It Gets Worse

Sue and Don brought us a few presents back from their trip to the UK including three PS2 games. Nothing will get done from now on as we are back gaming and taking 'turns'. Thank you both xx.

It was after four o'clock before we moved this afternoon for our daily walk with Clio and the first thing we came across was the funeral of that poor woman who was murdered on Tuesday. The Church Square was packed with mourners and we stood with them for a little while before walking down towards the harbour to check out the state of play with the filming. Nothing much going on so we sat outside the Silver Bar for a quick beer and were in conversation with Wendy and Nigel when an ambulance with lights flashing turned into the side street.

I must admit that I didn't think too much of it, even when I saw the Paramedic standing in the main road and using his mobile. As we got up to leave we were told that Eric had passed away and they were waiting for the police and a doctor to turn up. His wife, Pauline, has to wait until tomorrow before their children can get here.

How much more does this village have to go through?

Such Goings On!

We were all a little shocked to hear that a woman was murdered just up the road from us yesterday afternoon. It was a little more personal when we found that it was the sister of the local garage owner who we know quite well. It seems that her ex-husband did the deed but apart from a short report from the Guardia Civil, that's all we know.

They have been doing odd things with strange boats down at the harbour all week. It's all to do with a film called 'The Clash of the Titans' which stars Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. The main action doesn't start until the end of the week and I might wander down with my camera.............and volunteer Brian as an extra!

Losing Things

It isn't something that I'm in the habit of but I seem to have lost fifty Euros out of my purse.
We went to Santiago this morning to do a bit of shopping but were running a little short of ready cash just as one of the shops was closing. Knowing that I had a fifty tucked away I decided to use that before we went to the cashpoint machine. It had gone.
I'm always so careful and I couldn't believe it. Thankfully, it wasn't far to the machine and the shop remained open until we got back.
It has been going over and over in my head all day. It's done and that's all there is to it but it does bug me.
I've just checked my Euro Millions ticket and I've won thirteen Euros! Makes it all a little better, I suppose.

That Time of Year Again

I thought that it was time to liven up the place by doing a bit of a spring clean this week. Curtains washed and windows cleaned. I so hate cleaning windows. The bedrooms aren't too bad as Brian takes them out and I can do the frames and shine the glass all in one go but the patio doors are a different story. I went for washing them in soapy water, using the squeegee thing and then the paper towel way this time as opposed to glass cleaner. They don't look too bad but I'm avoiding looking at them when the sun shines. The worst bit is that the folk across the road can see how useless I am!

Brian did the kitchen and bathroom wall tiles a couple of weeks ago so all we have left to do is that awful slatted window in the utility room. On reflection, I reckon I'll leave that to him! Job done.

A Strange Birthday

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do today so Brian suggested that I went for a peaceful beer at Rincon whilst he went to feed Sue's birds for me. Peace didn't last too long as Muriel and Bill turned up with Quality Street and I arranged to meet them later. The next to find me were Janie and Gary who stopped for a quick one and they were followed by Neil and Tina. We did have a really pleasant hour and Neil gave me a haggis. Don't ask!

I never did make a proper decision but after joining Muriel and Co at Bar San Juan for a while, we ended up going for a Chinese takeaway. Complete confusion as the staff couldn't speak any English but were fine with Spanish. We could order ours but as the phone orders came in from English folk they were baffled. Brian ended up translating. Well funny, and I hope they got what they wanted! Sorry, didn't mean that as he did really well.

After dinner and Britain's Got Talent, I went off to watch Slumdog on my little yellow telly. I'm not sure if was the illicit DVD or my player but it stopped just before the end!

Told you that it was a strange birthday!

Grumpy Puppy

Clio went off at lunchtime to have her much needed cut and blow dry.

She's done nothing but sleep since she came home and this was her reaction when I went to take a pic.

Best left alone but who will suffer at three in the morning when she's lively again?

