Ultreya

2012-01-27T14:07:00.000+01:00

Thunder, lightening and rain rain rain.... well I suppose it was bound to happen this month eventually!

Got four more books live on the Kindle this week, not bad going eh?! One is a re do of How to Draw Cartoons, but the others are all new, check out the link over there on my PublishedByMe Blog.

Monday evening I went out with friends to say 'bye', I had been looking after their home here when they were away, so handed over the keys and had a great evening, wonderful food, down at a restaurant in town, great food, three courses, so my food baby was well in shape!! We had a laugh, not late home, about 10:30pm.... Unlike last night, second night out this week, and not home until 11:30! What a dirty stop out! Went to another bar[!!] in town, not been in this one though, ever, 7 of us, a great laugh, and great tapas...

Rain was forecast for today, but usually it moves on to the next day, and then the next, then never even happens! Hope Pip is ok in the house, with the thunder and lightening, will get home soon, bring down the persianas[blinds], up with the draw bridge and snuggle down for the evening, although I expect Pippa will keep her beady eyes on me, wondering if I am about to make a run for the front door again this week and leave her.... home alone....

Only a short Blog today, power might out, so will say adió amigos..
TTFN
Marian

2012-01-24T12:06:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday Mom.... and, as I said on Fb earlier, I am sending an Angel to you, with a hug and flowers from me...

Goodbyes, life is full of goodbyes... but each goodbye brings a new beginning, a new home, a new job, new friends... a new country... All waiting there with new possibilities! I feel I am almost reaching my limit of goodbyes though... even the size of my font has changed and I can't change it!!!!

Well lets see what its like down here... Ok I was saying before I interrupted myself! I feel there have been more goodbyes than 'hello's' but I know that's not true at all, even over the last weekend I met new people, new friends, and tha'ts how life is...

I remember buying Mom's last card, it was so hard to find one with the right words, and when she opened her cards, she read them, smiled, and asked for them to be taken home, she didn't want them there in the hospital...

I also know, not everyone by any means gets the chance in life to do what I have done, fulfilled a dream... I can never say I didn't try, I can say 'I did it!' and am glad of it! Millions of fantastic fabulous memories that I will carry with me forever and beyond forever! Pictures in my mind, sights and sounds, and smells! that will flood my mind for the rest of life, pleasurable thoughts... and friends, so many...

Well seem to be having a microsoft word problem it seems so the message reads! Also have been uploading three more books onto Kindle so maybe that hasn't helped, trying to do so many things at once eh!

adio amigos..
TTFN
Marian

2012-01-21T11:17:00.000+01:00

Hello folks...

Here I am at Papeleria Cristina!

Not so easy blogging in a busy place, next to other people, my flow... doesn't flow so easy! Also my mobile isn't working now! Cannot make out going calls which could be a problem as I don't even have a house phone now! Still I can always scream can't I!!!

Have had several text messages this morning none of them that I can reply to in here, so sorry amigos! Hold that thought until I am outta here!

I must remember to make notes while I am blogging away from home as it were, because sitting here now can think of nothing really...

The sun is shining, its cold in the shade but warm in the sun... the town is busy, sales sales sales! There is nothing on the TV so I am reading, although yesterday I wore out my right hand on my mouse! Getting two more books Kindle ready, cutting pasting, rearranging, and doing all sorts, both will be ready to up load on Monday, although until Monday I cannot see if all the work I have done is even working, that's whats a little bit frustrating, and if I had a dongle, I think the downloads would be too heavy thereby using up in a matter of hours and not days!

Also, when I leave here, I keep thinking whatever I have looked at is actually on the computer at home? I think that stems from all the days I used to carry my lap top to the wifi area, then leave open anything I wanted to work on, but of course, this isn't how it can work using a different computer is it! Bit weird how the mind works, or is it just me???

I can't believe it! We already know one of our new neighbors! Fantastic isn't it! She is only a few houses along the street, a friend there already, that's great

Ok amigos, going now, done my time....
Will make notes for Monday over weekend...
TTFN
Marian

2012-01-17T18:14:00.001+01:00

Well I am still here, I mean the internet! Should be going today, so every moment is a bonus, and a surprise!

Have another two books now on the kindle, they will become 'live' tomorrow hopefully, see my link there on the right, PublishedByMe!

I am having so much fun doing these, its work, brain work, and sometimes for some reason something I have done only a day before gets lost in the maze which is my mind, and I have to come across the 'thing' somehow! I was reading the other about ways to learn to remember things, placing the list of things in the rooms of your house, like the rooms in your mind! This was definitely working for me, if only I could remember where I put my mind!

Yesterday we had rain, not heavy but consistent, if you know what I mean, with a capitol 'P'! Yesterday afternoon, it cleared up and this morning after a chilly night we have or rather had, lots of snow over there on the Sierra de Las Nieves, [snowy mountain range to you!] Also over towards Carratraca, and the wind turbines....It looked like icing sugar sprinkled atop the summits... but a couple of hours later, most had cleared, as today the sun shone and in the sun was quite pleasant!

Ok just a short Blog today, like me!

TTFN
Marian

2012-01-15T11:57:00.001+01:00

To the left one of Christmas trees in Mijas pueblo, down on the lower plaza, it is a bit strange, zoom in to check it out, this is where I tripped down a small step too, hurting my ankle for the day and evening! Silly step!

I could just eat some of those wonderful tapas Barry and I had that day in the new tapas bar... was talking about them last night, when a friend and I went to a new Curry house in town, don't get me wrong, the meal there was wonderful too, it just made me think of those tapas!!

We shared everything except the meal dishes, although we did have a taster! We got a table for two, two of us, a couple of friends may have been joining us, they did half hour later, so we had to change to a table for four, although we were ahead of them in courses, we spent the last half hour watching them eat!

The photo on the left here I took early yesterday, Saturday morning, isn't it beautiful, the fog over the Guadalhalorce valley, I zoomed in to the

mountain there, looks like an island floating in a white sea.. actually looking at this two mountains floating there!

I have such mixed emotions going up on the terrace now, we have such a beautiful wonderful view from there, total coverage all the way from Las Delicias to the left across towards Malaga on the right, we see the sun rises, and the sun sets... The most truly beautiful view...

Our House!

The phone line and internet go on Tuesday, probably a nano second after mid night, so I will go to bed with the phone, not literally! and wake up without it!

Already feeling the missing part, like I am having something removed! Over dramatic? Yes, maybe, but.... there it is, I use the phone and I use the internet, like you didn't know!

I will Blog off line, and post where and when I can, done that before haven't I! Time, and time again, so no change for you... just me...

This morning I have painting the kitchen ceiling, well just the bit where the new light fitting made where the old one was stand out! I have cleared two kitchen cupboards, and in the last shelf of food, it is categorized into, to eat, to throw, or is ok to leave in there!

I have uploaded another two books over the last 3 days onto the kindle!

The Big Fibber Diet By Peter Maddocks

and Cartooning for Beginners in Spanish this time, this one will be live today!

I haven't done any more to my own book, too much going on, although without the internet, maybe over the next three weeks it will be done!

Feel sad to go now, last live Blog post from here!!! Everything feels strange now, everything feels like the last time, and I don't want it to feel like that, its daft, and unnecessary, I should just enjoy every day, on the day, neither thinking behind or ahead, we do after all only have today, every day! What is that poem? Today is the present, it is a present! so enjoy the present!

So now I am rambling, so, adíos amigos...
Catch you on run!
TTFN
Marian

2012-01-10T20:21:00.000+01:00

Franco has found us a new home! Its unfurnished, but we will have lots of boxes! Thank goodness there is a cooker though, so at least we can eat! I have checked it out on google map and the house looks lovely, the street really nice, views of the mountains! I have 'stood' in the street done a 360° turn, gone up the road, in five minutes your in the country until the next junction, then going the other way its a 20 minute walk into Neath town centre...

The house if off from the road, up some steps and Pippa will not be able to see anyone passing, or even the cars!

At least all our things will be there, bits and bobs the week we arrive!

The kitchen light broke yesterday, well I broke it! Unintentionally I hasten to add, the bulbs had been flickering and I tried to take it out and broke the plastic hinge that was holding it in! I thought, just buy a new tube and glue the thing in somehow, but a couple of people said the black powder over the inside of the light sounded a bit dodgy and that I really should get a new light fitting, so I phoned a friend, and he organised a mate of his to come and have a look, he was only half late, so not bad really, saw what was needed, went down the ferriteria and bought a new one! Its so bright in the kitchen now, I fear the planes coming over to land in Malaga will mistake my light for the landing lights!! Its so bright, the house is lighting up the whole town!! like Oxford Street during Christmas!

TTFN
Marian

2012-01-08T11:27:00.001+01:00

Hello amigos...

I am doing something with my Blog, it involves going over a few years of it, therapeutic, sad, and very funny, especially where I have made the most amazing mistakes... like saying about never eating after September 29th! Didn't mention it was blackberries did I! Hope none of stopped eating after September 29th, especially as I didn't say when you could start eating again!!!

I even signed my name wrong in one place, changed my name altogether! What the heck was on my mind then, alot I know...

And the poems...

I am doing a Blog type book, type thing, I may, or may not put it on Kindle. At the moment it is still only in its infancy, and still growing, its nearly at 100,000 words, boy do I write!! My goodness... this is only less than two years of writing, and I have been writing for about 7 years now, or more! And these two years, I really didn't write as much as other years!

I also didn't really 'do' grammar did I, lets be honest, or spelling exactly! So its not just going to be a case of putting things together, its changing spelling, grammar, font size etc etc.

Even if it never reaches anything else, its giving me something to do to keep my mind busy. I am waiting for another book to be written for me to edit and publish on the kindle for Peter Maddocks, I said lets leave the next one till the new year.... well here it is, the new year! Where is the book please!!!!

We have just over 4 weeks to go now, its a very strange feeling, sort of like when I left England, but totally different also? Confused? Well I certainly am! Every-time I look out from our buena vista from the roof terrace I get a tearing feeling in my stomach, a wrenching squeezing thing going on, but, the house isn't sold yet, it is still our house... Its these mountains of Spain, the country... Then, also, I am excited by a new chapter in my life, work again! Can't wait, seriously cannot wait to get back into the work place, I miss it. Franco may have found a house for us, I checked it out on google maps yesterday, and it looks great, the house, the street, the countryside around it, the mountains too, that's the bit I want, need to see mountains! Maybe I was a mountain goat in an earlier life do you think! Don't answer that!

And so of course, being a woman, house = furnishings! Furniture, floors, materials, new this and new that!

But I am dreading these last few weeks, people are already stopping me in the street and asking when I am off! "and see you before you go!" Like the date I arrived here, the date I leave will remain with me forever, mind you, I am funny like that! I remember the date I very first came to Spain! 3rd of August 1988, till the 17th!

How many of you will follow me to Wales I wonder! Should I change my line? Diary Blog Spain and beyond? Strange about the beyond bit, when I wrote it I must have known I would leave... Have I left a mark here in Spain, I hope so, I hope this whole time here wasn't for nothing, I did come here and find my love.... "I followed my heart, and it led me here to Spain"

TTFN
Marian

2012-01-03T15:41:00.000+01:00

Well its the 3rd already amigos! Weather is beautiful one of the best Christmases and New Years holidays for a couple of years! We only had one hour of rain on Boxing day evening, and if I hadn't been told it was drizzling a tad on fb, gone up stairs to look, I would be non the wiser of the event at all!

Its cold, especially first thing in the morning, down outside the bar! Looking like crazy idiots sitting there in the cold, its colder at that time of day than in the UK!! But sunshine, and no showers or gale force winds eh!

Our skylight has a small sliver of a crack, so will need to get that sorted soon as possible, going tomorrow to hopefully find something to cover it up! Shame having just, at last got it right, that it must now be covered again, but I don't want anyone slicing off a finger or three on that!

My cousin sent a couple of cards early on December to me here in Spain, and they've not shown up yet!! and I am still amazed, did I tell you? Barry post arriving in two days from here.... wonders will never cease!

Been busy this week already, cancelled the phone/internet line, they say its going to take 15 days, but I am not going to be sure until that date, sure that they won't either cut if off sooner, or leave it still active after!

Pippa's trip is also all paid now, final questions answered and unbeknown's to her plans ready for her two day trip up country, through France and on to Wales! Oh if only she knew???

As I write the neighbours dog has started to bark, signalling to Pip that she must join in and rush up stairs and up onto the terrace to bark at some poor passer-by, or alternately it is someone who enjoys standing right at our back wall and looking down thereby antagonising the dogs until I come up to see what's what! What makes it worse is as soon as Pippa is up there, next doors dog stops barking, job done! she is just the alarm and Pip carries on, needlessly sometimes! people have past, danger is gone and quiet is destroyed!

Haven't slept well the last two nights, last night I was absolutely shattered, but a busy mind, turning acorns into massive oaks kept me turning this way and that! The night before it was 'just' pain, spasms or cramps too close to my spine and nowhere was painless to try to sleep on, normally I can go to sleep on one side or the other, turning all through the night each time its too sore to stay in any one place for long, but not that night, no where! That's why I was so tired last night! Oh how I wish my water bed hadn't sprung a leak!

In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and
learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on
earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except
yourself.

~Jiddu Krishnamurti

Bloominghumans

TTFN
Marian

House for Sale!

2012-01-01T16:04:00.000+01:00

Open the book Its pages are blank We are going to put words ourselves.The book is called Opportunity & 1st chapter is New Year's Day.....

I have borrowed this from a friend on Twitter.... thank you, if you read this you know who you are!

TTFN
Marian

2011-12-31T15:49:00.001+01:00

Well its nearly here 2012! 2012, 2012, don't know why, but it does sound like a good number, but a number that brings many changes, some I am ready for, some I haven't got a clue about... and others that are sad too, that always come with change.

It feels to me much like the difference between 1999 and 2000, that New Years Eve, Barry was in London, near the London Eye by the Thames, Tony was.... ? was it at Eton? and I was at the top of Combe Hill, in the dark, with a handful of people, [unexpectedly], a bottle of cava, grapes and a giant rocket! it was raining... and we drove off with Robbie Williams singing Millennium on the CD.... Drive off after midnight I mean! down the road to a party, not off Combe Hill into the unknown![Mmmm?]

This year, this evening, Pip and I will watch some TV, she doesn't mind which channel I watch, or if I change over half way through something either!! a glass of something or other in my hand... and await the ghosts, those ghosts of New Years Eve's past... oh yes, they always come calling, never missed a year yet!

So amigos, your probably reading this next year by now.... who would be reading this at this time of the evening anyhows!!!

Best wishes, hope for a prosperous and healthy year ahead, much love... oh and lots of luck! My luck began this morning when I awoke in such a positive mood, came into town and my gloves that Mom had bought me, and I thought lost, had been found, and our syndicate won the biggest amount we have all year!

TTFN
Marian xx

2011-12-30T14:42:00.000+01:00

Itis not enough to be able to drop your body
as easily as a bathrobe, take flight like the eagle,
enter the hollow hills, talk with angels, and
dance among the stars.

Wemust make the return.

Wemust live in this world and be gardens
for the dreams that want to take root in it.

~ RobertMoss, Dreaming True ~

http://www.bloominghumans.com/wave/2012.html

How many years have we been walking the walk of Gratitude together now? I am sure longer than we have lived here in Alhaurín el Grande... in fact I know it!

It has strangely always coincided with some important times of my life, moving here, Mom's illness, and now, by the time this 42 day journey ends, I will have made another journey also, a move from living here in Spain to living in Wales...

"As One Heart, we will grow forth in Gratitude and BLOOM!"
Blooming humans...

begins January 1st 2012

TTFN
Marian

2011-12-29T17:28:00.000+01:00

Well I was going to put some photos on here again today, but seem to be having problems!!

So will up load one at a time and we how we go! Here are the steps leading back up to the road by the Kiosk bar/restaurant at the lakes... The shot I took of Baz on previous Blog was from this spot, facing out towards the water and inland beach!

Baz went home yesterday, we left mid morning, and got the car back to the rental shop, they were having a disorganised day! There was an argument going on between the only two people in the office! That was ;pleasant to
share with them! It wasn't just a case of being loud, it was a real match of

wills! One guy gave up and just left his key on the counter and the woman shouted at him for doing so! We didn't risk it, and wanted to make sure he saw the car we were returning, we had dumped it in the car park on arrival into pandemonium! He said, 'why did you leave it here?' I said, no one here to tell us where to leave it?? These places need good organisation skills to run smoothly, and this place needed more staff, even the gate was causing back ups on the inside, where we were, and people trying to get to return even more cars!!!

Ah hmm, ok sorry, I feel better now! So to the left we have the water measure stick thing, totally out of the water??? Two months ago it was almost up to the lip of the dam....

Here is another shot taken from my favourite [secret] place at the lakes... those stairs, the overhang, and the curly gnarled old tree... and then view, that buena vista, actually I wouldn't mind having that as the last place I ever see...

Mmm ok, I have tried not to get too down about going to some of these places this week, they won't be the last time I ever go, just because we are moving, these places will always be there, here....

Always in my heart, always in my minds-eye, am I repeating myself at all? Forgive me if I do!

I have been thinking I have to imprint everything I do, or go, into my mind, but I don't do I!

It is all there, already imprinted, I can close my eyes and see Ronda, Mijas pueblo, the lakes, El Chorro. I can walk through the streets in my mind and see it all as though I am there... We didn't get to Ronda, I didn't even think about going there, nor the little chapel that sits up above Mijas. No need....

I was sad taking Barry to the airport yesterday, knowing especially, that the next time I go, will be me leaving.. ["on a jet plane... don't know when I'll be back again...."]

My stomach turns when I think about it, I am trying not to. Trying not to think of the past, or the next day, just of each day I am in, and each moment in it!

I have recently found I absolutely love Christina Rossetti's writings... here is a beautiful one...

Christina Rossetti

Remember

REMEMBER me when I am gone away,   
Gone far away into the silent land;   
When you can no more hold me by the hand,   
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.   
Remember me when no more day by day 
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:   
Only remember me; you understand   
It will be late to counsel then or pray.   
Yet if you should forget me for a while   
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave   
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,   
Better by far you should forget and smile   
Than that you should remember and be sad.

TTFN

Marian

2011-12-26T13:33:00.003+01:00

Just a few photos today, to the left a duck at the pond in the gardens in Mijas Pueblo. What a beautiful day here on Christmas Eve.... wonderful!

