A turkey ranger at Skyline Wilderness Park near Napa returns empty-handed

Two countries divided by a common language

Good wine never gives you a headache. That must be true because this morning we awoke early tufty-tailed and clear-headed ready to tackle the second course. But something stayed our hand. How could we top our day with Ted and Nancy? A second helping without their good advice might dull that first exhilarating experience. So we put thoughts of wine aside and headed for the hills.

The Skyline Wilderness Park lies just outside Napa and consists of various trails that lead through dry savanna country and indigenous forests to high ground. We had read so many warnings to expect mountain lions and rattle snakes but we are disappointed again. We do see wild turkeys – surprisingly plump black birds looking very like their domestic cousins – and hundreds of small squirrels, which unlike their English counterparts have very unbushy tails and look more like rats.

I must report that on the s-word front controversy continues to rage.

Senor MP from Spain comments: “I agree with D. about the English abuse of the s-word. What fun to barge into people in Boot’s the chemist and continue silently and blithely on.” Thank you Senor P for that observation.

From Somerset, England, “Angela”, of Elspeth Close, comments rather acerbically that not apologising is in fact a Californian affectation! She adds: “My best apology of all times was in John Lewis. I was bending down looking at the Molton Brown stuff when a woman dropped a wodge of about £250 next to me and I found myself saying ‘I'm sorry but you dropped this.’ So useful in awkward situations!” Yes, indeed, Angela!

Back at the Californian coalface, however, D counters that her friends “will stubbornly reserve the phrase ‘I'm sorry’ for those rare thoughtful moments when we want to let someone know that we did something wrong and feel remorseful about it.” D, we admire your stand!

Sticky isn’t it? As Oscar Wilde said: “We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language.”

Tomorrow: Jolene will direct us to 1309-and-a-half Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, the last known address of those aunts. Read the next heart-warming episode!