I forgot!! I wrote on the flight! Not long after take off!! 

I took a couple of screenshots before my phone stopped tracking me.. 

And I took a few photographs on the plane.. landing somewhere I don't usually land.. So two views of Spain, possibly different from the normal route? I don't know...

So seems very random now and maybe irrelevant, but here are my notes from the flight:

Flight is totally full, and at the moment someone is standing in the front area of the plane waiting for his seat? Not sure what's happened there! We haven't taken off by the way, Ryanair hasn't actually got strap-hanging customers, just yet! 

Now a man had said he was in 23D, along side of me, but the man who is in this seat his ticket says 23D! 

The man had swapped 11D for another seat!! They walked off, the stewardess and him, confused and kerfuddled! 

I said to guys next to me... it's probably 23B, as it's empty, two women behind us joined in and said oh yes! Probably.. they came back, it was 23B!

And we're off!

There are two hen parties, and two stag parties on board! People drinking at the airport from 7:00am... And these groups downing as much alcohol now as they can before they land!! 

Prior to this, going through the boarding pass scan and passport check to enter the departure gate.. a man directly in front of me, his barcode beeped red! His name was wrong, completely wrong!?! No idea what happened to him!! He didn't board! 

We're leaving half an hour late, but will probably catch up...

Last time I flew into Alicante airport was back in 1999... To stay in Torrevieja, where I had first visited, back in August 1988... 

Time passes...  

Something came to my attention this morning, either Facebook or Insta, about the nine years cycle, and this being 2025, devisible by nine.. and coming late to the table for me, September already! I need to apparently catch up!

Quoting here:

The number 9 is the culmination of the numerological cycle, symbolizing wisdom, reflection, and release. This energy invites us to let go of what no longer serves us, integrate lessons from the past, and prepare for the new beginnings that will emerge in 2026.

I've always been big into numbers... Sadly not the monitory kind, but that's okay with me.. but numbers of best forever friendships, best memories, numbers of times I have been so very very lucky .. 

These are the numbers I have been, am being, blessed with.

End of notes!

The flight did catch up, off the flight quick and easily, the European passport controls working, they've been on hold in Málaga for a few years now, sat there, unused.. so maybe now they are? But still had to go from scanning our own passports to the security police to be stamped!? Which seemed daft!

Yesterday down at Calahonda, more home turf, spent three hours in the store, could have put on my old uniform, signed in and worked, was so good to be there... 

The evening before had a hour or so at a beach bar, gin&t, then dinner at a local restaurant.. familiar places and people..

Had a bit of a hiccup yesterday evening but will write tomorrow, time soon for siesta and eyes are heavy .. 

M.

Every story ever told really happened

Stories are where memories go when they're forgotten 

Doctor Who

 

Okay, down here in Andalusia.. mí corazón, my home for so long.. 

Today staying down in Calahonda, sat having coffee at Bar near work, old friends asked if I felt I had done the right thing... 

I answered I know I have, but it doesn't mean I don't miss here, my home, twenty three years is a lifetime, or can be, it's a change of life, a way of life, so different from my old, and now my new..

Three years short of the forty years that I have called españa home... 

It's a wonder that Spain didn't show up in my DNA, joking of course! I know that can't be a thing, although I am part Welsh and lived there for three years!?! 

These two photograph above, and one beneath, taken from a friend's home over the weekend, there below, the white line, of a white village, one of the white villages of Andalucía.. Alhaurín El Grande, my Alhaurín.. 

The hump of a small mountain in front of Alhaurín Sierra Gorda, and below looking back the opposite way...

Below two more photographs from Alicante province, did not have long enough a visit, next time... I flew in and out like a passing bird on the wing... 

Stunning.. what an amazing view to see each day.. makes the heart shine..

I imagine the angels from City of Angels, standing in awe, the sound of sunrise and sun sets pouring through their hearts and souls... 

Now! To completely change the subject!

Carlos Juan link to book and all information.

Please use code MARIAN to secure your copy as limited edition.

This is an exceptional book with foreword written by George Benson, who highlights Carlos's abilities as a true master.

Stating that "Carlos Juan would have to be among the greatest guitar technicians in the world.

You will also get valuable data about guitar action of the superstars, since Carlos worked on guitars for all of them, as well as tools, and installation tips. 

There are a one hundred pages, 1000+ artists, and 850 photos.

The Carlos brand, also known as Carlos Juan Pickups, is a world-renowned manufacturer of high-end acoustic guitar pickups and amplifiers, recognized for their superior performance, accuracy, quality, and reliability, often described as the "Rolls Royce of all acoustic guitar pickups."

The brand has received high ratings from top guitarists and trade press, and Carlos Juan has been nominated multiple times for the German Innovation Award. 

Carlos Juan and his work is highly trusted by many famous musicians, including George Benson, Eric Clapton, David Knopfler, Mark Knopfler, Al di Meola, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, Brian Adams, Gary Moore, Nathan East, Yamandu Costa and many more. Eric Clapton's guitar technician, Lee Dickson, commissioned two specific CP-1 High-End systems and two CTP tube preamps for Eric Clapton in 2004 and 2006.

