1990, brought a big change to my life, I got selected to do the Chelsea comes to California exhibition in LA. I had never flown before, so the very thought of getting on a plane, flying for 14 hour to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean was not really something I was looking forwards too. There was a lot involved, I was told we had to take a certain amount of work,(turned stock) then apply for a visor, get a ticket to fly booked. And have an assistant. We had Sarah working with us in the Gallery, a really clever and practical girl. Good with people and good at making things, puzzles and animal cut outs on a motored fretsaw. It was agreed that Sarah came with me. Ray Key and I were to stay in the same room at the Motel Ray had booked. Sarah would share a room with Bill Baber`s assistant. This worked fine. Ray Key was such a good help to us with every thing. He was so organised. He Met us at Gatwick airport, got us through check in and on the the plane. It was all new to me, I did not have a clue. I was 43years old. I had been on a small plane, down at Cardiff, only a 4 seater, But that was up and down in no time. I remembered how nervous I was then. This was much more, 14 hours in a jumbo jet with 400+ other people, I now knew what they meant when someone said, crammed in like sardines. That flight actually was not so bad, I enjoyed looking down on the landscape once we had crossed the Ocean. Landing in LA and getting through customs was a bit of a mission, We followed Ray, he had travelled to the USA many times. He was in front , we followed, then a problem. Two security men came, took Ray off to a room. We had no idea what was happening. We got through and just waited. Ray had hired a car for us all to travel together, from where I did not know, and driving on the wrong side of the road was a no, no for me. A stroke of luck, I spotted Morris Lythan, he was the Craft council`s organiser. Going across to Morris I explained what had happened. In know time at all, Ray was back with us and we were off to pick up our hire car. Apparently, the security were checking Ray`s visor. On our way now, down a eight lane highway to Orange county. So much traffic, so glad It was not me driving. The country lane is more my style. Arriving at the Motel and getting booked in was a big relief. It was a nice closed in complex, with a large swimming pool and a hot tub in the centre court yard. It seemed strange to me, we left Gatwick at 12.00 noon and here we are 14hours later, at 2.00 in the afternoon. Time differences in traveling. Once we were all settled in we decided to go and take a look at the Exhibition venue. Not to far down the road from where we were staying. It was in a very elaborate sort of marquee, really nice inside, and the stands were arranged very classy. Looking good. That evening we went for a meal to a bar called , "Sizzlers". It was full of people but still plenty of space. Back to the motel, Ray and I had bought a bottle of whiskey each at the duty free. In his words, if we had a drink before sleeping it would help with the jet lag. I think I indulged to much, because at 6.00am the following morning I woke to the sound of the telephone with a blinding headache. My wife had called. The morning went slow, we had a light breakfast then that day was our own. We played tourist, going down to Newport beech, seeing the Queen Mary ship, now a floating hotel. The day was extremely hot. just very hot wind blowing of the land. The following days were taken up by getting paperwork sorted, the banking facilities together, then waiting for the lorry bringing our works from the customs depo. That`s were the first issue was. It was stuck in transit and would not arrive untill the day before we were to open. Not giving us the time we thought we would have. O, well another day off, so Ray said, "Lets get up early, to go and visit Blue ridge plus Lake Arrow head, so glad we did, this was a real high light of our trip to LA. such a difference to the city and built up area where we were. It was there that I found my big pine cone. Yes, off The big cone pine, its over eight inches tall by five inches wide at its base. We had a long and enjoyable day, up and out of the city, the air was clear and fresh, on this high ground and looking back towards LA, which you could not see because it was shrouded in smog. Just a low lying dirty white cloud. We journeyed back as the sun was setting, and yes, California sunsets are a bit special. Back to our base, stop off at "Sizzlers" for an evening meal, then called it a day. That night I slept well. Because our goods had been delayed, everyone was getting very nervous, it was the day before opening and nothing had arrived at the Exhibition site, "South coast plaza," a large, I do mean Large, yes by American standards. I never got to see a quarter of the place on the times I took my breaks. But at around mid-day the lorry arrived, I love those great big American trucks, the men that drive them mostly live in them, a life on the road, travelling up and down the full length of all the states. It was manic but organised. We