St Stephens Day

 So the next day dawned- beautiful weather - always the way isnt it? But as planned met a few friends for lunch at a great place on the beach- Hola Ola- very Spanish, great food and good prices. I treated myself to a Tanqueray and schweppes ( 5e's) but that's what you pay for a Larias and cheap tonic so reckoned I was worth it! Left to right is Jenni, Dermot ( guess you'll all have the magnifying glasses out) and Sherry. It was the first time that Jenni and Sherry had met so we excused Dermot after a couple of hours as  his eyes were beginning to glaze- we were still at it a couple of hours later!

So, as you can see my festive period passed very happily which I hope was the same for you all.
Since then both Kye and I have been a bit under the weather - I contacted a horrid cold from goodness who knows where and he contacted a parasitic infection - hes absolutely fine in himself but you just don't want to know whats been coming out of his bum- all I can say is that I have found a great vet and am very glad that I dont have carpets!! He is currently enjoying a diet of rice with chicken, white fish, cottage cheese or eggs- harrumph!

So next on the agenda is New Years eve and then the run up to the 3 Kings so will be back. Its unlikely to be before January 1st so I would like to wish you all a heartfelt Happy New Year and may 2104 bring you all you wish for.

Bye for now.
Jane x

Christmas Eve afternoon!!

 Who would have believed that after this lovely afternoon we would have had the worst gales for years and in fact on that very morning the earth moved for me -no, nothing to do with Dermot ( have you guessed he hasnt got the blog address?) but an earthquake which measured 3 on the Richter scale. Okay not very big but it was my first. And actually it was the noise that woke me - thought someone had dropped a gas cylinder just outside the house- the epicentre was in Carboneras, a town about 20K's along the coast. So obviously no damage and none form the gales unike the poor people who lost power and water.

I had a lovely day at the markets and then was invited to celebrate Christmas Eve in the village, joined Dermot to spend the evening with his Spanish friends - they live in the most fantastic apartment - a little wooden front door that belies what it behind it- like the Tardis, just jaw dropping. So a lovely evening was had by all, I drove and still enjoyed myself so that says a lot! I also learned quite a bit about current Spanish politics - enough to make your hair curl, just be grateful for Cameron et al is all I can say- may be the subject of a blog in the New Year.

Sadly Christmas day dawned cold, grey, wet and very windy - not the sort of day for a picnic (though I do have vivid memories of going on picnics in just such weather when I was a girl) - and I really didnt fancy driving along the coastal road - one strong gust and we would be over so the decision was made to defer to another day.
But still had a happy day- Sherry and I spent the day together, ate the picnic lunch, braved the elements when we took the dogs down to the beach then I settled down to watch Call the Midwife with millions of others. And not a paper hat in sight - hurrah!!

Christmas Decorations

For the first time I'vegot the point of poinsettias - they look lovely when they are planted - will take a photo of the roundabouts next time i'm up there and its not raining- yes, I'm sharing your pain just that I'm sitting watching the sea and its still magical. Shortest day today so from tomorrow we're on the road to Spring - hurrah!

Christmas celebrations have started in earnest here- there's been a carol concert in the local hall - all very jolly with  guitars, castanets and most people singing the same tune - great fun especially jingle bells in Spanish. Tomorrow there's a band concert in the church, think I'll sit at the back just in case they're not over rehearsed.

Have met a new friend- Dermot , no prizes for guessing nationality - hes lived here for 11 years, very taken with Betsy and has done loads of travelling- walked the camino earlier this year, so lots to talk about. He knows lots of local bars so have had a couple of good evenings out in the tapas bars in Garrucha. He's joining Sherry and I on our trip out to Capa de Gata on Christmas Day so that will be fun. Had Betsy serviced this week as she had a bit of an oil leak so shes raring to go. Have been asked about Kye- hes really well- having a new lease of life as no sign of any arthritis- running and jumping on the beach every day and raring to go - had forgotten just how lively he can be - did his old trick of running off with Jills jacket when she and Jenni came for lunch and had his head in their handbags - all those endearing tricks of his that most of you will have had to contend with!

Think thats all for now - oh, great, the rains stopped so think I'll have lunch on the balcony.

Bye for now, happy holidays

The Village

The Lovely Lynne

 Here we are sitting in a cafe in Mojacar Pueblo - the old town also known as the village. You can see the views- they are amazing. This was the last evening before she and Tony returned to the UK for a few weeks - neither of us had enough clothes on cause we had been fooled by the blue skies.

Winter has arrived - some days are glorious but it is really weird- like living in two totally different climates - by about 11am the sun has some heat in it and in the afternoon I can be sitting on the balcony in a sleeveless t shirt and cut offs then by 4,30pm the layers start and by 5.30 its thermals, fleeces, socks and sitting under blankets - mind you I'm not complaining. Just that the temperature drop took me by surprise but now I have invested in a gas heater and hit the charity shops for warm clothes all is well. Will know for next year.

Life is settling into a sort of routine, I won't go into details because I still want to have friends when I return to the UK - favourite day is Wednesday cause thats market day in the village - its very small compared to Garrucha - next town along the coast, but I am very fond of it- have found a couple of ladies who bring their homegrown produce - no more expensive than the other stalls, so as with all homegrown veges it is so much tastier. They also have sausage, their own dried herbs, beans, sun dried and salted tomatoes, soap- you get the idea. They are also very tolerant of my halting Spanish.

Sadly its not even as good as my 'Allo Allo' French. I go to Spanish class every week but I have very little opportunity to practice so of course it wont improve but I can read and understand quite a bit so thats good.

Days do tend to run into each other, like being on an etended holiday, so I am having difficulty realising that Christmas is less than two weeks away. Its very low key here which suits me down to the ground as you will all know. There are some nice street decorations and a nativity scene in the village but apart from that nothing much else unless of course you go into the English bars and restaurants where the obligatory tinsel and balls, santas and fake christmas tree are displayed - say no more.

The important days for the Spanish are Christmas Eve and Epiphany when they celebrate the 3 Kings arriving- thats when the children receive their gifts. The other celebration is New Year of course when the tradition is that you eat 12 grapes- one with each chime- if you manage it means you will have a successful year. Guess one of the keys is to make sure the grapes are seedless - otherwise you may not make it to the 1st!
My plan for the day itself is to pack a picnic and head off in Betsy to the Capo Di Gata which is about an hour away- its a national park with an amazing coastline- a friend Sherry and her lovely dog will be coming along too.

So, as I don't have a postal address I will assume all your good wishes. And I would like to wish you all a Feliz Navidad - hope it is stress free and joyous.
Bye for now