Back in LA and although it's sunny today we have had a spell of rather cool and rainy weather. Apparently they need the rain here so I guess that makes it better. The coast weather here is somewhat different than at home. We were at the Getty again yesterday...it is so amazing...it's just great to keep walking out of any door and find yourself with a wonderful view always a bit different than you've seen before, some wonderful aspect of the architecture and gardens and then to be lead back to the centre and reorient yourself again so easily. Given that the weather was somewhat rainy we figured we wouldn't be able to see the vistas (at home everything would be socked in) but we could see out to Santa Monica and the ocean and even as far as the Santa Ana mountains.

We had an interesting time the other day at Houle Books where the owner allowed Jim to view a couple of Huxley letters he was selling. Jim helped him out with some names and made some corrections in his transcription of them. Huxley's handwriting is rather cryptic. It does underline the importance of looking at the originals. Quite an amazing bookstore. It is by appointment only and no question of browsing through the mainly first editions and collectibles. The owner bought George Cukor's library. It became available because the estate got rather annoyed that the university he originally donated it to actually got rid of some important materials at a student booksale...seems the librarians weren't really with it. Then they sold a painting (for 6 million US) he had also donated only six months after he died in Switzerland to try to hide the fact they were selling it. Seemed a friend happened to notice it. Guess there are lots of stories in this town.

After the bookstore we had a coffee in this rather modern equivalent of an opium den (lots of sofas and overstuffed chairs) in a cafe called the "Insomnia Cafe" only instead of opium, all the clients were silently communing with their wireless notebooks or walkmans...conversation seemed a no-no.