The reason I am promoting this book, not just on my book Blog but here also, and not copy edited by me, but my input is there and help along the way, mainly reminding, pushing, promoting, and pushing more! As with other authors I have dealt with along my way.. So this book means a lot to me.

M.

Young people can run fast

But old people know the way

Anon

España aka home

 

Arrived in Alicante airport September 6th, last into Alicant airport around 1999..

First time August 3rd 1988.. So funny, can't remember why I walked into a room sometimes a d remember dates! Well, just normal and unfortunately know, through work, all the other reasons why parts of our brains remember, or sadly, forget..

Above photograph was the full moon last week, not exactly clear and without my good camera a very poor view of it!

Was so good to see my friend, been too long, and had been too long, and too late.. also.

We should remember every single morning we are lucky enough to wake up, that this day, today, is the day! It is the only day, love it, embrace it, cover those we care about and love with praise and beautiful words. 

If unfortunately tomorrow never comes, there will be no bad words, no unspoken thoughts.. 

I was lucky, we were lucky, nothing left unsaid, nothing bad spoken; but still I wish we could have had more.. of our life..

Sorry, this took a turn I didn't mean to take, it's being here... Sat now as I write at Bar Cruz, and my ghosts surround me.

Maybe as much as I miss here, wish I was here more, wonder what if...

I know beyond doubt I made the right choice, living with my ghosts here is not healthy.

Beautiful views from my friends home, we walked and talked and I met some lovely people, friends good for her, and that we need, for sure.

Again I am so very thankful for mine, wouldn't be here without them.

Obviously photograph beneath should be at the top! But hey! Bite me! As they say! Thinking of a pin I have now..  a gingerbread man, who has a chunk taken out of his leg! Because someone did!

Journey continues, as I am now down back home as aforementioned, and surrounded by my friends.. Sun's up, it's been very warm, as September can be.. but cooler at night thankfully..

I have already spent time staying with two friends, two very different locations, both beautiful.

Y ahora, café y charla y amistad. 

M.

DON QUIXOTE

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES SAAVEDRA

"When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!"

Some photographs from a few days away over the weekend.. 

Again the disused power station in the background in the photograph above, with the river in the foreground.. the old the new, which has now also become redundant.

Above the River Erewash and houseboats on an evening walk..

We went for walks along the river tow path, taking random tracks away and into 'who knew where' and came across the railway tracks, a huge overhead bridge.. 

Felt like walking along something from Jurassic park, expected to see pterodactyls flying down from above... Or at the least a bunch of zombies walking along here! 

None of course came about, because, well, quite honestly it's not the time or the place for them! 

Just passing through.. 

Just passing through, we all are aren't we, wherever we are, wherever we go each and every day, just passing through, in the grand scheme of things... 

I'm still waiting or this surgery to happen, left a few messages now.. So taken the decision, if I hear nothing in the next few days, I'm off to Spain! Off back home and then.. hopefully it will happen.

I get they're waiting for my heart rate to get higher.. but it's not happening.. 

M.

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. "

Helen Keller

Anchor Church

Anchor Church.. Found this gem on Saturday, drive out for a few hours, tried for Redhill Marina for a car show, but we showed up about four hours too early! It's right by the Ratliff-on-Soar power station just outside of Nottingham. It's been closed as a power station for a year, and in another year, it will be brought down and the area redeveloped into a zero-carbon manufacturing and energy hub.

So went to Mercia Marina, near Willington, next, just adding here, I can't type Marina without having to correct it! I just type out my name!! Lols 

Had a coffee there..

Took these photographs! Zoom in required!

Then we were going to go to an Arboretum I saw signposted.. but noticed the Anchor (symbol) Church...and it was close by... Had to park on the road.. after Repton, beautiful village, I've actually added a link to Repton because of it's beautiful buildings and history.. Gorgeous.

Parked, followed Google maps and a walk around a field, down towards the River Trent, and found the Anchor Church.

Incredible history surrounding it.. taken from the link above... 

The name Anchor Church is derived from the term anchorite (from the Greek ἀναχωρέω anachōreō, "to withdraw" or "to depart into the countryside") because it is thought to have been the cell of an Anchorite hermit, St Hardulph, who lived and prayed here in the 8th and 9th century..

Lots more to read.

And from inside such an ancient place, the power station in the background..

Now!! Been doing a bit more on my ancestry the last few weeks.. 

Have added a 'new' Bonelli to our group.. and yesterday, found someone who may have some information for me... I have been disheartened before in thinking I may have found a relative of a brother I have, but yesterday I added a divorce paper belonging to my dad's second wife, from her second marriage! 

I have written, and now can do no more than wait.. time ticks by so fast, I know now a brother who is fourteen years older than me, I'll probably never find... Can find nothing from Japan online to make any connection and finding years ago than many GI babies born there were given up for adoption.. and maybe only if he came to the US, adopted maybe there, and if he did a DNA, then maybe a strong link would show up.. but learning that kids of my siblings can show as cousins.. isn't a great thing to find out now after all these years of hoping it could flag up a sibling.

