A small video, but too big to load without downloading to YouTube first..

I had never been to see the Harry Potter experience at Warner Brothers before.. and been there about ten years..

Was amazing, I honestly though, could have stayed another two hours.. at the least! 

And now more photographs! 

Not easy to choose just a few! 

Okay, now I need to get the Harry Potter books.. seems they are a bit different from the movies.. much more content.. and if my oldest granddaughter is reading them, makes sense it's about time I did also!

And by the by.. it is perfect weather here now.. absolutely wonderful.. feels good to feel the sun on my skin.. it leaves a wonderful smell on my skin.. the outdoors I guess it's called..

And reading a book today.. a quote.. 

We don't get to choose the memories we remember the most.. something like that, I think already my memory has changed it a little.. 

But still, worth remembering to make moments 'in the moment' maybe they are the ones we remember the most... 

M.

And sitting here happiness all around.. and an email prompts me to read it's contents then load an image .. So I, of course, flick through the many, many photographs of the Pipster and the latest are the worse, ones of her before she died in her foster care.. and then I see the huge amount I took the week before she was taken.. 

I look ashen, I look like I have lost the will to live.. and I know, actually this wasn't so far from the truth.. 

And seeing Pip and me and this remembering makes me feel physically sick, I still don't know how I made it through those days, hakenharfe without good friends warmly Allee finnlines Storkow Anfänger der wahrhafte liv3 Fausto kinderfotograf.at me makes me think of lifes..

Lols I was talking into my phone.. shall leave the words that came out.. lols Hooked harp is apparently the hakenharfe!!

So... This isn't going to stop my words.. 

Seeing Pip and this remembering.. I could not have survived without family and good friends, but also made me think of the inevitability of life.. 

Now! I have had two wonderful weeks in the UK.. and this should be my focus just now.. Not this issue of always looking back into what was and what will never be ..

Top of the page a hint of where we went when I was at Tony's.. and above taken in a park in Nottingham..

More mañana..

M.

And today we have sand again! Another sand cloud! Car looks like I have driven the Dakar Rally!

Also my house has locked me out again, not in yet!

By chance, fluke.. saw a jewel beetle pop up on a pop-up.. 

It was little though, just a couple of centimetres, not like the 4/5cms gorgeous bug that I had on my back five years ago up in Ronda, in the photograph... before a waiter gleefully killed it right in front of my friend and I, to our horror! But now I read he is a destructor!  This one too big to be the ash tree killer! But he's still a borer! 

So beautiful, so deadly, so still a killer of trees and trees we need for our planet.. 

Yesterday a trip to Malága.. and Colacao.. this came after.. the coffee and Dime cake in Ikea! 

Now, need to gain access to my house, and give it a damn good telling off!

M.

Today's weather: Mostly sand will fall

The world here is covered in sand..

It's hanging low over us, the Sierra de Mijas behind and the Guadalhorce Valley beneath..

The streets and pavements and everything on them, covered by red sand..

Come to town for groceries and coffee at Bar Cruz.. yesterday was rain, torrential, rained in my living room and down beneath in my dining room, it rained in my back patio.. and a stream formed in the cave! 

It did stop and I made a break for freedom to a friend's then we had a quick walk to town and back.

Okay, enough already of the sand..

It's not a phenomenon and it isn't an Egyptian mummy's curse!

It's weather! And today is just a yellowy sandy colored day.. reminding us that one day this Spain of ours will also be a dessert.. 

M.

This too will pass..

Everything we're 'in' now, personal crises.. world crises.. 

This will be a part of our pasts.. shared, or alone, part of our histories ...

These are 'our' times, our best days.. best? Yes, these have to be our best days, we have to make them such. Because for us, our generation, these are the days most remembered. Yes we remember times from our teens, 20's 30's 40's.. but these times.. these are closer.. These are the days of our lives.. Now is when we have to live the most, live the hardest, live the very best we can.. because this is all we have.

When I look around here, twenty years this year.. it's such a big proportion of my life.. The changes in my life, the good, the bad, the grief.. also the love the laughter.. the light..

Time never stands still.. and if we're lucky we can catch the happiness and put a pin in it.. tag it, to remember and see it, feel it.. jump back to it.. as if it's happening again, just on a different layer somewhere. Close our eyes and really remember it.. feel the joy.. even though it can bring tears.. it brings us back to good moments.

And that's now too.. pin these moments, really anchor them into our minds.. because these are the ones we'll carry with us.. the most.

I feel as though I have been wasting time.. precious time, some people don't get this time.. 

M.

Cabopino beach.. 

It's very difficult not working, for a few reasons.. firstly money of course! Stretching what I have in the bank.. luckily my outgoings are low.. 

Secondly.. I miss it!! 

Maybe I shall stop counting, also not getting up at 7 every morning means I am getting neckachy all the time, and definitely not as much exercise! 

So not just neck aching.. back legs etc.. along with #5 kidney stone.. it's just one big pain! 

We've had rain and high winds.. my chimney has fallen down and now no fire until I've had that fixed! 

