Well, we've left the warm sun of LA and have flown into the dark cold night of Minneapolis.

LAX was a nightmare! Anyone looking to come to the states should avoid travel in and out of that particular airport especially. Having dropped the rental car off with zero hassle, we were frustrated to have to wait outside, in line (a very long snaking line) for an hour to get through security once we'd checked our baggage.

Our flight wasn't quite what we'd imagined for a domestic flight in one of the richest countries in the world. It didn't match up to any of our previous domestic flights and after the disappointment of both hanging around in LAX and not spotting any celebs it was a bitter end to an otherwise fabulous time in California.

On the other hand, the scenery was fantastic out of the plane, as it was so clear we could see vast stretches below us seemingly uninhabited except the odd lone road passing through mountains and valleys. It's amazing how alike the US and Australia are in this way with so much empty space in the middle.

In contrast to LA, arriving in Minneapolis was a delight. Especially as we were met at the airport by Sarah (temporarily Craig-less while he was in Wisconsin, deer hunting).

We were soon at the Miller's fabulous home and introduced to Sarah's 'Mom and Dad', Connie and Denny. We all immediately got on but after our long flight we were quickly ready for bed, not least to prepare for our following day, at the Mall of America.

In the morning we quickly appreciated just how lovely the Miller house is as in the daylight we looked out into their 'back yard', to the lake behind and beyond just empty fields. They're trying to sell for some unfathomable reason.

Back to our tooings and froings though and to the Mall of America, which surprise surprise is the biggest mall in America, maybe the world...inside are theme park rides, a cinema and an aquarium no to mention over 400 shops and restaurants!

We hit the rides first, rationalising that we wouldn't want to carry any potential (and let's face it, likely) shopping bags onto the rides. I got soaked on the flume as the girls insisted I went alone at the front - they escaped with a light smattering of water while I was drenched from the waist down!

After that were a number of fun rides including one where a TV crew were filming at the front, so it's highly likely that we'll be on US telly next week! We'll miss it sadly, but Sarah says she'll look for it online for us.

We did end up going to the shops, but only for essential items such as a foam-finger for Katie to wear at the 'football' game on Sunday (Minneapolis Vikings vs Chicago Bears), and a replica shirt for me sporting the new star Quarterback's name on the back.

Delighted with our purchases we later went to Craig's house to meet his parents and catch up with him after his hunting trip. His sister Coleen was there too, we met her briefly in Bangkok, and we were treated to some fabulous local home cooked cuisine. All of the friends and family of Sarah and Craig's that we've met are so wonderfully friendly, welcoming and eager to make our time here perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at the Becker residence and the good food there was a sure sign of things to come for the following day, Thanksgiving.

The funny thing about Thanksgiving is that it's origin is a bit of a quandry, it dates back to the 17th century, but also the 19th and is giving thanks to God, Pilgrims or Native Indian Americans as far as we can tell. As far as the modern Thanksgiving day is concerned however, there are a few basic ingredients: Football - usually two games and the only acceptable telly that day. Family - at the Millers were a small gathering of 15 friends and family, it's not unheard of for 50 or 60 people to gather in one home however, and Food - probably the most important, it's like Christmas on steroids...if you're not uncomfortably full, get another slice of pie, or some more turkey or at the Millers, get one of Connie's eyebrow-raisingly tasty bread-buns.

We've had a great day, there've been various friends and neighbours who've popped in and out, and while I'm sure it's not true of every neighbourhood, there's a real pull-together, help-each-other-out attitude, for example, Connie's buns make it to several destinations in payment for other foodstuffs and essentials for the day, emergency tables and chairs are donated by locals not hosting their own meal and there's a real unity that I can't relate to anywhere else we've been.

Once the majority of the eating and drinking has been done, the games were cracked out and we've played various card games and Pictionary today and you just drop in and out of games as you like, maybe slipping away for another slice of Pumpkin Pie or 'Connie Bun'.

If nothing else it's a fabulous excuse for a get-together shindig with no-strings attached like the present-giving at Christmas or formal dress at some ceremonies and in case I'm not making it blindingly obvious, we were both delighted with our first Thanksgiving, and I hope it won't be the last!

Tomorrow we have a day of walking-off-Thanksgiving to do and we're going to at least one of the many many lakes in Minnesota (over ten-thousand) which should offer very pretty scenery for us as we do it!

That's us for now, we'll be back before too long with an update from Minneapolis I'm sure!

Love to all as always,

Nick and Katie

xxx