Decided to place a quote first today.. 

Because some people see a wall, and assume that's the end of their journey. Others see it, and decide it's just the beginning.

Angeline Trevena - Author

Because, sometimes walls are imposing, or feel impossible to get over.

And sometimes I wonder whether it's even worth trying..

Today it's raining.. so not even a walk around the field today.. no looking searchingly into hedgerows for blackberries.. had one! Did I tell you? Just one I have found, hopefully although low to the ground it was relatively untouched by any animals.. 

There's lots of sloe berries.. for use in making sloe gin.. or for witchcraft, I've just read.. apparently!

No WiFi, so bear with for uploads.. 

I walked up the path yesterday to get to the field and found a jigsaw piece! Always wondered what happened to that!! The missing jigsaw piece, or the missing piece to my puzzle, take it whichever way folks!

I'm on a bit of a downer today with this weather, and realize there is no way I could have survived lockdown here; very isolated location.. 

The need now for chocolate is great! Mmm eBay maybe? Now that's an idea! Lols

I should have thought ahead for that doing the shopping before my arrival! 

Thinking of home, mi casa, mis montanas.. mi buena vista.. 

It'll be cola coa by the time I get home.. and the wood burner!

TTFN

Marian

Well it's been sunny here in Blighty, but mighty cold when out of the sun!

Indoors at the moment when the heating is off its flipping freezing! 

Feeling stuck, and isolated in my isolation period! 

Walked around the garden, took photos of the field! Lols

No WiFi, so will upload anything when I can.. will bleed off some data later!

British TV? So is it like the British high street now.. repeat episodes of very old TV series = charity shops; adverts for data/WiFi, banks/building societies.. = phone stores and .. well, banks!! 

It mirrors it doesn't it? If you want good up-to-date movies, or something different.. it would be like visiting out-of-town shopping centres with cinemas attached!

TTFN

Marian

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

Rabindranath Tagore - 1861-1941 - Poet

This world makes me happy in so many ways I didn't think it ever could again..

But sitting on board a plane with another twenty-five people flying from Malága to Bristol.. this makes me so sad.. the lack of people.. the masks, the eyes all looking just as wary as I expect mine do.. 

The airport usually so full, full of life or hope of holiday makers leaving, of people with arms full of even more gifts .. 

Stores are all closed.. even a few of the eateries.

No long lines to wait in, no nothing really.

Not even a dozen cases loaded into the hold.

I'm in row four.. my free seat.. and two people in front of me.. no one along side me.. and then  the few others behind.. 

Now at my isolation point.. 

Bristol airport was like coming into an apocalyptic dystopian decontamination zone! So few people that lights came on as we entered corridors.. and as it was just me and one other person leading the line.. it was odd.

Only when reaching the security area.. did we see anyone.. and a room usually heaving, where on occasion I have had to lineup in an adjacent area to even reach.. I walked straight through and up to a security guard.. 

Showed passport and papers regarding the quarentine info and done..

My case along with the other nine cases came through on the only conveyor belt in operation.. 

Bus stops all moved.. I guess to keep people away from the arrivals area.. which is cordoned off now, tented off to be exact! 

A long line, and fewer passengers.. as one person to each double seat.. so a bit of a wait there, then on the bus I sat upstairs .. hadn't been on a double decker for five years! Was great! Actually! And I booked my train ticket on my phone.. 

Beautiful evening, amazing clouds and sunset.. 

And bloody freezing cold!

Okay, maybe not freezing, but my hands went numb! And then had to do the tingling and burning thing once they warmed up again!

Settled in now.. eaten and coffee.. 

Tired and missing home.. 

Wishing I were there..

TTFN

Marian

So nearly time to leave home for travel to the UK, family and work.. 

My heart is actually beating far too hard, I do not want to leave home; looking across the Guadalhorce vally now from my terrace.. 

My heart is in Spain, I wasn't sure for a couple of years.. but I know now.. completely and utterly sure.

Now I just want to go.. I can't wait to meet my newest granddaughter.. and also see my other two babes.. for them I am travelling.. and for work.. 

Then I can come home, Ryanair has just changed my return date so now an extra day in the UK.. 

Lols Blogging on my phone before I leave the house, my hands are shaking!

Okay, finish up here.. then go. I'll keep you posted, from England next, of course!