These gardens haven't really changed for the past 22 years I have been
coming to them.... Some new plants, new plaques... paint and cement,
but no great changes at all, although the view below to the coast has changed, new roads, houses, both finished and skeleton fashion! Council
stopped them halfway through I guess. The toll road winding its way across!

Caught Barry on the beach here at the lakes! He rarely looks at my Blog so I think I am safe putting this here???? Franco and I were here a couple of months ago, and the water was extremely high, the highest its been for years, I was surprised to find the level so far back already, we have hardly had any rain? And this whole inland beach area was under 12 foot of water, the steps leading down were all under water as where most of the eucalyptus trees near the road.

Tomorrow I will put up the pic of the ruler which last time was nearly completely submersed. As you can see here to the left though, the area by the water outlet is well low!

This was yesterday, Christmas Day! Another beautiful day, we noticed on our way past Bar Cruz was open! So, thank goodness was the Kiosk restaurant and bar here at the lakes! Although we did sit inside!

These ducks were doing fine, then just as took the photo one went off! Typical! After the lake Barry and I went up the Bobastro road, passed a whole load of sheep, then two dogs came down the road, Mastiffs, huge things, awful! They barked and started to chase our car! which is smaller than them! We lost them, passed the reservoir near the top and parked by in the car park area... where we got out, walked down to my birthday place from last year... took a few photos, of course!

We continued up the last bit of the road, rocky road! parked and jumped out of the car, exactly as a huge magnificent eagle was low overhead, so low I saw his eyes, what a wonderful Christmas Day moment, especially for us it felt, my camera? well the batteries expired of course, so changed them quickly, but he never came down as low again, the moment will be forever in my minds-eye though, better than a photo for me! Him and a couple of young came past a few times, and I did get a lot of photos of a big beautiful blue sky!!

We went back down, me worriedly in case the dogs were still about, they were gone, and we passed another flock of sheep near the river by the dam, the road is almost ok to drive along now, almost in the loosest sense of the word! We went to the bar by the railway, but only turned, and came back home....

Then I started cooking! Too much turkey, too many vegetables, enough for about 4 or 5 people more! I did manage some Christmas pud with the obvious brandy butter and cream. Well you have to don't you?

Hope everyone had a good Christmas... here's to the new year folks... 2012, and all it brings, lets expect the best, plan for the best, and get the best!

TTFN amigos
Marian

Happy Christmas Feliz Navidad!

2011-12-24T17:36:00.001+01:00

Happy Christmas everyone! Can't believe another year nearly passed. This time last year was bad for me, bad sad Christmas, everything upset me about the whole thing of it!

This year I do feel better, but have been in search of Christmas spirit... not the alcoholic sort, but that nice warm cosy tingley feeling in your heart and tummy over Christmas. Its been fantastic having Barry here, and we have been out and about everywhere, well, lots of places anyway... today we went to El Corte Ingles in Las Lagunas, lots of Christmas decor going on in there these days, tonnes of it, and lots of empty shelves which is good as it seems so quite I thought no one was having Christmas this year at all!

We walked about the aisles, I stopped and admired the Father Christmas's, the snowmen, the reindeer, loved all the many snow globes and musical toys and miniature houses lit with colored lights and moving miniature people. I searched up and down looking for that Christmas sparkle and tingle, that feeling of excitement.... it wasn't there, in El Corte Ingles, I suppose I know where it should be, and that's inside me already, I think its still hiding, and that next year, with these good memories of this Christmas, I may find it yet...

We had a good day today, Christmas Eve, started off in town, Bar Cruz, then down to the coast, via La Cala, the market was on but didn't stop there, we went to Calahonda, I needed phone top-up, and some meds! Then to check on Maria's apartment, all good there.

From there we went to El Corte, they didn't have the magnificent decorations they usually have on the balconies inside, normally great swags of wonderful decs, cut backs I am guessing. But was greatly missed in its absence!

We had a good wander about, beautiful clothes, handbags.... stationery! Well? So some of us just love stationery!

We had had fun in the car park when we arrived and had to go down to level 3, which is unusual, more so as I had been complaining of no cars, as in, no tourists or anything happening during Christmas, was too quiet, but they were all there in the car park of El Corte! And coming out I came out the wrong exit and when eventually got to where I wanted to be, the, or rather a market was in the street, I think its where they have moved it from next to Aldi, so had to do a turn around along with all the other drivers and go a different way out, we went up the country road to Mijas pueblo, parked very easily! We went for tapas in a new bar in the village, and very nice it was too! I had the most beautiful piece of steak, wonderful tapa size of course, and cajan chicken wings and the best of a wonderful little package of pear, goats cheese in a filo pastry parcel placed on I think, plum sauce.... Mmmmm, could still be sitting there eating those! Also would have been nicer with a glass of wine, but I was driving!

Yesterday Barry and I went to town also, Bar Cruz, seems strange going later, only an hour or so, but no one there I know at all! Like being in another town altogether! We then went to Mijas pueblo, so today was second day in a row, but yesterday we had a walk around the gardens, and I had a plate of whitebait, enough for about 3 people! but beautiful and tasty, we sat by the small church by the museum, and watched the world go by!

From Mijas we went down to Miramar, second day in a row.... Baz was going to have a subway meal, we were eating out of sync... again! We lined up, but only one girl serving unlike the UK, and Baz got bored of waiting... so we left! We got some shopping from the supermarket there and came home...

Thursday.... we went to Miramar! Had a look around the stores, I got a small present for the little boy next door, last year it was big, this year, not so! He was till happy when I gave it to him yesterday though... felt bad.. feel bad not giving Christmas cards, real bad, never not given cards before and goes against everything... but next year, I promise! We will make it up!

This year thank goodness Barry has been lucky with the weather, two years ago it rained the whole week! So far its been hot hot hot, well about 18 to 21 degrees, so not bad at all, I put washing out earlier and just brought it in bone dry.... tomorrow we will go to the lakes in the morning, be a bit different for Christmas Day wont it!

So back to today, now, Christmas Eve, evening.... not sure if I will hear Santa's bells when he passes over tonight, not sure how strong my belief is this year... I am trying....

TTFN
Marian

2011-12-20T16:08:00.000+01:00

Tuesday! The day before Barry arrives!! Yeah... The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and out in the campo this morning everyone said it was 0 or -1 in places!!!

Much warmer here in town thank goodness! Still cool in the house though, will get the heating on and it will be fine! Next doors chimney fire smelt lovely yesterday.... oh the neighbours? They sold their house and moved out, I think of Wednesday, and the new people are in! Not sure where I was, but it all happened without me a twitching at the curtains [if we had any!] So my neighbours have gone... and changed!

Got the spare room ready, I think Pip thought she was having her own room for a minute there!

Not sure exactly where yet I am meeting Baz, he is renting a car, and I am driving it! Brilliant!

I sorted out all the paperwork last evening, not too bad a job, I have been keeping it under some semblance of control over the past couple of years. The folder with all the phone bills in seems to be missing? I am guessing its gone! Still I have a couple still here in case I need any information from my account, to cancel it!

I have two separate lots of paper work now! One to leave here, one to take! And this morning I went to a local council office to sort out a couple of bills that really should be paid directly from the bank, but we had never bothered! Now its done, it was a painless experience and I was out of the office in about five minutes!

Yesterday had lots of post, a lady from a few doors down came and knocked with some mail, a few Christmas cards, and an eviso [post office notice] that wasn't for me, then she took another letter from her coat, I looked at it and said, tha'ts our electricity bill! She said, no! it was her nieces husbands bill! I said NO, its this house, look at the number!!! She persisted in her reasoning, and thank goodness a guy came to help out, who spoke perfect English, phew.. and he told me what I already knew, that the name on the bill was her nieces husbands!!!! And then he learnt that whoever's name it was, it was still my bill!!! And it was decided between the three of us after some time, that I would take the bill, and if it wasn't for me [it was] then I would take it up the road to her nieces house!!! I didn't of course, and looking through my electric bills I see that I have only received four bills this year, needless to say, I now know where the other bills went to!!!

And while I had that folder in my hands, came another knock at the door, and lo and behold, another neighbour.... this time with another four more Christmas cards for our house! Some had our new number on, some the old, either way, his house is half way down the street, but apparently the post man thought it was for 'Maria'.... NO!!!

I just checked our own mail box, and more cards in there.... Thank you, thank you everyone... oh and six or seven other letters for assorted addresses up our street!!

I Twitterred yesterday, we should be paid by the post office this week, as they might as well of just dumped the post in the middle of the road and we could, and did, sort it ourselves!

TTFN
Marian

Property Search Spain

2011-12-12T18:37:00.000+01:00

Well, busy day today, the removals men arrived on time, about 830am, and very thoroughly packed everything! All my [step]Dads paintings, his little side tables, a couple of very old wooden stool things, even a trunk I have, which is well over a hundred years old, remember the one with the newspaper inside from 1800 something? Every single item left this house in a box, or boxes! and bubble wrapped too if need be. They left at about 3:10pm, wow, long time, but well done as I say.

I had Pippa on her harness and lead the whole time, what with the front door open and closed, and them being so busy, and I sat at the dining table, for all that time, over 6 hours!!! The day actually went very fast considering.

When they had gone I quickly moved the dining table and bench back to its normal position and went out.... once back I switched on this for the first time today! And no internet connection?? I pulled out the bench and found the telephone connection box thingy, where both the phone and internet connect together in the anti interference box [thing] was broken, I had smashed it, pushing the furniture back into position! These connection things, we have dozens of them, packed.... and gone out of the front door this very day! So now I will have to buy another one, all the others came free!

After I had done the small amount of furniture moving, Pippa and I went out, and down to the vets, she has now had her rabies vaccination and the parvo one, and a worming tablet to take later, or tomorrow probably now, and she is feeling sorry for herself and tucked up in her bed asleep! Not sure if that's the jabs, or the fact she stayed awake all day to keep watch on the removals men! She did after about 4 hours manage to at least lay down in her bed, and struggled to keep her eyes open, she did manage it though!

Pippa's chain was dragging on the marble floor and I said how "Christmassy it was, just like old Bob Marley...." Yes, that was a funny mistake to make wasn't it! I think the Christmas Carol story by Charles Dickens had Jacob Marleys ghost who couldn't loose his chains not Bob Marley I said by mistake!

I am so tired, from doing nothing all day, so turning this off now I think...

TTFN amigos
Marian

2011-12-11T15:37:00.000+01:00

Today, random statements rule the day...

All boxes packed, all paintings [over 20] mirrors, furniture and sundry items in the, now, dining room and living room. Small walkway through, enough for Pippa sideways! But, on the other hand, upstairs? tonnes of room! Ooops, just remembered the cave stuff! Heck...

Book number 9 on Kindle, as aforementioned Penny Cray [The Prequel] to be found here on Amazon.

La Trocha market this morning, cold, half empty; car park not open until 10am, so a nightmare if your there before! The shops are open up-stairs for Christmas period. Coffee and apple strudel perfecto!

Back has now gone through the pain barrier, to highest possible level! and in six hours I can take another pain killer!

I must admit, I am looking forward to Barry coming over and driving, and driving and driving, hope he is prepared for the amount of driving thats going to happen... I have a list of places, Ronda, of course, Mijas Pueblo a few times, the lakes! and El Chorro, maybe drive back via the mountain road from the station, by passing Álora, to Pizarra Cártama.... long trip, but one of the most beautiful, wonder if the road is still a road of two halves???

My first Christmas card this year came from my 'new' cousin, new as in newly found! Came all the way from Arizona! I feel so bad not being able to send cards this year, but we just can't, sorry... ;-(

I will be glad when all these things are gone tomorrow, because they will be out of sight, and primarily I suppose not such a reminder of the huge changes taking place. And Pippa seems very worried by everything, just being in the wrong place like it is just now!

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

Vincent Van Gogh

TTFN

Marian

2011-12-10T16:47:00.000+01:00

Saturday today! Time is speeding past, feels like I am on the highest point of a roller coaster, and the edge is dropping away from me... Glad the wheels are well oiled!

The house is packed now, completely, anything that's going in a box, is in one! And tomorrow I will be bringing in all the outdoors stuff from the cave, the paintings up stairs, and the odd bits of small furniture which are the only things going.

Those boxes above are about two thirds of them! I have packed nearly all my clothes; I am afraid after spending over 2 months at my Mom's with only one small suitcase of clothes I am well practised with a small amount of clothes, well chosen!

Had a quick trip to the coast this morning for supplies for when Barry is over, and by 10:30am I was sitting at Bar Cruz with a mate having a coffee, her and I were boiling sitting in the wonderful sun shine... then back in the shade later, it was back on with the jacket and scarf!

Back home, and finished all the packing, copied lots of things I think I might need copying before packing the printer too!

Also this afternoon I finished book number 9 for the Kindle, its being published as I write. It was written in a few days, its been typed out by me, a read through, editing and publishing done [by me *smiles & bows*], and that's it! Done and dusted, and book number 10 next week! Will be having letters from Amazon soon questioning the speed of all these books!!! This new book is called Penny Crayon [the prequel], Peter Maddocks has written a lot of books that were published and put to film for children's television, and on Penny Crayon, but this book tells the beginning, of how she...began her drawings shall we say!

ok amigos, I'm done for today!
TTFN
Marian

2011-11-28T19:08:00.001+01:00

Hóla amigos,

Probably shouldn't be Blogging right now, just been reading my Blog from 2 years ago this month, and December and was just getting into January when I realised this self infliction of pain is, probably stupid? Reading about those last months of my Mom's life, are seriously not the life and times my Mom would want me to remember! But I cannot keep away, I had even checked out her place on google maps again, did it the other week, what's the matter with me??

All the change that's going on now for me I guess, the move, different direction on the path of my life. These boxes! Will be glad in a way when they're gone, the house will be empty I know, and we will be left with the bare minimum, in fact just the way the first few months were, a couple of sets of cutlery, few kitchen cookware bits, few clothes... Ending here how it began, and at Christmas too, no tree, no decs, this time no Mom.

No cards for anyone this year either I am sorry to say... Next year yes! So bare with us on the card front!

Reading your comments too from two years ago, once more, I have to say, thank you, thank you, those words helped me so much, and my Mom, when she would ask if there were any messages on my Blog or Twitter!!!

Think I really should close this now, give my self a shake down, and get a cup of tea, sorry for being so melancholy....

We learn simply by the exposure of living. Much that passes for education is not education at all but ritual. The fact is that we are being educated when we know it least.

DAVID P. GARDNER

TTFN
Marian

Keep forgetting must link to our house! SELL SELL SELL Property Search Spain

2011-11-26T19:54:00.000+01:00

Well organised the removal of our Welsh Dresser, phoned to let her know and oh surprise surprise, she had changed her mind, worried it would be difficult to paint behind???? Well I guess that can be said for all furniture, period!

So I was a happy bunny, had to call the guys back to cancel the removal I had just booked with them! He suggested I try a fb flog it site, so I went straight on it, posted a photo, and it looks like its sold, again, its for Thursday, so lets all keep our fingers crossed please!

Because the boxes came on Wednesday and today I started packing, they are taking everything away in two weeks, and I can't just sit here looking at them, so today, had a nice morning around town, wandered into lots of the shops, beautiful day, warm in the sun, a pleasure to be alive! Then I came home and began the beguine....Mmmmm just googled exactly what 'beguine' means and it means white lady in Creole language! So no I just started packing actually!

And I stopped for a bit of lunch, started again, kept telling myself to stop, relax, leave it!! And I did, eventually, 18 boxes are standing here, so the living room looks like a warehouse now!

I have numbered the boxes and written what's in them on in notebook!

I now have two kindle books pending to publish, have to edit and type out the first, the second, another cartoon book, I have scanned but need to change in order to be able to publish it...

Hate sitting in this disarray, its like having an untidy desk at work, too much mess, makes my head messy inside! I may go to the market in the morning, either that or I will start work on the rest of the packing and be shattered by midday.... and ill all week!

So adieu my friends for now...

TTFN
Marian

2011-11-22T18:02:00.000+01:00

The Sneezing Whale

Another book to do now, about a Teddy Bear that tells the time.... Will be typing it out over the next few days, and hopefully latest mid week it will be 'live' on Kindle! Going great guns now, kindletastic!

Been a frustrating week thus far, the boxes for boxing up the house, [as if it were that easy!], that should have come last Wednesday will be here tomorrow now, I do know its early, but its not going to be easy to do it all in only two weeks! Worse as I have been known to pack everything up at least a good month in advance!! And when it arrives, its all unpacked in a matter of a couple of days likewise!

Anyway.... Also been trying to move on the Welsh Dresser, a neighbour is having it from us, but has it been easy to get it gone? Nope! Trying to find a man with a van, who actually answers the phone, calls back or can do it immediately there is not!

Thankfully we have found someone now, probably should have called him first, but wasn't up to me... so I did take over today and its sorted, for Friday! So we shall have 50 or more boxes and the Welsh Dresser to fight with in the living room!!! Mmmmmm!!!

I did something so funny, but not really!! I was filling out an on line application for a job website, I had to put in an open letter.... well! Whata mistake'a to make'a!!!

I wrote the letter, sent the letter, received a copy in my in box and woah! OMG.... I didn't write Dear Sir....

I had written Dear Sire !!!! Well as a facebook friend said, if I am applying to Kings of old for a job as a servant, all well and good, but in the 21st century?? oh dear what a typo to make to a job firm!!

Oh well, they will either see the funny side or think I am especially subservient!!!! Not!

Rains looks imminent again, hope it stays off long enough for me to get everything out of the cave, another reason I really wanted the boxes now, so everything I have doesn't get ruined by water!! Once I have the cave empty is can rain all it wants.... well maybe not eh!

Ah ha.... got the name of the Artist went to the other week in Marbella... Its Don Clarke!

Polar Bear Tales

Its getting cold at night, thank fully I have a lovely warm duvet, and my hot water bottle, microwaveable! Whatever next!! and waking up with it stone cold next to me isn't very nice, like a cold dead fish!!!

And on that note!
TTFN
Marian

2011-11-19T12:24:00.000+01:00

Time is going so quickly, on my Blog that is! Apologies to all! Cannot believe its Saturday, a week and a half since my last blog...

I have been busy, honestly!! Got another book uploaded on Amazon.co.uk, another childrens book called Polar Bear Tales...

Kindletastic I say! and yes, it probably is just me who says this!!

Really really proud of this, the sixth book already, and have another one out in the next week, maybe, talked over the ideas, and given orders to the author, I am the editor in charge now, although not giving any money upfront, which is how I believe Publishers normally do it!! Checked the reports and the six books are selling well on the Kindle, fantastic.

