Changes

When we moved here almost eight years ago there were around ten English couples living in our village. Numbers have increased rapidly since then and there is quite a large community now. Quite a lot of them turn up for the winter, hence their name........swallows!

We are seeing the other side of the coin now as folk are returning to the UK quite regularly. Helen and Terry left us back in the summer and Gavin, Hayley and little Lottie disappeared last week. Mick and Alison plan to return to Manchester in March followed in the same month by Dave, Trish and Gareth who are going back to Wales.

At this rate and before our tenth anniversary we'll be back to the original ten!

Problems, Problems, Problems.........

We've had a relatively good run recently as far as our internet connection is concerned but it started to go to rats a couple of weeks ago. It's fine during the day but I use it most during the evening when it doesn't want to play.

After ringing the man that can yesterday it seemed a little better. He called me this afternoon to ask if I had one of those thingies connected to my landline which I denied, I'd no idea to be honest. All was well until around eight and off it went again! We poked about our two router mess up and found the little blighter. Chucked it out and the internet is fine but............the phone won't work!

Happen I'll ring him back tomorrow and confess!

Rain

That time of year again and we've had three cloudy, drizzly days and torrential stuff just before dawn. Not that I see that bit!

After hot sunny days for months it's such a shock to the system and I can't believe how much it bothers me. I'm so hoping that it's a blip and we'll have sun again for a few weeks before the real cold sets in.

Poor Patrick

I was really gutted when I went online this morning and saw that he'd died and I've been feeling sad all day.

Unhappy Girlies!

Ebony, on the left holding little Sienna, has been staying with her grandparents for the summer along with her brother Reece. We've known them for quite some time as they used to live here until their Mum decided that it was better for them to return to England.

For the first couple of weeks Ebony did nothing but moan that she was missing home and her mates but after that she didn't want to go!

We had a bit of a 'leaving do' in the park this afternoon and I've never heard the like. Sobbing from every direction...........Ebony, Paige, Hannah, Lucy and little Lottie were heartbroken. After receiving a rather soggy hug we saw them off to the airport. Reece wasn't a bit bothered.

She'll be half-way home by now and I trust the sobs will have stopped or Nanny Pam will have something to say!

Over the Way

Four apartments face us and the occupants rarely last more than three months. When we get really quiet ones we hope and pray they will last forever!

At the moment bottom right has a lifeguard who is quite tasty so he can stay, top right is up for rent, top left has a screaming baby but they are ok apart from that.

We went out earlier for an hour or so and bottom left was up for rent. On our return a family had moved in complete with widescreen tv and the biggest loud speaker system I've ever seen.

I dread to think what I might wake up to tomorrow.

SOS

Save Our Stanley.

The banner might not prove them right as they are around 300 thousand pounds in debt at the moment. I've no idea how they got into that fix but I'd hate to see them go.

Burnley FC played a friendly tonight to raise funds and I reckon Blackburn Rovers should help too. If I win Euromillions.............no, no chance of that!

What a Muppet!

I was in a bit of a rush yesterday and ended up posting this on Clio's blog. I would have left it as it was but I must share today's update.

My washing machine decided it didn't want to play around ten days ago and we've been using the one in the empty apartment next door awaiting a visit from our landlord. He turned up last night and said that he would bring a mending man this afternoon. They finally turned up at six o'clock. How stupid did I look?!

Brian moved everything out of the utility room recently to give it a good clean and hadn't turned the water supply back on! Two seconds and problem solved. The muppet had bailed out to the bar and I was left to face it on my own. The mending man found it well funny but the landlord didn't. I had to endure a lot of finger shaking but thankfully didn't understand half he said. Time for a much needed beer but I'm still blushing to think of it!

The Things You See!

I was sitting outside earlier this evening as it was nice and cool out there. Most of the apartments opposite are up for rent again but the family with the screaming baby are still in residence. It's daddy walked out onto the balcony naked!

Ummmm!