Hammonds hit the Creek

There was a suggestion that the Hammonds had imported the English weather along with the chocolate.  Luckily the morning clouds burnt off fairly quickly and the day was filled with park, library, frozen yogurt and pool (in that order).  This could be the model for the whole holiday, although ideally we would add "children are silent for two hours in the afternoon so Uncle David can have a nap".

A watermelon disguises itself to try to avoid the same fate as all the other fruit in this house.

Everyone smiling and looking at the camera at the same time?!  It must be a good day.

Quiet in the library please.  Ha!

They're not talking now...

Cuties together.

Scott is proud of his garden.

Splash!

The Hammonds are here!

A large chunk of our family arrived special delivery at SFO this afternoon.  Katharine, Scott, Oliver, Bethany, Jacob, and Rebecca are getting to know Walnut Creek for the next two-plus weeks.  Despite extreme jetlaggedness they even managed to dip their toes into the swimming pool this evening.  Hannah has already promised Yogurtland tomorrow, though as she'll be at work it'll be Uncle David's sanity (and credit card) that takes the brunt of that.

The long journey took its toll on some family members.

Spilling out of the bus that we'd commissioned specially to pick them up.

It's like a Biblical plague!

It has been a while since we've received a full aid package from the mother country, but here is everything you could want.  Thank you!

The incredible journey

Elad and Daphny have always wanted to live in New York City.  Something to do with Woody Allen films, I believe, and with Daphny getting into theatre school and Elad's job transfer their wish came true!  It was obviously a little bittersweet to wave goodbye - bitter for us, sweet for them - but we gave them a fitting send off with a big meal at an Israeli hummus restaurant in Palo Alto.  Then it was back to their house with a van and a fun trip to Goodwill, followed by loading them and the pets and heading to the airport.

I don't think I will ever attempt to travel with animals.  The usual bureaucracy is cranked up exponentially, with form filling, cage checking, extra hours needed before check in, etc.  Not that the people at the desk made it any easier, suggesting that there were too many pets on the flight already.  Elad's nervous breakdown was only marginally avoided.

Finally it was all done, and we said goodbye to Noozie, Fry and Nimitz (who all garnered a lot of attention from passers-by in the airport) before a final coffee with their owners.  Good luck in the big apple, E&D!  It's not like you're leaving the country, so we'll see you again soon.

Big Jewish family meal.

Noa doesn't think the hummus is quite as authentic as in Tel Aviv.

And Arbel agrees.

Later, all the family at the airport.

Fry: not a happy cat.

The pets wanted a free upgrade, but this is what they got.

Goodbye, and come back to the best coast soon.

The travellers return

Dan and Fiona have been off in the wilds of New Zealand for the last few months, but have flown back to California to catch some sunshine and sort out the company that's being rubbish at shipping their things (who does that remind me of...?)

They had a flying visit to the Creek - I wasn't even able to drag them to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch - and left with our camping gear.  They'll be back next week (I hope) for a proper catch up, and in the meantime left me with some Bell Tea and rather fine South Gin.  One of those might last until they're back.

Here for five minutes and already nicking stuff!

It's a jungle out there

Hannah forwarded me an official correspondence from Chevron HR:

Mountain Lion Sighting July 19, 2011 San Ramon Yesterday a mountain lion sighting was reported at Chevron Park near Building D.  Local authorities have been notified, and there have been no other sightings in the area.  If you see a mountain lion please call 8877 (833-8877) immediately.  If you encounter a mountain lion: Do not run Stand tall and make yourself appear as large as possible Face the animal and make noise   For questions or concerns, please contact CB Lunton at CTN 851-2801 or HUPN2@chevron.com. Reference: California Department of Fish and Game website

It was right by her building!  Perhaps it scented a fellow ruthless predator and wanted to come to pay its respects.

Much as I was tempted to hang a fresh steak around my neck and sprint down the Iron Horse Trail, camera in hand, I suspect the beast was long gone (gold is a far tastier investment than oil these days).

Farewell Muckers :(

Finally the inevitable happened, and Vince, Christine, Claire and JJ had to wave goodbye to Walnut Creek and make their way south, before Texas and then Germany.  America is soon going to be without their most patriotic family, and I'm not sure what we're going to do.  But the USA's loss is certainly Europe's gain, and Vince has some fun travelling and learning to do in the next 11 months while Christine becomes an expert in German wines.

Vince and Christine were some of the first people we met at Haas when they began throwing big parties in pretty much the opening week.  We arrived at their place, and when Christine suggested that, due to my visa status, I might want to hang out in the Office Depot car park to find some work, and when Vince laughed at a joke I made about American beer which is not appropriate to repeat here, I knew they were our kind of folks.

Three years later, and they have introduced us to shuffleboard, Texas, Hawaii, 4th July, Christmas "ornaments", American sports, PBR...the list is endless really.  More tellingly, there were discussions about the 2nd amendment, and a certain Mika concert, that say more about our friendship's endurance than anything else.

Somewhere in the middle of all this they introduced Claire to the world, who I still consider as my baby that I allow V&C to look after for extended periods of time.  What can I say about Claire?  Given that she's the most photographed and featured person on this blog, you get the picture.  And not content with one gorgeous baby, they followed up with James John!

So yes, it has been a traumatic morning waving them off, and in true and fitting Mucker style I think I'll have a dirty martini before lunch to get me through.  Thanksgiving 2012 has already been booked in Washington DC where, after Germany, Vince has an International Relations masters degree to complete before being the face of the American military as a diplomat in Kazakhstan.  Where, coincidentally, Chevron has just started drilling...

Big girl Claire.

Little man JJ.

First evening drinking with the Muckers - Bear's Lair, Berkeley, Aug 20th 2008

Final evening (for now) drinking with the Muckers - Flemings, Walnut Creek, July 17th 2011

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And how could I not take the opportunity to put even more pictures of cute kids on my blog.  So here are Claire Camille Mucker's greatest hits:

Right at the beginning.

Bottle feeding.

Moving onto solids.

California is not always warm.

Forever Texas.

Pleased with herself.

Scary Clairey.

Aloha from Hawaii.

Alien.

New hat.

Mine's a Merlot.

Little monkey.

Unimpressed.

Gorgeous!

AIDS Walk San Francisco 2011

It was another opportunity for Chevron to show what a caring company it is, as this weekend big oil was a "grand sponsor" of the SF AIDS walk.  In its 25th year, this is a huge event held in Golden Gate Park following a six-mile route.  We weren't walking, but instead manned the finish line where Chevron handed out bandannas to every successful walker.

It was also a great opportunity to introduce Claire to the wonderful world of Chevron.  She received plenty of smiles as she wandered about in her ankle-length Team Chevron t-shirt.  Add to that the free popsicle she was given before lunch, the free Chevron barbecue, the Chevron flag, the Chevron pompoms...Hannah might as well sign her up for the intern program now.

All dressed up and ready to go!

Quite a crowd.

Hannah (pre-branded) leads Claire to the Team Chevron tent.

First the flag...

...then the t-shirt.

Someone here is expending human energy.

That's Alan Cumming!  He's a really famous Scottish actor.

Off we go.

Hannah now has a bandanna to match her tattoo!

The first walkers start trickling through the finish line.

Cheerleader Claire welcomes them!

Until it all gets a little too much.

Note to event organisers: next year, maybe locate the loos somewhere different.  Although it does keep the queues down.