I have taken my editing steps a little further now too, doing some editing on Wikipedia!!! Was a bit nervous going in with this its all the http format, but all working out well so far...

The weather has been quite good for the time of the year, a little rain, well heavy when it rains, but little of it I mean! The house is dry and so is the cave... which is great as its being used as storage at the moment, the boxes are due in the next coming days and the Welsh Dresser on its way out.... shame, I love this piece of furniture, but I didn't bring it out with me, so that's life! Things change...

Anyway, when the dresser is moved I can bring everything in from the cave and put into proper boxes, and then in a few weeks everything will be taken out and away....

Went to the Kasser Rassu in Marbella the other week, did I mention that, I don't think I did because I can't remember linking to the Artist... whose name has completely gone from my memory, or the memory of my computer!!! Ooops! Well if it comes back to me I'll let you know, either his name or my memory!

Was a friend birthday the other day, from the Boardroom, so took a cake in, and lovely it was too, maybe some would say 9am was a little early to be eating a trifle sponge cheese cake... but, no, it was fantastic!

Had a headache for past few days, and now at the weekend, when I have a medication withdrawal headache, its not getting any better! And Pippa is staring at me, she wants her dinner!

So adios amigos...
TTFN
Marian
ps photo is up at the lakes from earlier this year...

2011-11-09T18:01:00.000+01:00

Beginning with an awful scare I had during the night! I hadn't been asleep long when I sensed something which woke me up, thought someone was standing in the doorway and screamed out "what do you want??" silly really! I mean had it been a 'somebody' not sure the reply would have been good! Pippa in her bed, wasn't bothered by my shouting or thought indeed that there was even anything to be shouting at in the middle of the night!!!!

Anyway, I gave myself a scare which was bad enough, couldn't get heart rate back to normal, my normal that is, opened the persiana a bit to allow some light in.... still no good, so went and got some warm milk, switched the tv on for a while while I drank said milk, and tried again, this time I went to sleep....

This happens a lot to me, I don't know what actually wakes me up, but often I think I see something, just black bits on my eyeball, I don't know, usually looks like a person, or huge spiders coming towards me, and I'm not afraid of spiders but when they seem to cover the ceiling even I scream!!!

This morning after coffee at the Boardroom I got the bus down to Fuengirola, I sat on the side to give me the best 'buena visa' of the coast on the way down, and back for that matter.

Its very strange, I almost feel like I am now thinking everytime I see stuff its one less time I will see it whilst living here... like counting down. I still haven't walked up to the tiny chapel that overlooks Mijas pueblo! Twenty years of looking up at it, and never made the climb, I will have to persuade Son who is coming over for Christmas to take the walk with me! He doesn't read this, so will be none the wiser as to my evil plan!!!

The bar I always have coffee in was closed, probably just for this month, like so many after the long summer months, have known Luiz for about 15 years... So I sat at a restaurant in Las Rampas which is opposite the doors Mom and I used every day to enter our apartment, which is by the gates of the car park we first parked after we landed at Malaga airport, with only a case each and no bed for the night! Until we saw Snr. Lorenzo, which, while I was thinking this, came out of his office to go get his coffee! His hair is almost white, and much less than there was nearly 10 years ago!!! But his business is still there, which is good, and cannot be said of many of the other shops and restaurants that were here back then, all changed, or just closed in some cases!

It felt strange, and I felt like a stranger...

I sat for a while in the sun by the church in the middle of town, where all the wonderful Christmas lights and decorations will be soon, some are already up over the streets, I remembered sitting there with Mom and taking a photo of the church, a woman came up and started screaming at me that I had taken her photo!!! I hadn't, of course, "why would I" I said.... she went crazy! I know now of course, her religion may have meant that taking a photo is like taking your soul....

I should have got off the bus here at the top of town, but for some reason stayed aboard, and had trouble making it home up hill all the way... I had felt that I should stretch my legs after sitting on the bus for over an hour, the trip back home was a nightmare, there is a detour of a local urbanization on the edge of Fuengirola, its sort of like going through Hollywood Hills, without the million dollar houses to look at, i.e. you go really slow, stop outside every single property... and there is nothing to see!!! The journey down to the coast, takes you almost all the way, then does a turn around at the roundabout and back up to the A7, its like a trick, nearly there folks, oh no we're not, we're heading back up again!!! The street maybe opened before I go, but I won't be holding my breath.... and now at last they are putting a round about at the T junction where you come off the N340 from Miramar direction, and you come up to the Mijas - Fuengirola road, its been hell trying to turn left, even going right, going around the roundabout and back up to Mijas pueblo is better than just sitting at that intersection forever...

And something else, at last, after all this time [or has it been longer than I know?] I called up and cancelled my Vodafone contract yesterday, the number I had before when I cancelled Franco's is now a no go... So I popped into Vodafone yesterday, waited about 10 minutes for the lady who was being served, to be served! Asked for the number and came home to phone it! 22189 Fantastic! You follow instructions, press 3 for English, and 1 if you want to speak to someone immediately, and after 24hrs, every time you call, you will automatically speak to someone speaking the language you requested! Absolutely brilliant, late, but brilliant...!

TTFN amigos
Marian

2011-11-04T17:31:00.002+01:00

Photos I have taken near our house.

The Santa Vera Cruz to the right here.

Rainy day today, had a pyjama day! Or would have had I not suddenly remembered something very important I had to do in town at 11:30am, but was back home, before the rain started again too much, my tea was still warm!

The corner of the Ayuntamiento [townhall]
Fun in the bank while I was there... Only one bank person, in the bank, line of five or six of us waiting, la la la, and waiting, when there was a *toot, toot* out side and the man, the only person working in the bank, left the building! Yes he left the building amigos! Came back in a moment later with a brown package which he took to a room behind the desks, where you could hear a bit of noise as he put it away, somewhere, then he came back out!!!

And the old pillars!!! Sorry, I mean Roman Columns!
I defrosted the freezer today too, I thought what the heck, plenty of water outside, might as well flood the kitchen as well! And flood it did, amazing how much water comes out of these things, it wasn't over iced, just 'normal', I thought rain water had come into the kitchen, somehow, then realised it was from the freezer, finding its way out of the door and into the outside passage way! I always forget the floor in the kitchen has a, so subtle you don't notice it, tilt to allow any water to leave the house quickly! Same in the lounge too, to allow any flooding out the front door! Very handy, if needed!

This week I am been trying to better the cartoon books on the Kindle, not happy until I get it right, the newest book, The Sneezing Whale, came out so well, I up dated Santa's Pipe Dream, and its so much more professional now! As of course, it should be!

The cartoon books I am finding harder, they will not translate to HTML, so having to use .doc.... oh its just not easy, but so much better now, going to re-do one, one more time, and perfecto mes amis!

Watched a couple of programs that I had missed, on too late for me, wonder how long it will take me to get used to London time? When I was there for two months last year, I still couldn't... I guess though because of calling home, here, that is.

I watched a BBC2 program called Brains, from the Origins series, fantastic, learned alot, never too old to learn it seems! Or maybe I did learn it, but forgot it? Yes that must be it!

Don't look back, your not going that way...

c/o a Twitter friend

TTFN
Marian

2011-11-02T17:52:00.000+01:00

Today, I have turned with thanks to Winnie the Pooh for help... he who once observed...

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you suddenly know everything there is to be known.

Right now, take three or four long, slow, deep breaths, focus on the pauses between breaths, and feel your consciousness shift.
Visualize yourself leaning over a bridge railing, watching the river of life slipping slowly away beneath you.
Be the river, be the flow... then just be.
Ah!

TTFN
Marian

Property search spain

2011-10-28T18:41:00.000+02:00

Soon be Halloween folks! And time has past since I last Blogged, as you may be aware!

Too much time gone past for catch ups... lots to tell???

I guess I should really start with this... we're moving!!! Arh! I said it out loud, and on here.... shock horror!

You will no doubt get fed up with the constant links to the house... and odd stuff I put on in the hope of google picking it up for top shot and exposure! So sorry ahead of time for doing so, but a girls gotta to do, what a girls gotta to do!

Alhaurin el Grande we will miss, of course, friends here.... So many new friends we would not have met if we had stayed down on the coast, not sure how I will cope with my last days here... maybe not tell myself when I am going exactly, then I will just be gone...

Pippa too of course! She will travel in style with Posh Pets! She has only stayed with them once before, for nearly 2 weeks, and I hadn't seen her for over 2 months when we did go to collect her, she looked very different, I wonder how different she will look after a trip from here to the UK!

The house will be empty when all our belongings have gone, just me, Pip and a suitcase of clothes! Not much, but at Mom's I only had a case of clothes for 2 months... Its amazing what little you need actually. And when Mom and I originally moved out here, 9 years ago, we were in a rented apartment for 6 six months with two suitcases each of our own things!! Knowing you will see your things again, you can live without them for a while...

We have a 'Se Vende' sign up outside, so its no secret, all the neighbours must know by now???

I have also been busy getting a fifth book on Kindle for Peter Maddocks, a children's book, proof reading, editing, and now publishing, few problems with this one, but it should be 'live' any day now!!

We have also had rain! Been a great six months with none! I think just a sprinkling of rain while I was on holidays in England, but now its here! Been lots of it, as always, in Spain, when it rains, IT RAINS!!!

Very dry October, and someone said we're due a dry winter! Lets hope so!

Not sure what else to write today, feeling a little hollow... its a big move, step? Onwards again, always wanted to live in Spain, took sometime to get here, and now, I have done my time, for whatever crime it was[???] I will always love this country, these mountains, this buena vista we have here.... nothing better! But, its time to go... We both need to work, real work, paid work! The people who owe Franco will still owe Franco!!! Just because we're going doesn't mean their debt to him disappears!! [in case they are reading this!]

So, friends... hang in there with me now, who knows what is ahead, where, and when whatever will be will be! I guess my header of My Diary Blog of our life living in Spain and beyond... Is moving to the beyond now! It's both exciting and scary....

Wish my Mom was about....

anyway amigos
TTFN
Marian

2011-10-13T20:56:00.000+02:00

Here is Pippa the other week, enjoying here wash at the dog wash down at the vets.... I know she doesn't look very happy, but she was!! Honestly, she volentarily walked up the gang way to stand while she was washed.... soaped up.... and finally, blown dry!

We walk her dry, another dog had come along, and seemed interested, well the owners did any way, and Pippa had had her time, so we had a run in the sun to get the last bit of wet out of her... amazing though as soon as we were through the door she just had to run and rub up against anything material, just to be sure!!

Took above pic down at the beach last week, I had had to zoom in for these sailing boats above, and didn't do a very good job.... not sure why the sea is at an angle...?? Must have been me I guess!!!

Y al final, a praying mantis! Cute little guy isn't he, not sure if he was running towards a female or away, in fear of losing his head maybe!!!

TTFN
Marian

2011-10-08T19:46:00.000+02:00

Uh Oh, Blog looks different.... for me I mean, here, the part where I have to work.... So anyway, above, me, peering into the mouth of a hippo... of course, what else does it look like!

This above is the classic pose, I have seen it on so many Facebook status's you wouldn't believe, well I am not putting there.... Mmmmm, well I guess I might!

These chaps above, were playing amongst themselves, flying about so fast, jumping from the pool, sliding along the floor, chasing each other, fighting maybe, they were bearing their teeth, alot!

Good to see they do all these trips by themselves, and without being urged on by any of us humans eh!

Now since last Thursday? Oh I can't remember, there was this Tuesday when Franco and I went down to Cabopino beach, got sun burnt! Unbelievable eh, and badly, I can still feel the burn four days later! I think actually, just between you and me, it could be one of the meds I am taking, it does say on the box, 'stay out of the sun'.... well, I didn't know exactly to what extent that was, and the doctor didn't advise me to read the instructions, nor did the farmacy, and they are in Spanish after-all... Any other excuses I can come up with?? Give me a minute....

We went down to the coast again today, checked on Maria's apartment, all good there.... we sat on the beach nearby, there was a yacht race on, took some photos, but am not holding out much hope of them being any good to be honest! There were some fishermen, they didn't catch a thing, and a couple had a blazing row, he stormed off and came back later, her and the baby had remained on the beach to wait for him to calm down! Holidays eh! some people are not used to spending 24 hours together, never mind a whole week or two!

We had also gone into Fuengirola earlier, we needed something from a 'light/lamps' type of shop, it was shut, sign on the door said it was shut due to the feria that is on this week and until the 12th of this month...There were many, many shops shut. You would think, if I am correct, in thinking this, that with the recession on at this time, and bad it is here in Spain, that the shops would stay open, take money from all the extra people who are about in town, during the feria week, after all, the fair isn't open so much during the day, are the shop assistants really all at the fair every night, what a loss of income, what a loss of sales and possible customers who wont bother going back again!!!

We went to buy a couple of things in Lidl, but the lines were too long, so we went to Super Sol, no lines, not many people, don't know why, most of their prices seem to have come down, radically, which is good!

I was so hungry before dinner, I have eaten far too much and now feel too full, I have a food baby which is complaining too much, and I have such a wonderful story yet to tell.... Sorry, got to go!

Mañana amigos
TTFN
Marian

2011-09-29T15:44:00.002+02:00

Well what do you think of the new format of my Blog???

All comments will be greatly appreciated! Ha, you bunch can be extremely quiet on the old comments section, I wonder do I put you all to sleep sometimes!!!

Photos from Whipsanade Zoo....

Above the elephants... no kidding!

... and to the left some cute brown bears, they were being fed when we got there, thats why the close up Kodak moment!

At the elephants I got a call from the hospital... so that was fun talking in Spanish there for a moment! [yeah well trying as always]...

The lion area, was amazing, I hadn't seen it that way before... where have I been??? Oh yeah, living here!!

There was 'just' some plate glass between them and us, and there was only us looking, so it was wonderful... the lioness on the left was looking straight at me, a close up tomorrow, if I remember to do it!!

And then this shot here, wow wow wow, our feet were so close, they, all the lions, looked so soft and touchable....all asleep apart from when her up there popped up her head to look at me!!

A group of Mom's and kids arrived and broke our quiet moment with these amazing creatures...

As you can see the day was beautiful, a bit breezy by the pick nic area, but then it always is there, above the famouse chalk white lion, its always a little bit breezy!!!

Today, oh yes today, there was much excitement as a road block suddenly came up, men with big guns... plain clothes police all over the place, a van stopped, a man removed from it, frisked and taken away, followed by his van and all the police were gone, quite a moment at our bar it was, everyone outside... and before we knew all gone, and none of us even thought to use our phones to record the moment, and my camera? In my bag of course, where it belongs!!

TTFN
Marian

2011-09-27T15:46:00.002+02:00

Oh dear.... left it a week again, and now I do not have a clue as to my whereabouts over the past 7 days!!

Today, now, back home in Spain... Did some food shopping, can you believe Franco and Pippa ate all the food in the house!!

The photos are from the court house in Nottingham, the scary man next to us... goodness knows how long he has been in there, a tiny, six foot x 4 foot room, the bed sloped downwards... ???

Yesterday, I packed and chilled out watching a few episodes of Murder she wrote!

Left here I am... sitting in the judges chair!!! Maybe I should have moved the other wig and my hand bag off the desk in front of me eh!!

What do you think, suits me???

We had a questionnaire to fill in afterwards, I didn't, not enough time, never enough time...

Last time I was here I completely forgot to photograph anything, due to being frightened by a woman who I had at first glance to be a mannequin, yeah yeah very funny, but believe you me when what appears to be a mannequin comes to life, you would be frightened too!!

My batteries were 'exhausted' as we went into the exercise yard, but luckily I had brought some spares... I think Barry would have
gone crazy if I made him go in there again at any point!!!

Not sure how easy you can read these last two photos only a couple of the many words written by the prisoners, the walls around the whole of the yard are covered in they're names and signature... whole histories....

We have a great day up with Barry, only problem is a cannot just wander about at the moment, so after drinks, the court house, lunch, and more drinks, a bit of shopping... I was exhausted like my batteries, unlike my batteries I cannot recharge.. at all!!!

Back to Luton airport yesterday, checked in fine, took ages in the line to get through into departures... got to my turn and I two massive boxes to fill, they're twice the size of the Malaga ones, and heavy empty!! My net book and Kindle in one, the other my hand bag and then shoes, as ordered, the man told me to take off my little cardi I was wearing.... had to tell him it was attached to the shirt beneath... [fashion eh!], and he made a little joke that I still had to take it off!!!!

Ha ha ha!!!

And so into departures got a coffee, well over 2 pounds, but it said you could have as many refills as you want, I didn't even drink the one cup, it was awful coffee.... Improvement needed!

I had a wander around the shops, we boarded on time, left on time and got in... on time, which is always half hour earlier than it says on the ticket!

While I was on the plane, Tony and Kate were also flying... to Vegas!! Wow lucky things!

Loved using my Kindle while I was away, Facebook'ing and Tweeting away on it! Reading it of course too! Then Tony got my phone working, on the last day and I had, at last the free internet I get with the English Vodafone top up!!

I got to Berkhamsted on Saturday met up with Janette there, Costa Coffee to start, of course! Then down to a small Antique/second hand shop down by St Pauls church and the boys school... what a wonderful fantastic place.... the shop!!! There are three small rooms to look around, then a whole Aladdin's cave of others areas open up! You go out the back door and there are about 6 more rooms...in the garden!! oh its great! Although I was slightly held back by the fact a small suitcase was my only mode of carriage!

I could have bought a whole load of things!!

Time ran out, as it does, that thief stole it away, as he does... he? Got to be a he!!!

Missed out on seeing loads of friends, some don't know I was there, well I suppose they do now!!! Next time.... always next time....

Its still hot here, but then its only been less than two weeks, not sure what the temperature is, will check it out... phew ok, back in, with the washing! Its 31 degrees in the shade, so not bad! The washings been out an hour or so...

Off now, need to cook dinner, the fresh washing away... been busy around the house today, Franco has painted and decorated, the house looks amazing, but nothing is where I left it!!!

TTFN
Marian

2011-09-20T19:35:00.002+02:00

I am actually working backwards here... So, Friday??? Ok, yes, got it! Up to town, and waited at the bus station for my cousin to get off her bus... should have sat down to wait, but didn't! She arrived just in time, the next bus we were both to go on, was in... and off to Tring, to visit her Dad... Which we did, then it was back on a bus, her in one direction, me in the other, back to Aylesbury, we held a strange conversation over the [old]A41... seeing her again on Thursday! I had a real bad neck ache then a head ache later, took a pain killer, just a normal one, when I had to take it anyway, and an hour later felt a little better, what would a visit be, if I didn't get a head ache I ask.... I ask????

