Plays by sense of smell

Parents don't often see eye-to-eye with their children, but one thing Pete and I agree on is that last year's Houston Arcade Expo was THE BEST THING EVER! Over 300 arcade and pinball machines, all free to play, with Star Wars characters wandering around. How can you improve on that?

Well, I'll tell you. Having gone online many months ago to see when 2019's expo was going to take place, I managed to snag some early-bird tickets that included entry to the VIP chill-out room with unlimited snacks!

There has been a long build-up of excitement to this event in the Davies household, although strangely Hannah hasn't been part of that, opting to stay home and go clothes shopping rather than play pinball all day. Each to their own, I guess. Pete and I zoomed off to be there as soon as the doors opened for uninterrupted play.

The event felt like it had doubled in size since last year, with games cabinets spilling out of the ballroom and into the hallways of the hotel where they hold this. Pete has doubled in size too, but a canny father took along a folding step to give him maximum advantage at the games.

And what games they were! All the classics from Asteroids to Galaga, every Donkey Kong and Pac-man you could imagine, as well as Star Wars and pinball machines from each decade. While Pete took on Battlezone I played a very strange game called Eyes (like Pac-man, except you're an eye). There was also a memorable Polynesian pinball machine made entirely out of wood.

Pete's brain was somewhat overcome by having to divide time between unlimited computer games and unlimited snacks. After our third go stocking up on peanut butter cups, Cheetos, Pirate's Booty and Skittles we decided it was probably time to go. We'd been there for five hours, and the place was so packed now that we couldn't get a look in on any machines, pinball or arcade. That's the danger of getting featured on my blog, I guess.

Starting with something more to Pete's size.

Concentration (and a lolly).

I got on the hi-scores for Mr Do! A game literally no one else was playing.

The usual outcome in Outrun.

Mechanical Pong.

Some knights having a fight. Not entirely sure what they were doing here.

Polynesian pinball.

An arcade game based on the band Journey. Yep! Don't stop believing!

Even the Empire gets thirsty.

Continuing the Star Wars theme.

The snack room! Not the most VIP of VIP things, but unlimited.

 Measuring up to the big boys.

 Mario playing Mario.

And a little souvenir to come home with.

Intents and purposes

What's better than one night in a tent? Two nights in a tent! So what's better than two nights in a tent? Four nights in a tent! The law of diminishing returns isn't one we subscribe to in the Davies household, which is why we went camping for two weekends on the trot. Joy!

The first was Pete's school camp out, which meant a huge campsite and packs of kids prowling with little-to-no supervision. There were seven of us in our tent, which was nice and cosy although the youngest and smallest turned out to be the loudest snorer. We needed the cosiness because the temperature dropped precipitously - not just cold for Houston but really cold. Given the multicutural mix at Pete's school, with Colombians to our right, Chileans to our left, and Aussies behind, I proudly flew the Welsh flag, which led to many questions and at least one claim I was displaying a revolutionary symbol, which of course I was.

After a week of mild weather and a garage piled with camping equipment, we set off again, this time to Cub Camp, where temperatures (if you can believe it) were even lower. Packs of kids continued to prowl, only this time they were dressed in uniform. We were also split into our units, where Tiger Den 15 under the auspices of my leadership enjoyed hiking, s'mores, campfire skits and gaining Bobcat badges. Not much has changed since I was a Cub, which is understandable as that was only ten, twenty...let's say a few decades ago.

But now we're home, and after another few days of our car being displaced by airing canvas all the equipment is away, hopefully for a long, long time.

Flying the flags with our next-door neighbours (and tent-mates).

I have to cycle to school with these two every day. That's why I look so old.

Pete and Elena, still an item.

Lexi directs proceedings from her chair.

A weekend later, at the beautiful Martin Dies Jr. park.

Breakfast. When I was a Cub everything was a lot more tidy. Hmm.

Opening ceremony.

Becoming Bobcats (the first rank in US Cub Scouts).

His highlight of the ceremony: Pete gets to paint his parents' faces.

Proud father!

Let's all play in a huge muddy hole in our uniforms!

Camp cooking, Texas-size.

Off on a hike.

A fellow camper. There were a lot of big spiders around. Another reason to avoid the outdoors.

A flag retirement ceremony, something else UK-cub-me never got to do.

Waiting in line to burn a flag. I need to do some reading up about what was going on.

Flag lowering, and the end of two long weekends.

Home disadvantage

Centuries ago we gave America the gift of cricket but, like our other gifts of English and democracy, they massacred it. This led to something they call "baseball", which has gained some popularity over time, and every year they have a "World Series" to see who's best at tonking a ball as hard as possible and running in a circle.