Not quite supposed to look like this is it!

The corner angle which fits into the burner downstream collapsed and this part upstairs dropped.. significantly! As you can see! 

Hey ho! 

M.

The terrace is looking better now.. it's been going through a tough time.. 

I am getting garden furniture up here when I can.. table chairs and maybe a sofa type thing.. the old BBQ makes a good fire pit..

The other day walking back home came across the clothes seller.. he used to come up our street along with the meat man, and the fish man.. now it's only the bread and the knife sharpening men that come along.. 

My mom died twelve years ago today.. I can't believe how long it's been.. I can't believe how I am still living without her, still needing her.. 

I wasn't the easiest of daughters I know.. and even if she didn't always like me I always knew she loved me..

I remember the first few years.. rereading my Blog, those last week's, even though it hurt me more I needed to remember every moment..

I don't read it now, nor have I for probably five years.. 

Still at six (seven here), I will be thinking of just one place at that one time.. 

M.

 

Don't forget 22.2.22

Me today, sharp and prickly.. 

Woken up far too early.. but okay.

Sometimes decisions are so difficult to make, weighing up pros and cons.. and then once made, panic sets in if the right decision was even made, and I guess the reason for the early morning wake-up!

All my life this has been the thing.. maybe I've always made the right decisions or maybe the wrong!

I missed Blogging on 22.2.22 but there we are.. won't have to be so lame on .. oh! No! That's it.. can't be a 33.3.33.. So I guess we're done, for now, on these number coincidence, 3.3.33 will have to do!

I remember 7.7.77 very well, and 8.8.88, I was on my first trip to Spain..

All the 9's.. and we were approaching the millennium.. That seems like yesterday..

But still, I won't forget 22.2.22 that's for sure.. 

Being a bit of a number freak is weird considering I'm crap at math!

Mm real news? Stop the rambling.. wood burner still full of embers this morning I popped one piece of olive wood on top and fire kicked off beautifully once more.. Although now I'll let it burn out.

And kidney stone #5 is in my right kidney.. had an ultrasound scan, everything else in hunky-dory! Thankfully, was actually worrying, just between you and me.. 

So bad pain again, he has to exit his nice warm kidney, and at 4mm... if he leaves now! It won't be an easy trip!!

M.

.

20.02.22

Sunday, and a gray day.. although nothing as bad as the awful storm Eunice... 

"Millions of people were advised to stay at home unless they had to be out for work or essential travel. Landmark buildings suffered damage in the winds, with panels ripped off the roof of the O2 Arena in London while the top of the spire at St Thomas's Church in Wells, Somerset, toppled to the ground."

What a storm! 

Photograph from a walk yesterday along a river bed.. 

Time for sleep now.. perchance to dream..

M.

"What's ten minutes in a lifetime" he said

'It can be everything she replied'

Changes..

Had a cup of green tea yesterday and jokingly said I could read my tea leaves in this.. and as I tilted the cup.. there appeared a dog's face! Although looking on here now looks more like a man's face with a dirty nose! 

What have I read recently.. about change.. it happens.. it's life.. sometimes bad.. sometimes for the better.. and needed.

I am definitely in a process of change just now. It happened in a matter of days.

My position in the store wasn't needed any more.. Opening time changes in place and two of us not needed..

I feel strangely at peace.. Feel I should be worrying more, but can't seem to find it in me to do so.. which I guess is a good thing.

I am going to clear out the unneeded from my house, and cave.. Time to clear out the old unused and unnecessary. I carry such baggage with me.

Wrapping this up for now.. just need a photo for the header..

Song.. Coldplay and Selena Gomez

And a song.. just because it popped up and I like it.

M.

02.02.22

Be happy the sugar says.. 

Sometimes easier said than done.. 

Today, chatting to friends, mix of nationalities.. Dutch, German, Spanish and me.. 

German man said during conversation about riding out on motorbikes in the spring.. they say in Germany 'fresh flesh'.. horrible!! And Spanish girl said, her and her friends say, in a bar in the spring with visitors arrivals 'fresh meat'... 

Similar, but so very different.. 

Too many people I know at the moment with Covid.. 

I've had my booster shot now, last week, she put that in my left arm followed far too swiftly to my right arm to administer the pneumonia vaccination! 

My Covid shot made my arm ache quite quickly and lasted a few days.. but no issue with even raising my arm.. the pneumonia one about the same.. although I had a headache for a couple of days.. blaming the latter for that.. 

Apparently it was 23 antigens! No wonder it's a once in a lifetime vax!

And, Monday after work, back to the Guadalhorce Valley Hospital.. my forth kidney stone in three months.. More intravenous pain meds and antibiotics.. and meds to go! 

Really not liking this.. four too many of these things!

Need to see a urologist, and sooner rather than later, maybe there is something I can do to stop them.. 

M.

 

Berkhamsted Through Time.. 

This link is to the book I came across Googling H.C.Ward.. 

