2010!

We all used to say how quickly the years sped by but tonight I can only think that it doesn't seem that long since we were all celebrating the new millennium. Scary months before it as computers were going to crash etc. but that never came to anything did it?

I must admit that this past year hasn't been too bad. We had a beautiful summer weather wise and haven't wanted for anything. Good health for us and Clio which is always a bonus

Lets hope it continues through the next decade.

To our family and friends

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Silly Sunday

Katie, in the green top, and I have been planning a Dorada Day for months. Well as soon as we knew she would be over for Christmas that is!

We set off on Sunday at around one o'clock with a target of nine bottles which is far more than I normally drink but what the hell, it's Christmas.

Our plan of a day on our own soon went belly up as our mates decided to gate crash when we got as far as Oscar's Bar. By the time we arrived at Bar San Juan we were quite a crowd......kids and all.

For some strange reason Katie decided that she didn't like odd numbers or the number eight and we ended up having ten. A slight left hand lean on the way home but it was a really brilliant day.

Family History

My daughter Sam has been looking after some of my stuff since I moved to Tenerife and I collected a few bits whilst I was there in October. I so wanted a few photos to add to my Family History folder and I found the best one. This is Mary Ellen Yates nee Bentley, born in 1855 and her last child, Sarah, was my Nana.

I feel so blessed to have it.

Have Fun

Happy Christmas Everyone

Boilers, Television and Flies!!

All the shops will close around lunchtime tomorrow as the Canarians usually celebrate Xmas Eve by having an elaborate meal with their extended families. Panic stations for us as our water boiler decided to die on us and the local shop doesn't stock new elements. Just our sort of luck!

I'd go along with it until Saturday but it struck me that I'd have all those pots and pans to wash on Xmas Day with only the kettle to help! Someone is on a mission in the morning. As an afterthought, my bottle of Fairy lasted for ten days after it's predicted eight weeks and my new bottle is supposed to last until the ninth of March!

We have had the most awful weather all week. Rain, rain and more rain and the TV signal keeps going belly up. Several power cuts which has killed off Bernard's router and could have something to do with our flippin' boiler!

As well as all that, I've never seen so many flies in all my life. Hundreds of the flaming things that really bug me. I'm considering getting one of those hats with corks!

I'm Really Shocked

I was checking out a thread on a Forum here in Tenerife when I found this shocking photograph of some of the dogs which Live Arico are taking care of and trying to re-home.

Don't get me wrong as I'm not criticising their care as they look like they are loved. It's just the fact that people have ditched them for their own selfish reasons. Some have been left behind by the English families who can't afford to live here now and have returned to England, some have just been left in the road and some thrown from car windows. Thirty-seven dogs ended up there in September alone.

To read more or donate check out Live Arico Tenerife.

Winter

It was really lovely until a couple of weeks ago. Nice, hot sunny days when I could sit outside to do my stitching (poor tiger isn't progressing well now!).

We've had torrential rain, thunder storms and high winds this week so it's the time of year when I long for a nice gas fire!

Brian took this pic whilst dog walking this morning.

The Weekend

Saturday: Bus strike over for the time being, Shona and I decided to pop into Las Americas for a couple of hours for her to do some last minute shopping. The wind was still blowing strong when we left home but the weather was lovely when we got off the bus. We had lunch, pretty bad and won't go there again, had a walk, sat in the sun, did shopping and off home again.

As Shona really likes going to the Chinese/Indian hot buffet in Callao we went there for dinner. We all ate as much as we wanted and then went to the bar next door for coffee. It was all really pleasant and I was home in time to see the X Factor results!

The trouble was that I didn't feel too well. I hadn't eaten that much but what I had didn't really settle. As soon as I lay down in bed I knew I was going to be ill. Enough said!

