September

Things are coming back to life again. The shops are staying open and it's less like a ghost town. The Canarians are moving back to their winter homes and the English and Germans are moving back for the warmth of a Tenerife winter. Schools will start next week after their three month break. It was a little cooler today too.

Only another five days or so and Bar Antonio will open again and all will be well with the world!

I've done quite well with my beer ban. I confess to having a couple here and there and a little white wine creeps into my gassy water on occasion but on the whole I feel better and it's still a couple of months before I go to England.

There's news about that too. My brother Ray, his wife Alison and their boys, Dean and Bradley are spending four days in Looe whilst I'm there. Getting well excited now!

Beer

I've decided to give it up. We normally wander around for a couple of hours during the afternoon and have a couple but I haven't had one since Sunday. I know it isn't such a record yet but I'm well determined.

Gassy water from now on and we'll see how it goes!

Kids

Yet another birthday party in the Church Square today. Young Paige reached ten and all the English children turned up to celebrate with her. She's fourth from left, middle row.

As we'd been officially invited we wandered down for a couple of hours and for once I took my camera. I really love this photo as they all look so healthy and happy.

A Holiday

I've been checking out flights to Exeter for weeks now but they have all seemed a little too pricey. I managed to find one which fitted the budget last night and booked it this morning. Exchanging Tenerife beaches for Cornish ones and I can't wait.

PS. Congratulations to Burnley on beating Man U. Our Dennis will never sleep tonight!

One of Those Days

We discovered that it was a Bank Holiday weekend well in time for once and planned everything in advance. It's called the Assumption and concerns the Virgin Mary.

Anyway, with everything sorted we walked down to Bar San Juan this afternoon to meet up with Bill and Muriel. They had their dog Lexi with them along with Molly, their daughter's dog. Molly kept pawing me and asking to be picked up so Muriel lifted her onto my lap. Nothing unusual with that but for some strange reason she went for me and bit my face. Blood was pouring down and all I can remember was three faces staring at me! I thought I'd lost half of my upper lip. Thankfully, it was just a scratch and a fat bottom lip. Poor Molly got such a hiding. I reckon she was just too hot and I've forgiven her!

Friday night is wrap night and two episodes of Corrie. We certainly know how to have fun! Poor Brian, he chopped up the chilli peppers and then went for a piddle. I've never seen such a funny sight in years. Shorts around his ankles, a wet towel and lots of burn cream. I think he's ok now.

Bits and Bats

August is the most boring month of the year here. Many business's either close completely or work mornings only as it's far too hot to work for a whole day. Schools have been closed since the end of June.

Our main moan is that Bar Antonio has closed for five weeks! It's good for the lads, Luis, Mauro, Jose and Pedro as they work for eleven months of the year with just Sunday's off but we do miss it. We've now set up 'base camp' at Bar Esmeralda's as it's near to the shops and within easy reach of home.

The owner of our apartment called by last night with two huge pots of paint. He's asked Brian to decorate next door but has brought enough to cover the Forth Bridge! I only hope he isn't expecting my house being done in that awful colour! Just as we thought we were safe he came back and asked Brian to repair Annie's roller shutter. She'd also been in the dark for a couple of days. He is so funny.

Last but not least is the Bowling Alley. Terry and Helen dropped by before they went back to England to collect their stuff and ours but it seems that we have to come up with ninety euros before we can claim our own belongings. I have phoned but no-one will explain the reason and it's a little harsh as we've spent years playing there. Such a bitter end to an era.

Hot, Hot, Hot!!

We are all suffering at the moment as the temperature is going off the scale.

I was well amused to see that the old blokes had moved their chairs and tables from outside the bar.

In the shade and the card games continued. Good for them.