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.

My New Mouse

I've been struggling with my old one for ages as the cursor kept wandering all over the place. It was optical but not wireless and it made life a little uncomfortable with all the reaching.

After getting well cross with it yesterday I went off to the computer shop and bought this posh jobbie. Would it flippin' work, would it 'eck. I was working up to taking it back but didn't want to appear stupid if it was something simple so I've been festering and moaning all day.

Thankfully, we met up with Bill and Muriel today and they have the same thing. Their son Paul is the whizz kid in their house and after I'd grumped for a little while Muriel got fed up enough to ring him. It just required a little tweaking with the base connect and the mouse connect.

Done and dusted now and I'm happy, optical and wireless. Thank goodness that I didn't go and moan in the shop and thanks to Paul x.

Family History

I spoke to my brother, Ray, the other evening and he happened to mention that Auntie Mavis's daughter had started researching her Family History and wondered how far I'd got.

To be honest I haven't looked at it for a while so I've had to clear out my desk and get my papers into some kind of order. I reckon that we must be second cousins as our grandmothers were sisters..........gets well confusing!

I think that Cheryl must be around eight or nine years younger than I am as I remember holding her when she was a baby. Nice to be in contact and to share. I'm getting the bug again!

The Brain

We were stupid enough to disconnect everything from our television today to give our unit a really good clean and a general tidy. We now have DVD's at one side and Playstation games at the other with video tapes stored in another cupboard. It all looks really good and I wish I'd done it ages ago but I can't seem to get all the electrical stuff to work

Eight years ago, when I worked, I could connect several monitors to several VCR's including editing equipment without batting an eyelid. Now I can't work out how to include the DVD player into the home system. It just shows how retirement can affect the brain.

My plan for tomorrow is to connect the DVD player straight into the TV. Connect the VCR into the second scart on the TV. BBC box into the VCR's second scart and hopefully I'll be cooking on gas.

All in all I wish I'd left it mucky!

A Mushroom

I've felt like one this week as the cord on our shutter broke and I was plunged into darkness. I really enjoy sitting out on the balcony for a couple of hours during the afternoon reading my book but I couldn't get out there. So frustrating!

We went up to Adeje on Wednesday as the big DIY Superstore normally stocks them but as we couldn't find them in their normal place we checked with Information. Even though she could speak English she couldn't understand what we were on about so we left, defeated.

I checked with the firms that do these sort of repairs but they were charging more than an arm and a leg so it was back to the drawing board. Spanish head on I called into the local ironmonger type shop at the end of our road. Brian hung back as he thought I would never explain what I wanted but she understood me perfectly. Even complemented me on my Spanish! I got what I wanted for three Euros and after telling her that I'd toured Adeje she said
'Playa San Juan' where else?!

Good for her and I now have light!

Those Poor Boys

It breaks my heart to watch the news these days. Young lads hardly older than my eldest grand-daughter. Their families having to go through this awful tragedy.

It is now coming close to the death total of the Falklands Conflict which, on reflection, was a short, sharp shock and not this long drawn out suffering. At least the Falklands was a war to help our own folk, not to be stuck in some foreign land without adequate resources.

I keep seeing the placards 'Lest We Forget'. They will, they do.

As for my contribution.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning, we will remember them

Messenger

I've been without MSN Messenger for a couple of weeks because it kept coming up with an error message every time I tried to log on.

Paul, a friend of mine, tried his best to sort it out but had to give up in the end. I so hate being beaten and was determined to stay at my computer tonight until it was sorted.

It was all to do with deleting the Windows Live Contacts folder which I did a few days ago without success but I hadn't realised that there were hidden files too. I found the little blighters earlier and within two minutes I had my Messenger back.

Another learning curve and I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself. As it's almost two in the morning I'd better go to bed!

A Rare Night Out

Allison's phone camera doesn't seem to cope too well with night shots but as I didn't take my own camera these are all I've got. I pinched them off Facebook too!!

Terry and Helen have decided that life might be better for them in England. We've been mates since we first came here eight years ago and have had a few laughs along the way. We were chucked out of a bar one night by the Police which is just one of our tales. Not our fault I might add as the barman didn't have a licence to serve beer! Loads of bowling stories too.


Good luck to both. You will be missed xx

Going Bananas

Tina gave me a bag of fruit the other day as there was far to much for her and Neil to get through. I made an apple pie and ate some of the pears and bananas but the rest was well by it's sell by date this morning. I'd just bagged it up ready for the bin when my door bell rang...........Alicia delivering a bag of BANANAS. I hate to refuse them as she's such a good neighbour. One in and one out and it didn't end there. Another two bags turned up during the course of the day and I now have enough to feed a hundred monkeys!!

I'm also going BANANAS with Brian this evening. I so hate fans as I reckon that they chuck out more hot air than cold. He has one going in the lounge and the ceiling fan spinning in the bedroom. I'm baking and can't wait until he goes to sleep.

Some good news as I had a letter from the hospital today to say that I have the all clear on my mammogram. I might have a brandy to celebrate.

Michael Jackson

I didn't think that I'd ever been a fan of his until I watched a tribute to him earlier this evening. Then I remembered about his Motown days and his early years. Having reached fame at the tender age of six you can't help but wonder what that did to his mind.

