January 20th, 2020 Hartlebury..

Why? Just because I came across it!

A good friend sent a photograph from 'home' this week, I replied 'that had been my view also...

Familiar to me as my own face in the mirror...'

But, catch up needed! One week here, where did I close? 

Oh okay, a little depressingly.. 

Two photographs from the flight... Full moon, and the second very very low cloud/fog.. 

You'll have to zoom in on that second one to see the tops of wind turbines!! 

Hang on I'll do it now, in a minute!! 

That's how low the cloud was! 

So I landed! Great flight, except for a beverage spillage! Stewardess gave me my tea and it slid straight off the table thingy and onto my lap! I quickly caught it though and only a little leakage, luckily, as very hot contents!! 

In my haste to catch it I sort of threw or dropped my card ready in my hand to pay with .. 

And had to get ladies behind me to search for it!

The day before I'd had two cans of coke explode in front of me so a second beverage incident didn't come as a shock! There was a third and now it seems to have gone from my mind?? 

Since I've been back I've sorted out lots I needed to, and I have done it all, in a week! 

I have made two trips to the lockup where my possessions are residing!

The first journey I went, got a case and brought it back! Long haul back, only seven minutes but uphill and I literally couldn't breathe when I got in! Had to sit for half an hour, before opening the case, only to find out that sods law was about to come into effect, to find only boots and bags!! 

So today, we went again, better selection of things, I opened cases and took what I needed! Much better idea, and son pulled the case home!

And Christmas is coming to Nottingham! Watched them start with the big wheel the other day!

M.

Leaving

I guess this is it; me leaving.

At the gate now, already. And feeling it, it's not a golden gate, it's gray, and dark outside.

And I am missing... everything and everyone already.

But where I disappear on this side I will reappear in England!

And I am only 2.5 hours away.

That's me.

Stress levels 99.9% and holding.

 M.

Coffee early this morning just a short walk away from here.. café y croissant!

Down near the beach, old familiar walk, and many good memories...

Return to bar again this afternoon, but this was this morning..

Talking to a friend just now, being asked how I'm doing.. 

I answered...

'Just feels very unreal.. maybe it'll hit home when I leave ..

When I get to England, maybe after a few days...' 

Just doesn't feel like this is the end of my life here in Spain.. and I guess with all the friends who feel like family, it never will be..

And this is how it is... 

The last day of living in Spain feels like any other day to me.

Maybe I haven't processed the reality yet.

And for last couple of hours I have had a weird eye sight thing, flashing wavy lines, it's horrible, so disturbing, slight pain over my eyes, but it's this visual thing so hard to cope with.

Stress I guess. Coming out physically.

M.

The London Pub... Fuengirola, icónico y Infamous!

And Heavens Gate discoteca, I used to go there, back in 2002! Walk in on my own, grab and drink and dance! 43.. and so brave still..

The wine I am drinking, I took a bottle of wine to a friend on Sunday and got a bottle back!! That wasn't how it was supposed to be!

C'est la vie! So I opened it Monday and on glass number three! 

Walked to the store today, said Ciao to J. in work, had a coffee next door and 'bye' to everyone in there... 

It is now evening, last full evening, last full day tomorrow.

El fin.

M.

 

When I came out of the apartment this morning I thought, where's my car? Gone now... 

Then I thought, 'have I left the lights on?' 

I remember doing that after I'd had such a bad road accident, News Years day, 1994... 

I thought my car lights were on, and kept walking up to the garage behind the house to check...

My car had been written off, it wasn't there.

Sat on the bus as I begun this entry..

Bit of a slow painful journey of a place I've called home since 1988, at least me driving I'm looking at the carriageway and other cars...

This option is just look left, and I'll do the same coming back.. Other side of the road! 

A lady had sat next to me from getting on somewhere, and as we began our journey down the final road to the bus station said to me where is the final stop..

I said afterwards, was she Welsh, she said yes, from Cardiff..

Which opened the conversation, about us living there for three years, she said they were just moving here, I said I was just leaving, they'd been in the states for a few years! 

Amazing how much information in just a two minutes journey! We wished eachother luck in our new adventures and bye...  Gone! 

A flash friend!

Strange photo, shadow of wine, reflection of water glass and base of wine glass..

These last two taken at Da Bruno's in Cabopino on Sunday...

Now I sit awaiting an appointment near where I am having a coffee..

The above photograph just now, it is a truly iconic picture of Spain! Not the bulls, not the beaches, not the beer! 

It is the coffee! And the people watching that takes place whilst consuming it!

