Yes, there was the obsession with the body beautiful, and looking good. Which was kind of fun to observe as you would see the occasional arrogant peacock strutting around. But for everyone with an ego, there would be a roomful of beautiful, well dressed people to admire. Although it did make you feel like you really had to raise your game when going out in Hollywood.

And yes, everyone from the guy who parked your car, to the woman who sold you shoes was an actor, or working on a record deal. And that was fun too, as lots of people assumed I was in a band (I wish!), and on my first night in L.A. I ended up getting followed around by a british film crew. I've still absolutely no idea why. (Alas they missed my "one night only" appearance on stage at the Hollywood Bowl, but that's a story I'll save for another time...)

But the one thing I never expected to find in L.A., was such an incredible warmth. Through out the short time we where there, we constantly met people who went out of their way for us. Taking us to bars, clubs and parties, making us welcome and looking after us.

American's will literally stop dead in front of you and stare at you in the street

Even the police were friendly. Last night I managed to get myself totally confused while walking back to my hotel. So I thourght I'd ask a police man for directions. No problem at all, as he was really helpful. In fact he was more than helpful as he insisted on giving me a lift home in his police car (which I have to say was seriously cool! lol). Of course, he had to radio in what he was upto, and I was apparantly a "code so and so, distressed female. CSI eat your heart out!

But I had to wonder, in exactly the same scenario, would a policeman be that helpful in London? I'm afraid I don't think so.

Time and again, I was struck by how warm and welcoming people where. It was something I really didn't expect.

Although I haven't been to the U.S. very often, on each of my visits I've been struck by how conservative it is. American's are brought up to be self confident people, and they will literally stop dead in front of you and stare at you in the street. In England, we're much more subtle about such things, limiting ourselves to surreptitious glances. My appearance would often cause this to happen.

It was a case of "You're different, you're not like us, you don't belong here". I've occasionally had similar things happen in England, but not in the big cities.

But what really struck me while in L.A. was that the opposite was also true. While out shopping during the day, we'd walk in a shop and there would be a gay or trans shop assistant, and immediately we were their new best friends, simply because we where different. "You're different, you're like me, you can be in my gang!". Similar things happened when we walked into bars, and it really opened a lot of doors for us.

Two trannies who we met in the fabulous Abbey suggested we try a club called Miss Kitty's on Santa Monica Boulevard. Now this was surely the best club I've seen anywhere. It had such a mix of so many diverse groups of people, I've never experianced anything like it. Goth, punk, burlesque, cyber, fetish, straight, gay, lesbian, trans, black, white whatever, all out having a good time together. Fab!

So the next day when I was walking down the street and someone stopped to point and stare at me, I just smiled. I thought, yes I might be a bit different and I may not be one of your gang, but that's ok 'cause my gangs pretty damned special too thank you very much!

:o)