The train to Santa Barbara was a double decker - an exciting experience for a Brit but it get delayed going into LA making the experience a little more familiar! I was met at the station my Simon and we drove back to their home. My stay here couldn't be more different to my time with three children under 5 and a crazy Austrailian shepherd dog called Mika to keep me company. I arrived and they were just finishing off a late breakfast and after getting dressed we headed to Cold Spring Tavern, an old coaching inn high in the hills above Santa Barbara. Here there was a BBQ in the sun with amazing triple tip sandwiches and a bit of people watching before heading back to the house.

A frined of theirs with his two young daughters came around in the evening for pizza and conversation to round off my first day.

Next day we relaxed (as much as the household can) before heading to Goleta beach for a bit of sunbathing, lunch and a play on the swings.

On my last day I decided I needed to see a bit more of Santa Barbara and got a lift in to town with Amanda who was calling into work at the Sea life centre. I have a look around there before walking in to town centre for lunch and some retail therapy mixed with admiring the colonial architecture of the old part of town. After spending way too long in Old Navy it was time for me to walk back past the Old Mission and home for my last evening at the house.

I have no idea how they cope with 3 young children - although Alistair is only 3 weeks old and sleeps a lot he does like his food. Don't evny Amanda returning to work full time in a few weeks time... It was good to catch up with them having missed the annual Allen get together this year and hopefully we can catch up again next June in Torquay. I will miss Mika though - I think we bonded despite her crazyness!