We’ve been round various garden centres of late trying to find an agave plant. DrSita ruled the first place out as she asked if agaves would grow in this climate and they answered “Well, it’s a cactus, it should do okay”. One of the first things you learn about agaves is that they’re not cacti.

Several other garden centres haven’t had anything more adventurous that Aloe, but we’re not giving up because a few miles down the road there’s a place selling Pulque (only open on Saturdays and only in bulk).

Anyroad, yesterday at the aforementioned Fred Meyer (pronounced Maya) while BBQ shopping we found this…

Very much a last resort.

Our first stop on our tour of Milwaulkie and Sellwood yesterday was air-conditioned super charity shop, Goodwill, about 5 mins walk from our house. There are about 20 smaller Goodwill shops scattered around Portland but this is the main depot it seems where a steady stream of unwanted bric-a-brac flows into the place as crowds of bargain hunters pick over the trays for bargains to flog on eBay or to decorate their house. There seemed to be about 10 new trays an hour coming in and I’ve no idea what happens to the stuff that doesn’t get sold, if it goes to other goodwills or just gets recycled. It’s a strange place and probably the most ethnically diverse site in Oregon. No barbecues though, which was the idea for going there in the first place.

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but it’s too bloody hot. I’ve been playing me guitar in the basement and had to stop.

Today’s new song to play, Art Brut, Emily Kane…

And I bet it’s the .4444444° that makes all the difference… Luckily there’s an air-conditioned cinema nearby so we’ve been watching all kinds of nonsense. Pineapple Express, has its moments but is still nowhere near as good as Knocked Up. Tropic Thunder last night cracked me up a fair few times. Mark Kermode says if a comedy makes you laugh five times or more, it’s a success and thus it definitely qualifies and is worth watching for the panda scene alone. Hellboy II is an option for this afternoon…

There are all kinds of small, independant cinemas dotted around Portland, our nearest however was showing Mamma Mia for 3 weeks and has now moved on to The Sisterhood of the Traveling (sic) Pants II, so we’ll have to go a little further afield.

We also found a Fred Meyer down the road, a huge, air-conditioned superstore stocking everything from cider to sweetcorn holders to trees. If they let you take your dog in it would be perfect. As it is ‘Cus and me just head down to the park at the bottom of the street, stick to the shade and paddle in the river. Even the basement’s starting to heat up. Righty, I’m off to shut the windows and blinds. We’re adopting Andalucian living habits. Siestas included. Hasta pronto…

Or somesuch, let’s see if a) this link works and b) you can read it…

Didn’t work, so… click here and shove this site’s address in the box:

Gorgeous it is. And a lot cooler than the triple digit temps in our house…