just signed out

and paid my bill. Tomorrow morning at 9.30am I will winging my way back to Austin. Tonight I am sleeping (or attempting to sleep) on my sister's couch as I need to be at Gatwick by 6am. The last week has just flown by and the highlight of the week was the look of surprise and joy on my Mum and Dad's faces as they realised I was standing there. Especially as I had just called them to say I was sorry I wasn't there for their special day.

Anyway more about that and all my other ventures in the coming days. I had a great time here but I am looking forward to Friday when my eldest graduates with her biology degree.

I am in ?

At the moment I am sitting at a bar using the free internet that is provided. I have been here since Tuesday and I must admit much to my amazement, I missing Gordon like a lost limb.

Why am I here? Its my Mum and Dad's goldern wedding anniversary celebration tomorrow and they do not know I am here:) Its all a grand surprised organised by my youngest sister and I,

So what have I been doing in the meantime. Well, I arrived in the UK, last Friday at London Gatwick but quickly flew up to Glasgow (quickly in that I waited patiently for 8 hrs for my flight) to stay with my Father-in-law.

Anyway, I will write more once I arrived back in Austin on 12th Dec. Hopefully I wont be going nuts by then. I really miss all the wry quips Gordon comes up with as we are going about life. A single life is not for me!!!

Well, we were going to Mexico City

until we realised we needed to get some important jags (shots) before going. Maybe next year. We are going away (Gordon and I) for a few days at the beginning of August to celebrate our birthdays , mine on the 3rd, Gordon's on the 6th ( he will be 49, a youngen) and our 22nd Wedding Anniversary.

It had been a toss up between Mexico City and San Francisco as both have direct flights from Austin. I had really wanted to go to Mexico City as there is a major exhibition of Frida Kahlo's work to celebrate 100 yrs since her birth. She was an amazing woman and a brilliant artist, so I would really like to see her work in person but at least next year we can see her studio.

So now I am looking for information on San Francisco, in particular art, as I so rarely see Art other than on the Internet. I occasionally go to Austin to see the galleries there but to be honest there really isn't much there, which is kind of surprising given its the capital of the State. Things have improved immensely since the opening of the new Blanton Museum building in April 2006 and for its size the Austin Museum of Art does well. I always remember the first time I visited the museum and thinking "is this it?" Despite looking fairly large from outside, it is actually only one floor of limited space.

I supposed I was fairly spoilt in that I was brought up in the centre of London ( Westminster) and had all the National art galleries to visit. I would just pop in for a lunch time break, marvelling at all the beautiful work and wishing I could be half so good. It was only once I moved out of London permanently in the mid 1980's that I really appreciated how lucky I had been and wished I had used them more. One day I will be back and boy! am I looking forward to that day! However, have to get the kids through college and get a job which pays well before that happens.

Anyway, as its just me and Gordon going to San Francisco, I am sure we will visit a couple of galleries at least. Gordon is not really into art at all but will put up with visiting a few shows without too many sarcastic remarks. I just need to make sure we space it out with a trip to China Town and other things. Must admit don't know anything about San Francisco at all except for its trams and wild curving downward streets.