M.

Oh why here? Another tatu! Of course!

I know what is still making it very hard for me; I think I can still go home, to the house.

In my head, my mind, my heart? It is still there for me to return to.

To open the door and find everything as it was before, before everything..

And that feeling chokes me.

Because somehow, I already don't see it as it was the last few months, only as it was before.. 

And now I have finished my last day.

10/10 (2024) like CB radio, Over and Out!

Handed over my key, my knife, my marker pen.

So many people came in to say goodbye today, not to buy, just to say goodbye, so nice of them.

M.

Popped into Casa Las Flores on Tuesday, on my way back down to Calahonda..

Not for the last time of course, I'm sure whenever I visit here I shall be in for the best patatas fritas in Andalucía!

Access to the tortugas is very restricted now... Used to be able to stroll around the edge of the water and watch them, now plants are blocking the way, not because of growth but because of keeping people away... 

Still I held my phone high, as I could and snapped away!

And at Monika's I took this of the old building opposite the bar, been passing this for thirty-five years... Since I first visited Alhaurín El Grande.

And today, my last day at work.

And this made me cry..

Three words and a sad face emoji..

M.

I wrote October 28th 2015

We forget so easily don’t we…. Every day is a present, and we must unwrap it each morning with glee and be happy to be above ground, thankful each night we have lived and laughed and loved… and just breathe…

And my horoscope for today.. I don't check it daily, sometime weeks can go by, so only when I feel drawn to look, and I know! They can cover a zillion people, or none at all...

But..

Cancer horoscope for Tuesday Oct 8

You are someone who is often very resistant to change. It isn't because you don't see yourself as adaptable. Actually, dear Moonchild, you can adapt quite nicely when you want to. You happen to be someone who is nostalgic, sensitive, and soothed by the familiar, and that's why you fight change much of the time. However, a certain change is coming that will benefit you immensely. Even though you may not see the merits in it just yet, they are abundant, and they might even usher in at least one of your big dreams. Be open to it. 

 -- 

Copyright © Daily Horoscope.

Download it now — http://comitic.com/dh

Just seen the copyright so hope it's okay I'm sharing! 

Rain is forecast here and there, but just percentages, and as the time moves on so does the weather.. 

Heading up to Alhaurín this morning, taken away my 'home' tag on Google.. 

I'm laughing, my phone changed Alhaurín to Alhambra! It did it last night, and again just now! Like it's already forgotten...

M.

Saturday, yesterday, walked down memory lane..

First the nonexistent phone booth where I used to call my mom...

Then walked over to El Zoco, above..

The Almond Tree.. that was... 

And the Duplex above...

A friend saw me standing here.. I guess I was just standing looking lost, because she called out.. 'are you lost' and I suppose in a kind of way I was...

She came over we talked briefly and after a hug I walked back .. an angel when I needed one...

Spent the rest of the afternoon and evening out, drank all much, but had a great time, suffered somewhat this morning and rested and hydrated and now, at ten at night I feel fit as a fiddle! 

I have one week left at work, but just one actual working day, Thursday shall be my last.

Then I fly away on the 18th...

The Bonelli eagle migrating again...

M.

I wanted a poem here..

But seems just more from me to say..

I may be leaving but I shall always remain

My memories will carry on here, moments like video recordings, will repeat in my absence 

All the places I have been

All the friends I have made

All the sunsets and sunrises

The laughter and tears 

I will leave a large part of myself here, in my last chapter 

And take the next chapter with me, opening with a flourish, a new exciting bright amazing road lays ahead

Take my hand friends, let's leap!

 

Yesterday after many, many many many more hiccups! 

Signed over the house, my house, our house.

End of an era, a chapter, a life here.. 

Was so stressed in the lead up I actually didn't think I'd make it through, but I did.

And here I am, outside the bar next to work, for now, G&T on the table and a headful of memories all bursting to get out, or lock in.

I moved out two weeks ago, and it's been a good transition, a very good one.

I am so thankful to my friend for letting me stay at her place..

It's been so much easier than waking up there yesterday and leaving.

I don't think I could have done it.

I popped in with flowers and left them with a bottle of Ribero del Duro.. 

And said, come on Franco, let's go... 

M.

Yesterday's morning went up to the old homestead, then walked into town with my neighbor, had coffee in Cruz and chewed over the weekend so far ..

So many photographers of this area, so many changes.. 

Better post this post I started! And never finished!

Night before had gone out for dinner with my neighbor down on the coast...

Lovely chiringuito down at Calahonda..

Good food, good company.