Saturday! We went to town! And to see the new, and final, Harry Potter movie, was great, can't believe its the last one, but it was a perfect ending....

Sunday, Tony picked me up and we went to Milton Keynes, short walk about, after having a Costa Coffee, coffee! Then it was back to the house, Kate had done a run in the morning and came back not long after us... we went back to MK later and went to the movies to see... ummm, hang on will have to check.... ok, that doesn't sound good, if I have to check out the name of it, does it? 'How Does She do it'... its called... Well it was ok, but sorry, not really our cup of tea, and not made any better by the fact of three women sitting by me, who commented all the way through, and laughed, even when not necessary, or over laughed, it sounded so false, and really, really annoying!!!

Yesterday, we went up to Nottingham, to see Barry, fantastic, I was worried I wouldn't to see him this trip over, its a fair way up country, when you have no wheels... thank you for taking me.... The weather was ok too, bit cloudy down south, then we were north of Watford Gap and north! Sun was out, bit breezy, but nice day, met up with Baz, in Costa Coffee, of course, took a couple of phone calls for me to find it though, my normally good sense of direction leaves me lost in Nottingham... We got the tram[two minute ride], up to the court house, and did a tour, I had to, took photos too, later with those! We had lunch in Nandos, of course, and a bit more of a wander about, but i just can't wander about any more, or rather, at the moment, it was a two hour drive up, and about the same back, so good to see my Son....

Today, at last got to it! Tuesday...Got the bus from Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead, passing through the usual suspects! Aston Clinton, Tring, Northchurch and Berkhamsted.... The area where my Mom lived, the whole area, is just a green grassy field now! Can't believe they took down all the apartments, which were being used, not by the people who were there when Mom was, but by others, is now... nothing, nada, nowt!

What a waste, maybe they cannot afford to now rebuild the site for whatever they took down all the apartments, but surely would have been better to keep people housed, take rent, and have the place lived in!!

Lots of shops seemed different in the high street too, was going to stop off, but was just too tired to do so, stopping off in Northchurch though, as planned to see one of Mom's friends, her son was there, we first met when I was 16 and working Saturdays in a taxi office in Berkhamsted, it had a small parts shop too!!! You know not sure why I worked there? Must have been for the money, I was working Monday to Friday elsewhere... must have been the motor oil already coursing through my veins....

Woods garden centre in Berkhamsted has had a name change. Its called Woo's now, or could just be the 'W' is lost!!!!

I didn't manage to get to Hemel last visit, which, to some might not mean much at all, but, I needed to go there, Mom and I were always there, the shops, the coffee, the shops, and then the coffee.... I told my friend I would meet her in the central coffee shop area... I got there, but it wasn't !! The coffee bar I mean, so went back to another one and texted her!

We did lots of walking, ate a Cornish pasty in a new restaurant, there used to be a huge Cornish pasty camper van... now its a whole restaurant, we sat outside in the sunshine, and then, later, continued around the shops, I was so tired though, too much walking, not enough caffeine maybe?? I saw so many things to buy, and then, of course, didn't!! Turned into a window shopping trip, the bus back came on time, while I was waiting I tried to find my sun glasses, searched everywhere.... then... there they were, on my head all along!!

The journey home, became very eventful when we reached Tring! People got off and another passenger told the driver a woman had pee'd on the seat across the aisle from her!!! OMG.... So he said ok, the bus will have to terminate here now! We all caused a riot... well nearly, and whoever he spoke to on the phone also told him to continue to Aylesbury, he taped across the seat with some ticket roll, and said if anyone sits on it, so be it!!! There was only one more person got on, the rest all off, bar 4 of us for the last stretch!

Crazy eh!!! Anyway, I got off that bus, crossed through the seating area and boarded the bus home... perfecto! Oh heck, everything disappeared then... what happened??? and don't do it again!!!

I will get around to the hospital visit, the day before I left for my holidays??? Oh I'll do it now, while I am on a roll, and fighting off the daddy long legs beasties.... horrid things, glad friends didn't come home a moment ago, I was screaming while I was hitting one, then screamed again, tearing up a news paper and picking the most horrible thing up, its legs still flapping about!!!!!
[oh, its in the bin by the way!]

So hospital, and the cardiologist... got to the appointment ok, just on the dot of nine, handed in my form, and went in quite quickly, didn't have my translator with me, but managed, just fine as it turned out, he prescribed me some more meds for my heart, and told me I had to see another cardiologist, to these strong meds 3x a day for a week, then one a day, but weekends off, woopie!!! He didn't tell me anything about them, their common effects, and other effects, one common one seems to be eye sight, its definitely worse over this past week, but hopefully after I stop taking them[?], it will improve again, well back to its normal thing!

ok, that really is enough now, all typed out..

TTFN
Marian

2011-09-15T20:43:00.002+02:00

Beautiful sunny day today.. Blue sky and sunshine all the way... I arrived here, England! Yesterday, the flight was good, left on time and came in half hour early... Came through to baggage reclaim in an unusual place, just to confuse the heck out of all of us... we were like ants who had had their little mountain crushed and didn't know which way to turn!!

I 'met' a fellow traveller departure side at Malaga who had been in the line at check in, we found ourselves sitting together waiting for the gate to be announced, which it was, wonderfully, the screen even said how many minutes until the gate number would be coming up!

We walked together to the plane, and were seated in the same line, but four persons inbetween, on the coach from the aircraft to the terminal we ended up next to each other again... and stayed together chatting until the lady got her case and left! She has lived in Churriana for 18 years, makes me a bit of a newby at only nine years doesn't it!

As I was so early had to hang on a while for my friend, so got phone top up, and wandered outside to wait in the sunshine, was a bit breezy there but Luton airport is on top of a hill, and is always breezy!

Janette came on time, and we were off to Aylesbury, we went to a supermarket, Costa coffee cafe, and had a drink my favourite of creme brule latte! Perfecto! The Steph arrived, and we swapped my case from one car to the other of we went again, home, here... Had a lovely dinner, then relaxed, had a bit of trouble trying to connect to the internet, but seems a very generous person round about here has their connection open... so muchas gracias whoever....

This morning I woke up a bit early only 5:30am!! English time, I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't really, I caught the bus into town, only a few minutes from here... and then I was back in Costas, in Aylesbury, updates from my Kindle, to fb and Twitter.... read for a little while, everyone up stairs in the cafe were either on their lap tops, net books, mobiles or reading, [normal] books! Felt a bit like a very relaxed office up there! Us all with our milky drinks and yummy cakes... Not me, no cake this time!

Then I went off for a look around some of the shops, bought a great little gadget, you pop your tablet in, and pop down the lid, the very nasty, very sharp blade inside, slices the tablet neatly in two pieces... so now I won't have to have 2 thirds of a tablets on time, and 1 third the next! Probably not what the doctor ordered!

I couldn't manage to take the meds I should have yesterday, some new ones that have to have at least 8 hours between the three doses a day, so only two yesterday, two so far today, and the third at 11pm!! Got a bit of a sore throat, not sure if from the plane, [had the blower on me the whole journey] something to do with these new meds... or I have caught a sore throat!!!!

TTFN
Marian

2011-09-08T20:02:00.002+02:00

Some rather random photos today... Above a cow, advertising a restaurant, not for vegetarians I take it!

Some beautiful cloud formations the other evening, September is the month for these here for sure... most of them looking like space ships, or at the very least giant cigars!!!

Walking into town the other morning.... I did turn about to check I was un observed, didn't want to look like a tourist afterall!!! Did I??

And finally above, the restaurant down at La Cala, the fast food one we went to the other week, I actually thought I had mentioned it, but looking back at my rather thin amount of Blogs of late, I see I havent written about it at all?

Franco had told me about a place, an American style diner, food all in see through boxes, money in the slot, change machine nearby for .... well, change of course!

He said the food was placed in the boxes... and I must admit I imagined the worse.... But we went in, the list of meals above was enormous, one would normally just pop the money in and I guess the door would open you take the food etc, but the shelves were all empty, so, a girl took our order, we sat, she brought it over, 5 chefs were in the very open to view kitchen, you could see how clean it all was... the booths were brown and green, very stylish, and comfy.... Franco had a whole chicken, 5€ half the price of a roasted chicken anywhere else.... and I had fish and chips, with salad, soda, and ice cream, for 3€ 95c.... how cheap is that! Definitely worth a visit if your down that way!

But so as I am missing out on complaints.... Had 'great fun' in Coín today, went to pay some bills for a friend, went into the bank to use the bar code payment machine... it said, not working, so off to wait in line at the cashiers desk... One woman working, who, when a man came to join her, left! Only of course, he wouldn't take the money as I didn't have an account in that bank! [machine still not working].... He said go to the post office, which was a bit of a journey away, but off we went.... Nice post office! Its new, and slightly further away than the old one was... And of course, the lady there said I couldn't pay the bills there either! We tried a couple of other banks on the way back to the original bank... Then, a miricle, we went into a bank of ours, another branch, and they smiled, said 'hola' as we walked in, took my bills, took my money, and were so cheerful I couldn't believe it!

Can't believe how hot it still is, I suppose it always is, just we forget every year, but an hour ago, it was still 38 degrees up on the roof terrace, which is in the shade... I am looking forward to frosty mornings, and a cool breeze, these I might feel as I am off to England next week, frosty mornings do not happen where we live in the town!

I know I have so much more to tell, sorry for being so lazy recently with my writings, not sure what's up with me! Just the heat maybe....

TTFN amigos... Be happy!
Marian

2011-09-03T19:03:00.002+02:00

Me with my Picasso eyes! In the Picasso museum in Malaga last week, well this week past I mean....

Two tempory exhibitions there at the moment, Picasso at work: Through the lens of David Douglas Duncan, and Cartoons on the Front Line.

Both extra exhibitions well worth seeing, the whole thing was much better this visit, I feel like I have said all this before? But have checked back and didn't Blog last week about the visit, bit strange, maybe where I have Tweeted? or Facebook'ed, who knows! Maybe I am just feeling strange!

The internet is going slow this afternoon, which is very frustrating!

At least the weather is better today, well, I say better, its been cloudy and sunny both, wonderful breeze, the temperature in side has come down to 22, which is much better, more liveable...

Four books on kindle now....

I see it says available in UK only, but the're available worldwide on Amazon.com

Ok, Cannot cope with this go slow on here this evening now, so, its adios amigos, before I throw this thing!

TTFN
Marian

2011-08-28T14:49:00.002+02:00

Last few photos from this years Malaga Feria.... above balloons!!! As you can see, a small person holding them from below, its a wonder he didn't get pulled up into the air... with so much hot air above him!!!!

This above is a small chapel I think, right on the port... its surrounded by the new 'soon to be' shops bars restaurants... looking sad, un-wanted and awkward there!

When we got there this area was almost empty, from above, fine streams of cool refreshing air were being sprayed out of the tubing... wet, cold spray, nice, no actually it was! In this heat!

But later, when we were passing back the whole area was heaving with people, eating, dancing, dancing and eating! Oh and drinking, lots!!

I had to include another photo of this amazing character... the 'drunk' doesn't he look like he is sitting down on something? Believe you me, nothing is there, just his fantastic sense of balance!

This is one of the palaces... yes, yes, I should know which one, I don't! Sorry amigos!

Now, I have to mention something that has been driving me crazy, or I shall explode, and make a helluva mess all over the sofa that I now sit upon! A friend of mine, has been asked to send, to England, a 2 into 3 pin plug converter, Visitor to UK Travel Adaptor .... to enable a Spanish cable to be used in an English wall socket.... Obviously I said, "well, yes ok.... but so much easier to just buy one there".... And so for anyone Google'ing this item.... the link above will take you directly to one such thing, in fact 3 for the price of two just now you lucky people over in Blighty! They can also be bought in John Lewis, Debenhams, Smiths... etcetera, etcetera.... if you cannot manage to even get to a shop to look they're on line even cheaper, with free delivery!!!

Humph!

TTFN
Marian

Malaga 2011

2011-08-21T16:40:00.002+02:00

Malaga feria week still here on my Blog today.... above, where these huge flowers were coming out from... a small building, the smoke smelt of beer... the cabin beneath, was advertising San Miguel.... so maybe it was beer brewing!!!!

A ferry pulling out of the harbour... mmmm, not a great photo, sorry amigos, it is what it is!
A ferry pulling out of the harbour!!!!

But above the Adventure of The Sea, a royal Carribean liner.... Huge with a capitol 'H'.... the gangway with people boarding, how awful!!!

Stuck out on the seas in this... beauty, I had never fancied a cruise, but the last couple of years, I have thought, yes, I could do that now! Must be my age!

I quite like the photo above, on the right, the ship, on the left the reflection!

Y el final... well for today, some more massive flowers, these are about 20 foot high, hard to show their size on here, well I tried!

TTFN
Marian

2011-08-18T15:19:00.002+02:00

We went to Malaga on Saturday, not that you would have noticed from Saturdays Blog entry? Strange I just wrote a purloined poem.. Still who knows where my head was, even I don't know!!!

So Saturday, on the bus and to Malaga City, the feria had started the evening before with an opening at the fairground, and this day was the first in the city centre, with loads of stuff going on....

On C/Larios the main street, lots of celebrations... the street is always covered with sun screens from July through to September, just the extra bits and pieces for the next two weeks...

Above a Mom and daughter looking lovely in matching dresses, saw lots of this idea....

When we arrived we first went to have a look around the what's not so now new railway station! Estación María Zambrano, Its amazing! So many shops, restaurants etc, and the entrance to the tracks themselves looks like an airport terminal, with the X-ray machine for bags to go through before getting through, there were loads of people waiting for friends/family at the two arrivals exits.... Made me want to jump on a train to Barcelona or Madrid immediately!

Just read this link before from the stations site about an line that is no more, shame...Malaga to Coín train!

Above some revellers, pausing between songs for a photo shoot!

After the railway station we headed off towards the centre, stopping for coffee and a magdalena, [cake]... then it was onwards and further in!

Couldn't resist this pic above when the opportunity came to my notice! Below everything was mayhem, we were caught up in a huge amount of people rushing about like ants, swarming this way and that, I looked up at the manikins in store window, I was probably the only person who even noticed them watching us....!!!

This amazing chap above, more pics of him tomorrow, there were many many 'live' statues in the street, most of them very good, painted silver, gold, bronze, or dressed in many guises and poses... but this 'drunk' was simply the best! He appeared to be sitting down, as you can see, but he is sitting on nothing, just using fantastic balance and legs muscles of steel! When anyone popped some money into that box, he kind of unbent himself to stand, and bow, in a drunken manner and offer his bottle to the money giver! He had crowds round him, every time we passed him!

After the first walk up c/larios [and back], we thought we would go to the port and see if any ships were in, one was, Adventure of the Sea, a massive liner, was just boarding... without me!!! i took loads of photos... tomorrow for those too!

We had a coffee in a bar in the port before we did the 45 minute walk to where the ship was harboured, there was also a German warship nearby, they were loading up with food, water and one or two beer barrels! A small group of fellers were behind a truck having a sneaky smoke and a couple were behind another truck doing the same thing, couple as in man and woman I mean!

We stood there awhile watching people boarding and people waving them off, prematurely as the shop wasn't even moving!!! Then a ferry headed for the islands was off on its journey, not sure where, either Palma or Tenerife, both were written on the side, both in very different directions!

Then it was the long walk back... we sat for a while in the park near the harbour, we had food with us, and water! [much needed, water], then back into the centre again.... I was so completely shattered by then, I don't quite know how I was even managing to walk... just my mind keeping me moving I think! Anyway, after a walk to the main square we left down a side street, crossed the river, and back to the bus station, where I did collapse, with a cup of coffee!

Not long to wait for our bus, and the wonderful air con on board...

TTFN
Marian

2011-08-13T19:07:00.002+02:00

from the Sufi master Hafiz :

Light Will someday split you open
Even if your life is now a cage.

Little by little, You will turn into stars.
Little by little, You will turn into
The whole sweet, amorous Universe.

Love will surely burst you wide open
Into an unfettered, booming new galaxy.

You will become so free
In a wonderful, secret
And pure Love That flows
From a conscious, One-pointed, Infinite Light.

Even then, my dear, The Beloved will have fulfilled
Just a fraction, Just a fraction!
Of a promise He wrote upon your heart.

For a divine seed, the crown of destiny,
Is hidden and sown on an ancient, fertile plain
You hold the title to.

O look again within yourself,
For I know you were once the elegant host
To all the marvels in creation.

When your soul begins
To ever bloom and laugh
And spin in Eternal Ecstasy-

O little by little, You will turn into God.

Translated by Dan Ladinsky

c/o Blooming Humans.com

TTFN
Marian

2011-08-09T19:16:00.002+02:00

Unbelievable riots mostly in London over last few evenings, others in Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol, they are starting again already this evening now also in Manchester Wolverhampton and Nottingham, 16,000 police deployed in London alone tonight... Its looks like a war zone, gratuitous acts of robbery, violence, arson, thuggery... a poor man bleeding on the pavement was helped up from the path, then his saviours turned into thieves and stole everything from his back pack!

Most of the shops closed today at 3pm... Now there will be more loss of earnings, to add to the ruined businesses of the last few nights and homes, more unemployment and more homelessness.

Below is my planned Blog for today, but not sure if it seems appropriate after the above mindless actions going on right now....

But, here it is.....

Firstly, a photo of a bad accident in the street outside, four x four, off the road and into the piles of rubbish in the street waiting for collection!

Was anyone hurt? Don't know the windscreen looks full of bins....

Before the next photo of the above incident, didn't do much over the weekend, so little infact I got a headache! To much sitting down and doing nothing me thinks! Because Monday, after only a few hours of walking and moving about a bit, the headache went!

I didn't feel I should take another pain killer so just had to put up with the head pain, on top of all the rest, going to see the doctor, now up on the top of the town, must make the climb and just go and get an appointment, need something stronger now!

The medical centre was down on the high street, nice and local for everyone, of any age or strength of leg! Central in the town, and people could be helped up the steps and/or walked back to their apartments by various family and friends, now, up there at the top of the mountain [it feels], its not a walk most of them can now do, or me for that matter, I will have to zig zag my way there!

