That photo above looks a bit big and creepy! I have at last found out what this bug is, we had thousands of them last year in July I think? Its here somewhere anyway, but it was the summer, they were falling from the wall or the trees above our house, not sure exactly, but you could hear them falling, click click click... I asked the neighbours what they were but they hadn't seen them before! I emailed a few places I found on line, but not a reply back!

Well the other day I was surfing about, as you do! And came across someone to ask, and I got a reply the next day! Above mis amigos is the shield or stink bug! Remember it has a very strong chemical smell about it, left alone, or when stamped on! Ugh, well I didn't actually do that to kill them, but I did have to... so many and going nowhere but hanging around by our back door with no chance to escape anywhere else for them!

They're Latin name is Chlorochroa Sayi! And they come in many shapes, sizes and colors!

So question answered move on....

Thursday already today, week flying past on wings of heat and thunderstorms!

We have been lucky here, only a few spits and spots of rain, over night, when I didn't even hear it, and the other morning just a few drops almost not even making it to the ground before drying!

But in and around Andalucia there have been some awful floods, four or five people killed, cars swept down roads that had turned into rivers... walls collapsing, it was a red alert in those areas, and orange here, but as I say nothing bad here at all.

[Pippa is waiting for her dinner, its only 15:18 and far too early, but if she keeps up this staring thing I may have to give in, she is only inches from me and just waiting.....]

Haven't done much this week, but walking down into town, networking, [great name for just sitting and talking with friends!] Then home, house work, bit of painting here and there, on the walls that is!

Read a bit on line, baked another crumb cake, this time with half a tin of peaches inside, no wise cracks please!

Above photo I took when friend was driving us through Ashridge forest, [England], I think we were just entering the college there...

Made and we have eaten another batch of my home made peaches and yoghurt and lollies!

Ok, OK Pippa I give up, dinner time it is then honey!

Right she is eating now..

I have had two nights in a row of dreaming about Mom, I expect, that is to be expected.

The first dream Mom was with some guy and we were walking around an art gallery and they kept disappearing, I couldn't find them, then I would, and so on, but the dream seemed to be all about the man who was taking away my Mom...

... now this was the sort of dream I used to have when I was small and Mom was dating, I had a reoccurring dream [nightmare], where she and some guy would walk me to the top of a hill, through a door/gate thing, then walk off hand in hand down the hill, leaving me holding on to the bars of the gate watching them leave me...

I suppose this is the BIG leave now! But still the dream of abandonment? At my age??

Then the next dream Mom was just there, I knew she shouldn't have been, but she was just hanging around...

TTFN
Marian

Just thinking about an artical in recent papers about not feeding strays in Mijas... is that Mijas pueblo or Mijas Costa? I have to imagine it means Mijas village itself, because there are a helluva lot of people who feed, vaccinate, care for in general the thousands of stray cats and dogs down on the coast.

I think, could be wrong? But the vast majority of people who do do that are foreigners here, not so many local people care about animals who are homeless...

And now with a 700€ plus fine for doing so... What will the animals do...

Everyone is also still in shock at the roadworks stoppage on the Fuengirola road, its a, sorry make that its THE main road down to the coast for us lot! Incredible that they are stopping the works! They say its the crisis, but making all those workers out of works is surely adding to the crisis!

There was some rain early Saturday morning in the Alhaurín golf and Finca la Mota areas, maybe some more, but didn't see it here, or it had completely dried up by 6:30am when I was about earlier than normal to give Pip her walk before the painter came.

Pippa did about about 8 hours decide he was a friend now and it was not necessary to keep up the bark alarm! And then she was at him all the time he was inside for him to give her attention! Laying on her back for a tummy rub! She is such a hussy!

Once the inside of the front had been done you could really see how dull our paintwork is inside, again, and with the now dry, signs of the damp we had, ugh! So yesterday Franco painted the wall with the front door and window, and I have, as requested cleaned up the area above the marble skirting for when Franco comes home and he is going to paint the wall behind our sofa.. I also painted all that area too, so he can just roller up and down without having to worry about the edging.

Feeling a bit strange today[!] So hoping its just the humidity and not a migraine... And I have been busy, after this morning *networking*, I came home, and have been cleaning up all the mess from Saturday, so much dust! Mostly from where the painter had so much rubbing down to do on the front door, we had it completely surrounded by that spongy tape to stop the draft... in the winter... now, with that gone [for now?] there is such a gap all the way round that when you walk into the living room at first glance it looks like the door is open!!!!

We are thinking though of leaving it like it is, and getting a big heavy curtain to hang there during the evening, and then leaving it pulled back to allow air into the house... we will see...

I always forget to check my lottery tickets on the day, or even for a few days, then I remember and think well maybe I have been carrying around THE wining ticket... Till I have it checked and find its not in my purse!

Back to my strange feeling, I am probably just tired, still too hot for me to sleep, so my usually bad sleep is till worse than ever... Instead of going out this morning I could have just gone back to bed... Where I would probably have been too hot to sleep!

The many strange roads we love to roam, the road we love best is the road to home...

TTFN
Marian

I took this back last year when Mom and I were in Winchester, this is in the Cathedral there, and when we got back I had it blown up, Mom framed it, and it was one of her favourite things to look at... to feel, calmer maybe?

It was a year ago today Mom was given six months to live... Well she beat that given date, not by much, but she did, she told them they would not be telling her her end date! And they didn't!

It was a year ago I lay up here under this wide and stary sky and wished that my Mom wouldn't suffer. I think my wish came true, to a degree, she, very very luckily was not in bad pain until the last few weeks, it was then I knew it was serious, well I always knew it was serious, but, well you know what I mean. Moms pain threshold was way above the norm, lucky girl!

So when she said she hurt, I knew it had to be very very bad...

We fitted a lot in didn't we, those last six months, lots of places,lots of ticks on Mom's bucket list and a great deal of memories...

I was up on the terrace again last night, still our procession went through town, and so again, much local heavy smokey ground cover, so not sure if it was me in the cloud or the town later on, I could see the sky right up above but not over in the direction the meteor shower should have been coming from... so, gave up... bit cooler last night, probably about only 30 up there last night! And a little brisa.... lovely!

This morning I was up even earlier... it was nearer 6am than 7am! And walking Pip in the pitch dark was a little spooky, specially as we seemed to be being followed by a black cat some of the way....!

Now the painter is here, Pippa is not happy, introduced to him, several times, but there is a constant low growling noise going on, she wont rest, but then, a man on a ladder by the windows? This is the reason we got her, to let us know this is wrong if someone is doing this manoeuvre!

I have already, washed the floors, the terrace, done washing, washed my hair.... and that was by 8am! So now I am very hot and very bothered, and I guess pretty much prisoner here now for the day, he is off at ten for breakfast, but wont be gone long enough for me to get far... so I think it will be just down time for Pip to relax a bit!

