Spanish Red Tape

All I want is a new mobile phone. Well, to be honest, I have been really happy with the one I had but it managed to get itself wet a couple of weeks ago and doesn´t want to play anymore.

After drying it out in the sun and giving it time to recover I decided it was a no go and called into the Movistar shop to buy a new one this evening. Don´t they want any business in these places? I´ve had the same number since 2001, have been on a contract phone for the past six years or so and she wants my original contract and my NIE number. All she needed to do was put my phone number into the computer and all would have been revealed.

The whole conversation was conducted in Spanish and I really wish I knew some choice swear words as she completely ignored everything I said. A big stomp up the road towards home muttering all the way.

Dorothy

I really don´t know why I started watching this. Probably because there isn´t much else to watch at that time on Saturday or Sunday evenings.

Poor Steph went away on the moon tonight and we are now down to three hopefuls. If I could vote I´d give Lauren a chance but I think Sophie will be Dorothy in the end. ALW´s face says it all!

All in all I´ve enjoyed it, tears at the end too!

I Had a Plan!

We went to Puerto Santiago this morning for a bit of shopping and knowing that this really beautiful tree was normally in bloom at this time of year I took my camera.

My mate, John, always does the spring flowers for me and so I decided to return the favour. Our cold winter must have delayed it this year as it was in bud but no blooms. Never mind, I´ll wait a couple of weeks and try again.

This was the only photo I took. Don´t be deceived by the sunny aspect as it was freezing.

We´ve had really cold winds for days and along side of my hay fever, I feel like screaming!

Footie

I remember when the English football leagues used to start in September and finish in March or April. The FA Cup was always at the beginning of May. They seem to sneak an extra week every year and before long it will stretch for twelve months.

I´m grumping because I really wanted to watch the Apprentice and I´ve got Fulham playing in some European Cup or other. We did have an agreement that it would go off should it be boring but as Fulham just scored I reckon I´m doomed.

A couple of football free weeks and it all starts again with the World Cup. To be honest, I don´t really mind that and plan to watch all of England and Spain´s matches. Fingers crossed for England!

Getting There

We went down to do a full clean on the holiday apartment today. Not much of a problem as they hadn't made much of a mess and two hours broke the back of it. The towels are causing me a little bit of stress because I could only find four last week. Today there were loads. Best thing to do is wash them tomorrow and drop some off on Saturday! I'm pretty crap at this!

This German woman rang me this evening, right in the middle of Corrie. Abrupt as Germans are but nice and polite. She just wanted to make sure that I would be there with keys tomorrow to let them into the other apartment. I can do that.

As it's my birthday on Sunday, I'm hanging up my cleaning gear on Saturday and going for a party.

So Busy!

Life pootles on............computer, PS2, books and television, happen a beer or three along the way and then all this work turns up. Brian has been rushing around all week doing this and that and as Sue and Don are on holiday I've been doing a bit of work for her.

They set off for England on Monday via Madrid and as I haven't heard from her for a couple of days I trust they got back in time for their son's stag night. Thankfully, the wedding isn't until next Saturday and I'm sure that the flights will be fine by then.

I did a mid-week clean on an apartment a couple of days ago and I'm surrounded by dirty laundry which has to be washed and ironed by next Thursday so that I can have the place ship shape for the next lot who turn up on Friday. More washing!! In the meantime I have to buy fruit for another apartment and meet them with the keys.

I'm caring for Sue's canary, name not known but has now been re-christened Cheeky and watering her plants. Sorry Sue, if you are reading this, five of them are in intensive care xx

Thanks John x

John knows how much I miss England in the Spring and always takes a few photos especially for me.

This year's is really nice.

I had to wait for longer than usual because of the snow but it was worth it. Thanks again mate xx

Here at Last!

Matey turned up at just after ten o'clock this morning and set up my new telly. He was so amused to see our BBC antenna lying across a chair on the balcony. I'm sure we made his day.