It's Lovely

Our new table and chairs. The apartment isn't very big and we don't have enough room for much but this fits in really well. Mind you, I have been moving it here there and everywhere all day to find the perfect place.

Much better than balancing a tray on your knee and I'm well happy!

Health Checks

Thankfully, I'm normally quite healthy and just get the usual things like colds but since Jade Goody I've been worrying about the checks which I ought to be having, especially at my age.

You may remember that I had those funny chest pains around eighteen months ago but was well looked after at the emergency clinic and it wasn't a heart attack but severe indigestion. I've been fine since.

Well, today I received a letter from the Canarian Health Authority inviting me to attend for a mammogram. I can't understand why as I have never paid into the social fund but I'm well up for it and will be there on the eighteenth of May. The letter is in Spanish and some bits floor me but I'm sure it says that if there is a problem they will care for me. It also says that I have to take a nightie!

Brian reckons that they need Guinea pigs for some new equipment. He could be right but I can do that.

A Party

Our neighbour, Mimi, is leaving the island on Wednesday. She's lived here for around twelve years but has decided to settle in Belgium with her family.

She had arranged a bit of a 'do' at the local bar and invited us to join her. We don't normally go out in the evening as we prefer to wander around during the afternoon and come home for tea and television so it was a complete change of routine for us. I didn't really want to miss the Hell's Kitchen final either!

I must admit that it was quite nice to do my hair and nails and get dressed up for once and off we went. It was awful! Sometimes it is so embarrassing to be English. The local 'in' crowd had completely taken over and as we went to sit down we were shooed to one-side and went to sit on our own. I was fuming by then but kept quiet for Mimi's sake. To make matters worse, one of them came over to explain that it was a private party and did I not know that she was leaving. Where were they when she needed help with her packing?!

Poor Mimi. Her Spanish friends were at a loss too as they expected a couple of pizzas and a bit of a shindig. We went to sit outside with a few of them, had a beer and came home. I managed to catch most of Hell's Kitchen after all. We've arranged to meet her tomorrow and to say our own personal farewell.

She's been such a good neighbour and friend for the last eight years and we will miss her.

A Bad Week

I don't quite know how I did it but I have a trapped nerve on the left side of my neck. It was such a struggle to get out of bed on Thursday morning but painkillers have helped and I can get out and about now.

Not that my problems can compare with Hayley's. She's little Lottie's Mum and is really sick and in hospital at the moment. It wasn't looking good for her a couple of days ago as she was on life support. Thankfully, things are a bit better today, she's out of danger and it's hoped that all will be well.

Lots of love to the family xxx

Work!!

I haven't done anything for a couple of years even though I would dearly love a nice office job. Rare as rocking horse poo here and my age goes against me. Anyway, Sue asked me to give her a hand today as she really needed to get an apartment cleaned before she goes off on her hols on Friday.

Would you believe it? I awoke this morning with a stiff neck! Oh, well get on with it. It's a huge apartment which took us most of the day but we did have a few chuckles especially when I managed to turn the shower the wrong way and ended up soaked through.

It was hard work but, funnily enough, I quite enjoyed myself. She's leaving me with a couple of jobs to do whilst she's away as well as caring for her birds. Not a problem.

Could This Be It?

As you all know, the hotter the better for me but summer turned up with a vengeance today and it was a little too much. Over the years I've seen folk go back to England because the weather has beaten them. Liz finds it too hot now and only visits during the winter. I never once thought that I'd feel like that but I was really hot and bothered today and it's only April! We'll see what August brings.

The banana plantations must be muck spreading because everyone is inundated with flies. We rarely get them in our apartment but they seem to have moved in this week. Cockie spray seems to have won the day though! Bodies everywhere.

Many thanks to John who has given me a touch of spring with his photos of daffodils and primroses. I so miss my favourite season of the year.

Heartstopping Television

Today was the twentieth anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster and I've just watched the ITV News. One lady had two children and a husband and now she has nothing. Others said that their kids went to watch a football match and never came home. They are all screaming for justice and I don't blame them. I know I'm a little tearful this week but even the stone-hearted would be touched by their stories.