Oh and we have no TV, Franco, bless him, switched on the light in the cave, which is tripping the system still, so everything went off, including of course sky, and so is taking longer than it should to come back, not sure why I am bothered Saturdays is rubbish on tv, so I have radio One going on on here behind my blog, while I am typing away!

I could probably just ramble away on here all day, and thereby make this one of the longest blogs recorded in the history of the world... So not one to make records[!]...

I will leave you with another photo I had printed out for Mom while she was going through the chemo, she said as the drug was entering her system she thought of this picture and felt the drug a beam of healing light clearing out the bad and bringing goldenness and health back into her...



Yes definitely going now...

The end quote here today, is from last years entry for this day too...


Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

T*imeT*ide...FN
Marian

Few photos taken last Sunday up at El Chorro and the lakes... above near the [now closed and up for sale] restaurant at the top of the mountain overlooking the El Chorro railway station!

Had to pop by our secret picnic area... no one there, that's good, I would have had to collect rental!!


And by the Kiosko restaurant... how deep the water, trees still well under the water... fish as big as... Well big fish! They look healthy enough too, not like the bilge fish down at the ports! Ugh!

........ And now....

Down town this morning, very early, in bank by 9:am, down to Mercadona by quarter past, had to sit and wait for the doors to open! Had tried to get my Euromillons lottery on way down too, but the ol gal that sits there doing her crochet in front of the tv wasn't in sight, so I waited, then I left...


After supermarket I had a cup of té at Bar Cruz, read my paper, then friends joined me, its getting a bad habit, all this *networking* every day, well almost! Although more embarrassing is actually gong from table to table as friends come and go!!! We all do it, we do! And why not? Better than sitting back at home on your lonesome. And talking to people? Well that's something I can do! Its just the getting up that can be a bit painful after a looooong sit down!

Brilliant this morning... the prickly pear man is back [not to be confused with the Mercadona man girls!] The prickly pear man, actually does look a bit like one of his pears... pitted skin, slightly rounded! But quite harmless! And those pears and great, I bought a euros worth, got them home and into the refrigerator, eaten one already and trying not to go eat the lot in one go! But then six for a euro... not bad is it!


Weather bit strange today... not as bad as above the other morning.... We awoke with our heads in the clouds, couldn't see las Delicias at all! Nor them us of course!

Today, cloud, but hot, its 100 up on the terrace now, in the shade, so a bit cooler than this time yesterday, but now even the locals are complaining how hot it is, and without reprise...

Last night I was up on the terrace, after the Virgin de la Gracia had passed by... Video last night, I think I should get a better camera for these videos I do, they're terrible quality... Sorry ;-)

So, afterwards... I opened up a beach chair and laid back! on and off from about 11pm to 1am... no sign of the meteor shower, but then the air was full of rocket smoke, still going off and hanging around in the heavy heat... loads of bats about catching my eye all the time, and the tiniest aircraft so far up, looking like slow moving stars! with red flashing lights!!!

So I gave up, came down and Franco and Pip were fast asleep... In this heat! All the fans going top speed I nearly got blown over trying to lay down!

Couldn't open the window, behind the closed persiana, we were having a street party for the honour of having La Senora de Gracia, She does not visit very often, must take years for her to get around the whole town! They were on chairs at tables that stretched between 3 or 4 houses, the whole [ten foot] width of the street, music and food and drink... should have joined them, but they didn't go to bed much before we were getting up!

Yesterday I decided I would try and find an Avon representative! I have emailed them and now am awaiting them! I give up trying to find things I need here, which I could beam myself into a Boots chemist! Its a nightmare, with cosmetics and stuff for the discerning female in this country! Well when your used to having the huge choice I am used to... So, I have made my choice from the Avon book on line and when she comes, the order is ready amiga!

Tomorrow morning I was meeting a friend at hers and coming into town with her, I was, well am taking a brick with me! She has lost the lid off her water tank once already so we have one to spare(!), I'll probably drop it into her place this evening, I would say when it cools down, but it wont, I shall just have to do it! The best thing to do is wire the lid on the water tanks, but if the holes aren't there already you don't want to be drilling into a possible 50 litre fibreglass tank and see it split open on your roof terrace! So a brick is the answer, and if they both blow off the roof onto the street below? Well buen suerte!

Reason I am not taking it tomorrow now is we need to have the front of our house fixed up, before the rain comes again, its so badly damaged by last winter, rejas are rusty and the house is crumbling in places, Franco saw a local man doing a house up the street about a month ago and brought him back to give us an estimate... He dropped by last evening along with the passing crowds and said he will be here tomorrow morning at 7:am! I said fine, he didn't seem to believe me when I said I am always up at that time, Pippa walked by then too!

Today I got home from town, and did what just about everyone I know does at this time of the year, and that's get into the least amount of clothing you can, allowing for people passing in the street and unsuspecting or should that be unsuspected? callers... Then I had two! First the gas man, thought we don't have a spare at the moment, so get one... Then a knock at the door and its a council man with a water bill? Would have been nice to have got the original water bill of 14.64€ and not the one with the fine which pushed it up to 19.10€, he had dozens, so i suspect its an all round bonus they were after this month!

These things happen more with the new street which came with the new number, we didn't move, just our numbers.... I still wonder when they take the reading whose in all honesty, water supply we are actually paying for?

I was more than a little sad last night laying up there watching for the shooting stars... tomorrow I will tell you more, today for now, no... I am hungry and all typed out!

Fingers crossed for a shooting star tonight... Like last year, lots of wishes to make!

quote from Jades book forever in my Heart "Call to me and I will answer you... I will tell you wonderful memories, things you know nothing about."

TTFN
Marian

Festividad de la Patrona Nuestra Senora de Gracia

Thursday? What happened to the rest of the week amigos....?

back tracking to Sunday, Franco and I went up to the Ardales lakes and to El Chorro... we also climbed up to the restaurant that sits above the reservoir above Bobastro... The restaurant was closed and is up for sale, if any one is interested!

We stopped for a coffee at the little El Chorro railway station, lots of building works going on there, but the bar itself is ok, the birds next has been taken down... danger to those below I guess, in some ways!

Then we went back to the lakes and had a great lunch at the Kisko restaurant, where I had the murluza a la basque, or hake basque style! Won-der-ful....

A nice man gave us some free grapes on the way in, but were all gone when we came out when we went to buy some!

The day was a bit cloudy, so very humid, but without the beating sun a little cooler I guess than it can be in August. It was very very busy and in the restaurant we were lucky to get a table when we did as it filled up soon afterwards!

Monday.... I met up with a friend and her two boys and we went for a drink in town, then to Mercadona for some groceries...

... not sure what else I did, because when I woke up Tuesday I had a migraine! A bad one, and in this heat... its too much, I would rather be cold and then wrap up warm, when your hot, there is nothing you can do, to cool down!