There seems to be many arguments over the name of Berkhamsted.. the various old spellings, with a 'p' with an 'a'.. and whether it was Great Berkhampstead... Well, back in the 1800's it most certainly was all these things.

Was looking for something else, and came across my old measuring tape.. it belonged to my great grandmother.. born 1848.. Rosetta Talbot.. I have a couple of her samplers also.. made over a hundred years before I was born.. 

I know here I ride my emotions out, the good the bad ...the happy the sad.. 

Over the years.. decades nearly now.. my blogging has been my therapy.. 

Thank you for walking the path with me.. 

M.

Having my bath removed and a shower put in this week.. meaning I'm leaving home earlier than I should to get to work! As feels weird being in my house and them working!! 

So now cooking in my car.. figuratively speaking! 

And now, because that was Monday or Tuesday.. it's now Monday.. again.. and bathroom looks amazing.. luxurious in fact! 

Wonderful isn't it! 

I've been to the cinema to watch the new Matrix.. okay, didn't stay to the end.. went to watch another movie but was only in Spanish and wanted to see it in original format.. 

So Matrix was what we saw.. I have to admit only saw the first many moons ago and this although started good.. for me, I lost the plot somewhere.. and having to get up early for work the next door.. left the last two people in there.. 

By the by there was only six to start! 

Yesterday went on a great ride to Ronda.. 

If I look a bit bulky it's because I was wearing three tops under the jacket which also had a fleecy lining, and leggings and jeans under the trousers!! 

But it was a cold day.. 14° without the wind chill!! Two bikes.. 

Saw the processionary caterpillar had been busy around Gaucín.. which is odd.. usually they are making their way to the pine forests around late February to March.. maybe even April..

But their nests were numerous in the pine trees in that area.. standing out so brighty.. 

Saw three storks flying around the inland area towards Sotogrande.. 

Had a coffee in Ronda.. loads of bikes on the roads.. day before had been cloudy and cooler and today the same.. 

Below the man and boy at the forest between Yunquera and Ronda.. 

Must have hundreds of the same view!

More to tell! 

Oh yes! 

I tripped up the stairs at home, again, but be nearly a year since I did it before.. didn't learn from the experience, obviously.. it's much better now, but still an obvious shiner!

First photo.. the morning after!

And then the next day..

Still have the red now.. so silly.. made me feel nervous for a few days walking!

Okay amigos! 

M.

Coffee Tuesday morning with las chicas.. and the gift of a heart in mine..

 

There has been very low cloud these last couple of weeks, sometimes here in the village, sometimes sweeping in from sea and laying low over the coastal areas..

So I've either left the clouds for the sun, or found the clouds and left blue skies behind.. 

We've had rain and sun.. warmth 22° and frost on my car! It feels very cold today with wind chill factor!

I opened my box of quality street the other week! Had a mishap at the top of the stairs.. luckily just the sweets that went down the stairs!! 

Since last Friday I've been to urgencia three times with another kidney stone... 

Last trip was yesterday because my temperature is either up in the 36 range.. high for me.. or down in 34 range.. and when it's been that low it comes with a fever and sweats!! Horrible.. I burn up.. So as the hospital doc told me to come back if I have temperature issues.. sign of bad infection, sepsis etc... I went back yesterday, and as my temperature was 35.6 he said I didn't have a problem.. I said it drops to 34.3 or so I get a fever etc.. and he said...no, you need a new thermometer!! Completely ignoring the fever that accompanies the sudden and thankfully temporary low temp.

He even wrote that on my hospital report.. Get new thermometer!! I couldn't believe it! Condescending, demeaning.. 

When I got home I took my temperatures with the two thermometers I have.. the same.. 

Apart from that!

I had a lovely day new year's Day.. despite the pain.  Which I've decided to ignore.. to put to one side of my mind and not look in that direction! 

Went to a good friends.. was so nice.. relaxing, eating.. talking watched a movie.. and three dogs into the bargain..

Two days ago shared a great curry in Coín in Mumtaz.. very nice, in fact the lamb bhuna was just as good last night and last bit today!  Here at home eaten with a wonderful curry chutney a friend gave me before Christmas! The perfect accompaniment! 

And now, after preparing an Italian sauce I've decanted into four sterilised jars.. got the wood burner fired up! No pun intended.. washing washed, terrace swept.. been to town for coffee at 8;30! 

I think now.. I'll pause the great series on Netflix started to watch last night.. Stay Close it's called.. 

I think a nap is coming on!

Just quickly though, before I post this..

I came across this.. maybe 10mm sized beetle last week, after Christmas, before New Year... This is the name of this little chap! Amphimallon Solstitiale seems like he was out at the wrong time of the year?

They have beetle recording in the UK, but can't find anywhere here.. Not that I'm a beetle spotter, but I do seem to notice these things.. 

These lines below are written on a stone, I think near the The Dream sculpture at Saint Helens, Merseyside..

'We make our own pathways, they disappear into serenity and sunlight, for beneath this world lies another, filled with dreams and scattered memories, the footsteps of our fathers.'

I like this.. a lot..

M.