We had been debating what to do with the old one. Brian could run up the stairs with it over eight years ago but I doubt that he could run down with it now. Problem solved as matey wanted it for re-cycling and if he makes a bob or two on it well done him.

Not being into daytime TV we just stared at it for a while and decided that it's debut would be tonight's Corrie! What else?!

Done and Dusted

After setting my mind on a Samsung, 32 inch with HD and TDT (Freeview) I ended up with an LG. It pushed the buttons and it's mine!

I'm sure that the lady in Santo had the quickest sale ever as I just wanted it over with, a beer and home!

The nice man is delivering it tomorrow at around eleven, installing it and setting it up. I trust he will sort out my PS 2.

Another post tomorrow with a pic and I promise not to mention televisions ever again!

A Plan!

As you all know I've been researching televisions for the past six months and tomorrow is the great day when we go off to buy one. Well, at least that's the plan!

I don't quite know how I started to be so careful with life. A few years ago I'd have just gone and bought the flaming thing but now it appears to be a major decision. Could it be that we have nothing else to talk about? Could Clio's ears be another thing that occupies our lives?

Goodness knows if it's an 'old thing' or is it because I'm bored out of my brain?

Voting

I've just been speaking to my brother and the subject of voting came up. He said that he hadn't made his mind up and the conversation turned to our Nana.

There she is in the middle with her sisters at Blackpool. Going to vote was quite an occasion for her. She would chat up the Labour candidate who promised a car to take her to the local school, put her posh frock on and go down the road in style..................to vote Conservative!!!

Dad always voted Labour so no-one realised that the poster in the window wasn't hers. Such good fun!

Happy Easter

My blog has been so neglected lately. It's not the lack of time just the lack of news.

We've been doing some decorating and my yellow lounge has been turned into blue. It looks really good and as soon as my new television moves in I'll post some pics.

Clio apologises for her lack of posts too but she hasn't been well lately. She went off for a bit of pampering last week and her hairdresser noticed that she had an ear infection. We were gobsmacked as we hadn't realised! A visit to the vet which she really loves, swabs and a microscope, almost a hundred euros and some sort of spray later and she's now on the mend.

Back to the vet on Saturday and hopefully she will have the all clear. Her Dad is in charge and knows he can slink over to the bar after her appointment to watch the ManU/Chelsea match

Talking about footie, we settled down to watch Arsenal v Barcelona last night and a Spanish family over the road was doing the same thing. They cheered, we cheered and we all ended up on our seperate balconies shouting in turn.............well funny.

Poor John

We've known him for several years and he has been suffering from ill health during the last three or so. He died on Monday morning all alone.

He was a pilot in the RAF, had a Garden Centre at some point and was the most opinionated man I've ever known. Nothing ever suited him but we all banded together to care for him in our own way until the end.

His family managed to get flights here on Tuesday and the cremation was carried out today. We hired a mini-bus and set off to Santa Cruz. A very tasteful service and I was almost in tears when his young grandson made his speech.

We will all miss him.

The Weekend

We had a red storm warning on Friday evening which was a bit worrying and I thought it was prudent to clear the stuff of the balcony just in case. Having seen the devestation in Madeira last week I wasn't sure what might occur. Thankfully, nothing much happened apart from fairly strong winds over the weekend.

It didn't manage to hamper the television signal and I've watched or half watched loads of stuff including the final of the Carling Cup. ManU managed to jammie their way to a win yet again. Rugby is a different matter. I saw Ireland beat England yesterday but didn't understand half of it. At least with football you can see the ball!!

Muriel was telling me today that our new Lidl store has Singer sewing machines on offer this week. Mine was bought in Malta in 1974 and it's motor packed in a couple of years ago. I've been using Caron's for my mending but it would be good to have my own again. I'm going to check them out on Tuesday.

We had roast lamb for dinner and I'm still stuffed............time for bed I think!

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.