So yesterday, I wobbled down town, got to Bar Cruz, had a té with friends and home again...

Today, well today isn't too good! We are sending emails back and fro to the man who owes Franco money... For some strange reason his daughter seems to be answering all the mail, or interfering you could say!

Franco met with him and her, and a church councillor, [the man isn't religious, so seemed a bit strange?] So again, maybe the daughters interferance? And on hearing what had been going she wasn't very pleased.

The plan was set for the money to be paid to Franco, and its not appeared and doesn't seem it ever will. He had the money, but spent it elsewhere and this is the point which seems to have been overlooked by each of their emails... and ours now, its turned into useless bickering.

Where do we go from here about it? Debt collection? Lawyers?

How can someone who said he was a good friend, who said to Franco he was like a Son to him, pull the wool over our eyes for so long, and the rest of his family? And then just walk away...

His daughter has tried to give us help, [?????] When we said about the huge funeral bill for my Mom, I have checked this out and it seems we are correct in the fact you can only get English benefit for a funeral if your on income support and of course are the deceased wife or husband, or partner of course. Oh and the obvious living in England!!!!

And another piece of information she gave us... is even worse and I wont go into details on here, because believe you me they would be in serious trouble if I did! Well if they are doing what she is suggesting!

Now we don't know if she was just being *thoughtful*, or trying to get us into serious trouble....

Talking of Mom, well kind of... I had a wonderful dream just before I awoke this morning, I was somewhere [I don't know], talking to a woman [I also didn't know!], and writing down my thoughts and feelings for the place I was in, when last there, with my Mom, and in this dream Mom was there by my side, I knew she had passed away, and I was writing how she had loved this place and what we had done there etc...

I kind of thought when I woke up, that one of my fears is being in all the places we used to go, without her, that's one of things really tearing me up... but now, hopefully, if I can, remember this dream and when in one of *our* places I will remember the good things of us being there together, even if its just shopping in Aylesbury, or Hemel, or the many many years in Berkhamsted from me being small to ... to now...

because she will always be by my side....

(wish she was beside the man above just for a minute and give him a what-for, and a signal to pay up!) But I think he is too deaf to hear if you know what I mean.

TTFN
Marian

Thursday I was having a day off from town, but the evening before when I went to feed Pippa I found we had run out of dog food! Poor dog had to eat leftovers from the cannelloni we had the night before... hellish for her! She was in heaven!

... So it was just a quick trip, I left at 9:10 and was back home at 9:39!

Yesterday, yes into town, Bar Cruz and lots of friends to chat to, we are all getting up with the imprint of the chairs on our legs... a kind of lattice work! So attractive! NOT!

I heard of another friend who had her purse snatched while down in Fuengirola about to get the bus back up here... I think I am going to take the minimum amount of things I need out with me in future, if I wont need it, don't take it!

I am reading a good book about Angels at the moment, and strangely on Twitter a lady started following me who is an Angel lady! Very strange... or not depending on how you see things! By the way I hadn't mentioned anything to do with what I am reading, so...

I got a late birthday card yesterday when I was down town, the postage seemed alot for Spain from UK, but said insufficient and was sent by other means??? Wonder what they were? Donkey? Carrier pigeon? Can't have been by boat, it would still be on its way!!!

Not feeling very chatty today, too hot, and in a strop! Was getting stropy in the bank again yesterday! And as I stropped away from the bank I was laughing at myself feeling that way! Mmmm very interesting, just checking out *strop* the word doesn't look correct, especially with that little red wriggly line underneath... but I think most of you know what I mean, although it seems if your Polish you will have read the word *ceiling* or Romanian then the word *drop*!!!! Now I will remember those meanings when I still am having trouble remembering anything in Spanish!

ok, just rambeling on for no reason at all now, so adio amigos..

TTFN
Marian

John Denver - Country Roads

Mom being caught being silly... as was I, which was why the camera was at an angle!

Mom passed away 5 months ago today, will I ever stop crying every day? Still thinking of her last few months, cannot get the images out of my mind.

And keep thinking about being back in the places we would go without her... just doing normal Mom daughter things... I feel like I am mourning her passing and mourning the loss of things we wont be doing anymore.... Everyday should be grabbed by the horns and held onto fast... Even the small things of life, I have a friend here who misses all the mess her husband made around the house, now he is not here to mess it up....

... So can I cheer up now, nope... what's to tell, Tuesday friend and I were supposed to meet up at Bar Cruz, she stood me up! Well we arranged it two weeks for the following week, but she couldn't make it, so we said the week after, wait till I catch up with her! While I was at the bar though some friends I hadn't seen for well over a year came by and sat down and joined me for coffee [tea for me!], and then I got up and moved over to another table where another friend was sitting!

.................... this morning I almost did the same, I sat and had a té, then was on my way to the shop to see a mate when someone came along and I retraced my steps, back to Bar Cruz and another té!

Then to the shop! And home! Too hot to be out too long....

No poem today, but this YouTube of John Denver Take me home, Country Roads

TTFN
Marian

Luny lunes here again, where are the weeks going to...

I met a friend this morning, we were going to Coín she wanted some bits from Lidl there, we were nearly quarter hour early for the bus which was 10 minutes early and left the stop as soon as we were on, thank goodness we're early birds!

Then when we had shopped the bar over the road was closed, for holidays one of the girls in Lidl told us, handy time for your holidays, the hight of tourist season don't you think?

We had to hike my friends trolley, well a bag on wheels really, not a solid thing, so it had a life of its own! Another bar was also shut, so it was up the hill towards the social security offices and the bar there!

We came back down half hour before bus was due, just in case, next bus wouldn't be for another 2 and half hours! Anyway got to talking to a woman there, she has been told it will be a further 2 years before the Fuengirola road opens!!!! I hope they meant it will be 2 years... period! So that would be next April... I cannot believe it could take two more years on top of that!!!

It was supposed to be open this month, as far as the La Cala turn off, then closed again till Christmas and finally opened down to the coast... who knows, too many rumours going around, but this woman today, sounded like she knew forsure....

So, the bus came, we went back to Alhaurin and stopped with friends for a refreshing drink, was joined by more friends, one of which offered to take my mate to the poligio Rosa! She needs a new top for her water tank!

But first he and I wanted to see inside the new library in Alhaurín el Grande, WOW, I had wanted to go to the opening, obviously didn't see that it was opening on Friday 31st July, but it was ok, a couple of thousand other people did!

Its an amazing looking place from outside and very beautiful inside also, we tried to get library cards, but were told to come back when it was quieter... yes you can guess, lines of people to check out books and only one girl working!

I am looking forward to going back, because I saw the art gallery, which had a pond in the corner! Well I am sorry, I know its not a pond, but in the far corner, the floor is cut away at an angle and there was about a ten inch drop down, and the area was full of water, so it looked like a small pond, not a fountain... So not sure what it was!