all formed a line from the back doors of the truck, It was full from front to back, no space to pox a pin head in. The boxes were soon moving along the line of us standing and waiting for our boxes to come off. In the Marquee, those on the floor were running from stand to stand and putting the packing cases, on the named stand, this went like clockworks. In no time at all and the truck driver was on his way for his next load, we had ours and all very happy. Now the work started, We were opening the following day, so it meant everyone, well nearly everyone had to work long in to the night and some to the early hours of morning next day. It got done, and opened on time. A very hot day. Inside that Marquee the temperature was raising by the minute, It became unbearable for many, some lady fainted and needed medical help. No one had foreseen this. People just came to the entrance, felt a wall of heat and walked away. Exhibitors inside just soaked in their sweat. Some moaning, complaining and really grumpy, I felt so sorry for Morris Lytham and his team. They were getting it from all sides. The following day, air conditioning was installed, the men installing had worked through out the night to complete the job. There was a problem though with this, The ones at the end were the motors that run this air con, had their stands it was so noisy no one could hardly ear each other speak. That show continued on with problems day after day un till it was finish. Morris and his staff done every thing humanly possible to keep thing running smooth, I thought they all deserved a medal, but for those that suffered the most it was a disaster. Some Exhibitor had borrow money from banks to get out there to do it, Some hardly took a dim, well we are in America, It`s the Dollar here. Despite every thing that was going wrong, even Sarah my assistant was having to stay back a few days at the Motel with a tummy bug. I had to man my stand on my own for that period, only able to just take a few minute break for the loo, or get a coffee. Another thing, during this show, about half way through we had an earthquake, 1990, It was quite a major one too. At the time none of us realised what was happening, a sound of rumbling like thunder, a rattle vibration, moving and shaking goods from stands, causing many breakages and damage to items on some stands. Mainly Glass and ceramics suffered most. My wood just bounced, so lucky to have nothing damaged or broken. Across in the Mall, windows had broken or fallen out, walls showed some big cracks, and walk ways were unsafe. This was a very strange feeling for me. It was all over in a blink of an eye, then silence, this just seemed to last for a while, People just stood still in shock. Then every one was busy, all talking away not knowing what had happened and why. There was an announcement over a speaker system, that there had been an earthquake, it measured 8.5 on the Richter scale and warned everyone to stay clear of building because there may be an after shock that so often followed. That never happened and with in an hour after the shock, things were on the go again. The show must go on. From the13-21 October 1990. We had flown out of Gatwick on the 7th and would return on the 25th to Heathrow. The day we finished was very busy, it closed early evening so every one was eager to get their boxes out of store and pack the goods they had left, ready to be delivered back to our homes in UK. This continued most of the next day too. Ray flew back on the 24th, he took the car back to LA and caught an early flight. Sarah and I stayed on at the Motel, we were booked to fly out on the 25th, It was arranged that we had a shuttle bus take us from Orange county, from the motel back to LA airport. I will never forget this experience, every thing was an adventure for me. Visits from British Royals, Film stars and celebs. Many there exhibiting did not make enough sales to cover their cost, I was a bit more savey, I had taken many small Items, Five hundred turned pens, Pendants and bud vases. All very affordable, When it`s so hot people don`t spend, I knew that from our Gallery, hot days takings are low. But yes, I did do well, and the goods I did not sell there arrived home by November and most were sold in our own Gallery by Christmas. One thing I can`t leave out is our journey home, We got the Shuttle bus very early morning, 4.30am, a good few travelling, the bus was full. At LA airport we were soon checked in and a wait of several hours before our flight. I was ready to get into the Boarding lounge. Down the gangway and on the plane, Take off was fine, we would be flying through the night for a morning arrival at Heathrow. That flight was terrifying, it was dark outside, the wind was strong, The captain announced that there may be some turbulence, that was very much an under statement. That plane shook, rattled and nearly fell out of the sky. Not just once but for most of the flight home. Some passengers cried with relief when the plane came on the landing back in Heathrow. Our onwards journey back to Wales was much more pleasant. So good to be back