Wonderful Stuff!!

Doreen and I had a make up game today as we missed a match whilst I was in England. We won 6 - 2!! My scores 138, 173 and 161. Doreen had a bad first game but came up with 164 and 127 in the last two. Such clever ladies!

I didn't do quite as good in the Monday League game but never mind there's always next season!! We are having a rest until the New Year, thank goodness.

We are under attack tonight. The Spanish children don't seem to have understood the concept of Halloween and love to throw eggs at balconies. It isn't very nice!

Poor SIL!

Julian didn't get a mention on his birthday last week as I was in England. I didn't get to see him this year either.

I hope you had a lovely day, Ju xxx.

He did happen to say that he got rather tiddled on his birthday night out and had a huge hangover the following morning.

I have a wonderful pic of him which I was tempted to post.......maybe next year, mate!!

Photo: Sam

Sunday Bowling League

Not a bad day. Doreen played really well now that her ear infection has cleared up. I wasn't quite as good but I blamed it on jet lag! The boys were awesome, beating George and Carol
8 - 0. It is looking like they will be getting trophies at presentation night on the 16th December.

I'm playing catch up tomorrow as Doreen and I have last Sunday's game still outstanding. I also have to play the normal Monday League game with Martin. Hope the jet lag has cleared up!!

My Holiday

Just a selection of photos taken with ancient digital camera. My son, Mark, hated the thing and said it ruined his image!! I did manage to take one of him, Katie and Tully next to Blackpool Tower........... I seem to have lost the tower though!!

I spent one day with my brother and his family at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham and there they are having a picnic. It was a lovely day, nice and sunny, but the chill factor was around - 20C or so it felt. My nephew, Bradley, thinks I'm a softie for always feeling cold!

We drove into Blackpool later as Dean and Bradley wanted to look around Dr Who's House. Dean was well impressed but I thought it all looked a bit 'mouldy'.

http://www.doctorwhoexhibitions.co.uk/museum/about.html

After a superb supper at our 'usual' cafe we walked through the lights back to the car. My poor feet!!

Fairhaven Lake, below.

Other activities included a trip to Skipton Market. It turned out that Tuesday isn't market day!! Just our luck. We had a nice wander around the shops though and had a pub lunch. Ray had to wait a little longer for his because the waiter dropped it on the floor. It always happens to him!! We did manage to get the right day for Blackburn Market on the Wednesday and Ray and I went to the quiz at the local pub that night. We came in last as predicted but after a few lagers it didn't seem to matter.

Tully, keeping fit!

I felt so sorry for Alison, driving me to the airport on Friday afternoon. The traffic was terrible. I think I may be shoved into a taxi next year!!

Brian was waiting for me and we arrived home around three in the morning. Top was so pleased to see me. Back to normal now and as it's Sunday...............bowling this afternoon!!

Bye England

Do you reckon that they are well relieved to see the back of me?!!

Ray, Alison, Dean and Bradley really looked after me for the few days I stayed with them as did my son, Mark, and his wife, Katie. I had a lovely week, enjoying my time with all of them.

This is a big THANK YOU ALL!!!

Wet Wednesday!

To be really honest it has been a wet week!! I'm a little fed up with getting soaked!

I've had fun though and it has been good to see my family. My brother is taking me to the quiz at his local tonight. We usually come last but we enjoy it. Blackpool again tomorrow as my nephews fancy going to Dr Who's House........sounds lovely!

I took this pic on Monday just after Katie delivered me to my brother's house.......there he is in the background.

Dean is on the left, Bradley on the right and lovely Tully in the middle.

I Survived!!

Katie collected me from the airport yesterday morning after a fairly decent flight. We spent the afternoon in Blackpool. Katie and I had a happy hour on the 'slotties' whilst Mark looked after Tully. After a long walk we sat on the 'prom' guzzling fish and chips..............a nice day!!

I had a lie in this morning to try to make up for my 36 hours without sleep. Lunch was at a very nice restaurant. I have a sneaky feeling that a pic of me eating a rather large black pudding may feature on Tully's blog soon!!

I'm off to my brother's house tomorrow where I will be spending the rest of the week.

Gulp!!

Five hours to take off!! It has been such a long day today. I tried having a lie-in, tried to have an afternoon nap but it didn't work, so I will be a sleepy Nana for Tully tomorrow!

I'm all packed so I just have to wait now. I hope they don't fetch me a breakfast in the middle of the night................such a horrid thought!

Anyway, blog, see you in a week or so xxx

One More Sleep!

Things are progressing............I only have a couple of things to do now! Loads of stuff crossed off my list!

We drove over to Las Americas today to collect some things for a couple of mates who are staying in the village. Their flight back to Birmingham is around the same time as mine. They are really nice ladies, both from Yorkshire, having been widowed because of the pit dust their hubbies consumed during their working lives, they seem to be making the most of things. It appears they get free coal.........not a lot to say about that, really.

