Escape

Managed to sleep ok until 4.30am - should have then got up and gone to the gym but instead stayed in some kind of twilight zone of half awakeness and really bad tv. Got up and about by 8.30 and headed out with some colleagues to explore. Weather was very strange - started off v foggy and overcast but fairly warm so my pictures of the golden gate consisted of the base only. But thought it was perfect to capture the atmosphere of Alcatraz. By 11 the fog had gone and it was gloriously sunny. Decided to head back to the hotel by cable car for lunch - were waiting for a while but none came past. Then a crack maintenance squad turned up with what look like a can of wd40, took up a manhole cover and sprayed the cables. Must have done the job as a few minutes later as we were half way up the steep hill we'd stupidly decided to start walking up, a cable car went past! But got to the next stop and caught one back (the line goes right past the hotel as in yesterday's pic). Was great fun.

After lunch planned to do some work but was so tired I had to have a snooze! Felt so much better after I must have needed it. Then went out shopping - found an awesome pair of jeans that I have to have but unfortunately they only had sizes either side of mine. Will track them down.

Then to dinner with some colleagues and a consultant we use who is based here - first we went to a wine bar and had some wine flights. Only seen them for beer before but was a great way to sample a few wines. Dinner was great - cocktails, wine and lots of meat!

Have felt a little strange being in San Francisco - last time I was here was for my honeymoon. Feels like a lifetime ago but seeing the places we went to makes me realise it's not. But I've changed so much - am now contented and so much happier with my life.

Sleep now. Work tomorrow.

TS: travel exemption