Sunday: We had planned to go to Bar San Juan for breakfast as Elmar was picking Shona up for the airport run at twelve fifteen and she needed something to eat before the flight. I'd been awake for most of the night so they took Clio with them and left me to sleep in peace. Chaos when I awoke as on checking the flight times they had realised that the plane was leaving an hour earlier than stated on her ticket.

Brian rang Thomas Cook whilst I contacted Elmar. No chance of picking her up earlier and I lost my rag. I was tired and not feeling well and some silly idiot wouldn't help me out! No help with Thomas Cook either. Thankfully, my mate Tina raced round and took Shona to the airport, no questions asked. Bless her xx

I'm still not well and haven't moved outside the apartment all day. I was pleased to see Joe win the X Factor as he'd been my favourite from the beginning. I also had first and second in the Photo Competition. Clever Joe and clever me!

Shona's Holiday...........continued

A bus strike stopped our gallop for the past couple of days and we have made the most of the sun in Playa San Juan. After pigging out on a full English yesterday morning we took our books down to the beach. We didn't actually go to the sandy bit but found a pleasant spot overlooking the sea.

I'm glad we did as today was a grey day. Jeff volunteered to take me to Guaza this morning for the annual digi-box update. Not as much fun as last year's chaos but we did have a chuckle or two on the way!

Storms have been predicted for the weekend. We had steaks at Antonio's this evening but managed to get home before the lightening and rain started. It didn't come to much but I'm sure it hasn't finished with us yet.

Leaving Do

Shona and I caught the bus into Santiago today to pick up some tobacco and stuff for Brian. We had a long walk down to Playa La Arena for lunch. Scampi, chips and salad. It was really nice. A little shopping followed before we caught the bus back to Playa San Juan.

We happened across Trish and Dave's leaving 'do' as they go off back to Wales on Friday. It was a really good laugh as Reg's little cockney sing song had me in stitches.

Bye to Trish and Dave xx

The Week So Far............

As Clio reported on her last blog, Auntie Shona came to stay on Friday just in time for a Bank Holiday weekend and the annual car time trials.

Saturday was well noisy as up to fifty cars sped down our street revving as they went. I did manage to take pics of some of them as they went by but didn't get the best ones according to Brian!

At least Sunday was a quiet day with a visit to Bar San Juan after spending a couple of hours trying to find the sun. It seems to have gone into hiding since Shona arrived!

Brian has managed to find a job for the week which left me in charge of making tea today. Steak and onion pie, boiled spuds, cabbage and cauli............well interesting!

Poor Sad Me

Being well bored a few weeks ago I decided to translate into English the writing on my new bottle of Fairy Liquid. I know...........I really need a life!

Anyway, it said that it would last for eight weeks and having nothing better to do I wrote it's finish date on the bottle.

I happened to remark to Brian earlier that it had five days left and I thought it had a good chance of getting there. I really couldn't believe his reply. 'Well, you don't wash up much'!!
You all know that he uses 15 pans and 19 plates to make egg and chips. What a cheek!

Poor Blanche

I was really sad to hear that she had died. She was so well cast as Deirdre's mother and she never failed to amuse me with her sarcasm. I hadn't realised that she'd been in the Street for over thirty years. Filming was cancelled today in respect. She will be sorely missed x

Bits and Bats

Liz and Lindsay went back to Scotland last week after almost a month staying on the island. We saw them quite often and it was a bit of a wrench saying goodbye. It won't be for too long this time though as they are planning to come over for a couple of weeks in the spring.

Scotland keeps cropping up lately as Muriel and her daughter Pamela went over to Arbroath for a flying visit last weekend and our Shona arrives from Glasgow on Friday. I'm the sassenach!!

I can't believe it's December already. I've written my Xmas cards and we have planned Xmas Day. Smoked salmon and poached eggs for breakfast, a walk around the village before our roast duck and all the trimmings. Television during the evening with mince pies and ice cream for supper. I know it's exactly like last year but we really enjoyed it and I don't have to re-visit a turkey for days afterwards!