Final thoughts on being in LA

I was reading that Arthur Miller said that most of us cannot easily surrender our belief that society must make sense. The thought that the state has lost its mind and is punishing so many innocent people is intolerable so the evidence has to be internally denied. And to be fair I feel a bit like that about America. Governments are bigger than ever, but they only protect business interests. That is certainly true here and there are so many people with too much money who must wander through life with their eyes and minds closed not to see the injustices around them. Bush has consent without consent because most people don't really analyse, understand or care. But then I feel a bit like that at home too.

I decided to be more open to people here and I have met some wonderful and genuienly good people. There have been nights when I've been on my own, but that happens in London all the time.The last two weeks were good because I met two more women who were travelling, Petra and Amy, and we shared a few bottles of wine chatting into the wee hours (a hobby of mine as you know). I have been out with Dave and Wendy again this week - watching playoffs in a bar with someone who was in the Fast and the Furious (I'm a bit clusless about these things).

The people at the clinic were great and I am seriously going to try to get them to socialise next time (Arron be warned!). I have really enjoyed the clinic. It's a bit like being in Wandsworth in a way. I get a real buzz from working with people who work hard and are committed to what they do. Except Venice and Santa Monica are not quite Tooting Broadway. The acupuncturists who I shadowed were so kind and helpful and being in the clinical environment for 3 weeks gave me a real feel for what it would actually be like doing it for real. I know I have made the right choice. The pain management project I was working in had great supportive co-ordinators,the actual project co-ordinator and the acupuncturists who oversaw the clinical interns, and they were really principled and passionate about the work(Wandsworth lot - we know what a difference that makes - don't get too big headed SCR). I also did some work for the HIV unit, medical records and the children's play area - and if you are all reading this, big thanks and I'm really looking forward to coming back in Jan.

To the non clinic readers, Venice Family Clinic operates to provide free health care to people who cannot afford insurance. It is all funded by grants and volunteers. They sell very good cards, some designed specifically for them by artists such as David Hockney ( who we love, don't we MH?), so check out the website and maybe you will purchase: http://store.venicefamilyclinic.org.

That's enough serious and schmoozing stuff...

Top celebrity spot today in Santa Monica...A Mr.G.Clooney driving car down Main Street. Aging gracefully and not in the car with his hairdresser (Ms Fallon - I have it on V good authority that he does NOT live with his hairdresser and is in fact a bit of a bloke with the ladies).

So Venice...if it's got wheels on someone will try to propel themselves down the Ocean Front Boardwalk on it. I feel completely undertattooed and I don't look like a crunchy hippy here, I fit right in.



I really would love to stay. But, I leave for San Francisco tomorrow and I will be hiking Yosemite with the brown bears by Tuesday. I have been warned about honey and toothpaste and such like. Remember I survived the billabongs with the roaming crocs in Kakadu. Another Milly adventure!