Looks like the first white kid to be given the name Winston since Winston Churchill has just been born by Billie Piper.

I’ve been suggesting people name their first born son Winston for some time now, but sadly no one has taken up the suggestion. The closest we’ve got is the teddy bear Claire and I gave Elizabeth. I think I can stop asking people now safe in the knowledge there is finally another white Winston - Winston James Fox.

Well, I think life is starting to get back to normal now. I’ve managed to clear my mailbox and read through all my news and blogs etc and our sleep patterns may just be returning to normal, so I think it’s time for a summary of our honeymoon.

As you will have no doubt seen, we visited northern California for a fly-drive/multi-stop trip for our honeymoon and it was fabulous. The weather was brilliant too and gave us a bit of all four seasons: summer in San Francisco, Napa and Monterey, autumn at Lake Tahoe, winter at Mammoth Lakes and spring in Yosemite park - well almost - it was still autumn in Yosemite park, but we got to see a little bit of melting snow that normally happens in spring .

I was going to create a single post with a full summary of our wonderful honeymoon, but have decided against it as it’ll be one hell of a huge post and it’ll be a long time before it comes to light if I wait until I’ve finished all the pictures. So instead, I’m posting installments along with the photos for that installment.

So here’s the first part, our time in San Francisco and Napa.
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Gorialla art takes a synical twist in London…

Yup, you’ve read the title correctly: Buck the trend and buy shares now. Warren Buffet, one of the worlds most successful investors is, and I agree with his thinking:

A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.

I mentioned about this time last month that then was a good time to bung you money in a stocks and shares ISA, and I’ve not change my mind. In fact you will be down on your investment at the moment had you invested when I suggested as the markets have taken a beating recently, however in the long run things can only get better, and shares are looking more and more attractive now when you consider things can only get better. The advantage you have as an investor now is you’ve seen where the prices can go, and given the historical movement of the markets over the long run, you can almost be certain they’ll head back that way in the future.

There’s an interesting article by Warren Buffet himself in the New York Times explaining why he’s buying American right now whilst the world and his dog are panicking and selling like crazy.

There is one thing to keep in mind, and this is very important: only attempt this if you’re in a comfortable position and not planning on retiring on the profits in the next few years. Don’t go spending your mortgage on stocks: your mortgage needs to be paid now, and you’re only likely to get returns on your investments in at least 5 - 10 year’s time.

Claire has just forwarded this to me. It took me about 10 minutes to read it as I was laughing so much I couldn’t see the text for the tears rolling down my face.

Warning, if you read this as work, you’re likely to get some very strange looks when people notice you laughing and crying at the same time.

Enjoy.

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Nothing more to say really.

Interesting links for 21 Aug 08 - 12 Oct 08:

• Original one-of-a-kind pop art with an Etch A Sketch - This guy is brilliant. He draws these impressive images using just a simple Etch A Sketch.
• Park attendants ordered to interrogate adults spotted without children - How bloody rediculous. Whatever next - a change in the law stating you're guilty until proven innocent. Thankfully Dominic Grieve (Tory MP for Beaconsfield) has a sensible head on his shoulders and is fighting against just this kind of stupidity.
• Q. Why is beef called beef and not cow? - I was actually pondering this exact question just the other day. Now we know.
• Dubai Carbon Neutral Pyramid will House 1 Million - Interesting concept, but I think it'll be hard convincing 1 million people to live in this beastie. Hey, come to think of it… lets get rid of our council estates and replace them all with one of these.
• Pensioners want elderly sign change - Is that what that sign is for. I thought it was a pick-pocket alert aimed at those with walking sticks, or the elderly when further complimented by the phrase "Elderly people". I think some people are just overly sensitive. It's a bloody road sign. Maybe we should start taking offence of all the other stupid signs we have.

It’s now 16:42 UK time and we’re home and will be staying put for the rest of the evening and probably most of tomorrow. We’ve done the week’s grocery shopping and the washing is on, now just to try keep out eyes open to tempt our bodies into thinking it’s not 08:42 California time. Being up since about 8am California time YESTERDAY will probably help.

As you can imagine we’re absolutely knackered (typing this post is proving to be challenge) and looking forward to a good night’s sleep back in our own bed. I’m not going to waffle on too much now, but suffice to say we had a terrific time, took maningy photos, and I have a stack of posts up my sleeve.

Sadly, this is the last leg of our trip. We’re heading up Highway 1 back to San Francisco . There’s not likely to be any more posts until we get back, but then we’ll have loads of news to write about.

This last leg is a lovely route. I’ve been along this route before and it’s very pretty and goes through lots of well known places. I think it’s probably the 2nd most famous highway in the US after Route 66.

We’ll be hugging the coast line as close as we can all the way back…

Approx Dist: 122mi
Approx Time: 3h 9m (but I know it’ll definitely take longer)