So, where the boys ,and occasionally I, live in San Francisco is 2 blocks over from Haight Street. It is where we go for food,drink, shoe repair and stuff. Haight of course gained fame in the late 60’s as the epicentre of the hippy movement. It is true that Jimi Hendrix gave a free concert just in front of our house on the Panhandle. Anyway,Haight has retained some of the hippy stuff but has also gained lots of fascinating little shops and bars and coffee shops and stuff. There are lots of homeless, who by and large are harmless homeless, who just want to sell weed in peace. Most of them have Pit Bull Terriers, a breed of dog that has a very poor reputation in Europe, whereas here they all seem very cuddly.
We drink in the Golden Cane, a bar that has been there since 1910, which is a very long time around these parts. It is rough, friendly, serves liquor, many cheap beers and no food. The bartenders are big older guys who despite their conviviality refrain from the, “Hi my name is Mindy and I am your server.” style.
Forget the dinners. Now it is just drinks. I think this sign dates to a more elegant period of the Golden Cane’s life.
Where Grace Slick drank
The Pork Store is where we have breakfast. It is also an old place.
Two pork chops, eggs, hash browns, loads of coffee and iced water. Sets you up for the day.
Where Bob Weir had breakfast
Here is a short movie of James and I going to pick up his boot.
The Quiet Ripple Defines The Pond 
boohoo can’t watch the video cos it’s ‘private’…
VHNY to you guys from us guys xxxx
Try now. Love and kisses from Osaka
sadly the video is still ‘private’. Had a great okonomiyaki in Osaka – rather fancy one now.
Dear All
I think the video is good now.
Hahaaaaa, James with an American accent! xxx
He had to have one to get citizenship. James becomes a fully accredited gringo on Jan 14!
The way he says ‘carfeeee’ is cool! xxx
Love the ‘fisheye lens’ distortions! Those dancing ‘cool’ houses near the start are really..er..cool – how did you get that effect? Why does your mobile phone keep appearing in shot – is it part of the equipment? Must go and look at the other one now!
It is a little GoPro camera that has a very wide angle lens. You can also set it for tighter shots. There is an app on the IPhone that lets you use the phone a s a monitor. You can see what you are shooting on the phone screen. Very cool devices.