Los Angeles: the peanut moment
“Be quiet now for Daddy – my medicine is just starting to kick in.”
Overheard in Disneyland
During one late night phone call to LittleHelen, one of us casually mentioned “wouldn’t it be wonderful to fly over to the US and visit MsTrace?” And so we found ourselves on a 14 hour flight to the land of Reece’s peanut butter cups, cowboy hats and cheese in a can.
It didn’t begin well. What you really don’t want to hear is ‘we’re sorry to inform you that Melbourne Airport is now closed due to fog.” And so I missed my flight to LA, as did Helen due to Brisbane fog, throwing us sideways to an airport hotel in Sydney, where the rain was relentless, the bar was closed, and my bags were missing. All we wanted was that moment when the flight attendant hands you the peanuts, and you know you’re on your way.
A day late, the stretch limo purred to a halt in Los Angeles and we threw our arms open for Trace, a beautifully vibrant and generous soul who’s opened her house to us, right down to ‘B’ and ‘H’ personalised towels. Despite it being 8am, we cracked open the champagne as the limo slid through the streets of LA, and we were welcomed in fine style.
It’s been a riot of vintage clothes shopping and tequila, high heels and chocolate, all in glorious Californian sunshine and deliriously high spirits. One of my first stops was an American supermarket, where I spent far too much time squealing at the food.
Then there was Disneyland. Yes, I went to Disneyland, which will surprise many of you. Luckyvegetable has set me three challenges, the first being to get my photo taken with a Disney character. So I found myself lining up with shrieking children, and when Tigger caught sight of me, in suede mini skirt and tattoos, my fiery plaits topped by Tigger ears, he knelt at my feet and bowed down to me. It’s quite a skill entrancing grown men in animal costumes, but I use my power wisely.
The rollercoaster delighted Helen and Trace, but I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to do it all again, or throw up. And if you think Bell in Disneyland is incongruous enough, prepare yourself for what follows.
I refuse to discuss it.
We drove through the Hollywood Hills for a good view of the sign, and found our favourite stars on Sunset Boulevard. I bought a killer corset at Frederick’s of Hollywood, and we sauntered through a flea market at Long Beach.
Trace took us to a baseball game, where I threw myself into the spirit of things and devoured Coors with a mustard hot dog, and shared a bag of peanuts with the man next to me, throwing the shells on the ground and yelling at the LA Dodgers.
We bought beautiful jewellery at Venice Beach and sang to the Beach Boys as we drove down Pacific Coast Highway, and drank peanut butter shakes as we watched a surfing competition at Huntington Beach.
Trace’s lovely friends threw us a welcome bbq in a gorgeous 1920’s villa, sipping margaritas next to the jacuzzi as honkytonk music played and the delicious Mexican carne asada was grilled to perfection.,
It’s my birthday on Wednesday, so we jet off to New York tomorrow. As a pre-bday gift Trace treated me to lobster, truffles and champagne…I may never come home.
And of course, there’s been plenty of vodka under the stars in Trace’s back yard, singing to Guns and Roses and taking the kind of silly snaps that tell a hundred stories, and will make me smile for some time.
Helen and Trace send their love, and will post their stories soon. Until then, thanks for all the bubblemails, and I’ll speak to you from New York!
And I mean it: I refuse to discuss the pink bridal Disney hat.
Did you notice my buxom eyelashes? Helen
You speak really good English. What language do they speak in Australia? my pedicurist_
It was poking me in places I shouldn’t be poked Helen
Did I hiss at someone in the bar last night? me
If I come to Australia, am I gonna be able to funk out? drunk guy in pub
Lisa Jewell
Bell in a pink bridal hat….well I never thought I’d see that…..next thing you’ll be posting you taking a bite of crumpet ;)
I’m smiling my head off here at work…..at the same time frowning and wishing I was there with you guys, what fun…..
I do so love your travel journals….
Oh and you will wear that pink hat for moi….yes??
Lots of love for you all xxxx
roybarry
But Bell-it’s feckin’ PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh, the shame, the shame of it all…........
Mel Brackstone
HAHAHA!!!! I laughed out loud at the pink thing Bell!!! What a great story (as always!!!) and what a blast you all must be having!!!
Paul Louis Vil...
Ha! :)
Fantastic awesomeness!!! hehe!
Thanks for sharing Bell, I was giggling all the way through!
Katrina De'Vries
Looks like you’re having a great time in Cali!! Next time you’re out in the state you’ll have to come further south to San Diego. Did hit any of the taco shops out there? When my husband flew out here from Melbourne he said that carne asada was proof God loved us. His jaw dropped when he saw the price of booze out here too. Those pictures look fantastic! Can’t wait to hear about New York. :)
mstrace
Bell in pink princess mouse ears is worth every second of anticipation I experienced for this trip, let me tell you. The Tigger lusting after her should come as no surprise…what tiger wouldn’t?
And as for my backyard patio, with the gorgeous Helen and her perfect posture (seriously, you should see this woman sit) and Bell with her seductive eyes and unabashed sweet tooth; to the fairy lights, candles, bottles of wine and malibu sunrises – it won’t be the same place without them. I can’t wait to see what will transpire in NYC. And I don’t think I’m the only one!
mstrace
and can I just add how surreal yet wonderful it is to be sitting 30 feet away from the actual Bell herself while typing this comment...
sandraellen
oh bell….a wonderful share…..sounds fantastic, continued funk and fun and tequila and vodka and…
sandra x
Enivea
Oh mstrace, how I envy you!!!!!!!!!!