Then there was a huge area on the first floor full of computers, all free to use, so many I couldn't count them! The room high high ceiling and lots of light from the tall windows taking up the whole of the wall on one side...

Then 2nd floor was the library, lots of seating, some sofa chairs, tables, reading stations, I actually also didn't see as many books as I would have expected to, but maybe I didn't look properly, so maybe tomorrow...

From there it was off to the industrial estate and the big ferreteria [hardware] there, and we were taken to the warehouse, and we picked the water tank lid!

Back, [all of this by car] to the store and then tried to buy it! I guess it should have been part of the whole, the tank the lid, so it took a while to get the price... but job done! Now my friend can have a tapa to her tank! There were loads of people I knew in the store! I had never even been in it before, it is very popular, more so I think as a girl working in there is English! Some friends I saw in there I had previously seen in town and not seen before since last year! So we have lots to catch up on and they are going to pick me up and take me to they're home in the next week or so, and we can relax and have a good talk...

... y al final, the passport photos I had done last week are too small, so I must have them done again tomorrow...


I thought of you and how you love this beauty,
And walking up the long beach all alone
I heard the waves breaking in measured thunder
As you and I once heard their monotone.

Around me were the echoing dunes, beyond me
The cold and sparkling silver of the sea --
We two will pass through death and ages lengthen
Before you hear that sound again with me.

Sarah Teasdale


TTFN
Marian

Yet another shot of the El Dorado soap set! After lunch today with friends at the Moreno restaurant, near Alhaurín golf, we drove off to the El Cine for a cool drink and an ice cream while watching the people enjoying themselves in the swimming pools, we four sat on a wall, in the shade and listened to the music and the crickets and the cicadas...

This one above wont make much sense, I took it through the rejas to the side of the 'Church' in El Dorado, as you can see, nothing inside at all! A string hanging down there for the bell, and that's it!

I should have zoomed in on these two above and below and then up loaded them, so my mistake but you can zoom in, have to make this slightly interactive here for once! Above is a firing range of some sort....

and here... while waiting outside the vets while Franco bought Pip some doggie ice cream... men pulled up in that van there, did at least open the rear doors and when you zoom in there are two little Podenco dogs like Pippa, hope they behave themselves... hate knowing what happens to them when they are no longer needed here....

And briefly back to Pippa's ice cream, some landed on his hand and he licked it off without thinking... it was awful he said! So your all right Pip we wont be wanting your ice cream....

Now its not quite so bright out in the mornings, days drawing in already!!!! I am about the right height for the bats line of flight, a few times over the last few days I have had to duck my head quickly, I know they shouldn't hit me... but don't want one stuck in my hair!!!!

TTFN
Marian

Some family photos today, seems like everybody is posting them these days, so while I was scanning, well earlier, I thought later I would scan some of mine too!

Above Mom and Dad after a trip to Coney Island....My Dad looks like he is standing to attention!

Which works well with the next shot [get it??] of him during WW2... He was about 19 or so, maybe 20, I have a couple of letters my wonderful Aunt Rita gave me, that he had wrote to her during this time...


And here above, my Dad with his brother, my Uncle Charlie... Well...I wonder if they won the canary at the fair too?

And finally above, my Dad with his Mom, Carmela.... who I am named for, my Dad was so skinny, looks like the uniform is pinned on!

Was my Dads birthday last Saturday, I think I mentioned that already...

He bought me a little gold bracelet with a crab on it, when I was baptised I think, not sure, I have a silver bracelet from same time, I lost the bracelet one Christmas, the boys and I were in Hemel Hempstead, we got home to Gt Gaddesden and it was gone....

So little I had of my Dad and that went missing....

So today anyway, a small group of us met up at Bar Cruz in the centre of town and had a drink for Cyril, well you know, tea and coffee, but that's what we normally have!

Once home I have been following some ants... there is a little trail of them in the back [passage!], they are coming out of the wall down on one side, crossing over the floor to the wall, up that, over the outside window sill, then up the window frame and along and back into the wall!

Yesterday Franco and I bought a couple of ant trap things,I picked the one up that was under the cooker and placed it in they're line of journey, they are supposed to want to go into it, and take something with them back to base and expire all within! But they seem to be doing a pretty good job of avoiding it altogether!

These traps are all right, well I am hoping they're all right, but you cant put them where you want to because of Pippa anyway....

TTFN
Marian

Few more photos from my birthday weekend!

Er... Me, what a state.... not like Mom an Empire State of mind... me, as you can see in my Californian State of mind... that's hippy I think! Don't you!


I also, just publishing and then looking at that awful pic up there... my shorts are only just holding up! What a STATE!

Franco sunbathing on the edge.... Don't get up on the other side of that sun bed! Heck...



y al final... the gas station at El Dorado... looks a little deserted eh!


So...
Last night I was sitting on the door step with Pip waiting for Franco to come home... Awwwww! And three women came past, I said hola! they said hello back... then stopped talked, came back to me and asked "do you speak English?" I said yes, it's more or less my native language! After we stopped laughing they said they needed to get back to the high street, so I gave them directions... now this morning, friend and I were sitting outside a bar, and three women walked past, absolutely sure these were the same three from last night I asked if they had found they're way into town... they looked at me and said what? and sorry, you must have the wrong people!....

how bizarre... but then maybe think I was the *bizarre* in this instance! My friend said maybe it was them but they were drunk last night and didn't [want to] remember! Who knows!

Its getting hotter, if it could, just ran up now to the roof terrace to bring in the rather stiff washing, its 102 in the shade... Needless to say I didn't hang about up there to sizzle!

Had a weird dream last night, as usual, about Mom again, as usual, better than the one I had the other night where I was riding a kangaroo!

Kangaroo

To see a kangaroo in your dream, refers to maternal and paternal protection. You may be expressing your nurturing and mothering nature. Perhaps, you are being too overly protective. Alternatively, a kangaroo symbolizes aggression. If the kangaroo is hopping, then the dream is analogous to how you jump from one thing to another. You lack the ability to stick to one thing.

To dream that a kangaroo attacks you, indicates that your reputation is being called into question. meani

Well that's what it said on a web site! Well it was hopping and I am constantly at the moment going from one thing to another to keep my mind busy, only thing I can do to stop myself from thinking about Mom constantly still... but I was riding this kangaroo, so who knows eh!

Also the week before there was that awful news reel about the hideous things they do to kangaroos in Australia, so maybe it was just that!

Tomorrow coffee at Bar Cruz for Cyril...

TTFN
Marian

Paolo Nutini - Last Request (US Video)

Caught up with Woody when we were in the garden centre the weekend of my birthday! He was tired of all the red carpet hullabaloo!

