What's wrong with me (that was a statement, not a question, so no emails please!)?? It's 06.30 and I'm awake - and it's grey and overcast outside - WHAT? Have I time-warped back to Blighty? Hopefully it's just a figment of my imagination - those of you who know me well enough, know that I don't often see this time of day - only if I'm getting in from a late night, or getting up to go watch the Mighty Gills!

Have ordered breakfast in bed today - can't be bothered to go downstairs - and at £4.42 for 3 croissants, an OJ and large flask of coffee, it's hardly breaking the bank! However, after reading some guides yesterday, I can expect to tip in the region of 15% - yes, 15%! For a 15% tip, I expect the waitress to be half-naked, while singing Paulie-Shaw at the top of her voice. That's probably not gonna happen though, so when in Rome!

WOW - have had 78 hits on the website - and quite a few emails back - thanks to all those who have been in touch - I will do my best to reply to everyone as soon as I can!

Have just had my first sneaky roll-up on my (rather small) balcony, and looking at the newly-lopped (is that the right word Kris??) palm tree directly outside, it reminded me of seeing this dude yesterday with a chainsaw right at the top - merrily chopping the branches, with a set of spiked shoes, and a rope (tied to the ground - does that do any good?!?). It looks more like a trunk-tree now than a palm-tree - heathen!

As mentioned yesterday, it's Labour Day today - a day off work in recognition of the old labourers who worked tirelessly - for example on building the "rail-road" - so what better way to celebrate their hard work and efforts in having a day off work!! Something slightly hypocritical there, but maybe it's just the American's stab at humour! We also have Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October) as another public holiday - I guess this is to celebrate the discovery of "the New World". Wonder if it's worth lobbying to Parliament to see if we can get a Viking's Day, or a Roman's Day, in recognition of their discovery of our little island - it's gotta be worth a couple of days off surely??

I have a feeling that driving is going to be a tad more difficult than I imagined. Picture the scene - it's midday, the sun has decided to come out, and it's a public holiday. There's only one place to go - the beach! However, not having a clue where to go, I decide to let the GPS guide me - via the nearest McDonald's of course, as my stomach needs filling first!

So off we go along a 7 - yes 7 - lane "freeway". The GPS tells me to take a left turn at the next junction - great! The next junction is 100 yards ahead, and I'm in the middle lane - absolutely no chance of making the turn, I have no option but to go straight ahead. Knowing that the GPS will automatically adjust itself I'm not worried, so, in anticipation of the little device telling me to take the next left, I move over, positioned nicely for the junction. What's this?? Take a right turn - how?? I don't need to babble on too much further, needless to say this went on for about half an hour - I'd passed the McDonald's twice, and my hotel 3 times - don't ask how, as I still have no idea how I managed it! I've decided that a human navigator is much easier - a GPS is NEVER wrong, so I have no-one to blame but myself for getting lost - hurry-up and get here Jemma!!!

While chewing on a quarter-pounder, I decide to do away with the GPS, and trust my own judgement - I've been loaned a comprehensive road map, and although I've never been a boy-scout (yes, it's true) I fancy my chances more with this than the technology available to me - although I'm a techie, some things are best left to old-fashioned methods! I plan a route to 'Fantasy Island' - a shopping heaven; a kind of Bluewater meets Oxford Street - from where the beach is only a short drive.

FANTASTIC - I manage to get there first time - no wrong turns, no road-rage, no embarrassment as I pass the same windscreen-washer twice (he actually waved at me second-time-round - nice!) - I'm feeling a little more confident now. That is until I get to the tobacconist - firstly, he seems to think I'm talking Chinese when I ask for some cigarette papers, and secondly, charges me $8 for 4 small packets - man, what a tourist! I pay, and leave to the monotone-programming of "have a nice day" - I like the politeness offered by this statement, but doubt the sincerity. Maybe he was hoping for a 15% tip!?!

Fantasy Island is definitely a must for any visitors to Southern California, who are addicted to shopping, or eating - there's shops and restaurants galore - some indoors, some outdoors. Macy's and Bloomingdales are the big department stores, but they've got everything from pikey $1 shops, to exclusive brands - definitely time to leave the credit card at home when I come here next time!

Back on the road, and a short trip leads me to the 'Pacific Coast Highway' - a road that runs right the way along the entire west coast - I've found the beach (well, a beach - but it'll do for now!!) - only 3 hours after I started out as well - bonus!! Parking is the same as you'd expect at any English resort on a bank holiday, so it's a case of park in a side-street, and walk for 20 minutes. It's worth the walk - I think I'm gonna hate coming here at weekends - sun, sea, sand, surf, steaks on the barbie - only problem is it shuts at 22:00 - shame!!!

After a couple of hours chilling, I decide to head-back to the hotel (if I can find my way there!) and update the website with today's events. I see a supermarket, and remember yesterday's list of forgotten items, so I head-on-in. What's this? - Wash and Go! Wow, they sell that in England as well - I don't think I'll ever get over that fascination we all have when we see something being sold overseas that we also get at home - or is it just me?!? But, amusingly, it's not called Wash and Go - it's called Pert Plus - I kid you not! I guess the American's use shampoo on bodily regions other than their heads!! *Childish snigger as I write this*

I also picked-up a copy of Maxim, which reminds me of the present that I was given on Friday (no Kris, not the tile from the toilet, which was greatly appreciated!) - was it Mark or Vix who gave me the copy of Bizarre?? Sorry to inform either one of you, but in my drunken stupor, I left it in the pub - along with Craig and Stef's card, and the aforementioned tile - my apologies to you all. I only hope Roland has kept hold of them for me!

Well, it's getting on for 18:00 here, so I'm gonna think about heading out for something to eat - which means another trip in the car, as there's nothing within walking distance of the hotel - maybe I'll die of starvation before I reach anywhere, or maybe I'll just live on McDonald's for 3 months - at least I know where that is...

...no shortage of Mexican restaurants led me to a mountain of Nacho's - it's no wonder the stereotypical American is about 18st, if they're expected to eat the amount of food I was just sold. But can't really complain about value for money, and refillable drinks I can definitely get used to - anyone know whether they'll do that with beer??

That's about it for today people - first day at work tomorrow, and plenty to sort out before I hit the hay. The lucky thing about working in IT, is that one PC is pretty much the same as any other - it's the users that make the job interesting (as well as frustrating at times) with their understanding of how PC's work - I just hope things are not too alien for me, or the customer's!

END OF DAY 3