Not tomorrow, tomorrow we have a new boiler arriving! The last has, after six years of hanging on by a thread, literally, given up! The only way to get hot water is by, sorry was by, not doing now before anyone has a go.... turning on the gas, turning on the hot water tap, and rushing back to the boiler and igniting the many many flames that alight when the hot water is turned on, because the one pilot light, isn't working! And of course because such a huge amount of gas comes out of so many jets there is a bit of a bang!

Tomorrow, hot water, hot shower, hopefully! Its done well, like the washing machine, that didn't work for about 6 months last year, after the heavy rain from the winter before last, and then, suddenly is was ok again! More or less?????

Today went to look for a lawyer, he, they, were in offices in La Trocha, and said they were moving over the road, so, we checked out 'over the road' nowt, by the side of La Trocha, nope! Went inside to read what notice they had left on their door of their old premises.... and yes it says over the road, but not until October!!!! Mmmmm!

Ok, depressed by too much Sky news and rioting.... here is the other photo of the car crash on my street the other day.... the pulled back version! No zoom folks!

What? You can't see it? There's the four x four, up against the rubbish, just like in the first photo amigos! Where's the kid with the remote control though!!!

TTFN
Marian

2011-08-05T17:10:00.002+02:00

I think today's post will begin today and carry on tomorrow, I haven't posted since, some time, and the last dew days, well all week, not felt up to talking much, I haven't even had this on for longer than an hour at the most I think...

Had some either bad reaction to all the pain killers I have been taking or just plain poorly, full stop!

Yesterday all I had in my head were blank empty spaces, and today I awoke with an epiphany! I know! me! But now should I begin with it? Or close with it? Yess the latter just to keep you with me, because this is going to be a long one, and however heavy your eyes get, however dry your mouth..... get a coffee now!... I will keep you hanging on today... or will that be tomorrow when I finish this? And if I keep talking this non sense you'll hang up now!

Where shall I begin this spilling out of words I have today... to my notes, [mental], the notes NOT ME!

A tv program today, they sent a dog to a sanctuary when his owner had died.... and the woman said she wanted to go too! I remember when Mom's dog went to a kennels, then she was adopted by a wonderful family in Beaconsfield, chaffeur, cook, house keeper, the dogs had they're own room, I remember saying did they want an new daughter too!!!!

Which leads me to earlier today, we were talking about times in our lives that were significant in our future, or pointed us in certain directions, for instance when I was 15[while ago!], and walking through Tring with a friend, she stopped to speak to someone she knew, introduced me.... and by the following Monday I was starting my first job that led from that conversation!!!! Thank goodness, because I didn't have a clue what I would do for a job!

And how at one point my life led me to Aylesbury... which led to my job in Mercedes and all the wonderful friends I met there, who are still my wonderful friends... It led to Barry getting a job where he did, although, as he is still doing the same thing, albeit somewhere else, and may not thank me for it? And Tony went to a certain training centre, which led to his first job, and the people he met there, you know who you are... So if I hadn't followed that road as I did, none of the above would have followed....

I was always meant to be here in Alhaurín, I had house hunted here a long time ago, then it didn't happen, got divorced instead! Then Mom and I house hunted here... but didn't go ahead with the move to Spain, then a few months later did, and moved to Fuengirola on the coast. Now, here we are, in Alhaurín after all! I was always meant to know the friends I know here, in this town...

And then there is the weird stuff, like when I was visiting my brother in California, we were in San Francisco, just for two days, and on the tram we passed someone I thought I knew, and at the turn-around he was there again, I went up to him, [well why not?] and he said, hey Marian! what you doing here!!! and finally? [for now] when I was on the course at Santa Maria, never been there before, on a day I wouldn't normally be on the golf courses, four guys walked up onto the tee, I recognised one, and turned out it was someone I had worked for 30 years before!

Strange but true...

Today been trying to work out why so many blank pages on the Kindle books we have been publishing, no answers yet! Three books on Kindle, and all with blank pages, they're not there during downloading, or in the document itself, but most certainly there on the Kindle! ARH!!

Its hot heat now, sweaty!! There it is, its sweaty weather now! I think this may have been making me feel worse, I'm getting hot without with weather! That's something to do with my heart, I got a letter, at last from the hospital, explaining everything, well not everything, just the problems I have actually!!!

And before I totally bore you with all the words this little bit below is part of the description of some of it...

"The Haversian Canals are a network of minute canals, which traverse the solid substance of bones and proceed from the central cavity. They convey nutrient vessels to all parts."

Sounds like a snippet from a wonderful story about middle England in the late century!

And me.. the results! The primary problem is, are, no is a [MVP] Mitral Valve Prolapse with secondary [PSVT] Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (which is an abnormal conduction of electricity in particular areas of the heart).

The spinal cysts are in the sacral nerve root S2 with secondary radicular cysts...

End!

Well I didn't go on as much as I thought I would, did I? Did I? hey wakey wakey!!

Oh the epiphany, well you know the old "which came first the chicken or the egg?" Why didn't I think of this before, like when I was a child, a chicken didn't just happen in the first place did it! They evolved like we did, so the chicken came from another type of bird, some prehistoric animal that shrank down to size!

For goodness sake, there is the answer!!!!

TTFN
Marian

2011-07-24T13:12:00.003+02:00

Silly me, forgot to post a link to the book!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-to-draw-Cartoons-ebook/dp/B005E0AHR2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311505841&sr=1-1

This morning we went up the road to a local Bazaar, got a few bits and pieces, its so easy to just grab everything in these shops! Always so many little bits and pieces you never knew you wanted or even needed! Like today, a plug... a plug that goes directly into an electric socket that has a fitment for a light bulb! WOW! Got home plugged it it, screwed in the light bulb, and it has a switch... switched it on and ba boom... light! I am just so easily please!

From there we went to a bar just along the road from there... The place was full of foreigners! Only foreignness! Not a Spanish person in sight except the bar man! We had a couple of coffees and a bocadillo each, the coffee was nasty and the bocadillo too big for me, our fault that bit of course, I should have had only a pitufo [small one], then he charged us 8€... sounds like tourist prices to me...

Can't wait for tomorrow to get another book onto Kindle, I know first I have to scan/cut/fix then move to file, where I may have to continue to fix to fit, then upload.... but its so exciting, and feels so much like work, which I do miss, the other evening when I had completed only some of the above job on the first book I kept thinking I had forgotten something, somewhere, I think it was just that I had left the job unfinished!

Two terrible things have taken place since my last Blog, the Terror attack in Norway, and yesterday Amy Winehouse. The most up to date news is the man in Norway did not do this alone, although this he denies vehemently ... If only one man can kill this many people, imagine what 10 men could do... with the thoughts he had...

... And Amy Winehouse, what a terrible loss, not just to her family but to the world of music, I know not everyone liked/understood her, but, her voice is amazing, unique... and these days these unique voices are few and far between.... Somebody on Twitter mentioned the 27 club, and now Amy Winehouse will be added to this remarkable list....

And today as you must have guessed.... some random photos I took when Mom and I were at the London Eye...

TTFN
Marian

2011-07-22T19:01:00.005+02:00

I have been a very busy bee today! Finished putting file and up loading on Kindle the above book for Peter Maddocks.

Can't wait to see how its come out, have to wait about 24hrs I think, then will check it out! Have just looked at someone else's book, similar!!! And hope ours has come out well also! Not the same is it, normally, on Kindle, the books are all writing, but an 'How to do........' in drawing is completely different!

This morning I noticed a man go to pick up a paper from an outdoor rack... The papers were in English, he took one, looked at it, threw it back down and walked off in a huff! I wonder what went through his mind? Foreign language papers for free in his country? Where's mine in my country? I hasten to add it was a Spanish shop, sort of... Dunnes.... I think its Spanish owned now is it? At least this part of it.

Did I tell you about a hole in the wall opposite the house? Someone, took to picking at some layers of paint the other week, every time he comes past probably taking some more! Last evening Pip started barking and I raised the persiana to see why, two kids were pulling great chunks out of the wall, they ran when they heard the blind going up, but too late... I see daylight now from our side of the wall through to the waste land beyond!

Our mail box fell off the other day! The mail man can be very heavy handed! Because its not the huge quantities of mail we get forsure! More junk than mail maybe? Anyway, I had left it perched on the windowsill, but yesterday I got the drill out and fixed it! Didn't want to drill in too deep in case I hit electricity, the meter is above it, as it happens... So its back up, at a slightly dodgy angle, got a bit of a tilt going on, but never mind it'll do...

I am getting used to the pain killers I think, felt a bit head achy to begin with, but ok now, as in no head ache! The pain? Well I think maybe just the edge off it, but so subtle I can't be sure, especially as I am still doing all the normal things that still hurt!

I wish I had one of those miniature cameras on me, at all times... at the hospital the other morning, the smallest praying mantis was on the side of the car by the door mirror, he was only about two inches long... I shooed it off before it got to go on a journey back to Alhaurín... then yesterday morning Pippa was annoying a bee caught on a bit of fluff on the terrace, I picked up the fluff, and helped the beautiful bumble bee off...

"It's good to dream, better to live, but when you live out your dreams you know that you have accomplished something"

TTFN
Marian

2011-07-20T19:17:00.002+02:00

Another birthday come and gone, and look I came through the other end... I know the problem now, after all this time, I always have huge expectations for my birthdays, and Christmas too I suppose... There has been occasion where I had promised myself something I wanted to do on my birthday, then outside influences have prevented my plans, one of which a couple of years back I had planned ten year before!

So I make my expectations very high, then... bam, reality cannot complete and I am left feeling down hearted I suppose... I, maybe, delved a little bit too deep into this thought over the weekend, and wondered where these high expectations come from, and I wonder if its from when I was little and I always hoped to hear from my Dad, a card, a visit [highly unlikely, considering we moved to a different country], when he died I was ten, but maybe I have been left with that feeling of hope on these two days... Who knows, maybe I am just doing what everyone does, and am analysing far too much over nothing much!

We went down to town on my birthday, started the day with a plate of churros and una taza de chocolate, very nice, sitting in the sun and eating these lovely things...

Then it was back home and just relaxed really the rest of the day...

Ok hospital appointment last evening for results of Doppler scan... I have a heart defect, I have to go back and make an appointment to see a cardiologist and I think that is for meds, to take, forever!!!! He told me to go back on the blood pressure meds, and to take for the pain of the effect of the cysts twice a day a mix of two different pain killers, both strong, and one of which usually gives me a headache! So fun eh!

I tried to find out more about these spinal cysts, he[the doctor], says I have some, a few, they need to be operated on to remove, and I have to see someone about that, I am to expect letters through the post about both things, I think!

That's me for today, tired and hot, well actually, strangely cool and clammy for some reason! Maybe I better open the persianas and let some sun as it starts to set....

TTFN
Marian

2011-07-16T18:27:00.002+02:00

My Saints day today, well my middle name that is! I should be pushing the boat out tonight down on the coast..

Name:

SANTA CARMEN SANTA CARMEN

Nombre en: Name:

FEMENINO FEMALE

Fecha onomástica de esta santa : Date of this holy name day:

16 de julio July 16

Explicación del nombre CARMEN. CARMEN explanation of the name. ¿ Qúe significa CARMEN ? What does CARMEN? : :

Hebreo. Hebrew. Nombre hebreo que significa "Aquella que cultiva el campo". Hebrew name meaning "those who cultivate the field." Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Patrona de los marineros. Our Lady of Carmen, patron saint of sailors. Variantes: Canita, Carmela, Carmencita, Carmina, Carmiña, Carmela, Carmín, ... Variations: Canita, Carmela, Carmencita, Carmina, Carmina, Carmela, Carmine ...

Esta santa celebra su onomástica el 16 de julio This holy place his name day on July 16

This morning we walked down to the local shops, having a coffee in a nearby bar... hiding under a parasol, I wheeled the trolley down, but not back! Poor Franco not very macho, but I couldn't pull it!!

A man nearly got run over while we were having a coffee, his fault, he just crossed the road without looking, then wondered why the man in the van didn't stop??? But no injuries, so when crossing back, he neither looked left or right, or even bothered to use the crossing that time!

Just eaten tuna pasta bake thingy, not feeling very well, always makes me feel slightly queasy...

Struggling to keep my head above water today, last birthday weekend was bad, this is even worse! At least last year we managed to get away both days, no long lingering nothing days, out from dawn till dusk; but not this year, no wheels, no travel! Lots of time to think instead, never a good thing...

[trying not to put exclamation marks everywhere today] ha, nearly put one there then too, and again....

Ok, short today, going to try to lose myself in this wondrous www of ours, just read that peoples memories are getting worse, because we know everything we need to remember is on/in here... that's true I suppose...

TTFN
Marian

2011-07-14T19:41:00.002+02:00

Seems to be my 800'th Blog entry on Blogspot.com today!

I should make this a momentous brilliant extravagant post shouldn't I?

I may let you down... down being the word... I am happy, very happy 23 hours of the day, but then that other hour? Not in one piece, broken down in minutes here and there, a sudden pause in life or breath, and I think of my Mom, miss her, this will be the second birthday, shortly, that I have not heard from her! lol, the cheeky lady, missing my birthday again eh!

Its silly really, I mean, most of my birthdays I was away, holidays usually, until I moved here... but always we spoke...

I'm having the weirdest dreams... Russell Grant says its because of the full moon tomorrow, the 15th, effecting us Cancerians! I had been lucky sleepwise at night, still feeling quite cool considering its July, that's really unusual! But last couple of nights, too hot to sleep, fan going round so fast the ceiling is likely to take off at any time! Keep having to sleep upside down to get best of the cool air from above, then waking up disorientated, or by Pippa jumping up on the bed knowing its time to get up, but not that my head is there at the bottom of the bed not the top! ~Grrrrrrreat!

I've done well, still not opened the envelope containing my ultra scan results, and only five days to go before the doctor tells me them!

Now this week, sun, heat, and more sun and heat! We are bar hopping, sat somewhere different and watched the comings and going of Alhaurín el Grande life from a different point of view! We were in the shade, bonus; and there was less spitting, coughing and cigarette smoke, that was just us!!! Not sure where we will be tomorrow, the Boardroom manager is who we follow, and where he leads, we will sit! Which is ok by the rest of us...

Not doing very good am I for such an important Blog! Ok lets see, let me pick up the pace and get going... I have been in friends pool again this week, not as much, but a little, feels wonderful in there, just keep forgetting I have to keep still and just 'hang' in there, keep relaxed and enjoying floating, or I suffer afterwards!

Last Thursday, I think? Went round the neighbors for drinks [I took bottle of red], and drank it! Phew, not used to that amount in one hit! But felt fine, and fine in the morning too, which was both amazing and good luck! We had a good evening, chatted the whole time and caught up, sometimes we can go for months without seeing each other, and then they're off again!

The band is back to practice Mondays and Thursday, great! Have a break folks, its too hot out there!

I've fixed the hose [broke last week], plants are ok, figs are coming on, my favourite, and some cuttings I took seem to have taken, fingers crossed! Not a great time to do it, temperature being well over 50degrees up there all day and no escape for them!

Have you noticed I seem to end each paragraph with an exclamation mark!!! What's that all about then? How long have I been doing this? Must mean something, but then, that's how I speak, with an '!' at the end of every sentence!

I think, before I drive even myself crazy with this Blog today I shall say adio amigos....

TTFN
Marian
oh and ps, I didn't win the 187 million Euros either... by the way!

2011-07-06T19:39:00.004+02:00

Museo Carmen Thyseen Málaga today... We made good time to Málaga, bit of traffic in the city, but not too bad, parked easily and came out into the heat... was 39º by 10am! Like an open oven door! We had a coffee by the Alcazaba, I popped into the ladies there.... What a toilet! Huge room, old oak door with a massive bolt on the inside[of course!], georgeous tiffany style lamp and an oil painting on the wall of a naked man! There was a head and shoulder portrait on the door, of a woman, so I am guessing likewise in the gents, well the other way around of course!

I had printed out a map to get from the Picasso gallery to the Thyssen, but it was easy to find anyway, and five stories high, was a long haul walk... but very very good, although after the Louvre in Paris..... well, spoiled I guess eh!

Beautiful books in the shop on the way out, but so expensive....

Above is something I caught sight of on the way into the City, I thought initially it was scaffolding, but look closer..... go on zoom in! Its a piece of art, see the chairs??? Strange eh! Although a better photo than the first I took of a white van as it pulled up along side as I took the photo!!!!

Anyway, back to the Thyssen, after we left we went back to the main plaza at the end of c/larios and had a paella, mixto with a beer!

Then home!

I got lots in the mail box today, a card[*smiles*], and a bill from the phone company, for well over a hundred euros!!! They want[ed], 50€ for a call out fee, remember I called them out because the line was bad? Well they were charging 50€ for that effort of coming out, looking, using the phone and leaving! So I got straight onto them, told them I wasn't happy. I mean afterall, he didn't have the means to fix was what was needed, he told me what to get. And a couple of days later I bought the fixings from a hardware store, and I fixed the phone myself! And they want 50€??? I should send them my bill for fixing they're equipment!!!

Also had an Aviso[notice of mail in the post office for collection], its not our house number, or name, quite possibly not even out street! So popping that back in to them tomorrow, to get back again at a later date no doubt!

Oh and lots of post for next door but one, as usual!!!!

I'v had to lug the rug[oh!] up onto the terrace for a wash, Pippa has been so afraid to go up there, she had a couple of.... what shall I say? accidents? on the rug[pheuwy!!!], I tried to clean it downstairs out the back, but not a good idea, and so made it worse by having to get a wet rug up two flights or stairs!

Anyway, its washed, and dried up there now, but I think I will wash it again before bringing it down again! Poor little Pip!

Then last night, no, the night before, I was hosing down the plants, watering the plants really I think I mean! And the end came off and soaked me, so that was fun!!!

The last two nights sleep has been wonderful, Sunday night was as bad as Saturday night, even though we thought the celebrations were over, they weren't, 6am Sunday morning the rockets started again, and went on all day and all evening, then, no bands, nothing but rockets, and at about 10pm, there seemed to be a whole crowd of people milling about outside in our street, and there they were, hundreds and thousands[well almost], and they didn't leave till about 1am!!!!

Monday, hospital, I forgot to mention Friday, went to the hospital too! I had had a phone call late one evening, about 9pm telling me an appointment had been changed and thought it was my Monday appointment for the heart scan... so, off we went, waited up by the room for well over half hour, at least until they switched off the lights!!! Then we knew we were either in the place, or it was the wrong day and time, the later is the answer of course!