TTFN

Marian

 

Photograph above coming across the boarder in Gibraltar on Wednesday, cloud heavy and looming over the rock...

After having lived in La Linea for a while last year, I know it is not every day.. it had seemed that way visiting now and again.. and seemed only right the cloud should be there on my day trip also.

A few photographs I took in the Botanical Gardens, it's been 18 months, they have been working hard and the whole place looks stunning now.  Relaxing and calming. The zoo, a planting garden.  Really nice.. the only disappointment being, my little hiding place was gone! I had found a seat at the back on the cemetery section, mostly hidden, a relaxing quiet place.. lols.. it's gone, but then, so am I.. it was there when I needed it I guess...

I tried to get a picture of some beautiful butterflies.. but they just would not pause in their play long enough!! 

The coach was only half full, but they're hoping to get back on track and get back to the weekly trips from Alhaurín to Gibraltar.. the raffle on board is for a local Age Care, and they help out so many people in our local area.. this time here now, especially here.. we don't have the backup that might be available back in the UK. Down at the UK food shop in town our friend has been helping so many needy people, income gone or paused, no financial help available here.. people donate and give freely to help so many people.

Few more from the Botanical Gardens..

Ten years ago this memory on Facebook this morning tells me I posted this...

Journey...

What makes the 

world go round? It's people who can't sit still.  People like you and me.  Roaming the earth for new ideas.  Always wandering, constantly challenging.  And taking whatever they need for the ride.

Life's a journey. 

 Embrace it, live it, love it.

Still me isn't it? 

I really want to stop wandering now!! Lols don't I? Very thought provoking; all of my grandparents were people who travelled a long way to get to their final destinations... Maybe I have to?

TTFN

Marian

And before I knew it, the time has flown! 

Photographs of sunsets above and below.. taken from my terazza..

And below walking down into town on a morning this week past..

I went to Gibraltar on Wednesday, photographs tomorrow! 

It's been another good week, not sure where I fit time in for working!

Walking into town early, coffee at Bar Cruz, chatting to friends in the Papeleria I used to work in.. then coffee with my vesina about ten.. 

A walk and wander around town.. maybe a jaunt out here and there.. 

Below last two sunsets for this post!! 

It's just especially at this time of the year, they are extra special.. 

The month of the cigar clouds.. maybe into October.. not seen many yet!

The sounds of tires screeching around the streets is a sound we hear more at seasons change also.. 

Saturday today, been nice weather.. cooling down now, and yesterday was rain rain and rain.. not all day but enough! Already!

The plants are happy and green, I have flowers on a few of the succulents, and a climber.. just wish the climber would climb! It's needs to grow first, and each year it nearly dies off in my absence..  it survived the long time I was away this year, more by luck than anything else.. there was rain now and again, just enough apparently!

I have flights booked for travel for work, I had to change them.. of course, nothing goes to plan.. the first two flights were covered by credit from Ryanair.. then it cost me more to change them.. and then I booked a whole new flight for only 7€ so cheap! A one way to Bristol.. 7€!! Incredible eh!!

Oh and I filled out a new claim form for another cancelled flight with Ryanair.. two days later, money back in my bank account.. thank you very much! 

The plan for work was set, then changed so many times I felt my head was spinning! But it's sorted now, 14 days quarentine, visit with family.. work,visit with family.. work! And home! 

Everything is so different, everything so not what we're used to.. 

Here we have to wear masks, everywhere outside, so I will continue to, even in the UK where you don't have to.. Seems silly to risk not doing so!

In Gib some people were others not.. so I did; although around the botanical gardens I unhooked over one ear, but if people came past it was back over again!

Half midnight now, and today has become tomorrow... 

TTFN

Marian

Need a poem or quote... Okay here's one!

Inspiration comes from within yourself. One has to be positive. When you're positive, good things happen.

Deep Roy - Actor-Stuntman-Puppeteer

Mmmm very difficult being positive sometimes.. I really try, but the smallest thing can send me crashing down still.. 

I was randomly watching my saved stuff on YouTube, a piece on mindfulness.. I was also learning Spanish on an app on my phone and Candy Crush on my Kindle!

And I wonder I can't concentrate!! 

I need to spend more time in the present, the right now right here, because really, this is all we can guarantee we have.. isn't it.