I sort of gave up on him when he decided to be a white black man and I'm not about to do the RIP bit as I'm not quite sure if he deserves it. He had the looks and charm and should have been proud of his heritage.

I'll thank him for 'Ben' and leave it at that.

Absolutely Ridiculous

Totally unfair..........I could go on and on.

It's over two years since I last went to Cornwall and as Brian knows that I'm pining a little he coughed up two hundred quid for a return flight. I'm restricted as the only airline that flies into Exeter is Thomson/First Choice so off I went to check out their website.

Had I been able to go on Tuesday the 25th June it would have been 220 Euros but it almost doubles next week and reaches five hundred pounds in October. Why?...........same plane, same amount of petrol and schools don't break up for another three or four weeks.

Not one to give in easily I tried alternative routes. Going into Gatwick means the hurry up bus down to Plymouth. I don't mind that but it meant that I'd end up sitting around in London in the middle of the night on my own. Not something which I'd like to experience. Next option was to fly to Madrid and as I get forty percent off flights to the mainland it was worth a look. Another no go because there aren't any connecting flights.

Oh well, there's always next year.

Three Little Piggies

We went for our eat as much as you like Indian/Chinese meal tonight and I'm well full! Not quite the way I'd like to have a meal but it was very tasty and we enjoyed our evening.

I would recommend it but doubt that I'll go again. Brian and Shona would!

Our Week

It's amazing how quickly a week can speed by. It doesn't seem two minutes since Thursday when Bernard and I went off to the airport and now we are staring Tuesday in the face!

We don't seem to have done much either. A frantic afternoon last Friday, which Clio has reported on. Saturday was a walk around the village and a meal in Antonio's. It was Corpus Cristi on Sunday and we viewed the flower carpets that the locals make in celebration followed by Sunday dinner.

Shona fancied doing a little duty free shopping this afternoon so we caught the bus to Las Americas. I bumped into three of my old bowling mates which was nice and we had a bit of a catch up. Shopping done and back to San Juan to meet up with Brian and have a beer.

Tomorrow is going to be lazy as we are all going to Callao Salvaje in the evening for an Indian/Chinese meal. There´s a new restaurant which does both and you can eat all you want for eight euros each. We´ve heard good reports so it´s worth a go.

It looks like Wednesday might take care of itself!

Una Nueva Hervidora Electrica

In other words a new kettle. We've done well with electrics for ages (touch wood) but our old kettle died this morning. I must admit to casting spells on it as I hated it. Brian insisted that it was only a year old but I'm sure that it was coming up to it's fifth birthday. Anyway, I made sure that it ended up in the bin before he decided to hide it away in case it could be mended!

We went off to the shop this evening and he chose a two cup variety............his logic was that there is only two of us! I agree but it was more of a camping kettle than a home thingy. I did try to tell the lady that he was Scottish and it might take some time but, thankfully, she was on my side. Ten percent off and I got what I wanted.

Unfortunately it's not very photogenic!

Bits and Bats

Caron and Charlotte are off to England tomorrow to visit family. Caron will be back home next week but Charlotte is staying with her Nan for the school holidays. I had a look in my 'go to England purse' and found a couple of quid in change for her to buy some sweeties. It will be strange not seeing her for two months but I hope she has fun.

Shona arrives on Thursday and I've been desperate to offload a computer desk which Mimi left with me when she went off to Belgium a few weeks ago. After a couple of weeks without interest three folk wanted it all at once! As Yvonne asked first she got it. I didn't want any money for it as it was given to me and now Shona can find her bed!

Half an hour after the desk moved on Bill turned up. He has a golf shop and organises golfing holidays. Someone had left a brand new pair of Nike trainers in his mini-bus and as he didn't want to throw them out he thought of Brian. A perfect fit and they take up far less room than a desk!

Mia Allison

As you may have guessed from all this cooking stuff I've been doing lately, Brian has been working. It's a bit of a guilt trip really as I feel bad when he comes home and doesn't have a meal in front of him. Lancashire blood will out I suppose. Tonight's offering was beef, onions and mushrooms with sliced potatoes and I was quite proud of it. The trouble is that I never enjoy my own cooking and can't wait until the dishes are washed and away. That feeling doesn't apply when he cooks though. It's a daunting task then............I wish I could find the pic of my son wading through a whole kitchen worth of dishes!

Still on the cooking theme as our Shona comes out next week and could have to bear with some of my experiments. She'll be fine as Bar San Juan does a good breakfast!

We had an email from Brian's brother George today and he has a grand-daughter...........Mia Allison. A lovely name and we send loads of good wishes and lots of love xxx

Hot

It has been quite a cold winter with many windy spells. Not too much rain but I'd rather have that than the wind.

During the last few days the temperature has soared and our walk along the seafront was a little painful today. Far too hot for Clio.

We had thought that the filming for 'The Clash of the Titans' had finished but we spent half an hour watching them out at sea. One poor chap was swimming around for ages and then they set the explosives off. I must have jumped six feet into the air!

Well, as Clio would say, it keeps the oldies amused!