![Heron waits expectantly for Asian woman to catch a fish on Venice Beach pier](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-fisherwoman-and-heron-1024x274.jpg)
![Me and my Panama hat](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-JE-on-pier-1024x702.jpg)
![Photo taken the night before](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-kiss-1024x622.jpg)
![And one taken today](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-kiss-2-1024x657.jpg)
![Lifeguard truck](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-lifeguard-truck-1024x445.jpg)
![Running along the surfline](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-surf-runner-1024x576.jpg)
![Surfer](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-surfing-1024x396.jpg)
![Heron and T-shirts](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-T-shirts-1024x512.jpg)
![Shouldering the Phoenix Economy](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-Phoenix-Economy-1024x477.jpg)
![Red bucket](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-boy-with-red-bucket-1024x371.jpg)
![I failed to get a shot of the sandpipers](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Version-2-1024x234.jpg)
![Along the seafront](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-animal-mural-1024x457.jpg)
![Venus on skates](http://johnelkington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VB-Venus-1024x576.jpg)
When we met John Stewart at RBS what seems like light-years ago, he described many Californians as “nuts.” Often in a good way. Venice Beach today was a reminder of just what an extraordinary state this is.
And what a joy to find Small World Books along Ocean Front Walk, where ‘Conan the Librarian’ lay comatose in his basket. I have similar plans for when we aboard the flight back to London this evening …
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