It never rains in Southern California…

It never rains in Southern California…

I didn’t mention the weather, did I? On the descent into LAX last Friday, the pilot announced that it was cloudy, and a little cold. And raining. Bear in mind that when we left Heathrow it was sunny, and rather warm. For the time of year, that is.

The rain stopped by the time we had been dropped off at the hostel and I had lost my wallet, but it was still a bit of a shock to see the streets wet. Not as much of a shock, it has to be said, as driving into San Diego the next day in the rain. We were fine – it’s not like we’ve never driven in rain before – but the locals? All over the place. Their windscreen wipers are for clearing insects, not water.

Local news channel Fox announced an 11 o’clock special report on the rain, and by the time we arrived in Santa Monica on Wednesday, some residents in the canyons east of Orange County and in Malibu were being warned about the incoming storm, and how large amounts of rain would cause landslides in the hills. The reason for this? The fires 6 weeks ago burnt all the trees and bushes, which means that there is nothing holding the ground together. Out of the frying pan, into the landslide.

As of tonight (Friday) no serious damage has happened, and only small amounts of rain have actually fallen, but more is coming tonight – when we are going to be in a plane, flying out of LAX and into the storm.

Drama? We can do drama…!