I have just had the most surprising telephone call! I have been looking for Borax, I said something about Borax on Twitter and it got picked up by someone who had an idea to get rid of ants with Borax... I have been looking everywhere for it, well wherever I go! In the end I actually emailed the head office of Borax in California and today a man from their office Malaga called me! To begin I was, hey howd you get my phone number!!!!???

But then when I let the poor man speak he told me they had asked him to contact me about why I wanted it, and how much, and to tell me where I can get it!

Well the power of the internet eh!

And I was going out this morning, but at the last minute with door and windows all shut, everything switched off I realised I just couldn't make it, either down into town or even to the end of the street!

I decided instead to relax and watch the series Heir Hunters, so sad that so many people just don't have anyone close when they die, these on this TV series are people who have left no will, either because they have no idea of where they're family are, or have just not bothered of course.

Once case last week a man died, alone, no family it seems, he had left home at 17yrs, the last his parents or siblings ever saw of him, he moved down south, as unbeknown to him had one of his older brothers a few years later, they lived for over 50 years, and died, only 20 minutes away from each other without ever knowing the other was there... or even alive i guess...

They found a couple of sisters still living out of 6 or 7 siblings, and some nieces and nephews, they were sad, were glad they could at last know what had happened to him...

Just checked my *In* box and there is my email and the details of where I can get the Borax from! Although it is seeming a bit strange like its an illegal substance! I may well need help in calling and ordering it though, no doubt this man's English will not be as good as the one I spoke to just now... because of course my Spanish would fail miserably!

Yesterday... Tuesday, I went into town, got a few bits and had a té, then a friend joined me and I had another couple of té! I had told Pip I wouldn't be long, but then I guess she never believes how long I will be gone any more!

I also got passport photos done, took a while it was so hot in there I was glowing! I must get the forms all filled out and posted off as soon as I can find someone to sign the back who is official!

Friday we are meeting up at the Cruz bar in town to have a coffee for Cyril... Cant believe he passed away a year ago on 31st...

below another poem from Mom's book to me...

It was a joy to see you grow
- but a sadness too
- for you found your independence
and no longer needed me.
But now I see
that the years have given
more than they have taken
- and I celebrate my daughter
and my friend.
Pam Brown

TTFN
Marian

Took my birthday cards down today, usually leave them up a while longer yet, but...

And its my Dad's birthday today, he would have been 85, bless him, he never even got to make it to half that age though.

Not going to post this today, sounding not so good so far....

Well above was Saturday.... So will have to work hard to refresh my memory from last week now!

Well seems I was having a moan about the local bank! So I guess that was Tuesday... Wednesday I think I may have just been about the house, Thursday I stopped by a friends house for a coffee or tea, and then straight home from what I remember!

Back to Monday briefly, above the bus time table in Alhaurín de la Torre, yes that 10 foot high sign, lists the times of buses, not when they will arrive at that bus stop, but at what time they will leave Malaga bus station, or Coín for instance!!!??? Whereas the norm would be to tell at what time it would be at which stop!

Also, as you can guess the table for our bus was placed furthest away, at the top, so about 10 foot up in the air and impossible to read anyway!


And of course above is the wonderful chocolate cake I had that day... death by chocolate he called it, too many of those... and well, who knows!!!

Friday friends picked me up near the crossroads! I had been talking to a road sweeper, he works 7 days a week, I said he must be rich from working every day but he said no, the wages were poor!

We had some fun out walking a few mornings last week, a dog walking friend who has two dogs, we met up a couple of days and her dogs always bark at Pippa, who now, will always bark at them! They're big dogs too so we have to take evasive manoeuvres when we see each other! Either she hides, with her dogs behind a big car, or we suddenly walk in the other direction! Either of which must be quite amusing if we're being observed!

Saturday we went to Ikea, Franco had to get some bits for friends, we of course, stopped for lunch there, Franco had a huge lamb shank, which he enjoyed, and I had the wonderful meat balls with the more than wonderful sauce, but decided against the gravy in fear of MSG!

We didn't look around up stairs, it was packed! Which is good, for them, so we only *did* downstairs, on checking out as usual people in front had items with no prices, but scarily enough Franco knew they had only picked up a part of a light fitting, and that was why there was no price on it! Last time he knew how much some tea clothes were, and that it was a four pack! I think he goes there more often than I do!

We came back through Churriana and the Lidl there, and then home!

Sunday I got up, took Pip for her walk and then went back to bed with a headache, got up after a couple of hours and took a migraine tablet... but was so hot, I just couldn't settle and that made it worse, and I think I eventually got up about 8pm... Don't know why it happened, my neck hurt so I guess that was it!


Above is a quite poor photo of the park near the Coín bus station, there were a couple of dozen or more men there... all chatting in the shade of those big old trees, they watched the world go by as we watched them! And we had plenty of time to watch them, on the internet it said the bus would be there at 1pm, but the one that came, was just passing by, and in the wrong direction, he said he would be back at 2pm, and he was!

And now I think I need a cup of tea, never drunk so much in my life, but it seems to cool me down more than coffee, and cold drinks just make me hotter! Have just been try8ing to find a product Franco saw on TV yesterday, some sort of cool mat thing to lay down on and cool you down, it was on *Something for the weekend*, but I cant find it mentioned any where!

Adio amigos...

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.
Judy Garland

What a nightmare of a day! If I say the word Bank... it will explain it all!

First the bank here.... typical walking in enquiring around the group of people with terrified looks on their faces backs to the walls around the room, found the one I was behind and I went and stood at the line.... because that's what its for!!!

Only two people in front of me but still took 25 minutes for me to be served?

Then back home, still no word about Mom's estate being finalised... from here you cant phone a free phone number, so I found another, probably a high premium number which when the bills comes through will double the bill... because the first call was 32 minutes, the second 20 minutes, both with similar starting code, so same price, I guess!

The first bank... I enquired how long these things take to complete, my Son had had to pay all the bills as I live out of the country and it had to be paid before I left England... they said, oh they because I spoke to two different people, 3 or 4 letters had been posted with reference to Mom's account, that they were awaiting important documents to complete the business! Oh these were sent to Moms house? Well she isn't there, and the person who is will have probably just thrown the letters away, because, un like Mom they hadn't *returned to sender*, because they were have had them back by now!

Seemed strange, as these documents were done four months ago while I was there!

So I then took the next option, speak to the person at the other bank... this was a call to a call centre, the lady who answered the phone there had trouble understanding me! I spelt out Berkhamsted several times, but I could hear her saying Hampstead, er.... what address? Finchley Road... And I am going no... BERKhamsted.... I even checked on the computer and said right its whatever number High Street, she said and the county? arh...... Herts!!!!

Eventually she said, hang on I will ask my supervisor... she came back in a few minutes, right, Berkhamsted.... I have it now! yeah well....