So a complete waste of time... We went as previously arranged to the correct appointment, we arrived early, but I went in on time, I watched the whole scan, could see lots of highs and lows on a monitor, me, inside of course, my heart beating away, thank God! And lots of lights, green and purple and red, like flashed of colored lightening, very pretty!

Took the results in a sealed envelope and went down to the appointments desk, because we thought the phone call must have been telling me of a change to the results consultation... we waited about an hour, nearly, and no, that appointment is fine and correct also!!! So what the heck was that all about? What appointment did I miss? And what for???

I now have to NOT open the envelope and take a sneak peek at the results, I wouldn't know what they mean, and would only get the wrong idea and worry, but its difficult not opening them.... isn't it???

TTFN
Marian

ps, sorry, very very tired and may be many errors, mis spellings or grammar or just plain weird writing today, apologies amigos, must try better next time!!

2011-07-02T19:13:00.002+02:00

As I write, I hear rockets.... rockets rockets rockets, all we have been hearing all week, and I am all rocketed out now! These things must be costing someone some money, somewhere! And for what, to get people to the church?? Arrrrrhhhhhh, I know I have said this before, and I have every intention of saying it many times more yet, but honestly, we all have either mobile phones or alarm clocks to get us to be somewhere we are supposed to be at whatever times we are supposed to be there, we really do not need rockets for that any more!!!

Trip to Benalmadina this morning, we borrowed a friends car, a 4x4, I had only driven it once before, but it was ok, bit bigger than I am normally used to! And I felt very small at the wheel! We went down the coast road to Fuengirola and then along the coast road, along, well along the coast! To Benalmadina port, I hadn't been there for a while, I don't think since Mom passed away, she and I went there alot, so I could see her there... Everywhere, but then we passed the Chinese junk boat, and I could see Tony and I on that too! The new sea taxi was there, it looks like it would be a bumpy ride, but you get the boat from Benalmadina to Fuengirola, or Cabopino, Marbella, and even Gibralter, at some point! Every two hours from 10am, and its a return trip, just hope not everyone wants to get the same boat back, no standing, tha'ts forsure!

We arrived ok, parked, had a coffee, then went to meet Franco's sister Maria and her friends, they were at a beach bar on the other side of the marina, and we found them fine... had a coffee while they had breakfast then said our goodbyes! Maria is only here for the weekend, so just a fly by visit... Then we were back to the car and off outta there! We came back a slightly different way, and about half hour quicker too! Popped into Aldi on the way and stocked up! [on ice cream], although what I got will take a lot to beat the bubble gum ice cream I got earlier in the week from Overseas[Iceland], Mmmmmm yummy!

Back in town, couldn't get home! We came down the road, and the police were blocking the road, por que, the band was walking up our street! So engine off and waited... I drove up our street behind the band, pulled up outside the house, un loaded the shopping and left Franco to meet and greet the Pip, I then continued to follow the band up our street.... once again, engine off near the junction with plaza alta, once more they left, and the whole load of us cars made a quick get-away down a narrow lane, and away.... but slowly, this time the street was filled with people walking about! But I made it through, taking no prisoners... or maybe just the one or two across the bonnet like trophies!!!

Last night we had an impromptu walk! The phone rang, late, and I mean late!!! My friend whose car I had borrowed couldn't find his wallet, etc etc, everything! And that it might be in his car, in his bag, somewhere there! And he had only just realised it was missing, and where it might be, so off we went to the car, parked up the road, a way[!!!], Pippa thought it was great fun, going out so late, that is until the rockets started going off.... poor thing had to be carried for a while, and then she just kept wriggling and trying to get away, goodness knows what she would do, or where she would run, in panic... I hate to think!

Anyway, the car, the bag, yes! Hidden away out of sight, but there, thank goodness, then home, and back to sleep!

Today we have had bad trouble with internet, well no wifi, that is! Franco was trying to connect something, and ended up using the Ethernet lead, then when I tried to get on line, nothing, nada, and nowt as well!!! I started to lose the plot and thought I would just give it up, then on the hundredth time of switching everything off, mine at last started working! Why does this happen? Makes no sense to me at all....

Maybe its the heat, no no I do know its not, but it is hot hot hot hot! Washing taking half hour to dry... which reminds me I have more to put out just now!

Do you remember I brought my Step-Dads guitar in from the cave? It was so damp and ruined, I didn't know what to do with it, it seems so sad that it was left to rot in there, I feel bad about having done so, it was last year when we had all the rain and it was flooded like everything else in there!

Anyway, its been drying out, but is real stinky and in so many pieces its beyond repair I know, so today, I washed the case, and the back panel of the guitar has come away, I cleaned it up and its now making a very strange new addition to the lounge!!! maybe I should frame it? The label came off, but I'm going to stick that back on, Dads guitar was a Spanish one, made by Manuel Segura Roma E Jerez, sold in London!!! Oh and just googled all the info I have on it, one similar is for sale for 50£... Although I am sure its in much better conditioned, no cave damage me thinks!!

Before I go... Franco wanted something in my make up box, not as dodgy as that might sound by the way folks, but he opened it, peered in and the look on his face made me say to him "... you look like a stranger in a strange land!...."

adió amigos time for ice cream!
TTFN
Marian

2011-06-29T19:40:00.002+02:00

Phew its hot, we're not complaining, well just a little, well don't we always complain about the weather it seems? May was still too cold, too wet, June was slow to get hot, then wham bam hot hot hot.... 24/7! Its so over 50 degrees on the terrace now, and even until late in the evening!

We are still having rocket fire all over the place, the purple church for the last couple of weeks and up to July 9th it seems!!!

My nose is red from a drive to La Cala market this morning in friends open top car, love it! But must remember sun screen on nose next time! Its glowing so much now its light will keep me awake later!!!

I'm leaving the fan on for Pip when I am out at all during the day, its so hot when I leave, but its still keeping cool down stairs in the evening and nights, with the persianas down and windows closed, but Pippa won't stay down there during the day and chooses to hide away up stairs where, of course, the heat is!

We wake up in the mornings in a boiling hot up stairs, even with the fans on, and come down into the cool, right now my skin is cool, and bites!!!! Everyone I know is being bitten this year? Maybe the late heat? the rain last month? Don't know but getting fed up chasing the little critters about in the evenings and still missing the hungriest one who wants to feed off me at night, and very fat he must be by now!!! Got some good bite cream now though, ah ha!!!

Had a very very painful day yesterday, I suppose now I know what exactly it is that's been causing the pain over the last few years I should understand and be more careful with my actions, for instance I was getting some photo's out from their place and in such a way was idiotic of me to do so! Its been alright me being so obstinate with the fm, I always knew even if it hurt or I pushed myself too much, I wasn't actually damaging anything, it just hurt, and would hurt for a while until... well until sometime, but I guess these cyst things being the size they are, me moving around is squishing them badly, and yesterday the pain was worse than I can say, at times making my eyes fill, and during that, some of my toes went numb???

Anyway, going before I go on further.... Have heart scan on Friday this week, so, we will see, what we shall see, I guess!

Today I begin to understand what love must be, if it exists.
When we are parted, we each feel the lack of the other half of ourselves.
We are incomplete like a book in two volumes of which the first has been lost.
That is what I imagine love to be: incompleteness in absence.
~ Edmond and Jules de Goncourt ~

TTFN
Marian

2011-06-22T19:31:00.002+02:00

Today, is a rather strange Blog... as you all know, and over time hear me go on[and on], and Fibromyalgia, which I was diagnosed with back in 1994, after five years of tests and operations... It is hard to tell, or rather describe this disease, and how it effects the body.

Then just over 3 years ago, nearly four now even, I began to have other symptoms, the pain was different and I feared it was just the fm getting worse, changing in some way...

I went at last to the doctor, as I knew something was different, and the pain is so much worse, I knew I couldn't carry on like I was, also there was the erratic heart problems and high bp.

So I was diagnosed with Spinal nerve root cysts... This is also a chronic pain problem, also something that effects so much of ones body... A Letter to family and friends on the site explains how it feels, and so much of it is very similar to fm also, [apart from painful pressure points, brain activity whilst sleeping and a million other things!!!!]

So below.... This is me folks! However I might look, however the smile on my face, my laughter, the me that's got me through since 1989 with the fm, and now this, on top of it all.... But I am still bloody minded, stubborn, strong minded and determined to carry on, and continue to carry on, until I really cannot carry on any more!

******************************************************

Dear Family and Friends,

This letter was written in hopes of improved understanding of those who live with symptomatic Tarlov cysts and the chronic pain, nerve damage, and life altering changes they can cause.

Having cysts on my spinal nerve roots and the resulting nerve damage causes chronic pain and means many things in my life change, and a lot of them are invisible. Most people do not understand about relentless, intractable pain and its effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually misinformed. In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand, these are the things that I would like you to understand about me and my medical diagnosis.

Please understand that living with this medical condition doesn't mean that I am not still trying to live a "normal" life. However, I spend most of my days and nights in considerable pain and exhaustion; sometimes I probably don't seem like much fun to be with, but I'm still me…….. stuck inside this changed body. There are things that I can no longer do, and I have had to accept that. I worry about how the changes in me are affecting you. I care very much about my family and my friends, and I'd still like to hear you talk about your life, your family, and your activities. I like to talk about things other than me and my medical condition and pain. I still have the same interests I have always had; there are just some of them I can no longer actively pursue. I am grateful, by the way, for the things I can still do.

Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you have the flu, you probably feel miserable with it, but in a week or two you are back to normal. I've been living with this diagnosis and its symptoms for years; I can't be miserable all the time. In fact, I work hard at not being miserable. So, if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. It doesn't mean that I'm not in pain, or not extremely fatigued, or that I'm "getting better". Please don't say, "Oh, you're sounding good!" or "But, you look so good", as if nothing could possibly be wrong. When I am around you and others, I try to smile, laugh, and enjoy being with you. I am merely coping. I am happy to be with my friends and family and trying to look normal and act normal; it does not mean that I am not in pain or that I have had a miraculous recovery.

Please understand that being able to sit, stand , walk, or be sociable for 15 minutes doesn't necessarily mean that I can sit, stand , walk, or be sociable for thirty minutes, or an hour. Just because I managed to sit, stand , walk for thirty minutes at a time yesterday doesn't mean that I can do the same today. With this medical condition, it gets more confusing everyday. It can be like a yo-yo. I never know from day to day, how I am going to feel when I wake up, and how painful the day will become; in most cases, I never know from hour to hour. That is one of the hardest and most frustrating components of living with Tarlov cysts and chronic pain. It sure makes planning ahead difficult, and it means I have had to adapt to an altered life style.

Please understand that chronic pain is variable. It's quite possible that one day I am able to take a walk, go out to lunch with you, go shopping , although when I get home or the next day I'll have trouble walking to the next room. Please don't be confused by saying or thinking, "But, you did it before!" or "Oh, come on, I know you can do this!" If you want me to do something, then ask if I can. I may need to cancel a previous commitment at the last minute. If this happens, please do not take it personally. If you are able, please try to remember how very lucky you are to be physically able to do the things that you can do. I have to re-prioritize my plans and activities constantly, because of the pain and other symptoms that persist. I am still learning each day to cope with what I can no longer do, and to remain very thankful for what I can do.

Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not always or necessarily make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. I really try to be as active and involved in activities as I possibly can, as far as the pain and symptoms allow. If I was capable of doing something that would take it away all of the time, don't you know that I would?

Obviously, chronic pain can deal with the whole body, or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes participating in a single activity for a short or a long period of time can cause more symptoms and an increase in physical pain. The recovery time from doing something I should not do, or longer than I should do it, is significant. I call it ODI (overdoing it) and I pay for it dearly .You can't always read the pain on my face or in my body language. The pain is not caused by depression. The sadness and sometimes irritability that you might hear in my voice (even though I try hard to hide it) is from the pain and adjustments I have had to make in my life to go on, and it is due to the changes such as the loss of my job/career, my inability to jump in the car whenever I want to run errands, see a movie, go to a restaurant, visit friends, shop, clean my house, work in my garden, etc. as I did previously.

Please understand that if I say I have to sit down or lie down now, that probably means that I have to do it right now; it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm somewhere else, or am in the middle of doing something..

Chronic pain does not forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.

You may have wondered why I don't just take something stronger for the pain. I have tried many different medications, as well as surgery which did not result in improvement for me, although it has for many patients. I have developed many more cysts since my surgery. I have been made worse, not better, due to side effects or allergic reactions from the medications. These symptomatic cysts on the spinal cord nerves are rare, and are not related to more commonly understood problems, such as herniated or ruptured discs. Currently, there is only a handful of courageous Neurosurgeons and Interventional Neuroradiologists in the world who are seeing the majority of patients with this rare disorder and are willing to attempt treatment. Currently, the treatment outcomes are not indicating a high percentage of "complete cures"; however many patients are much improved.

If I seem touchy, irritable, or distant occasionally, it ¡s probably because I am. It's not how I try to be. As a matter of fact, I try very hard to look and act normal. I hope you will try to understand. I have been, and am still, going through a lot of change. Chronic pain is hard to understand unless you have had it. It wreaks havoc on the body and the mind. It is exhausting and exasperating. Almost all the time, I know that I am doing my best to cope with this, and to live my life to the best of my ability. I ask you to bear with me, and accept me as I am. I know that you cannot literally understand my situation unless you have been in my shoes, but as much as is possible, I am asking you to try to be understanding in general.

In many ways I depend on you. I need you to call or visit me when I cannot go out. If you live with me, sometimes I need you to help me with the shopping, cooking, cleaning, gardening. You know me well enough to know it is very difficult for me to ask for help.You are my link to the normalcy of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of life that I miss so much. I know that I have asked for a lot of understanding from you, and I do thank you for listening to my innermost thoughts on paper. It really does mean a lot to me that you care. My head and heart are still the same; it is my body that has changed, and my life as I knew it before Tarlov cysts has changed. Thank you for trying to understand what I myself do not completely understand. I appreciate your love, concern and prayers. This new journey of learning to live with this medical condition has blessed me in many ways.

The Tarlov Cyst Disease Foundation's vision is of a future in which Tarlov Cyst Disease is well understood, accurately diagnosed, and easily treated, so that those afflicted should not suffer needlessly. We hope to make the path a little easier for others with this rare diagnosis; we hope our efforts will bring about a cure in the future.

Reta Honey Hiers, R.N., C., President

Tarlov Cyst Disease Foundation
www.tarlovcystfoundation.org

P.S. If you are a TC patient, please feel free to print this letter and share it as is, or edit it to make it your own to share .

************************************************
Well, there it is, the high-lighted bit is all me really, the bit about the operations etc, who knows yet, lets hope what they decide to do here to help me works, because by the sound of it, the other option doesn't sound too good does it!

Now I have depressed you all, go get a glass of wine or a beer eh!

TTFN
Marian

2011-06-16T20:48:00.002+02:00

On Monday I went into the bank to pay the IBI [council tax], rubbish and sewerage bills...

He, cashier, noticed something I hadn't, typical! That the date on them was last years dates, so he had torn off the bottom bits, put the money into my account, instead of just scanning and paying the bills, then he said, these are last years! You need updated invoices to pay them... I said how strange as I have paid them.... he just told me to go to the office to see....

I checked my files[!], and was correct that I had paid them, last August! by the way!

la la la.... This morning, well I had to leave it a bit, you know build up the momentum for the conversation of hell! In I went, I didn't take the receipts from last years payments, I know what can happen when you hand over original documents, in the past they have been taken and thrown away and copies given!!!!

So! In I went, I said these had come through my mail box a month or so ago, and did he have this years to pay... He said that they are not due out for delivery until August! That he didn't know where these had come from and that....click click click... I had paid these in August last year! Yeah!!! Just like I knew I had.... So out I went, only a matter of minutes from going in!!!

Then I had to make an appointment for the doctors... in I went, up to the desk, asked for an early appointment as soon as please! Tomorrow morning early! Fantastico!

I had phoned Vodafone myself earlier in the week, having tried and tried previously in the shops to get my contract cancelled, but it just never worked out! I had tried a number I was told would put me through to an English speaker, that didn't, wouldn't! And was never working!

So I had just called the regular number, cup on tea to hand, ready for a long hawl.... But NO! I asked for an English speaker and English"!!! So I said I wanted to change to pre paid... And he took all my details, then I said what price plan I wanted and he said yes fine... 6 and half minutes later, tea still hot I went back downstairs, in shock! But, and its a big but, I'm not so sure he has cancelled my account, and not just changed my price plan!!!

I guess I will find out soon enough eh!!

This morning a child was hit whilst crossing the road, on a crossing, with her Mom and sister, the man didn't see her, and she was thrown into the air, still holding onto her Mom's hand! She was ok, thank God, just a scratch on her elbow... I arrived just after the incident, thank goodness, wouldn't want to have that in my memory, and I'm sure the poor child doesn't either of course! You know, no one called the police??? Someone took them to the medical centre, but nothing else was done????

The doctor at the hospital said if my bp came down below 110, the upper number, to come off my bp meds, it has today, I hardly have any bp at all!!! So tomorrow I will leave it out! Just take the Beta blocker! Bit worried about this, but that's what he said... So there we have it amigos!

TTFN
Marian

Saint Augustine -Don't cry if you love me!

2011-06-12T17:39:00.000+02:00

2011-06-12T15:29:00.002+02:00

Dragon as seen in the Mijas International weekend, lots of stands from many countries around the world... Not Italy though, not sure why, they haven't been there any time we have gone to visit the fair....

We had a whole plateful of meat from Uruguay.... Look away now if your not a meat eater please!!

Couldn't get the whole bbq area into the frame!! I did try standing back to take a better shot but people just kept getting in the way.... as we do!!!

We had had to get the bus to Mijas, the 2:30 from Alhaurín, which didn't get to our parada until ten to three! So was 20 minutes from there to the pueblo, unbelievably a guy at the bus stop asked us, more Franco really as I was hiding in the shade of the bus top... not much as it happened, but, sorry back to guy... he wanted cigarettes, so left his small daughter alone, with us, and 3 or 4 single guys and another couple... to get go them!!! The shop was out of sight from us, and I still can't believe he just left her with so many complete strangers!

I went with friends to the lakes again! And found that the tree by the church is a Mulberry tree! And in fact there are two of them there! Well never too old to learn something eh! I took them to the top of the mountain first with the reservoir and Bobastro remains, we would have had a coffee in the bar up there.... but bar gone, sold, and it looks like a private house now only, and a very beautiful one at that!