Another thing that touched me was that funny little Scottish lady who has taken America by storm after her appearance on 'Britain's Got Talent' at the weekend. I so love that programme and settled down to watch it on Saturday evening. Having expected her to screech, she sang so beautifully. A contract with Simon Cowell already and five to two on winning so early and she's made, bless her. I can't wait to see what wardrobe do to her before she appears again!

Well

Easter as a whole as been pretty boring. I haven't felt too well either which hasn't helped. Nothing bad but I feel so tired and listless that it's an effort to move. I'm putting it down to depression as I spend too much time at home and would have loved to see my family this year.

Tears are never far away but I must try to get through it and face another week!

Easter Comes Early in Tenerife

We normally get caught out with the Easter Bank Holidays here but for once we had it sussed. Shopping all done by Wednesday afternoon so nothing to worry about. You can't win though because Alteza, the main supermarket in town, was open all day!

Then we had a call from Tina inviting us over to her place this evening. Neil's a chef and the meal was so brilliant that I can hardly move now. At least we had the walk home to work some of it off. I dread to think what Clio ate. She's absolutely zonked now!

A lovely evening, thanks mates xx

Look What I Found

Atarah posted this pic on the Accrington Forum asking why there are cobbles, then flags, more cobbles and the kerb edge?

Brian reckons it's because the cobbles would break down when the drays delivered and the flags made it more substantial.

To be honest, I was more interested in the place as I had my wedding reception there almost forty years ago. It was well posh then or so I thought.

Rumour has it that it's about to re-open later this month. Lots of TLC needed before then!

Away Day Two

I did early again! We were in Los Cristianos before half ten and stopped for a coffee at a bar overlooking the beach. Really nice and calm and we did 'people watching' for a while. I gave the waitress a five euro note and waited for my change. I so love it when Sue gets a strop on and waited whilst she went to tackle her! How can they justify four euros for one cafe con leche and a decaf con agua?...........they did and off we went.

Sue was on the look out for a pressie for her son's birthday but we couldn't find what she wanted so we jumped into a taxi for her hospital visit. All good news there and we walked through Las Americas for our all day breakfast.

A beer for me and a white wine for her and the bus home and Clio.

Sue is a good mate and we always have a laugh..........next hospital visit 2011 but I'm sure we'll manage a day out before then!

Away Day One

We decided to go to Santiago today just for a change of scenery. It was really pleasant and we wandered down towards Los Gigantes and called into Transito. Lots of English goodies such as thick white sliced bread, Paxo stuffing and Brian bought me an Easter bunny!

After meeting up with Gavin, Hayley and little Lottie we had time for a quick beer in the sun whilst waiting for the bus home. Such a civilised way to pass half an hour!

Sue phoned to invite me out tomorrow so await 'away day two'.

My Flippin' Hair

I have so much trouble with it as it's so thick and wavy. Hairdressers here can never seem to get it right and the last time I had it cut was when I was in England last October.

In desperation I called into the salon in the Church Square this afternoon to make an appointment for next week. I reckon that she must have fancied a challenge because she sat me at the washbasin and went for it. She's called Martha and comes from Columbia.

It took an hour just to cut it and she's done it beautifully even though I feel it's a couple of inches too short. I really don't know why Clio finds it so funny.....her turn next week!

Uncle Arthur

Shona rang tonight to tell us that Uncle Arthur has died at the age of eighty-nine. We haven't managed to get to Aberdeen in years but he, along with his late wife Bunty, always made us welcome when we were there.

His best mate rescued him from Dunkirk after he lost one of his legs. He could tell a tale or two about that! I could never work out which one it was. RIP Uncle Arthur.

Our friend Kevin had bad news this week too. His Mum died on Wednesday aged 90 and he's going back to Lancashire on Monday for the funeral. Hope all goes well for him.

They say it comes in threes...........I trust not.