I was then transferred to the branch... and the lady I wanted is off today, [of course], I had to explain everything to someone else, who is calling me back... hopefully, he says all the documents the first bank wanted, were sent in early April to the correct office!

So we are back to square one, without the snakes and ladders, and didn't collect £100!

Apparently this should have been all completed in about two weeks.

So watch this space!

And moving on.... those photos look great don't they? Well I mean, seeing them like that, I will leave them there for a week maybe.

Ok I am exhausted, having washing to hang out, and am hungry....

so its adios from me...

TTFN
Marian

Monday already, and I got through the weekend, sounds bad, I'm sorry, it wasn't it was a truly memorable weekend thanks to Franco...

With my birthday on Saturday and knowing how I was feeling we were busy almost from dawn to dusk on both days!

I did shed tears while walking Pippa as aforementioned i think on the early blog I did that day...

I packed our picnic and we were off about 10am mas ó menos....

We got up to the Ardales lakes and pulled up right out side the Kiosk restaurant/bar...

Not too busy yet! We couldn't see anywhere to sit for the day, the water was up beyond the trees, in places the trees were well under the water! amazing considering the heat we have, but then considering the amount of water that fell, four years worth, I expect these reservoirs will be full for some considerable time!


After a coffee at the bar, we drove to the other side of the lake, where the photo below was taken, lots of fish!

The barrier there would be high to climb over, but the water was up to it anyway, so a big NO to parking ourselves there!

We then drove on... over the other reservoir and well on our way to the flamingo lakes! We tried a couple of places near the water, but with no trees we would have baked along with the ground there!

So we turned about, back past everything and took the El Chorro road, then the Bobastro road and climbed that, in the car, that is! We went up past the huge reservoir near the top of that mountain! And we pulled off the road in a place we have done so before, I had an idea...

Around the corner from where we parked was the perfect place to spend our day... its right on the edge of the mountain, with the most fantastic vista before us...

The mountain had a hang over to give us shade, and as long as we didn't get too close to the edge.... we would be fine... and we were!

I hung a rubbish bag from a rock, we opened up our chairs, we had the food in the shade, the radio on another ledge... we found a great local station but it was playing hits from the 80's and 90's, perfecto!

I was like some hippy, dancing and singing along, on the edge! we rolled up our shorts, and I had my nicbini [that's bikini to everyone else, nearly!] top on...

A couple of cars pulled up and people were taking photos of the vista, then saw us! Don't know what they thought! Probably that we were living there!

We didn't leave until 530pm, I nearly finished reading a Earnest Hemingway book, very appropriate don't you think! The Sun Also Rises....

Our food.... all home made, even the mayonnaise... I made some meatballs I had seen made of TV the other day, normal to the point of adding a rue sauce, and rolled in bread crumbs before deep frying... potato salad, cole slaw, tomato salad with mozzarella, gazpacho! And a whole load of crisps and nibbles bits! A few different cold drinks as well... No wonder I was so exhausted making this lot of Friday afternoon!

oh I forgot some fruit pies as well, I made four little mini pies! fruit with crumble on top!

Needless to say, we didn't eat half of it, and had picnic at home for dinner last night too! With the home made mayo I have thrown away every with that in it today, just in case!

So we left about 530... On our way home we drove in Casarabonela, a village I had always wanted to visit, it's on a sign post to and fro the lakes and, well being Bonelli, and it being bonela... you can see my fascination!???

We managed, at last to park! And we had a wander about, came to the town hall and we could see the view of Alhaurín el Grande, and at last, I was where I look over to every day from our terrace!

We sat just off the square and had a drink, I ventured a glass of vino tinto, and was drunk after half a glass, as usual, cheap date that I am! I then got a bit melancholy, so we were off outta there... before I could take a turn for the worse!

The day wasn't over yet! We stopped off in Cartama for ice cream at the ice cream parlour on the way out of town!

Can't remember what time we got home, nearly 9pm i think! I picked up Pippa's bowl, emptied the dried food out onto the counter to fill bowl with her dog food, and then, and only then did I notice the ants! Considering they were half way up both my arms, all over the counter and then in the new dog food... I guess I was a little slow to say the least! I threw the new food straight into the bin, the bowl into the sink and ran water, grabbed a load of paper towel wet it and cleaned up the ever spreading army of ants that were running like crazy across the counter and up two walls to escape the strange new place!!!!

I cleared it all up screaming as I went, it only took a few minutes for all of this, Franco walked in, What's going on? What ants? Arh... look in the bin!

Then... Sunday.... Franco had more plans, we were off early back to Cartama and we climbed the mountain to the chapel there... Virgen de los Remedios Chapel, then continued up higher to the ruins of the castle, phew, what a climb!

We came down, and stopped off in a garden centre on the Coín road, we had coffee's and little bacon and cheese baguettes... We bought ice creams and wandered around the garden centre...

Then..... On our way to check on friends house we popped into the El Dorado [El Cine], and we had another coffee! and wandered around by the newly refurbish lake, for fishing, and the wonderfully refurbished two swimming pools! Well worth visiting there, if you live here, or to take visitors! Then it was a few shots of the old film studio houses etc, and off....

Then we went home!

phew... so we were very busy all weekend which was good...

Today, Monday, friend and I got the bus, as arranged to Alhaurín de la Torre, we just fancied a different view... er yes I know I had already had plenty of those over the weekend, but we planned this a couple of weeks ago!

We had a cold drink, a wander around and waited an hour for the bus back!

And now I am tired out from all this writing, its late and I need to eat!

Was wondering how I could show you all the photos I took over the weekend, I have put them on Flickr.com, my name on there is Manisavane, so if you can look there, you should be able to, try it and see, good luck!!! And I will paste more on here, if I see no one has been to visit there!

Ok so above makes no sense because I have added it to my blog up there on the top on the right!!

TTFN
Marian

Today is my first birthday without my Mom in this world...

I will be ending this with another poem from the *Daughter* book she gave me.

Mom was my first thought when I awoke this morning from a night of awful dreams... when I got to sleep at all, not just my Fibro, but most people are not sleeping in this heat...

Walking Pippa this morning with tears running down my face... we are going out for the day, I know a change of scene cannot change how my mind will be working, but am hoping for distractions, and I know Franco and I will spend the day talking and just being together, there will be laughter.... along with my tears....

Pippa will be house sitting, sorry baby...

the poem below by Margaret Mead 1901-1978

You can go without regret
Away from this
familiar land,
Leaving your kiss
upon my hair
And all the future in your hands....

TTFN
Marian

Sorry, with regards to my fragile state of mind I am drawing inspiration from a book my Mom gave me September 2007...

Monday I had not just a normal [bad] day but a real awful day, being Franco's birthday and mine approaching, and no cards from Mom i was a real mess, didn't get out of the house till the doctors appointment, after just being upset it went from bad to worse when I remembered a book Mom had given a few years back, entitled *Daughter* A Giftbook. I remembered it, went up stairs to the bookcase that I move about every so often which mean taking all the books out in the process and refilling it, so any book could be anywhere... but lo and behold the book was on top! how? who knows? then in the bathroom a light bulb went out, but later, it was working fine.... signs signs signs...