But then, after that, finding a section of links I found the strangest of persons!! 

Well, I'm sure she isn't strange, but what I am about to tell you is! 

We have a DNA link, and it's from both sides, yes, BOTH sides! Which means a British person and an Italian person connected at some point to give her a DNA that links her to me, on both of my DNA sides!! 

Incredible!! Amazing! Yes, I have written to her too, and will wait, she hasn't been on Ancestry for a while... So I may go all stalker'ish on her and Facebook message her!! 

Cliffhanger! 

M.

Great Yarmouth Part 3 of 3

Today, well, okay today for me, yesterday maybe! We went back to Great Yarmouth... 

We walked along the high street, after the pier, bought a couple of Labubu's! 

You could win them on the pier, in any number of hundreds of possibilities! But decided cheaper to buy them! 

I was on the hunt for a hat! See last photograph! 

I was getting thirsty and needing a hot drink, suddenly there, on the right, Wright's Restaurant.. it drew me in, and there in the pastry area, my favourite Portuguese custard tarts... Fresh and warm and waiting, just for me! 

The babes had one each and me, I had a latte they had milkshakes, see above!! Outstanding.. 

Served warm and with an extra sprinkling of cinnamon, perfect... So good! See too two photographs.  Son had tea, not pastry for him...

After a bit more of a walk along, I bought a hat, and we turned back around again, and walked a long way along the beach road .. 

Then back to the car and back here to Haven.

We had lunch here and booked a table for tonight,  then it was a couple of play parks and back to the van! 

M.

Great Yarmouth Part 2 of 3

 

Above and below, Great Yarmouth from Tuesday.. 

There's a great perimeter walk around here, through forest, no vans, it's nice... 

Then yesterday we went to Hemsby! Wonderful Hemsby, I am so sure I have been back since when the boys were young.. kept having a déjà vu feeling...

But after wracking my mind, give up, I'll either remember or not! 

We drove in, down Beach Road where we used to stay in the chalets, in the '80's .. The plates usually with silver fish, things usually a bit not completely okay... Never dirty, but more well used, old... 

Was like walking down memory lane, made me a bit melancholy, and missed my mom, more...

Bought some rock, and fudge, and white and pink sugary sweet thing...

Found a bear, on the beach .. 

We went for a long walk along the beach, turned back around and walked back.

After the sweet store... we spent some time in a play area, then had a warm drink in a place I'm sure I've been in... Was like seeing a memory, but can't pin it down!!

Kids and I had steaming hot chocolate, very yum!

After Hemsby we stopped over for lunch at McD's in Great Yarmouth, and a few bits in the supermarket next door Asda! Of course!! 

 

Then back to Havens, we booked and collected fish and chips!

M.

Great Yarmouth Part 1 of 3

Haven holiday park! Off we went on Monday morning, following the satnav, she was determined we took a road that wasn't there! And it wasn't until we reached the end of the detour signs we saw why... 

New road being made from old road, a dual carriageway me thinks! 

We also joined a long line of cars and after maybe an hour? Of very slow moving, then stationary, we turned around .. there had been an accident and both sides of the road closed, completely.

The van is nice, basic, as in no home type things, very bare minimum? Maybe people have stolen so much in the past they just don't bother any more.. 

These photographs are from the sea life centre in Great Yarmouth on Tuesday... 

We were there quite a few hours, booked the centre before we left and had lunch there before we looked around.

In the evening we ate in the onsite restaurant, very good food, we were well fed.

Decided beforehand, no cooking week, just breakfast and fruit.

It's a wonderful Haven site, situated away from the beaches, all woodland and walks, many play areas, lots of activities.. lots of wildlife... We're down a quiet part of the site, a dead end, so no passing or turning vehicles.

We've been lucky with the weather, although it's not always been full sun, it hasn't rained at all..

M.

Collyers Nursery, Borrowash, last Tuesday, wonderful nursery, not too big, and without all the gifts, clothes, added extras.. that yes, those are okay in the bigger garden centres, and wonderful in their own right, but this is a nursery, as the name says.. 

The cafe on site, Pip Tree Cafe, is wonderful! The cakes looked outstanding, the food was wonderful, great choice of foods ... Fresh and delicious!

Also you could eat inside, or in many different areas around the café! Out in the open and undercover.

Lols like you need to know all this!! 

Bought a rose! And here it is! On my journey home by train..
 

A couple on the other side of the aisle commented on it's amazing fragrance.. it smells of an old country garden rose...

She asked me if I'd taken it for a ride out!?! Lols I said 'Yep, and tomorrow we're off to Leicester for the day!' lols 

On the tram also people commented on the beautiful smell... 

And Wednesday, canal voyage.. a boater.. absolutely wonderful.. 

The peace and tranquility.. 

The community spirit, the dogs! 

Again, the peace .. quiet, nature.. 

Before leaving I was working the locks, on my own, and helping other people.. 

Loved it, absolutely.. 

The world seems a very loud place away from the boating world.

M.

I'll see you in the fabric of the universe 

Ghostbusters