Kiss a Hoodie

Cameron never did follow up on this exhortation but today we sort of got what he was on about. But first to Stephanie and Gary who fled Salt Lake, Missy and John to cook us brunch in Bend.Well, not really, but they generously did, Stephanie and Ian eating meatless bacon ( well, they do like golf) while Gary and I tuck into authentic bangers. Plenty of room in their 6 acres for two horses and one big dog. Their house is a model of minimalist perfection, gutted to the brick and recapitulated in whiteness and light.What a life! Throw in the boat in Almeda, the small plane, the brilliant art and you don’t even need the cricket bat from Gary’s days in RSA to complete the picture. Two great, generous friendly people who have life worked out. Having moaned about Trump, worried about the mid terms and given the nod to British, Belgian and French imperialism, Blair concluded the Brits lost the World Cup by invading the wrong countries ( despite the Irish Harry Kane) !

Off into the smoky mist as we exit Bend : Gary says they have a fire season these past few years. First we see Mt Hood as an outline in the haze but then we get closer to the Hoody magnificence .Almost close enough to give it a hug…We’ve been trying to think how to monetize this. Des suggested the book, the documentary or the Opera – a remake of the odd couple. We’ve decided to pitch a remake of the King and I to Porsche. I need a haircut.Onward to Portland with Dido and Armin van Burren doing a remix of Everything to Lose , followed by Dido singing Lost: seems appropriate.