Anyway I started reading the book and was a complete sobbing wreck....

And below is one of the poems...

Walk gently my daughter
Through life's joys, songs and triumphs.
For my love will be there in your heart.

Walk gently my daughter
Through all life's great mysteries.
For my love will be there in your heart.

Linda Macfarlane

TTFN
Marian

Tuesday, i think!

went to doctors last afternoon, 5:30pm and as hot outside as walking into a furnace... my legs felt like they were actually being burnt!

but anyway, the doctors... i think i decided last time i saw this doctor i wouldn't go to him again, so i had almost half hour visit, and he was in the room for about 15 of them, at the most, took two phone calls, and left the room twice and stayed out for quite a few minutes each time.....!!!!

i said my blood pressure was high, he checked it and said yes it was very high.

he put a strange strappy contraption on me that linked my ankles wrists and chest together, then a piece of paper printed out for a while with him moving the chest bit about.

then, he took my BP again, this time not holding the gauge.

he asked me what meds i am on, i said just the anti inflammatory and he said it was probably that causing the high BP and to take only one a day.

he asked if there was any high BP in the family and i said yes my Mom.

any heart disease and i said yes on my Fathers side.

i stupidly [maybe] mentioned the palpitations and said that they and another few things i had thought were something else i am... er going through shall we say. and he said, oh no, you cant be. well i am of that there is no doubt!

he wrote a prescription, then asked my age!

i offered him information i thought he should have asked... as in my not smoking, not much of a drinker, i don't add salt to anything, and with my MSG problem not even any sodium, eat well enough, am not over weight.

for some reason i thought he should have asked about those? but then, i also thought he might want to check my cholesterol levels? but then he didn't even listen to my heart... SO?

so last night i took a tablet for anxiety! looked on the internet at its information and it can be given to people who are giving themselves palpitations!!! and or misleading signs of heart problems when there are none.

so what's with the high blood pressure then? does that mean nothing till i keel over or what?

oh and i am leaving the anti inflammatories altogether, they do say they can lead to heart failure, i'll take pain killers instead as i wasn't offered another choice!

nearly forgot to mention this tablet knocked me out within 2 hours of taking it, bit slurred speech and clumsy, was still high in my blood stream on getting up and only really in the last hour or so do i feel normal tired[!] just about out by the time i get to take another one.

i will persevere until i see him again in two weeks.

TTFN
Marian

Moon over the Med

Vamos El Rojos!

yeah won on the Euro☺Millones! €9.61.... ok ok it isn't much is it, but i did say i was going to win, and i did!

and that's about it for today... Formula 1 on tv now whilst i am writing and watching at the same time, then footy later... and its vamos el rojos! come on the reds!!! later, i re tweeted a tweet from Kate reference Paul the Octopus who is deciding all the games of late! and now lil Paul is following me... oh how life is, i never expected to be followed by an octopus! how much better can life get!?!

we popped out earlier just to check on friends house, buy a carton of milk and hurry home for the TV action! its past hot out there, being in the mid 40's still at 8 and 9pm... in the 30's by the time for sleep, which means no one is....

and with the heat we are having an outbreak of ants, or would that be an in break? they are coming out of all the door frames, the door frames just hang there, not sealed or anything so anything in the brick work, works its way out to freedom! one sniff of food, or anything Pippa may deem to leave about the house makes it open house for them... i saw Pip (please look away now anyone with a gentle stomach!) had been sick, grass and bits, erm, anyway, i went to clean it up and saw the main bulk of it was just ants! and the two lines soldiering there way to remove it! well thanks very much but i would rather do that myself, ants are like carrion aren't they, instead of crows and magpies removing road kill, ants remove household edibles!!!

the other afternoon i picked up Pippa's bowl to put her dinner in it and found it to be alive with ants trying to carry off her dried food that's normally left in the bowl all day, so i am checking that out every time i go into the kitchen and cleaning it meticulously in the evening leaving it clean and empty!

and the little devils hurt too they nip you, its erm... the formic acid, no wonder it stings! and once you pick something up they're on they're up your hand and your arm so quickly its hard to decide what to do first, drop whatever all over the floor or get the ants off!

sorry Pip no midnight snacks for you, the ants could carry you off starting with that little black shiny nose of yours if you stick it in there in the dark! ah my poor baby...

yesterday.... woke up with headache, again, just walked Pip, and back to bed after some breakfast, got up about 2pm... cant keep doing this, maybe the doctor will have some answers tomorrow...

TTFN
Marian

couple of shots of the new road we used on Sunday along with half of the rest of the town! no wonder its so flat... its wide enough for three lanes in some places, so a lane each way with a crawler lane for the up hill truck struggle... but in the papers two years ago it said two lanes each way with crawler lanes on both sides? cant see it somehow.... hope there will still be room for the central reservation also planned, but???

and below just one photo of the airport!

i should have taken more maybe!

well the week has passed already, Wednesday i back in town *networking*... great name for sharing coffee and chit chat round town isn't it!

still feeling head achey and so yesterday morning awoke with a head ache, walked Pippa and more or less spent the day in bed! it never reached migraine status which i know is good, but it was just so bad i couldn't sleep? so was just laying there really, and every time i moved just a little too much Pip was jumping up and expecting me to get up, and each time i tried just that, coming down stairs, having a cup of tea, or coke (caffeine!) she would stay up there on the bed!

i think it was about 4pm when i came down, about then, took aNother pain killer... she came down that time, dinner time!

this morning i had to get into town for Euromillion lottery, i am winning it this evening, sorry everyone else, it just has to be done! and we needed a few bits of food. 5 items = €13.05, seems a lots! bananas, a little chicken (breast), four yoghurts, coffee and a bag of green salad!

wasn't out long, talk in town was mostly about the news (English), the warning of a 30° high for a couple of hours this afternoon! and the NHS (medical) hot line to phone in case of any problems associated with the heat! it was already over 30° here by the time most of us got to talking about the news report, and are expecting a minimum of 40°, but that is only the street heat... not the furnace that will be everyone's terraces by 4 or 5 or even 6pm! it just keeps on getting hotter during the day.... till we all melt through the cracks in our marble flooring!

i have also made an appointment now to see the doc, Monday evening, even sneezing is now starting a chain reaction of palpitations or head aches?