Good evening.

M.

Do you remember, the 21st night of September..

Down at the beach, Luna Beach, it was the 21st night of September!

I had moved into my friends apartment earlier in the day, and the blog before is after this!?

Never mind, it's typical of my life at this moment, moving backwards to get forward!! 

Great optical illusion above, my friends glass of water taking the aspect like a chameleon, of the glass of orange behind! 

Alhaurín at 8am on Saturdays morning... 

But this week has been crazy! Last time I sold a property, it was smooth and easy..

Now I am being questioned about a mortgage I haven't had, asked to pay next year's IBI (house tax), I have just paid this years! 

Having to personally run around to banks and town halls, to registry offices, doing things a lawyer should be doing, in fact should have done a month ago, not in the last moment, putting the sale back from today, to ... Next week? 

I even spoke with my lawyer from nineteen years ago! 

Couple of other ridiculous things I've been asked which I won't say, because.. just ridiculous!

My stress levels have been off the ceiling... Where my blood pressure was Monday afternoon! If it had stayed at critical I would have been off to urgencia yesterday, but although still stupid high..

It's not up there with urgent care!

Today, more issues, every day this week, struggling to cope with it to be honest..

Today when I got back from Alhaurín, I ate changed, and took a walk down to the beach and along to Cabopino and walked back along the carretera path, bit noisy and scruffy! 

On the road, a turn off for Cabopino, the first turn.. 

There is a big apartment block, it had been started around 1989, left empty and unfinished, graffitied and left abandoned..

At last scaffolding is up! 

Good to see a change for the better!

M.

Some reason sitting waiting now for J. looked back at some random posts and I was saying goodbye to things... Just my stuff that I've gathered over the years...

I really am a gatherer aren't I!

And now in the house, only a case and few bits to travel with me personally.

Rug been cleaned with Vanish carpet cleaner, came up beautifully! Washing machine cleaned with cleaner stuff! Refrigerator ans freezer defrosted and immaculate as an old appliance can be! 

All kitchen cupboard shelves cleaned ans scrubbed!

House is ready for a new family, happiness and laughter and life!

And my turn to open a new chapter, turn a big heavy page, wet and blurry with tears.. It has been.

But just like a good book, all the happy parts remain tucked away in the pages... 

I can turn pages back, just to glimpse and smile..

But I have so many pages left, all being well, and nothing wrong with tears spilt on pages.. flowers and memories .. onwards

M.

Notice the sign outside the bar next to the store..

So funny, and funnier because I didn't notice it for days! 

So many photographs I've taken waiting outside J's on the way to work... 

No more now, after today... If I take one at all when I get there!

Monday we had company medicals, and J. and I drove down to Fuengirola, parked up, and walked along...

I wanted to have coffee in Luis's Bar .. not seen him in a year or three, and unsure if even still is..

It is! After we finished I was inside the bar and he appeared, off his scooter and at the bar for something random, he said he's rarely there in a morning, and not that often rest of the week it seems!

So was so good to be able to see him and tell him goodbye, since 1988, seen him grow from boy to man... 

Coincidence seeing him... Life is like that..

Yesterday I came down to Fuengirola again, have stayed over with my sister-in-law, we have talked and eaten, and eaten and talked!

Now I am off to work along the coast road this time.

And Wednesday was my very last journey down through the mountain for work.

I didn't realize until coming around and seeing the sea, then it hit me like a brick wall and made my eyes leak...

Last time.

Lots of last times, but there will be more times, just not living here...

M.

ps more to right but must post 

Can't take photograph, too many people... But sat here watching aircraft land through the window opposite me... Oh well, through the window I can see them land! Almost... 

What I can see are silver balls of light afar, and as they approach, lights separate, and then the wings come into view... As one by one their flight path brings them down to land.. only minutes between each.. 

Gray skies as a backdrop, looks amazing to watch...

Photograph above is my plane, they arrived an hour ago, everyone off the flight through where we are sitting... 

Funny, I know someone in the Denver area, where this flight landed from... Now that would have been funny to see here disembarking!

We're boarding in half an hour..

I have to say, Newark Liberty Airport is a nice airport, I got a taxi, paid when I reached here! Took an hour, I labeled up my own bag and dropped it at bag drop area.

Then upstairs and through security easily and smoothly, into departures/gates area.. all within twenty minutes.

The bars, stores, restaurants and bathrooms, are all mixed in around the gates, so easy to navigate here..

Low chairs with drinks holders, interspersed with high and low tables, all with charger points. Great airport!

M.