Our Anniversary!!

Nobody is more suprised than we are but October 31st 2000, Stuart and I moved in to the Colibri Inn, Palm Springs soon to become (5 months later), Chaps Inn which has been our home ever since. Eleven years have gone by. How is that possible? Yes, we still love it and I'm sure it will be very difficult to leave once we decide to sell. Not yet though. Not for a few more years!!!!!

New Towels!!

It's a sad day when the arrival of new towels is the highlight!!!  We have given away better towels than we have used in a lot of hotels around the world. The last hotel we stayed at in San Francisco (and it wasn't cheap), you could've shaved with them or at least had a self dermabrasion!! Our friends Mike & John will testify to that! Same goes for the Hilton Hotel at Terminal 4, Heathrow. (Paris, take note. I bet you don't use the same towels as us poor mortals!).

What to do with the old towels?  (some are pictured above waiting collection), they are going to the homeless shelter here in Palm Springs. Goodbye, dear towels, you have served us well!!!!
PS, Just so you know, all our towels and linens are made here in the USA

Jim Reed

We have decided to have a celebration for Jim here at the hotel on Wednesday, October 12th 6pm-9pm. No need to bring anything except maybe some soda or, if inclined, alcohol. Gino will be bringing some nibbles and you know us, we can't help but cook up a feast!!

It's a beautiful day here in Paradise

It has been a glorious day today, mid 80's, but starting to get a bit chilly in the evenings. Stuart and I had to put our lightweight douvet on the bed  last night; first time since mid-June!!! Poor us.

I drove back from LA on Wednesday in reasonably heavey rain. Good God people, SLOW DOWN!! All those in their high and mighty SUV's and trucks, spare a thought for us low riders. There is a CA law, enacted at least 3 years ago which states that if it is raining hard enough to use windshield wipers, you MUST put on your lights. Don't people realise, they disappear in a cloud of mist thrown up by their speeding SUV's etc. It's bad enough when the white lights disappear, some red lights to follow would be nice. You go over the edge, I go over the edge!!!! That's my rant for today. I was going to write to the local paper but this is just as good.

Anyhow, Chaps Inn is full for the weekend .. yeah!!! It has become something of a Commonwealth weekend what with visitors from UK, Canada and Australia. God save the Queen!!! The forecast is promising mid 80's all the way through Monday. Lucky us. Also visitors in from California (of course),  Florida, Arizona and Texas.

Jim Reed

We saw Gino for the first time since Jim died. He seems to be holding up well. Natural Causes is what the the coronors report said. He has been cremated and we are planning a small celebration of his life sometime during October.

Will keep you posted.

Jim Reed

It was with great sadness last night we heard of the passing of our friend Jim Reed. Gino called us with the news. This was so sudden and unexpected . Jim had traveled back to their Texas home and was found in bed. We don't know exactly what happened but will post when we know more. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to Gino. We love you Gino.

We'll miss you Jim and your barbeques, smiling face and knowledge of all things Home Depot! RIP

Thunder clouds approaching!

I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged! Well, the parking lot opposite is finished but nobody has been allowed to park on it so far! Doesn't look too bad. Our computer went down so we are the proud owners of a nice new shiny black model.

Yesterday we had thunder and lightening, quiet dramatic. It poured with rain nearly all day.

Sadly today, we say 'goodbye' to our dear friend Dick who has been with us for 7 days. He's off back home to San Francisco. The three of us went for lunch yesterday at LULU, downtown in the old Muriel's. A HUGE menu, they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Very ambitious of them and we hope it works out. It had a great quota of fags and will definitely be on our list of recommendations. The 'red hat society' were there for lunch enjoying themselves as usual. For those who don't know, the 'red hats society is a group of women who go out for tea (or lunch, or dinner) for themselves, not for charity but to have FUN! I think the minimum age is 50 but I might be wrong on that. Anyhoo, check out the poem, "When I grow old I shall wear purple, and a red hat".......... then you'll know what they are about.

Goodbye to Dick, but hello Friday to Jim and Terry, also from San Francisco and also in for 7 days. Welcome back!!!!

I have just finished reading "Secret Historian" By Justin Spring. The life and times of Samuel Steward, professor, tattoo artist and sexual renegrade. How very interesting and we have a lot to thank Steward and his contemporaries for the life we now have. Please read it (ignore the footnotes, they drove me crazy), reflect and be thankful.