Bell, in those Tigger ears…..........how did you know that Tigger is my alter ego?....OMG! You’ve done it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enivea
OH, AND VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Jessica Tremp
oh delirious, delightful grinning happening here…thanks for the little mermaid picture xxx
can’t wait to hear more and more stories in person…go you gorgeous girls
x
PJ Ryan
I’m laughing, i’m smiling, i’m nodding, i’m counting the little beats of my heart and i’m sooooo happy for you all .. what a fabulous experience .. 3 beautiful women all bubbled together …
fabulous pics and tales .. thanks for the updates and bell, have a fantabulous birthday tomorrow.
big hugs from this little pj who is still in her pj’s in oz.
love,
x
Steve Strodder...
spontaneous vistits to the US?
nice
x
Ena Lü
To think that redbubble bought you all together! how insane is that Trace,I love the Limo touch!
and New York, Oh I wanna be there too, ahhhhh maybe next time, wishing you a super delightful birthday sweet Belle, hugs all round ( PS you girls need to spill on how you cash up for such adventures, I need tips ) xoox Please have a drink on me :))) love ena
Yasemin Sumner
this made me grin like a crazy person for you three gorgeous ladies…what an adventure…can’t wait for more…and that opening overheard quote…geez. xx
friartuck
Re: the pink hat you refuse to discuss – that is the closest I’ve seen you to looking like a cat with its ears flat… :-)
I’d say stuff like “Live it up and make the most of it!” – but you obviously are… Makes my feet itch.
Alex Brown
i am unashamedly jealous of everything here, how is it possibly fair that i am not in the states, and instead working my derriere off in a smelly deli instead of living it up? Enough of my bitterness, had me smiling throughout this entire entry, have an outrageously unfair amount of fun, though you seem to be doing that already.
jemimalovesbigted
Hip hop happy birthday! it must have been all that peanut butter that caused an adorning of pink??
I am laughing my arse off over – You speak really good English. What language do they speak in Australia? Only in America!!
Can’t wait for more, more, more. Big love and safe, fun journeys from down under =D
DeviousLili
I loved this read. (still giggling)
I always hear such terrible tales from people who’ve come to the U.S. and just detest us. I’m so glad you’re having such fun and that you love our supermarkets. (I’d be lost with less than a 24-hour ohmygod-mart at 2 a.m. .... it’s literally the BEST time to shop)
Love that Tigger-person-thing bowed to you. You have my complete respect over that, haha!
Safe travels to New York City, babe. I’ll wave at each jet that flies overhead, knowing that on one of them is an adorable redhead who refuses to discuss a pink princess cap. xox
aglaia b
LOL look at that expression!!!! hahaha
nuff said.
happy happy happy land and times.
all your 3 faces are just so beautiful, so much character and charisma!!!
now you know where i wanna see that corset you picked up along with those other yummy vintage lovelies. hehe
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR THE 24TH, i wanna see you trashed!!!
ps, helen you look so hot in that nirvana tee. trace, so beautiful, is that bettie page you have on? OMG!!!
can’t wait to see more. ;-) xox
hilde
Wow, really, really amazing. Wish I was there. All that champagne, caviar, lobster swimming pools and sun! But what I’m really jealous of, is the fact that you’re flying to New York soon. Please say hi to the city as you drive in. I miss it so much.
berndt2
oustanding – despite the knocks it gets, I love LA. Try the churros!! the churros!! (I’m kicking myself for missing out on a peanut butter thickshake…)
Leith O'Malley
“I refuse to discuss it”.
hehee nuff said.
As they say Bell, only in America.
Only in America.
:)
aasp
The pink is funny on you! but it was great to get to meet you two and btw how did no one comment about the fact that it look like Helen lost her pants in two pictures? and i love the third to last picture, is that your im a tiger “roar” pose?
Luckyvegetable
tigger is my favourite!! TIGGER IS MY FAVOURITE!! How did you know?? =D
This is fantastic, and if I didn’t miss you so much, I would say you should always travel, so I would always have something amazing to read…can’t wait til you get home and we can do a debrief with piccies and Lucky Dives!!
xoxox and Happy Birthday!! Sorry I’m late =(...
Hugs!
Holly Ringland
holy shit beautiful woman. i don’t even know where to start. but i wish to heck i’d had these pictures to feed you when i was getting the numerous text messages and phone calls of distress from melbourne and then sydney… ahhhhhh, the peanut moment… i’m so fricking glad it eventuated! not that i ever doubted it would. i just would have loved to have had the tigger ears moment to dangle in front of you like a transparent carrot… what a vision you are sweetheart… of course, only you could have tigger on his knees. i have bellowed with glee looking at these pictures and reading your words time and again tonight. i think the pretty pink princess almost trumps the bunny ears… almost... those ears are close to my heart as you know x “Be quiet now for Daddy – my medicine is just starting to kick in.” oh pretty please, can we get this on a tshirt? imagine the sequel to klokken... i have been to disneyland and survived. this journal was almost as good as being there with you… almost. i am going to selfishly say… thank god you’re home. i missed you so much my girl xxx
bellmusker replied
Ah baby, you know the only reason they coaxed that pink monstrosity of hideousness onto my head in the first place was because Helen and Trace brought up the bunny ears, right? And thank you for fielding all those ‘god damned motherfucking flight’s been cancelled’ phone calls, because you were so right…it was everything you said it would be, and more. The only thing missing was you. Bring on cackling on your couch in Manchester, and mine in Berlin!! x x x
John Robb
....I now know why this image makes me feel funny strange inside like when I was a teenager. You see I’ve always had a special feeling for Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie – in addition I’ve always had a thing for mini Mouse….. and lo before my very eyes is the sight that combines my fantasies into the one magical image.
I’ll be able to dream anew tonight. :-)