Better news on the budgie front. Back to perch sharing, maybe it was a bad time of month for Juanita!!

Two More Sleeps

Time is such a strange thing. This week has really dragged but I'm sure that next week will fly by. The clocks change soon and some wise guy mentioned that is was only around nine weeks to Christmas!

We are having a bit of budgie trouble here tonight. Juanita has decided to hate poor Jose. She was trying to pull his tail feathers off at one point. They are asleep on seperate perches...............oh dear! Nesting box could be out the window!

What do you think of my new avatar? It looks well good on the forums which I visit, lovely and bright as opposed to the horrid war stuff some folks have.

Three More Sleeps

I have my tickets!!

I also have a long list of things to do before midnight Friday. I have to give 'im indoors a list of 'things to do', budgie care and plant care. I have things to buy before I go, along with enough credit for my mobile to last a week.................it will take forever!

I'm having a 'house day' tomorrow, cleaning and stuff and I will expect it to be as tidy when I get back! He'll have a last minute panic an hour or so before I'm home again.........well I hope he does!

We are meeting my travel mate, Dave, at his house and hope to be at the airport for around one o'clock. With any luck I'll sleep through the flight......I wish!

Four More Sleeps!

Not long to go now!

It sort of hit me today, at bowling, when folk said 'see you later...............have a good trip', I'm really going!!
I tried a cunning plan with Topsie this time. I thought that if I brought the suitcase out well early he would get used to it and forget about it.

Wrong! He knows that I'm up to something and I can't move without him following behind me. He will be fine with his Dad and I'll speak to him on the phone, why does he make me feel so guilty?

Sunday Bowling League

It's far too boring for words, so I'm not going there! Brian and Jeff managed a 8 - 0 win though, which keeps them in second place. Happen, I'll do better tomorrow!

I've been scratching around for books for the last few days. I've read all of mine at least twice so the situation was getting quite desperate. Then, 'im indoors remembered about a box of books which Liz had left in our garage last year. I'm a very happy bunny now........thanks Liz xx

It's like being in England tonight as there is a gale blowing and it's pouring with rain. I've risked life and limb clearing the balcony and I'm soaked. What happened to sunny Tenerife?

A Little Gift

Charlotte brought me a present on Friday. Her Mum said she had spent ages drawing it especially for me! That's me on the bus!

Having asked where I should put it, I was advised, on the wall or the fridge.........so there it is. Gracias Charlotte xx

As for the comment in the corner, that belongs to 'im indoors!

My Itinerary

Only nine days or so before I set off to England.

Number one son, Mark, Katie, number one daughter-in-law and littlest grand-daughter, Tully, are meeting me at Manchester Airport. It's a little early, but what can you expect for a cheapy flight?

I'm spending the weekend with them, and going to watch Tully at her swimming class on the Monday, before Katie drives me over to my brother's house where I'm staying for the rest of the week.

Dean and Bradley are taking me to see Dr Who's House, sounds scary to me. We usually go to Blackpool Lights!!

Hopefully, my daughter Sam and SIL, along with Jamie, Martin and Maisie, will join us at some point.

A visit to see Auntie Mavis in Rochdale is planned along with an hour or two in the Stag to meet Paul, who has promised me some pics of Accrington as it once was. Wednesday Quiz at the Stop could be on the cards too!

Loads of pics for you to look at soon!!

Bank Holiday

Yet another Bank Holiday!!

Not that it really affects me, a retired person, but as we hadn't done the shopping it was a bit of a blow! The Canarians were all in party mode and very noisy with it.

I thought a mid week holiday was a little puzzling until I did some research and found it was Columbus Day.............a note in the diary for next year.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html

Family History - My Home Town!

To be honest, Accrington town centre doesn't look that much different now. The Market Hall, on the right, is still there and the Town Hall next to it is about the same. The main difference, of course, is the change from horses to motor vehicles and more folks. I must find the time during my visit to take a more modern pic.

I have been doing a little family history research today but I appear to have hit another brick wall. I am still trying to find the parents of William Bentley who was my Nana's Grandfather on her mother's side. He was born in 1821 in Chatburn, Lancashire and married Sarah Fishwick in 1846.

Mary Ellen, my great grandmother was the sixth of ten children, poor Sarah!! Mary Ellen went on to marry William Yates and following family tradition, they had eleven of their own.....my nana, also Sarah coming in at tenth place!!

Accrington is, to most people, more famous for it's football history................Accrington Stanley!!
Look at their site, well interesting............

http://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/

Sunday Bowling League

We had to play Brian and Jeff today and guess what? We lost 6 - 2. The weekly medal remains at his side of the cupboard!

We won the first but were slaughtered on the second. I played really well on the last and managed to get strikes on 7 and 8 but, unfortunately, Jeff kept up with me and managed a strike on 9.

I said to Doreen that we both needed turkeys on the tenth to win......I got two strikes, well done me! Not enough for us to beat them though. As we need new shirts next season we have decided to change our team name. Say hello to the Rackettes!!

