So we've been back since Saturday. I'm still sleeping off the jetlag. I seem to manage until around 2pm, and then crash until 6. Then I can't sleep again until 4am. Hopefully it'll wear off first.

Vegetables are still a novelty. I should have kept a tally of the burgers I think. We saw some amazing church bill-boards. From 'we support Israel' to 'you are not alone', they ranged from teh political to the conservative to the wacky. I was disappointed not to get to a service in the States, I think I just need to try harder.

Being in Las Vegas was a bit nuts. I had to pick up a Western Union transfer from work, and the counter was actually in the casino. You turn round with your wad of cash, and all you can see is bank on bank of fruitmachines with the odd roulette wheel thrown in. It was around 9am, and the woman next to me, still in her pyjamas, took out 10,000 dollars in cash.

We got slam-dunked by the weather twice; once when a shoot was cancelled in LA because of the rain, and then the second time we weren't able to leave New York because of the snow, and we had to cancel two days of filming. But it was secretly great to have spare time in New York. I went to have a look at the UN one morning. It' s amazing to see it, as well as frightening how impotent such an organization is when what needs to be done goes against the national interests of one of the permanent five members of the security council's interests.

By the time I got home this was in the news because of the question of oil drilling off the Falkland islands. Argentina's approach to the UN seems a bit of a waste of time when the UK can simply veto any attempt to stop oil rights back to Argentina. so much for United Nations...

At the end of the second day of LA, it has done nothing but poor down. However, I've seen the Pacific ocean, driven across the city on the right, eaten enough burgers to sink a small dingy, and today had a shoot saved by a lovely gentleman called Miguel. We were let down by a bike rental company who were supposed to be hiring us a tandem for filming tomorrow. When we arrived at the shop, there was a big sign saying 'closed on rainy days', so we drove back down Lincoln boulevard to a shop we'd seen selling bikes.

The manager, Miguel, was in the back, and even though they don't do rentals, he not only let us use a men's bike until Saturday, but he also took us back to his house and is letting us have his tandem for the weekend. He completely saved my bacon. I couldn't believe how trusting he was, it was wonderful.

I'm zonked, and am going to hit the hay. Don't know what we're going to do tomorrow if the rain carries on like this.

I don't know whether anyone else saw the Christmas Shrek episode last night, but it was great - the best quote of the episode was that 'it's not Christmas until someone cries'. Actually typing it makes me realize it sounds terrible, but it was all about Shrek kicking out all his mates when they destroyed his house on Christmas Eve. Then he missed them, and invited them all back. Makes a lot of sense, and it made us laugh after a crazy but great day yesterday.

After six years of living in Bristol, I've finally given in and got on a bike. Moving house has prompted it, being in Brislington means it would be too far to walk to work, and I'm too tight to pay for the bus. Now Lucy is in Cambodia, I'm borrowing her bike. This morning, I made it up to St. Paul's Road in about 15 minutes, despite having to get off to get up Park Street. One of these days I might make it right to the top before having to give in. So far I can make it to being level with Mastershoe.And it's so lovely cycling in, it's really refreshing, and it's so great to have that extra twenty minutes in the morning.

I have already witnessed my first incident of bike rage though, although not against me. I saw a walker on Pero's Bridge kick the back wheel of a cyclist who cut him up. A bit of posturing ensued, but nothing too serious. And now I'm feeling like a real mechanic, as I managed to fix the bike when the chain came off. Twice.

You've got to love Gok Wan. There's something really great that actually, there's nothing major going on here - some new clothes, a couple of stunts, but a really whopping confidence boost, and absolutely NO surgery. One in the eye for Harley Street.

There have been so many column inches - blog, print etc - on Nick Griffin's appearance on the BBC's question time last night, that I don't really feel like there's much I can add. However, having been trapped in Broadcasting House in Bristol last night while a bunch of protesters yelled slogans at the front of the building, I think the BBC were totally right to have him on. He's an elected representative of the British people, x amount of Brits have voted for him, and he raises an ugly mirror to the current government; if their policies are so good, why is the number of BNP members expanding?

It was a shame that Jack Straw obviously didn't want to answer that one. The issue of Labour's immigration policies was pretty much the only decent question of the whole night. While I can't deny that seeing someone like Mr. Griffin taking a pasting on national television does give some level of satisfaction, it was also slightly uncomfortable watching the mainstream parties get such an easy ride. I'd have liked to have seen a few more questions and a few less comments.

Now this I really struggle with.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/15/texas-bible-jury-death-sentence

Well actually, that's not true. I cannot agree with any Biblical basis for the taking of another human life, whether that's through murder by an individual, or the killing of someone sanctioned by the state. Justice, yes, but surely also grace?

But equally, just because someone uses the Bible to influence their opinion, is that inherently wrong? Can anyone claim that strongly held beliefs of theirs would not affect their judgement in a case like this? Today I heard someone I'm worked with say that all paedophiles should be chemically castrated, or that government should re-introduce the death penalty. I don't think this guy's a big Bible-reader, but his views on it are certainly stronger than mine.