(Click on the pictures for a bigger view)

There is a US flag in the front porch and a pool in the back garden (sorry, yard).  The house is exactly how you'd imagine a stereotypical American house with a clapboard exterior and a verandah.  It's lovely and the people I'm staying with are incredibly generous and welcoming.

Last night they hosted a weekly neighbourhood dinner.  Children swam in the pool while the adults ate, drank, chopped wood and competed to tell the best 'attacked by a bear while camping' story.  Everybody welcomed me as if I was their new best friend even though I didn't have any bear stories to share.

Yesterday I was told that it hadn't rained here for a month.  I was quite surprised by that since everywhere still looks pretty green.  At four o'clock this morning I woke up (jetlag) just in time to hear the heavens open and watch the lightning strikes.  By breakfast time there was no sign of this at all.  I wonder if it's actually been raining every night for the last month but no-one has noticed.

There is a cat here.  Seaside.  Possibly the largest cat I have ever seen.  This is partly explained by his propensity to sleep all day and partly by the fact that he likes to eat out of other people's cereal bowls.  I shan't be letting him near my plate. 

Someone is about to come and pick me up to take me into Westminster.  Hopefully I should get to meet my supervisor as well as sort out some of the admin stuff and start to think about more permanent housing.  Though I'm quite keen to stay here as long as it's warm enough to swim.