We met Doreen and Jeff at eleven this morning for our freebie breakfast. Doreen enters the quiz every day on the radio and being a retired headmistress, a clever lady, she manages to win loads of stuff.......hence the breakfast.

I remembered why I came here to live as it was so pleasant sitting in the sunshine, chatting to nice people. A good day!!

Footie

We went to an English bar in Playa de la Arena to watch the football this afternoon. Some enterprising chap pays out for BBC tv which must earn him a bob or two!!

We were a little shocked to see an English couple turn up, sit at the front, watch all the match and then clear off. Not a drink between them! Wish I knew their names, naming and shaming comes to mind.

I had a look on the internet for a photo of Arena and came up with this. Wonderful stuff, I thought.

Back to the footie. Poor Becks didn't deserve a red card. What am I going to do on Wednesday, I only go for the beer and Becksie?!

Photo: unkown

A Saturday Duty

This lorry comes around every week selling drinking water.

It's less than a euro for an eight litre bottle so well worth it. It saves dragging it from the shops too! The tap water is very hard here and although it is fine when boiled it's safer to buy bottled stuff for drinking. Brian is there getting our supplies........what a good lad!

Early Morning........

Tony left at eight fifteen this morning and although I struggled, I did manage to get up to see him off! Actually, Brian insisted I checked his luggage before he went.................joke Tone x

Getting up at that time made it such a long day. I had to go to the bank, then I met up with John and Sally for coffee. Bless him, it was his treat!

George and Carol, along with their giant poodles, Captain and Colonel, turned up and we had a good natter. I wasn't ready to go home so I bought yet another cactus, collected some pebbles from the beach for weight.................they look lovely now!

A Pressie!!

I'm really struggling with gardening here because we have the sun on our balcony most of the day. None of my plants seem to survive the heat, no matter how often I water them. I've been concentrating on my cacti as nothing seems to kill them off! Brian came home with this little specimen today to add to my collection.

My daffodil bulbs are planted and I'm hoping I will have more than lots of healthy leaves this winter. I hate the cold in England but I do really miss the drive through Cornwall when the daffodils are in flower. Hopefully, I will be able to post a lovely flowering pic come spring!!

I'm also experimenting with a poinsettia from last Christmas. I read that the plant must be cut back to a twig and kept in a dark place until October. I've done all that and now it's time to water it again. It's living in the 'intensive care' area in the kitchen at the moment so fingers crossed.

I almost forgot to mention that Jeffery, as in Doreen and Jeffery, bowling partners, rang tonight to invite us to breakfast on Sunday. It seems we are eating at Jack's Bar in Las Americas and it's a freebie! Doreen still has her ear infection..............Jeff said something about 'throat would be better'..........what on earth did he mean???

Bestest Friend in all The World!

I spoke to my mate Hazel today for the first time in ages. I was determined not to loose touch with her when I moved here but, as the time has passed, I seem to contact her less and less.
We've known each other for almost twenty years and have a similar sense of humour, so you can imagine the fun we had when we worked together.

I'm in 'down memory lane' mode today as it is four years since we boarded the Plymouth to Roscoff Ferry at the start of our journey to Tenerife.

My diary for 4th October, 2001 read 'took Top for his final health check and spent some time with the family. Said goodbye to some of our friends before boarding the ferry. Rather a rough crossing'.

I can picture it all very clearly, in my mind............scary!!

Sunday and Monday Bowling Leagues

Not a great deal to say about either league really. Doreen and I didn't do too well yesterday and lost 6 - 2. I did play loads better today but Martin and I were outclassed!!

Roll on next season as I feel it is time for a fresh start!

Happy Birthday Dean!!

Dean is my eldest nephew and is eleven today. His Dad, my brother Ray, told me that he had some good pressies so I expect he'll have a good day.

Julian took this photo last October when we all went bowling together.

Dean's main interest is football and he is an avid Blackburn Rovers supporter. He also plays for Oswaldtwistle Rovers every week.

Maybe one day he'll earn enough to keep his Auntie in comfort!!!

Have a good birthday and see you soon, lots love xxxxxxxx

Photo: Julian

Village News

Bye Juan x

We haven't found out the gory details yet but Juan has left Bar Marejada. It has split the 5 o'clock club straight down the middle as some are staying there and others have moved back to Bar Antonio. We shall see what happens next.

Brian and I walked round to Bar Rincon de Cristina at tea-time and spent an hour with John and Sally. He was having his normal moan...........coffee was horrid and the bar was too noisy! Sally was fine as Michael brought her some doggy treats!

I had a good clear out on the balcony today. Several plants that couldn't be revived got whizzed along with the digital tv dish which we no longer use. I got Brian and Tony to muck in and it didn't take too long. I have nice new chairs too.

We dumped the old chairs and tv dish next to the bins. I was well amused to see a couple of blokes wander past with the chairs and a couple of hours later someone took the dish home!!