Oops................

I meant to mention my little problem in the thread shop. Since I repaired all those trousers for Bill and Muriel, I've had loads of people asking me to turn up hems and stuff.

At the moment I have two pairs of trousers and a skirt to hem. Trousers are fine but I needed some tailors chalk for the skirt. How on earth do you ask for that?

The chappie does speak some English but I lost him. We looked around but nothing seemed similar. After a few chuckles it dawned on me to try to explain in Spanish a kiddies chalkboard. Sorted!

Public Relations!

I awoke this morning and thought that there was a major disaster in our area. Ambulance, police cars and fire engines all sounding off across from our apartment.

Bedlam! It turned out to be a bit of show for the kiddies in the school opposite. They were allowed to investigate each vehicle and set the sirens off.................over two hours of it and my head was ringing. It turns out that they are visiting all the local schools.

The thing that really tickled me was when the ambulance put some music on the tannoy......'Another one bites the dust'. I trust they don't think that is soothing music for their patients!

Bad Weather Continues

It has been bad for most of the week as you either get blown away or half drowned.

This photo printed in today's edition of El Diario de Avisos shows a car which was washed into the sea by a deluge of water running down the barranco (ravine). In our village too!

The beach is completely wrecked. The huts were smashed to bits and the boardwalk washed away. So sad as it was beautiful there. It cost millions of Euros to make it such a pleasant place to sit and now they are going to have to start again.

We've been without electricity for hours today and still can't get a television signal. At least I now have the internet!

Televisions

I'm planning on re-arranging the lounge during the next few weeks. It needs painting and I've decided to move the furniture around a little. Him 'indoors has gone into hiding!

We've had our present television since we first came to live here over eight years ago and although it isn't playing up it's a bit of a brick. Gone are the days when you could put all your ornaments on top...........remember that Mark?

I've taken a shine to a twenty-six inch Samsung, flat screen jobby. Not for on the wall but it will look quite cute on my tv table. A shopping trip next month.

Carnival

February is carnival time in Tenerife and although most of it happens in Santa Cruz the local schools have their day of celebration.

We were alerted by the noise and managed to get a few pics from our balcony as they passed by. I felt a bit choked to be honest as they all did so well and looked so good. I managed to spot Frankie, Sienna, Paige and Molly but couldn't find Hannah no matter how I tried.

Well done to the school as it must have taken a lot of arranging x

Grand-daughters...........

Maisie, pictured, was seven last month and was chosen as goalie for the school football team. Her first official match was this afternoon but although she fought a brave fight she let three goals in and her team lost 3 - 1. Never mind, more training and she'll be fine.

Tully, had her fifth birthday today. Hopefully a few photos will come my way and we hope she had fun.

Jamie is in the middle of exams and course work. She's already got an A in Maths and a B in Science/Biology and is awaiting the results of her History exam at the middle of next month. Keep up the good fight and loads of love from us xx.

Sophie and Carla. Not much in the way of news about them. Buck up Simon x.

How Evil!

It has been such an awful day. Thunder, lightening and torrential rain. I haven't seen the like for years in Tenerife.

Part of the beach has disappeared as Elaine's pic shows. Electric on electric off, internet on internet off. No signal to our digibox either but I did manage to watch most of Corrie on FilmOn.

The most wonderous thing is that my printer started to work again. It gave up the ghost a few weeks ago and nothing seemed to revive it. I checked the cables, gave it a few clouts but it was a no go. Brian insisted that it was time to bin it. When the leccy came back on after the last power cut it leapt into life. I don't suppose anyone will believe me!

Naughty but Nice!

Brian has been constructing a rather large wardrobe at Barry's house all week. Remember Barry? He used to take me to bowling.

I've been dog-walking, cleaning and couldn't get out of cooking last night. I made one of those steak and onion pies which I seem to be quite good at! I've also been doing quite a bit of sewing for Muriel. Twenty pairs of golfing trousers which needed to be changed from a thirty-two inch leg to twenty-nine. It seems that most men who call into their golf shop have a twenty-nine inch inside leg. A daunting task but I'm almost halfway there.

When it came to eating this evening neither of us had the inclination to cook so we opted for a fish and chip takeaway from Bar San Juan. Alan and Jenny are the new owners and have recently added the service.

I snuggled up on my new sofa and ate it with my fingers whilst I watched Corrie. All it was lacking was the newspaper!

Bits and Bats

Not a lot to report really but I'll have a go!

Even though it's warm in English weather terms we feel well chilly during a Tenerife winter. I suppose going from thirty plus down to about twelve has something to do with it but it still doesn't compare to having snow and ice. No snow on our volcano this year which is rare.

Weather report over, so what's next?

My brother, Ray is having a birthday tomorrow. Best photo that I could find was one with his back to us. Have a good day Ray xx

Grand-daughter, Maisie, is seven on Sunday. She's lost both of her front teeth and seems quite proud of it.

Still on the subject of birthdays.........................I've been checking out the Moonpig site for ages but haven't had the courage to go for it. Using bank cards online is a little worrying but it is so hard to get a decent English birthday card here. I'm waiting for reports from Ray and Maisie and if they like them, that's the way to go!

Katie and Tully look out!

Boring, Boring, Boring...................

I had such high hopes for 2010 but over two weeks in and it's boring. We've visited Bar San Juan a couple of times recently............a slow walk for me............but no-one turns up and we end up watching television which I could do at home. Too chilly to sit outside Bar Antonio so the television again. At least I have a challenge translating the Spanish!

There is a bit of a good side though. Geoff and I won ten euros on the Lottery and Brian starts a new job next week. Peace at last!

Not Well

One big problem which I won't dwell on or share and one other one which really hurts.

My right knee is well swollen and it hurts to walk. I did manage to get out and about today but I've grounded myself for at least tomorrow.

This getting old thingy isn't good!!

It's Grim up North

There was I thinking how cold it was here at the moment and then I watched News at Ten.

Hundreds of schools closed in Aberdeenshire, Manchester Airport closed this morning and now it's heading south.

Hopefully, my family will have battened down the hatches, turned the heating up and settled down for the night xx

Scottish Folk and New Year

We met up with Bill and Muriel this afternoon. Being Scottish Bill was making the most of the holiday and after a few pints decided to have his own little sing song.

Maz and Bernard joined in and then this little Spanish bloke with a guitar came out of nowhere to accompany them.

I laughed until my sides hurt and really wish the rest of the year could be so much fun x

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.