Other life

This view taken on our way home yesterday, from the village... I was taking the photograph below... when this cloud formation looking like a dragon maybe? A horned something or other? flowing smoke, or a tongue..  from his mouth caught my eye!

Why the photograph above anyway? Because I thought it looked like someone laying down... knees bent! Lol... yes seeing lots of things out of things!! 

My pareidolia obviously on high alert for signs of all sorts! Lols..

The village, or a small part thereof... It looks hot because it was, ten degrees hotter than back here at home in Alhaurín... Said 38C so was I guess as per the norm, warmer than that in standing heat...

Lake view... absolutely stunning, and so peaceful... This village is truly like another time and place, one can forget the world, everything around us, all the bad, all the mixed up life we have these days... Almost, masks being worn on the street, a reminder of this world we're all now sharing.

And most of our visit was defiantly like a different time and place! Two visits for me far and both very surreal. This time we had water! Which was good being three of us! 

Three nights, every night at the bar until closing at one am... the first night back home afterwards... the second a fiesta at a friends house, music drinks, talking and laughing, was like a party of teen-agers.. a great evening, a broken chair, fighting over the music control, watching the night sky and the zillion stars shining down on us, all talking in a mix of español and English . we were home about 3:30am.

What made that night funnier was we arrived too early for the fiesta, so dodged the square and went home! Only to be messaged with 'where are you? And sorry we weren't home yet when you called!' so back down to the square.   Round two!

...and the third... ? Well altogether different, 

Bar first until 01:00 plus a bit more while drinks finished after doors locked, and then a small park area... small group of us, beers and benches, the lake, the dark dark sky.. conversation in español and English again, talking about jobs and where we live or have lived.. the whole time there was very strange, I was sat on the ground, and no problem with that, was comfortable, and didn't feel any after-effects yesterday morning, of either the beer or the hard surface I'd been sitting on... So all good... It actually felt like I was living some other life in some other dimension! Lols... yes okay I had had two beers and an anise... but hardly enough to make me drunk... and as that was over a six hour period? Nope, not drunk... It just felt so strange, other-worldly; don't get me wrong, I was so happy there... just being under that wide and starry sky and conversing in two languages..  Who knew!

Anyways, we were home about 4am! Jokingly I said "Couldn't keep this up, not 40 any more!!" And we eventually got to bed about half four!

Do you see the stork platforms there... 

Dog paradise! And human... just such a peaceful spot... So untouched.. A natural place, the nearby town of Martos, about twenty minutes or so... has all the shops you need, a wonderful market on a Saturday, we had to give our names and phone numbers for tracking purposes.

Great prices; and I thought our local markets were good!

Below two photographs I took in Alcaudete, we went there Friday morning for churros con chocolate! Beautiful... another mountain town, like Martos.. Can't walk downhill without knowing you have the uphill walk later on! And in that heat! wow!

Feels strange leaving the village; it attaches itself to you... or you to it! Draws you in, holds you, makes you happy, makes you relaxed, makes you want to stay... Then when you have to go it has to be torn off quickly like a plaster or it hurts more! Oh so dramatic I know!

When we left the three of us, humans, in the car.. (dogs just being dogs.. although.. maybe them also.)

We were very quiet, very melancholy I guess.. all thinking, all coming to terms with leaving!! Strange how it is.. I am sure the many people born there must feel the same though, because the young seem to return.. People still living there without having moved on like in so many of the small villages.. losing the young until the streets are empty and only the elderly remain.. 

The plaza of an evening is filled with all ages.. small toddlers to the oldest, through the age spectrum.  

 

Mmmm and on another note!

Last week or so ago?  Friend and I at local bar here in town... I asked her if she knew the song by JP Saxe, If the World was Ending... she didn't so I Googled it... and started reading the words out.. 

I'll try and explain.. I just read it out, sentence by sentence... with my right hand beating it out in the air... and the way it sounded sounded like rap! So she started with the sounds rappers make.. Oh heck this is hard to explain and you really needed to be there... it was so funny! Like an impromptu rapping session! 

So there we were in the centre of town, two seat table in the middle of a busy morning, outside the usual bar... rapping!! Oh so funny!! If you were there!!

So much I feel I have missed out here, but tired, and need to post, come down now, fog or sea mist possibly.. come through the Guadalhorce valley.. making everything damp and clammy.. time to put out my rubbish and tidy up!

TTFN

Marian