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