TTFN amigos
Marian

i don't think i posted this photo of Pippa on my blog did i! i'm sorry she does look a little cheeky there.... but she was actually relaxing [on the sofa] watching the football, and proudly supporting my team!

not much in the food for chatting today feeling a bit head-achy and cant seem to spell (no difference there!) but actually its not spelling which is the problem its the typing and typos that go with it when my head hurts... all the way down to my toes! and every joint in between!

may have done too much yesterday, friend and i thought we would go to Malaga airport for a recky... you know see how it is these days, we arranged this last week and i didn't know i would be going on Sunday! i also took 3, even spaced out before you yell! travel sickness meds, but i wonder if they are making me feel bad now, i felt bit weird when i got home...

anyways....
Sunday Franco and i took Maria and their Mom to the airport for their flight back to England... car parking has changed... not actually where it is, just how you get into it! now you drive past it and come back down the road and in from the opposite direction! so not rocket science, we parked at the very top, the 4th level, under the car port type covers they have there...

before i go... this is added later, we stopped for coffee at the bar in Terminal 2, begins with R... cant remember its name, but its the only one there... anyway, after check in, we wanted 3 café con leche y un té... easy order? the tea was green tea, alright if that's what you ask for, but when milk has been added its pretty yuck! Maria changed it for another coffee just in case, all the coffees were different, Franco's was good, mine was tasteless, Maria's horrid, and their Mom's... heavy on the sugar! but that's because Franco had put it and not stirred it! Ummmmm honey!!!

exit 2 is still departures and 0 for arrivals.... well i say that! but although departures terminal 2 is still the same there are no arrivals underneath it! as when we landed in March you only come out of the new terminal 3 building, you can come outside and walk along outside if you want! but if you use the elevators or lifts you go up and either walk or use the moving walk thingy to get yourself along to the car parks!

so i guess its exit 2 for departures and then you make your way following the many many signs along to terminal 3 and ground floor for meeting and greeting!

have i made that sound confusing? it isn't.... departures is just extended really is the best way of looking at it, the check-in desks have more than doubled in number, and the security/passport control is all down at the new end... passing Starbucks etc, its in the bottom left hand corner, big and open and much much better now...

from that end there are stairs etc downstairs which take you directly to arrivals, you can wait for people inside, or out side... you can even peer in to the carousel area and see who you might be waiting for from there! there is also a restaurant there, the old restaurant in the old arrivals area was cheap and cheerful, a coffee and cake was within easy reach to all and sundry! i usually paid under 2€ for them! this place is 1€50 for a coffee, 10€ for a wrap and many other delights at delightful prices!!! it might be cheerful but not cheap, and where have those old guys gone... on the heap no doubt with their old bar and accessories!

the airport buses are all outside the new terminal 3, we, well i, got us on the wrong bus! we asked for Malaga bus station, but it went to the port... handy, for the port! so we had a 15 minute walk to the bus station on the way back, the charge was 2€ to get there, but only 1€.50 to get back, i wonder if that's because it was the port, even if it is further to go? who knows!

still lots of construction going on, the new rail station for nearer access to the airport isn't finished, the new run way of course, still not done, but its looking good! photos tomorrow, i really am struggling here, so i am going...

TTFN
Marian

a few photos today of the results of the 8 hector fire on the Sierra de Mijas, didn't know exactly how much a hector was, so just Googled it! 8 hectors = 0.03 square miles... so not much really at all is it!

the photo above shows the fire damage on the mountain right there in the middle of the photo, well sort of, slightly blackened...


these shots above and below are much better views.... the smell is still quite strong too, not nice at all....

its not still smouldering which is how the one above looks, that's the window! we had a few spits and spots of rain yesterday, and again today, then drying almost instantly and of course is filthy rain! always is in the summer.... like its been hanging around in the clouds gathering dust!

and the longer the time between rainfall the dirtier the water! so every ones car are bad...


the fire was on both sides of the road as you can see, amazing how it jumps, most reports are that it was caused by an electrical station, and they were certainly doing lots to the electric station afterwards, although some say it was a cigarette, i think that's incorrect.

now a couple of things i keep forgetting to tell you! or maybe i have? five years of walking Pippa through the car park near here, but the first year that the 12 or more trees have been humming! well the bees are! its never happened before but its so noisy sounds like these vuvuzelas on the tv just now... what shall we do when the footballs over? my last team is out(?) Brazil was a rather tenuous link, my Grand Fathers brothers who moved there over 100 years ago!!! who i have to find... oh Mom! how??? although i have found a site now where, for a penny or more, you can have freedom to the ships records... so i will do it, when i can!

er... anyway, my usual digression... back to the bees! they are so fervent in their collection of the pollen the petals are all over the ground! and now even the little yellow stems from inside! there are a little fewer now than a month ago, but they're still trying their luck! Pip and i walk beneath the trees fearlessly....!

then there is a poor dog, i forget about him most days, or even weeks, but he lives in a garage, frosted glazed window, that is all, poor dog, sounds like an Alsation... what a life, or lack of one.

Tuesday i had a date with Val! my friend who i used to work for from Cristinas the newsagents in town, was great to see her, she has been over here for a couple of weeks, and is now back in England and i guess back to work on Monday!

Val was over here with her two sons, we had coffee and a bite to eat at Bar Rosa, and then the boys wanted a game of golf, so we went to Alhaurín Golf club, and they did! and we sat and continues chatting on the veranda of the bar... was lovely up there, so peaceful. i had never been in there before, but then i suppose as we don't play golf why would we!

... ok yes i did do the Million Dollar hold in one job, so i have been on a few courses, i forgot that!

Thursday i caught up with someone else not seen for a long time, a friend of Cyrils, we used to all have coffee together outside Bar Cruz, can't believe its nearly been a year since Cyril passed away... we're going to meet up again at the end of this month down at Cyrils bar and have a drink to him...

heck Germany winning 4-0 to Argentina, don't think Argentina are going to catch up in the 2 minutes, however much extra time they give it! erm...

yesterday i stopped for a chat with friends and joined them... been a week of that hasn't it!

one minute of extra time... its not going to happen Argentina now, be serious!

this morning Franco and i went down to the coast and got a few things we needed on our way to see his Mom Maria and Dawn, they will all be back in the UK by tomorrow evening, they're all tanned and relaxed which is what a holiday is all about, didn't see enough of them, so close but so far really... things we needed before hand were some meds, the anti inflammatories you can just get without the hullabaloo up here! oh good word and it must be right, no red wiggly line underneath! i also got some more travel sickness meds, these have caffeine, whereas the others i got, hadn't and i really don't need anything to make me (more) tired!

and on our way back a quick trip to Iceland! (Overseas supermarket), can't believe how much traffic there was down on the coast today, but the sales have started here now, so minus the extra IVA (VAT) that went on everything here in Spain as of July 1st, and the prices of sales stuff here are always so cheap! it was crazy down there, people driving in the wrong lanes, no signalling, bad parking and absolutely no consideration for other drivers... oh hang on, that's all normal...!

It is the sign of a well educated mind to be able to entertain an idea without accepting it - Socrates

TTFN
Marian