From there down to El Choro, the railway station bar and coffee.... and then to the lakes at Ardales! By then 'they' were almost tourist'ed out I think! So we had some very nice food at the Kiosk restaurant over looking the main lake...

I then pushed my luck and we walked around the corner to the two dams, the old, and the new... And then, went just a bit too far and took them down to the lower level of the lake... where they almost lost the will to live, well one anyway! He had had enough of the tourist trail and just wanted to leave the place... So we did!!!

We had a meeting at work during the week, and I was thanked for my TV appearance! Did anyone actually see it? I hope not, but I have been advised I will be doing it again as it brought so many people in??? I think they wanted to see the clown who spoke gibberish do you think!!!

Have dates for my heart scan now, July 4th! And results from that a couple of weeks later... Just wish it was sooner, all seems to be taking so long, and still not quite got used to these Beta blockers, still hoping I won't have to take them forever...

Feeling a bit vague now actually as I type, so will leave you here, with a quote I came across during the week... I have a few actually, that came just when I needed them, and one beautiful poem from Saint Augustine a good friend sent me.... which I have just now, as I write, found on YouTube and posted herein...

You see I took a step back this week, I felt like I had lost my Mom all over again... I came home one afternoon, walked into the kitchen, put on the kettle to make a cup of tea, and thought, as I do every day, that I would phone Mom, and bam, I burst into tears, and for all the rest of that evening and into the next day, I cried like I had last year...

The truth is that there is only one terminal dignity - love.
And the story of a love is not important -
what is important is that one is capable of love.
It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.
~ Helen Hayes ~

TTFN
Marian

2011-06-05T18:33:00.003+02:00

ANother trip out today! This morning headed out to Cátama and then to Estacion de Cártama... Market is still on there on Sundays, let me tell you! Didn't want to get involved with it, but got caught up in traffic and ended up circumnavigating the whole of the town because of it!!!

From there we took the Pizzara road, stopping off there and walking into town for churros, the stand didn't have any chocolaté, must remember to carry thermos of creamy hot chocolaté at all times to save further un happiness having to eat churros without the hot chocolaté... back in the car, also, of course sugar less! I normally have some sugar in my bag[!!!!], but also today, none of it! At present, now I think of it, there is one solitary churro left in a plastic bag, in the car, keeping warm, or even very hot, considering how hot the sun is today, even now at 7pm!

Summer at last, and about time too..... Just published this and checking it out realised I haven't explained the photo above, there is a monastery, its about mid mountain, and over to the right a bit, a while building, zoom anyway... oh and I am just guessing about what it is, sorry....

Above a great shot of the road... less travelled these days, maybe! Managed to get over it ok, although on reflection I think should have taken the part of the road that had already sunk, because driving over the higher bit, about 5 foot higher, felt decidedly dodgy!!

Then further along, the pic below, you can see how the side of the road here has actually risen, not fallen.... So, no complaining about pot holes over there in Blighty por favor mis amigos... these are what real pot holes look like! You don't lose your tires over here, you lose your whole car!!!

And below a new'ish, what we thought was a road, and for the past couple of years, we thought it was a road, but on closer inspection anyone can see its a railway line! A very high railway line! you can see this from so far away, even nearly here! And where we spent my birthday last year, when we thought it was an empty road!!!

And finally below, a view of Alóra, taken from a garden centre car park, we didn't go into Alóra today, but there on the mountain on the left you can see a castle...

The garden centre was huge! And had the biggest restaurant I have ever seen in a garden centre!!! They are 'doing up' the rest of the place, but still had plenty of plants and gardenware!!!

Alot of the roads we travelled on today were in a state of bad repair, just like a couple of weeks ago, if people drove too fast, in the dark, they wouldn't last long forsure!

Our journey ended, as it has before strangely by coming down the mountain that over looks the Garganta restuarant and El Chorro station, passing the restaurant near the top where we went with Tony some years back now... Although not entirely sure if it was from the same direction! As if I remember correctly we passed the restaurant on the left, and not up the right on a side turning? This means nothing to you, sorry, rambling....

I think I am getting used to the Betablockers now, its my fourth day, and I seem to be typing ok, Mmmmm, did a typo there, so maybe not! And still confused how the meds make me even more tired than I normally am, but also give me insomnia at night! How does that work then???

Oh and today whilst out, I saw another owl! Asleep on a fence post, on the Alóra road! And then later we saw this terrific little lizard crossing the road infront of us! And in a major hurry he was too! His head held high, legs going as fast as he could, bright green in color.... Sooooo cute! Trouble is the only photo I have is the one in my minds eye!

Came home about 2pm and sunbathed up on the roof terrace, summer is here[I hope!], started reading a book I haven't read for years, and years, Silver Metal Lover its called...

And now there is a robot movie on tv... oh well!

TTFN amigos
Marian

2011-06-02T17:51:00.002+02:00

Ok amigos, had to write notes beneath so I don't forget or get mixed up, and maybe I should start with the note at the bottom, in case nothing makes sense here, I am taking, for a while I guess for now anyway, some betablockers to try to regulate my heart arrhythmia, and am thinking when its sorted out I can off them, hope so, either that or these symptoms go, or I get used to them, whichever is the quicker, only been taking them for two days, but am having trouble typing, thinking or pretty much anything, make me so tired, no not actually tired, fatigued, maybe, as last night despite being so tired I kept waking up all through the night and not actually feeling like I would be able to go back to sleep!

Tuesday was a terrible day! It began with a television advert.... I was supposed to do, for Cudeca, what a mess, and it really was, I am not just saying that, seriously camera shy, although not helped by the fact that another girl should have been with me from Cudeca, doing the Spanish bit, so I was on my own, only person speaking English, and a girl from the company was trying to help, but her English was so bad I couldn't understand a thing she said to me!

Another woman introduced me, sort of, didn't ask my name, and I was too dumb to even say who I was when I began my introduction to the Summer fair on Saturday, at 10am until 2pm, and all we have for sale etc etc, I was actually speechless, yes! Totally, well apart from a new language I learnt very quickly, and very fluently, its called Gibberish! Absolute Gibberish, that's all I spoke! So I have decided to stick to only one type of television now, and that's CCTV!

Then, I went to work, and gibberished my way through the humiliation of telling people what a hopeless wreck I was!

In the evening I had my hospital appointment, for my results... Which they actually had! From both the heart monitor test and the MRI, the MRI showed I have spinal nerve root cysts... a couple over a centimetre in size, they need operating on, but not until I have had my arrhythmia sorted out! The appointment I have been waiting for since early February has still not come through, it sounds like an ultra sound scan, they will watch my heart and see what its up to, then see what's to do! My friend picked me up from the town centre, just before 6pm and we got to the hospital in Malaga very quickly, it was 30°, and felt like it! The good thing, although there were lots of cars, not many people left in the hospital! We almost walked straight in, no one in front of us to go in at all! My friend is leaving the area, so who knows what we will do without her!!!! We won't know what the doctor is saying, or him us, we could come out with all sorts of things, or come out with nothing!

Anyway, the op on my cysts.... lovely! Cysts... And this is a shot in the dark, but reading about them and the symptoms of them, it seems they can cause Fibromyalgia like problems, wouldn't it be funny if they have been there for the last twenty years, and its been them causing all my pain, fatigue, joint pain, sleepiness nights.... Oh and yes I know I am clutching at straws, but one can hope.... Can't one???

And today rain! In June.... oh well.... just a smattering of it, and its been so humid the last few days... At the boardroom this morning we got the centre table, the only dry table in the house, so to speak! I was somewhat disorientated at the table this morning, didn't really know who or where I was! And its taken all day for the half a tablet to wear off and I go and take the other half!

At least no one seems to have seen the tv advert for Cudeca summer fair....?? At least no one laughed at me in town today!!! Its on the net somewhere too, I can't find it, I seriously cannot find it folks, I am not just not telling you where it is, maybe they decided against showing it? Although of course, I suppose I probably sounded just like I always do? I was speaking English after all, and Gibberish, in English, may sound not so dissimilar to my normal talking!!! lol

Think that must be it for today.... Oh no, before I forget, I called Telefonica on Friday evening, really bad crackling phone line, almost impossible to hear from my point of view, and by Saturday mid day, a man was here to fix it! Turns out where we had the really bad damp in the bedroom the winter before last, the box had got a bit rusty, or something, so he advised me to buy the new bit, which is what happened on Monday, I came home and wired it into the wall, and hey presto, clear line again!! Strange that the telephone man didn't carry any actual parts in his van, isn't it? Or maybe not!!!!

TTFN amigos!
Marian

ps view at the lakes, the water measure line...

2011-05-27T20:44:00.002+02:00

Some more photos from last Sundays trip to the Ardales lakes... Hopefully some areas, most people seem to miss from their visits... I always have to go somewhere different, get off the beaten track, investigate paths not trod, oh anyway you know what I mean!

I just go my own way!

I really wanted to walk further along this path above, but I am holding the camera through a very high gate which was not negotiable, well maybe if I had a rope and tackle to get round the high wall which was hanging over the water!

This is the path you would come to if the bridge was till up, and they unlocked the gates and pathways down from the upper levels....

This bit above, with my shadow is looking down over another little bridge which leads to the water works bit! There were thousands of figs in the water, the wonderful fig trees there are unreachable by anyone, so not sure why so many young looking figs had fallen from them... but they were piled up, caught by rocks and puddling where the water had taken them...

Also loads of prickly pears, as mentioned yesterday... These though are up near the newer dam, looking forward to getting back here when all this fruit is in season, pair of think gardening gloves in my pocket eh!!

And above the tree near the church, zoom in and look at all the fruit, looks like loganberries maybe? But black... People were eating them and or, throwing them to the huge fish!

No more mobile phone news just yet, thought I would have a days reprieve, although did have to phone Telefonica this evening, have more crackle than Snap Crackle and Pop cereal !!!

Town was quiet today, well this morning anyway, our bar wasn't even open first thing, we moved the boardroom over the street, and looked down at our place, which did open, too late mate!!!

Last night we were kept awake by lots of passers-by, who wanted to talk very loudly, because they maybe were deafened by loud music further down the street... I am expecting the same thing for the next two nights, Pippa has been told, but she says she will still get up-set and bark at them for disturbing our sleep!

TTFN
Marian

2011-05-26T20:09:00.002+02:00

All these photos today are taken at the lakes, we were there on Sunday... Beautiful day... Look at that wonderful rock formation above, when we got close you could see a man made pillar to hold that great overhang from falling down and bringing the mountain with it!!!

My little computer here is going so slow I am typing away and nothing is appearing until two lines later, very frustrating and annoying and driving me mad, not the only thing today either, but will tell that after these photos! If I can get this bit done that is!!

OK photo above taken from the top of the dam, looking down at the very still and murky looking lake! Thats the bit with the steps and gardens that are off limits... I think because once down at the bottom there.... see below.....

... here we are below now! There sort of left of centre... is a bridge which is broken... So maybe 'they' think it would be dangerous having those gardens etc open to the public, but they must have been closed for a long time now, pity, that would make a great walk through those woods and over the lake... Still its nice to see from the other end isn't it.... We were down here once before and Tony and Franco got hold of some prickly pears, much to their discomfort!!

Above classic photo of the lakes, near the Kiosk restaurant... if you zoom in, kind of in that little dip after the forest on the left! You can see some of the wind turbines now... They were not here two years ago! I think they look wonderful, amazing...

Look how deep the water is, its amazing those eucalyptus trees don't rot!

Ok, can't wait any longer.... Today, this morning 10am at a mobile phone shop... To cancel the contract and go back to pay-as-you-go, type thing, the monthly bills are way too high, and we have never received a statement, so who knows what's been going on.... Anyway, I digress as normal! So, first in, first to be served.... 50 minutes later out of the shop, only one number sorted out, mine still to do, it has to be done at 6pm this evening, apparently it was 18 months ago to the day I began the contract, freaky isn't it! So also lucky, must admit I hadn't remembered I had taken an 18 month contract, having been with 'them' before, and using them for nearly 10 years... Sorry off again aren't I !!! So came back just after 6pm... 20 minutes later was told, no has to be 6:49 exactly, so its 18 months to the date and time! Out for a coffee, back at 7pm... Ten minutes later than time... just in case! Back on the phone... and NO NO NO!!! If I cancel the contract today, I will have to pay a cancellation feeeeeeeeeee!!! WHY??? Who knows!! So I can't do it tomorrow, no here in Alhaurín anyway, town is closed... period! Feria weeks remember!!!

What a nightmare!!! The poor people in the shop, it wasn't they're fault... but the people on the phones... But for me, the nightmare will go on until I have managed to cancel it!

And now for me its time for tea!

TTFN
Marian

2011-05-20T20:54:00.003+02:00

Giant Asparagus! Wow eight foot hight so far, amazing!

Should have posted this on April first though shouldn't I! So ok, its Agave! But looking like this? Hay gotcha didn't I!!

Today, this evening hospital appointment, I had an MRI, unexpectedly... I knew the department I was going to, but not until we were outside the door with 31 on it, did I find out this was what the appointment was for!

Few people waiting, about 45 minitues late getting in, and out just over half hour, mas ó menos! On our way home 7:15pm... Seemed so late to be coming out of a hospital appointment eh!

Firstly, after being settled onto the machine the doctor placed an awful thing over my face, like a mask, with a mirror! So although laying down and looking up, I could see my legs and her face on the other side of the glass wall! When she put it on I said.... "Ah, Silence of the Lambs" which made her laugh!

Then she wasn't laughing when she came back to me, pulled me back out and took it off, she realised I wasn't having my head scanned!

So that was better, horrid thing, the mask.... and the MRI machine, its noisy, sounds like being in a hole with a dozen workmen using those hammer drill things, although it sort of had a tune, now and then... ba ba ba ba, bounce bounce bounce! Sounded like being in a rave, not that I have actually been to a rave, but how I imagine one to be like!

I thought I would jump when it first was about to start, but there was a light knocking noise, before each bout of scanning... I had earplugs in, didn't get those last time I had an MRI, I think that was back in about 1994....

Anyway, all done now, and just have to wait till May 31st for results...

Before I go, did a funny thing on the way there in the car, was chatting with friend and was telling her about the bread pudding another friend had made this week, saying it was the best bread pudding I have ever made... and you know when you mix words up? Putting either two words together or swapping the first couple of letters around.... I did that, and will tell you what I said instead of best bread pudding.... Breast pudding!!! LOL, and did we laugh? Yes, for ages!

TTFN
Marian

2011-05-20T14:48:00.001+02:00

Take the life that you have, and give it your best.

''Life just is. You have to flow with it.
Give yourself to the moment. Let it happen.'' Jerry Brown

Life can be hurtful, and not always fair.
Life can surround you, with people who care.
Life clearly does offer, its ups and its downs.
Life teaches us to take, the good with the bad.
Life is a mixture, of happy and sad.

So.....

Take the life that you have, and give it your best.
Think positive, be happy, let the Universe do the rest.
Take the challenges, that life has laid at your feet.
Take pride and be thankful, for each one you meet.
To yourself give forgiveness, if you stumble and fall.
Take each day that is dealt you, and give it your all.

Take the love that you're given, and return it with care.
Have faith that when needed, it will always be there.
Take time to find the beauty, in the things that you see.
Take life's simple pleasures, let them set your heart free.

You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry, and stop to smell the flowers along the way. Walter Hagen

Above from Positive Thoughts... that come to pay a visit on my fb page at usually the exact time I need to hear them!

Please enjoy, as I always do....

TTFN

Marian

2011-05-19T19:41:00.002+02:00

Got my glasses back! Thank goodness, what a nightmare! Above photo taken in town, a classic eh, three ladders up to the balconies....???

And below, two, not so great photos, as photos of photos! A friend in work had taken them the evening before, she had gone out to her garden at dusk and there was this animal leaning over her fish pond!

What a face eh! Intense look about it, strange but beautiful... Lastest is its a Genet... At first Civit was the best idea, although some of photos didn't look quite right for it to be a Civit...

And a Twitter follower suggested the Genet, and I am sure this is it.... Look at the tail! How long??

Interesting read on both of the animals, of which I am sorry to say I had heard of neither!!!

Work was ok, time went bit slow, and there seemed to be no people out and about at all! But we did good non the less, which is why we are there!

Weather has been a mix of hot sun, or pouring rain! We even had hailstones yesterday afternoon, and thunder and lightening early hours of this morning! What is going on, its May!!!

The Feria in town next week, so does this mean rain or sun!!!

Pippa still is coming to terms with all the noise and turmoil of the May celebration rockets, she is still hesitant going out for her walks, we come to full stops, or she only wants to go down dead end roads! My poor little baby....

I have hospital appointment again tomorrow evening about my hip, don't really know who with! And results are now on May 31st, got them brought forward by a week, better than nothing I suppose.

I have been training on a Wii fit plus, did some of the sports stuff last week, but began a proper routine yesterday only, and yesterday my wii fit age was 51, today, only 24hrs later I am down to 39! That's better!!!

Glad I burnt off some calories earlier, a friend gave me a wonderful piece of home made bread pudding, which I ate with custard just now!! Although not sure that's the point of burning calories? So you can eat them up afterwards???

I'm spending too much time on solitaire, and seem to be making my way through every 80's hit on YouTube!

And today, feel like I am saying so much about nothing, and nothing about things I should!

TTFN
Marian

2011-05-16T19:10:00.001+02:00

A different view of the lakes, not seen before by me! Just before we came out on a reservoir we knew well!!!! From a road not previously driven because we thought it out of bounds!!!

Not sure what I was taking here... above? But a pretty looking field of something or other eh!!!

Above and below more taken in Setenil de las Bodegas! When your sitting there looking at the mountain and the houses, it looks more like the mountains have moved over the houses, rather than the houses being built beneath the mountains!

I know I took the pic above before, but look how close the mountain is to the bedroom balcon above! A matter of what? Two or three foot at the most! I must admit, I wouldn't like to see that view from my window... Could feel a bit claustrophobic don't you think? Or depressing! I remember staying at a friends house in... Abertillery, Wales, and the mountains surrounding the houses were oppressive, seeming to lean down and over everyone... Although certainly not as close above!

And lastly, above, the castle at Olvera, one, for the second time I have been unable to get inside! I bet its not worth it! Is that it? There is a castle in England, I have always wanted to go inside, Bodiam Castle, E.Sussex. I have been as far as the car park a couple of times, but never inside, for one reason or another I cannot even remember now... One day I guess eh.... Have a look at the link, I think anyone would love to visit it!

