Brian Ranch

Sunday's column featured a very interesting place called the Brian Ranch.  It's about halfway between Victorville and Palmdale out in the high desert at Llano.  You can read the article at www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels

Jack Brian is a retired aircraft engineer and he and his wife Felice bought this place some ten years before he retired.  He used to commute by plane to El Segundo, as the ranch is also an airfield.  Specialising in Ultralites, Jack still keeps good care of his Piper Tomahawk.  The ranch's Web site is http://www.brianranch.com/

Being Called Out

Now I have to say I don't often get called out on my pieces for The Sun.  But a short time back I was in a fine stately home - Yes we do have them out here! - and I happened to notice a picture of a woman in one of the entrances to the library.

She had held herself very erect for the painting which was in 19th century black, and I happened to mention to one of the docents that she didn't look like a woman to whom you would tell an off-color joke.  He laughed and agreed with me.

Unfortunately I allowed this frivolity to carry over to the article I wrote.  Back came a stern note telling me that this reader did not appreciate such comments about her mother!  Oh dear; have to watch that sort of thing in future.  The site was at the Huntington which has wonderful oriental gardens and pavilions.