A Ramble........

We haven´t been far this weekend, mainly because it´s far too hot and no-one had anything planned. Most blokes have been glued to the golf coverage so I´ve been sitting outside the bar with a nice cold beer and a good book.

It´s been four or five years since I last read my Penny Vincenzi collection and I´ve started them all over again. She writes so well.

Maz and Bernard are on their way home from England after a four day trip. Bernard lost his Mum last week and it can´t have been a pleasurable visit. So sorry mate x

Finally, thanks to Sue for giving me her spare computer chair. It´s well good but does tend to make me crash into the sofa!

Could Have Been Worse

We decided to catch the bus into Santiago today for a bit of a change of scenery. I enjoy sitting back and looking out of the window and was doing just that when I was thrown forward.

The bus skidded down the road narrowly missing the car in front. It seems that a woman ran across the crossing causing the car to stop suddenly and the bus driver was hard put to stop. After a bit of an altercation in the street between both drivers with the stupid woman looking on, the bus set off again. I was a little surprised to find that our driver didn´t ask his passengers if they were ok.

Thankfully, we bumped into Bert who gave us a lift home as I´ve gone off buses for a while. Just a bruised arm to remember it by.

Dog Hunting

It has been four weeks since Bill and Muriel lost Lexi and they didn´t feel comfortable at home without a dog. They decided to check out the dogs´ homes. First stop, Live Arico where they were really made welcome but no small young dogs just poor big old ones. It´s so sad. They moved on to K9 and found the same thing. Look at that poor soul!

I´ve been trying to get in touch with animal charities for weeks to offload my books. People just don´t turn up to collect them. Thankfully, Muriel happened to mention them at Live Arico and these folk were well eager. They are hoping to buy the land for the dogs to give them a secure home and are so grateful for anything they can sell. I had a phone call minutes later and books all gone. I have the phone number if anyone local has anything for them.

Back to Bill and Muriel. They had a look in the pet shop yesterday and came back with Annabella. She´s a sweetie.

Bits and Bats

I haven´t been very bloggie lately as life has been a bit run of the mill apart from a visit from Shona that is.

We had a good week, ditched Brian as often as we could and went for it. Nice breakfasts, scampi and chips one day and we both enjoyed sitting next to the beach reading our books in the sunshine. Maybe we can do it all again in December.

Muriel organised a barbecue at her place on Saturday night. Around fifteen of us sitting on her terrace scoffing and drinking good stuff! We didn´t stay too long as we´d left Clio at home and it´s always good to bail out before things get too rowdy. A nice evening though.

Tina had a birthday today so off we went to Bar Antonio to spend a couple of hours with her. She has a couple of jobs on the go and we rarely see her. Nice.

Such a Surprise

We had a walk down to the bar this afternoon hoping to enjoy the enthusiasm of the Spanish folk cheering on their football team. It didn´t get off the ground and I ended up reading my book.

They all wandered home quietly, no car horns, no fireworks and I feel quite sad for them. Mind you they did find it quite funny last weekend when they teased us for our draw but I didn´t think it appropriate to return the favour.

One point is better than nothing and we´ll see what happens next!

Ummm?

We've just had a rare night out. Neil and Tina cooked a massive Indian meal at bar El Corral, a small Spanish place at the end of our road. It was really lovely and we both enjoyed it.

I´m quite cheerful at the moment. A new mobile, good internet and my Windows 7 is sorted. Time to be more upbeat I think.

Shona arrives on Friday which means that I have a little holiday and I´ve found a breakfast place for us. It´s time for a bit of fun!

Moaning Minnie

I´ve just been looking back at my blog and I reckon that it needs a name change as all I seem to do is moan!

I hate this retirement thing as there is nothing else to do so I´m turning into the female equivalent of Victor Meldrew. I can so see his point!

The things I wish for: a good internet, a good television signal, a good service at the mobile shop and what do I get? An absolute mess.

Ok, point by point. Internet off for over twenty-four hours. I spoke to a really nice man who talked me through a new set up. Lovely, internet on, increased speed and was I a happy bunny? Yes, until an hour ago when my computer decided that I had an illegal copy of Windows 7. What on earth do I do about that? The man in the computer shop gave me a number but where do I put it? Goodness knows but the thought of a month without my computer whilst the World Cup is on gives me the shivers.

Next..........television signal. Totally illegal I know but not having any alternative I use it. This German chap runs it and I´m sure he hates women and Coronation Street. Every time I get settled to watch it we lose the signal. I missed loads tonight but it´s happily working now. I bet it never even flickers during the World Cup. I could cheerfully ring his neck.

I´ve decided to shelve the mobile shop as I´m far too grumpy to even go there. Best I go to bed, at least I have a decent book!

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.