'd have missed it if it were not for our chums.    

 

Baseball at the Angel Stadium

Time for finally getting some summer holiday pictures together.  One of the highlights of my holiday was watching my first game of baseball.  Not entirely sure of everything that was going on but absolutely loved it.  Thought I might be going to see LA Dodgers but the local knowledge was for LA Angels and so we rocked up there instead.  The whole family enjoyed it and with some of the games we saw on TV as well, we were hooked.  Was pleased to see '42', a film about racism and baseball, on the plane home and with the headlines that a British politician made about 'Bongo Bongo Land', it should be a must see film for one and all.  

Further joy was had on returning to find Major League Baseball on BT Sport.  Despite (or because of) the Ashes series, and seeing a lot of Exeter City this year, this was my favourite sports event of the year.  

Further thoughts here: Like the Ashes with hot dogs.  This is, after all, supposed to be about the pictures.  

Alex James on Celebrity

Christmas is a great time to sit and read and let the world go by a bit.  We had a great Christmas, services were well attended and (I'm told) well received as well.   Now a bit of time to eat, drink, sleep, and read.  

Interesting read, "Bit of a Blur", the Alex James autobiography. (He was the bass player in Blur) He estimates that he spent a million pounds on champagne and cocaine, slept with dozens of fans and models, and stayed in decadent luxury around the world. Yet, at the 'height' of it all, he says, 

"This was the top of the hill. What else could life hold? It's funny, but when I look back I think that period of my life was the bottom of a pit, rather than Mount Fantasticus. I was a morally bankrupt, drunk fatso with a stupid grin and a girlfriend with a murdered heart." (Quote sanitized a bit).    

It's on page 225, if you want to verify it.