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.