Weather report - Bit cloudy today, but still warm, bordering on hot and muggy! No rain, although it looked imminent all day!

Work tomorrow, lost my glasses there last week, only need them for reading[!] So only put them on to do so, but wish I had kept them on, slipped out of my pocket... and into someone else's, [she thought they were a donation and took to try] luckily she is bringing them into the shop tomorrow, they didn't work for her! Surprise surprise... funny eh!!!! Had another pair on order, saw her an hour later, and got back on the phone to shop... so saved a couple of hundred pounds running into her, as just managed to cancel the order in time!!!

It is not enough to be able to drop your body
as easily as a bathrobe, take flight like the eagle,
enter the hollow hills, talk with angels, and
dance among the stars.

We must make the return.

We must live in this world and be gardens
for the dreams that want to take root in it.
~ Robert Moss, Dreaming True ~

Above taken, with thanks from bloominghumans.com

TTFN amigos
Marian

2011-05-15T18:43:00.002+02:00

Went for a day out today.... Long long drive, we started out towards the lakes at Ardales, but decided to try another route once we reached the town. And took the Teba/Ronda turn to the left instead! Driving through beautiful patchwork mountains, as above photo...its amazing how different the landscape is only half hour drive from here! Fields of rape seed, wheat, poppies! and herds of beautiful brown cows! Also, the most pig farms in one area I have ever seen! Not a pig in sight though, all tucked up in doors - not so good, or the smell!!!

We stopped first at a road side venta, two coaches had just pulled up and we managed to skirt around them and get to the bar! Two coffees and bread with oil... A nearby pig farm supplying the many jamons surrounding bar I imagine!

We were headed actually now for the turn for Arriate... To get to Setenil de las bodegas, where we have been a couple of times before, but has always been too busy to appreciate the village! Both above pics are amazing, well the subject matter I mean! The one below may be a bit confusing[dot.com]... I took a photo of the ceiling above the bar where we stopped for coffee, actually I had a beer, don't know why, just fancied one! Sorry I digress, and per norm! So the pic below is the cave above, and the stone was covered in cobwebs!!! Also there mid photo and down towards the bottom, is a swallows nest, so many birds flying to and fro, and so fast, they swoop down towards the cars while driving, or people while walking, what a game they have!

I tried to take photos I didn't take last time, but different day and less people, so hope I haven't repeated myself! More than usual!

Lots more photos, so will post more tomorrow, hopefully, not been too busy on here of late have I!

While walking in Setenil past a shop, the owner opened the door and told us to go in, have a look around! We did, well we really had no choice! He told us all the plates were painted by hand, here in the town, well that would be good, it all was 20 years ago, but I think most of what you see on the markets these days is not Made In Spain any more!

We went from Setenil to Olvera, it was almost as hot as when Tony and I were there in June one year, well seemed it, although it could the amount of up hill walking you have to do to get anywhere whatsoever! But a very pretty town, we went first to the bar in a plaza, we had a coffee, then started up the mountain to the church, Tony and I were too hot and too tired to go further up to the castle, so thought we would go today.... No chance! it was 1:35 and about to shut at 2pm, definitely not long enough for that climb! And also, they shut the doors!!!! Well time for lunch for them then I guessed! On the way into town we needed petrol, and I remembered a gas station on the left hand side of the road, I know I had only been to Olvera once before, but I did, and it was...! Funny how I remember that but go to put the cereal into the refrigerator!!!!

So back down, took a couple of photos from a distance, back to the car and off again! We had passed a sign for Campillos, so went back to that junction, and took that route back towards Alhaurín, although, no where near it yet of course! And the journey took other turns well before we got back here!

We ended up coming down the road we had originally started from, my now famous road to the hospital! We were on the other hand nowhere near it, being still in the lakes vicinity! We had passed a turn and thought to turn back to it, so we did, and began a new journey around the lakes we had never taken before, getting a bit confused[dot.com], which is unlike me in this area! hahahaha!!! We were very confused actually, then ended up coming to a road we knew!?! I have spent years travelling around the lakes here, and still find a new bit!

phew... So from there, we were going to have a coffee at the Kiosk bar, but was busy, too busy, so off to El Choro, where else! And had a coffee there! Sat by the railway lines, watching the birds go by, well lots of dogs anyway! Apparently they are going to renew the whole of the Kings Walk, and the whole area around there, I suppose, that will be good, but so many times, in the making of something better, you lose some of the old, which was the reason it was good in the first place, the roads will be wider, the place tidied up, new this and new that, and soon, the 'thing' it had will be lost.... Its going to take about five years, so we have time yet to get the best from the way it is now! [does that make sense?]

I am not sure in what way the Kings Walk will be left, if people will all have to use the rope and tie thing, rock climbers equipment etc, or if it will be safe to just stroll around the narrow walkway, but we will never, I am sure, be able to get to the narrow bridge over the gorge we have taken before, in the way we did!!!!

Just watched a bit of Planet of the Apes, the old one, but, in my opinion[!], the best! The final words when Charlton Heston sees the Statue of Liberty... "oh my God, we finally did it! blah blah blah..." It was of course, only a surprise the first time I saw it, but still this bit is the best bit of the movie, the realisation of what has happened!

Its taken about two hours to do this Blog today, stopping for breaks... friend at the door, Pippa barking at passers by up at the back, coffee making, phone calls, oh washing up the dishes and washing my hair! Oh and send an Ecard!!!!

Ecard for friends who had a lovely BBQ on Saturday afternoon, beautiful food, wonderful surroundings and good people... Wasn't there long, and should have stayed longer... Thanks again amigos!

After not Blogging for a while my mouth seems to be running away with itself now, or my fingers over the keys anyway... So I better quit before everyone falls asleep!

More photos tomorrow amigos, adío!

TTFN
Marian

Dixie Chicks, Lullaby

2011-05-08T18:58:00.000+02:00

2011-05-08T18:25:00.003+02:00

If you have a Mom in Heaven!¸¸.•"Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"•.¸¸
If flowers grow in heaven Lord, then pick a bunch for me; place them in my Mom's arms and tell her they're from me.
Tell her that I love and miss her, and when she turns to smile, place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for a while
Miss you still MOM ♥

Mothers day today in the states.... As Mom and I are American I guess now we can celebrate today...

Photo above one of my favourites of Mom and I in Cadiz, with Tony, holding the camera of course!

Beautiful weather today, just sun and sun and more sun... At last and wonderful, went to La Trocha market in Coín this morning, nice walk around and coffee with apple strudel... again! I am going to start to look like a piece of apple strudel soon!

Washing has dried on the line and I really should be bringing it in, or it will feel like cardboard... Though it probably already does!

We had a power cut this morning, about 8:30, and was out for a couple of hours, it went off again later, and once dinner was in the oven, it went off again! So had to shift some of dinner out of the electric counter oven into the gas oven!!!! We ate meals at different times therefore!

Missed the Grandprix too, no tv, and then the battery went on this, it only lasts less than half the amount of time it did when it was new... Wonder if this is normal??

Power went again, I think? Anyway was off most of day in the end, back now of course! Or I wouldn't be writing this now...

Can't seem to get house straight today, everywhere I go there is something that needs putting away, so am leaving it now and going to chuck it all out later... Hate it when there is stuff everywhere, can't get my head straight, like a tidy desk at work[when I was], can't work in a mess!

And I am so tired, not had afternoon nap for ages, and ages, but today just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, not helped by the late night noise outside the house, the end of green week, lots of beautiful plants and decorations outside many of the houses in the area, so last evening everyone went to look, at all of them, taking a band and rockets with them, culminating in fireworks about 12:30am!!!! Then people were walking home from it! I had at one point switched off the tv, but turned it back on at tried again at 1am...

After last week.... What night? Can't remember! Oh yes, Tuesday night, end of celebrations in town, they ended with fireworks at 2am.... yes 2am, and were set off behind the house, Pippa hasn't gone any further than the row of houses we live in, and just round the corner... Then she pulls us home, this morning I didn't even bother trying, not so much for her this morning, was so tired!

Then had to do all my bathroom stuff in the dark, well with a tea light to see by... That was fun!!! What the heck did we do without electricity!?! I know I never actually have had to, but its the same when the phones aren't working isn't it!

Even when I know the electric isn't working I go to switch on a light, or the kettle etc, or think, "shall I watch a DVD then if the tv isn't working?"

What else? La Cala market yesterday, nice morning, sun out, had the roof down on the car on the way home which was wonderful! Stopped into garden centre on the way home for coffee![read tea]...

Loads of tourists at the market, good good good! I got a couple of new charms for my bracelet, a little Buddha and a monkey! One of the three wise monkeys that is!

Last week.... Oh heck forgot I had the hospital on Tuesday didn't I, and I was going to let you know the results... And not leave you waiting! Well, I am still waiting so there we go, what's new!

We were on time, well early, went in early too, Whoopee, he, the doctor asks me if I have my heart monitor results???? So, that was it really, he beat up my hip and its still in agony, wrote out a paper to send me elsewhere for that and told me to come back in the morning and to try to get my results and come back to see him ASAP...

... So we were back early Wednesday morning, and up to where I got the heart monitor before, I asked for the results, she printed them out, got them signed and gave them to me, the doctors assistant could have done that the day before, took two minutes!

Then to the appointments desk, lucky there too, but in getting to the desk only.... only two people ahead of me, not 102, so five minutes and up I went, told him the doctor wanted to see me ASAP as I now have the results he wanted yesterday, but 'he' said I had to have the other appointment first, then see the doctor, they will phone me, and my appointment with the doctor is June 7th!

I very stupidly translated what I could of the results and then Googled them! Big mistake, I now have all sorts of bad things and may not get to finish this post!!!

S'ok, still here...

Although going now, tired, and need to get in washing... I am posting a beautiful YouTube video on here, I heard this song last night, well this morning to be precise, on a tv program, Medium.... This song is so beautiful.... Enjoy.... Its Dixie Chicks and Lullaby...

Life begins and ends in a moment and life can change in a moment. All we have are moments.
VeronicaHay

TTFN
Marian

2011-05-02T18:54:00.004+02:00

Its been the longest time.... whoa oh oh... The longest time since I last blogged amigos!

Weather has been a mix of rain and sun! Tomorrow is the last day [apparently], then we have summer, but no one is holding their breath!

We have gone from the Semana Santa celebrations straight into Green Week, April 24th through to May 8th I think.... And its our church of course, the Santa Vera Cruz, so its noisy every evening, and last couple of days have each begun with rocket fire, 20 or 30 or more rockets, setting off the dogs, Pippa went for nearly 24hrs without taking a pee!!!! She refused to leave the house this morning for a walk, we got into the car park and turned right around and pulled me home! Yesterday morning we were out minding our own business when the rockets started and she pulled me home, I had to run she wouldn't walk, and was so terrified, my poor little baby.... Then last night right after her dinner, again they went off, and her dinner lasted inside her very nervous body about ten minutes, maybe! She refused to even go up on the terrace, and eventually went to the toilet this afternoon!!!! I was worried she would damage herself by not going for so long!

Last week we, me and two friends, went to Torremolinos for breakfast, a walk, back up into the town! Those steps, again, only I did them better this time, I should be running up them soon! I also popped into one of the Tobacconists I worked in! Said a quick "hello" well "hola" and besitos all round!

Then we went to Ikea, a friend wanted a frame, and he had been trying to get one elsewhere, he gave up! And although both have an almost morbid fear of Ikea, we went! Me, as you know, I love it there! I showed them immediately the quick way out! Well just in case one of them panicked! This being a real possibility! Then we had lunch! Meatballs of course for me! And coffee's.... Then we skipped the up stairs, they didn't know they could[????] and a quick run around the kitchen bits and short cuts to the frame, and out! The longest bit probably was the check out! But they lived to fight another day didn't they, and was quite pain free!

Been to La Trocha market last two Sundays, bit quiet there... Few marketeers missing, and lookers.... although I am maybe going quite early so possible filling up at a more normal time!

Oh and went to lunch with friends Thursday... What fun! At a road side bar I had never been to before... five of us.... The birthday boy ate something that gave him an immediate upset stomach... and a bad case of hic ups followed, and I mean bad, so bad, he was sick! Right there! At the table!!!!! The food only tasted of salt, the main course, apart from salt was literally swimming in yellow oil, as in over used, the fries were bottom of the frier condition... Passing cars caused dust and debris to fly over the wall around the terrace we were sat at! And 'things' fell from the tin ceiling, into food and eyes!!! [medical assistance needed for the eye!] I'll stop here, enough is enough, I'm really milking the thing now!

So, somewhere I have been now, that I hadn't and won't be revisiting again!

Oh oh, and of course the Royal Wedding! Friday, between William and Kate... I sat through the whole thing, watching every detail, I couldn't help myself, I loved it! And cried here and there, thinking of how Princess Diana would have been so proud of her oldest Son, and remembering Tony was born just a week from him... There was a present to those whose sons were born on the same day! But Tony was on time... So, no present, except the best present of course Tony, you!!! Sorry, still in soppy mood obviously!

I have the hospital tomorrow evening, results....

Won't leave it to Blog too long, I am sure everything is good to go!

"Any life, no matter how long and complex it may be, is made up of a single moment - the moment in which a man finds out, once and for all, who he is." - Jorge Luis Borges

TTFN
Marian

Photo, one I took in Torremolinos few years back

Phoebe Snow~Poetry Man

2011-04-24T18:08:00.000+02:00

2011-04-22T21:01:00.001+02:00

Today this beautiful piece, taken from BloomingHumans... as before....

THE LONGING FOR UNION

There is a hunger, a longing, deep within your heart
And it has been there from the moment you were born
It is not this foolish longing for romance or money
It is not this hunger for success and recognition
It is not even a desire to be surrounded by beauty

The hunger that presses upon you so acutely
is simply the longing for you to reach again
the state of complete oneness,
to access your own soul, right here within you

For it has not left you, of course
It has not ventured away and gotten lost
in the forest of your life

It has merely been a bit covered over,
like an old garden wall that gets covered
in moss and brambles over time

But yet, this wall of a body still holds within it

the glorious garden of the soul

It still harbors that great and glorious blossoming
that is you

You, who are individual and unique and,
at the very same time, one with all that is.

You, who are this glorious body
vitally alive in this lifetime,
and at the very same time,
this soul that is ethereal and immortal, ever present

And so the longing then is for union
Union of all the different parts that are you
The part of you that is this body
and the part of you that is this soul

The part of you that is unique and the part of you
that is exactly one with all else that is
The part of you that is God

First, go within and find the union
Find the peace that is you
Find yourself deeply within
and deeply one with all that is

Then come back out and live
Live with vibrancy
Live with zest

Allow yourself to feel and enjoy everything
that this glorious life holds

Allow yourself to fall in love with every moment of it
Infuse this fabulous adventure of a life
with your own golden glow of being

You are, right now, what you need to be
You are, right now, the perfect expression
of all that needs expressing

From this place, right here, right now,
go deep inside and find yourself,
this self you will bring forth to shine out
Nothing else is needed

Here is a prayer for your today~
I am all that I need to be
I am enough, for peace, for joy, for love,
for happiness unbounded

It is all within me

And I, just as I am, deserve all of this bounty
I am the wonderful, glowing expression of life and spirit
I am the balance where it all meets
I am the gladness and the joy of all creation
made manifest

I am the flowering and the opening

I AM

~ Carrie Hart~

2011-04-21T19:31:00.002+02:00

Above and beneath two shots taken in Malaga last week... What a beautiful day, the day, and the weather! Unlike today! What a mix of sun and rain and storms!!

A couple of hours ago the storm came over, from Alorá direction, thank you! The lightening and thunder! It was right overhead and when the electric went out there was a flash of electric from the box on the wall!

Went up onto the terrace to get closer!!! Risked taking the para agua! It was amazing from up there, under cover of the tin roof!!!! You couldn't see the town at all, or any of the Guadalhorce valley! It was just cloud! And above fork lightening and then the crack overhead!! I am fine with thunderstorms if I am outside, but strangely inside and I get scared??? Weird? Yes weird!

Oh the photo above? Torremolinos, sat down catching my breath, and trying to calm my beating heart! Look at that window - No room beyond, but the patio doors ajar.... LOL...

Now Tuesday... Hospital! We got there early, 20 minutes, and went straight up stairs to the heart department! Where I only had a five minute wait for the halter heart monitor to be put on... Then we went down to the Xray department, I was supposed to have my hip Xray at 12:15, one of the nurses said that was ok and to wait, so I did! Terri left me there to get another appointment for me... and I went in in about 5 minutes! And found Terri about to get my other appointment settled, wrong place, so we went in search of the right place, oh and earlier we had got my blood test number from the machine, was about 80 people ahead of me, so we knew we had plenty of time.... I have to have another EKG and they are still doing them from 2010, so not sure I will get one before May 3rd!!! [Small miracle required please! Thank you!] Then back to the blood place[!] and we sat outside the area, but where we could still hear and see the numbers slowly clicking by, about 45 minutes I think.... And then in I went, and it was great, well maybe not great, but fine, no bruising, no pain and you can't even see I have had a test done now! Unlike the last one, with the bruising running up my arm which took two weeks to clear!

And so we were out, almost before my last appointment should have been!

Yesterday, had to take the halter monitor back! It had to be back by 9:30am for someone else to use, so we left town about 8:30 and we were back and onto our next errand by 10am here in Alhaurín! We parked at the hospital easily enough, and I remembered the way to the department, a long walk, up stairs and along corridors... I had of course, only been there the day before, but only the once... I found it fine! Brilliant!

And we were in and out in 5 minutes... Took longer for the doctor to get off the phone and tell me to take it off in an office nearby! I opened the door and a bloke was standing there! The day before when I was having it put on a bloke came into the room! Charming!!

Anyway, by 11am, we were at the garden centre having a coffee!! Good days work!

This morning was in the bar to begin, rain threatening, then outside when the chairs came out, and we moved when I started to get rained on, although it may have been an apartment overhead because, we moved under cover just when the sun came out!!!

The band is now playing, the rain cleared for now...

Being completely honest with oneself can be difficult at times. That happens when there is fear of looking at what our true desires are. The Angels remind us that change is okay and we are completely safe at all times. They are with you when you go through changes and support your choices.

TTFN amigos
Marian

Lisa Hannigan & Richard Hawley : Hushabye Mountain (Live Other Voices 20...

2011-04-20T18:20:00.000+02:00