Well, the Houston Astros again covered themselves in glory and got into the final, along with our previous home team, the Washington Nationals (seriously - the Davieses are a talisman to local sports teams. Please contact me if you want us to move to your city). It's a best-of-seven series, and Hannah's work gave her tickets to go to game six. I went online and found similar tickets changing hands for over $2,000 each, but when I suggested making a quick buck Hannah said that was unethical. The oil industry has ethics!

We arrived nice and early to enjoy the pageantry, and the atmosphere was amazing. Given the distances involved there are never really any traveling fans, so Minute Maid Park was stuffed with 40,000 Astros supporters making noise. Somewhat unfeasibly, Houston had won the three games up in DC and so only needed to win one of the remaining two, cheered on by an expectant, feverish crowd.

Well, (spoiler alert) after two excellent innings the game turned extremely boring and the Astros lost. The seventh innings was spiced up by the Nationals manager getting into a physical altercation with the umpires and being ejected from the park. I missed it as I was watching the cheerleaders. But soon we were trudging out into the Houston night with tens of thousands of other disgruntled people. Then (bigger spoiler alert) the Astros lost the next night too, handing the World Series to the Nationals! No team managed to win at home, which has never happened before so I suppose is historic, in the sense that no fans ever got to see their team win. As an England cricket supporter, this is very relatable.

Plenty of people here.

Including mascot Orbit.

Let's play ball!

There was a dress code.

We got loud. It didn't help.

Hannah, a lifelong fan...since a few hours ago.

What could possibly go wrong?

I'm at that awkward stage where I've had to bid farewell to the advantages of youth (quick hangover recovery, eating fatty foods without a care) but cannot yet enjoy the advantages of maturity (wisdom, wealth, an excuse for my poor personal hygiene).

Luckily our friend Jim, Christine's Dad, has wisdom and wealth (and excellent personal hygiene) while living nearby in Texas hill country. We hadn't been that way for a while, so decided to get out of the city and visit his house by beautiful Lake Travis, complete with hot tub and bocce ball court, and many friends enjoying all the advantages of retirement.

He did warn us before we arrived that he had something special planned for Saturday night: a tequila tasting party. We were required to bring along our favourite "anejo" - tequila that has been aged 1 to 3 years, usually in oak barrels, giving it a warm, creamy, vanilla taste and velvety texture, perfect for sipping. Yes, we were about to spend an evening doing tequila shots with responsibility-free retirees. What could possibly go wrong?

Jim had constructed a knock-out style competition, where tequilas were tasted in pairs and eliminated one at a time. Doing it this way allowed you to really compare the tastes and smells of the different bottles, and what's the point in enjoying only one glass of each when you can enjoy...well, I lost count at Round 4.

It would be fair to say I was less focused at the end, figuratively and literally, but the good news is that Hannah and my tequila won! Which meant everyone got another shot of that one. And then why stop there? Tequila is well known for going off within days of being opened. Best not to take the chance.

The next morning was spent imbibing large quantities of water and staring at each other in silence while Pete enjoyed the hot tub. We did go for a refreshing walk, and then Hannah and I tag-teamed the drive back to Houston in 30 minute chunks while the other slept. We made it, you'll be happy to know.

Thank you once again Jim for a very very memorable visit, and I continue to aspire to your lifestyle once I retire. If my liver survives that long.

It was all so polite and orderly at the start.

Hannah helps Jim anonymise the bottles and randomise the tasting order. I always wondered where Christine got her ultra-competitive side from, and now I know.

Pete, meanwhile, happily and sensibly watches Frozen. Did someone say frozen margarita?

Difficult choices.

Round five. Or maybe eight.

I choose...tequila!

Any more for any more?

Maturing like a fine anejo.

The aftermath

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Before all this debauchery, we also enjoyed karaoke on Friday night, where my weak rendition of Revolution by The Beatles got more cheers than it deserved. Then we had a great day out at a local nature reserve that was having its annual fair. "Nature reserve" in Texas seems to mean "you can shoot animals here", which I find interesting...

How to put out a forest fire! (Tip: don't take a six-yr-old).

Investigating a crime scene where someone had shot pigeons without a license!  Shocking.

Jean and Jim, feeling blue.

A tractor is always going to be a big draw.

A rescued raptor.

Learn to shoot at a nature reserve! Because of course.

Pete was alarmingly good, displaying his 2nd Amendment birthright.

Three on the target! What have we started?