I am sure I can’t be the only one who is getting annoyed with all the weather changes?
One minute its 52 degrees then a few hours later it is 94! I managed to get my nose burned (first time in years!) as the blazing sunshine caught me by surprise. It turns out that it’s not just humans who need a bit of sunscreen. I recently learnt that even trees need a bit of protection! I have often wondered why people whitewashed the trunks, thinking it was a decorating style, whereas it is actually to prevent heat damage! The solution I used was a mixture of latex paint and water but there are all kinds of recipes on the internet, so take your pick. We have lots of other useful tips on our blog The Anglo Files – the most popular at the moment seems to be How to Renew Your British Passport – there have been all kinds of changes over the last few months, including getting a free extension through the British Consulate. Details can be found at britsinla.blogspot.com
The Brits in LA group on Facebook is growing at a rapid pace, it won’t be long before we hit 9000 members! It is such a lovely thing to be part of a thriving community, particularly when you are far away from home. One of the downsides with a bigger crowd is that sometimes people seem to forget their manners and make comments that are not very helpful. I can understand the frustrations over seeing the same questions posted over and over again, but on the other hand I do think we all need to try and have a bit more empathy. I came across a post on a friend’s page which suggested that we stop and think if what we are about to say (or write) is ‘True, Kind & Necessary’ – for some reason this message really resonated with me, possibly because most of what I say doesn’t fit that criteria at all! However, over the last few weeks I really have been trying to make this my motto and I do think I have become more conscious about what words I use, although I do slip up fairly often. Why not give it a go? Even just for a day? I would love to hear how you get on and whether it comes naturally to you or if like me you have to stop and edit yourself fairly often.
On the flip side, if I notice people around me saying things that are Untrue, Unkind and/or Unnecessary I have learnt to take it with a pinch of salt.
Brits in LA Pub Quiz was a good one this week. It was a full house with a fun crowd but the main reason was because my team won! I can’t take credit for it though as it was down to my brainy teammates, particularly Frank L’e Sanford! His realtor expertise certainly came in handy for the round on Los Angeles. Our quizmaster was the multi-talented Sandro Monetti – he also hosts ‘The Best Hollywood Star Tour’ (according to TripAdvisor)! If you have visitors in town make sure to go along. Visit tourificescapes.com for all the details.
Our Brits in LA Breakfast Club is becoming quite the place to be on a Tuesday morning. This week we were lucky enough to have Eastenders actress Ann Mitchell in the house! I am sure a lot of you will also remember her brilliant performance in the TV series Widows?
If you want to join us at one of our events but are feeling a little daunted about coming along, feel free to drop us a line at britsinla@gmail.com and we will make sure you are made very welcome. I used to get a bit nervous myself in the early days, so don’t feel like you are being silly! All the info can be found on our website Britsin.LA
Don’t forget the clocks change in the UK this weekend – so we will back to the time difference of 8 hours behind!
Cheers…
Eileen
