A couple or more photographs taken along the Grand Union Canal Sunday..  didn't get it on camera, but saw a Kingfisher! Twice! He flew over head into a tree, then flew back out again! Beautiful!

I saw one in Italy, 2019, and the pair this year in the spring... But it is only ever by chance I see them.. or a fluke.. I think the only ever one before might have been near a pub on the Grand Union canal after Leighton Buzzard, heading towards Milton Keynes.. and that was back in.. who know when!

If I saw them as a kid along the canal near where I lived I probably just 'was'nt bothered' it's only when we are bothered, these things mean more.. 

This random photographs below I took on Home Bargains I think, in Bulwell last Monday, funny getting melancholy over Halloween kitchen towels! 

But I saw so much I would love to buy, if I had my own kitchen!

I guess I could buy and stick in my lock up!?!

Maybe not eh!

Last Sunday Cassie and I went down to the Nottingham Goose Fair.. first ride was the Bumper Cars, or Dodgers? 

It was definitely more bump than dodge! And I paid for it in the morning, with a bit of whiplash I think! Really sore neck and back!

Still, definitely worth the pain! We ended on the big wheel, just us in the pod, the photograph below is AI, because we took eachothers photos, and I am being protective over Cassie.. 

AI does come in handy too..

In-between these two rides we did the hoops, nada! darts, nada, hook a duck, I won a little mini Dachshund toy, and the shootout range, Cassie got a hit with her first shot, and the second and forth! 3 out 4 for a first go with a rifle so heavy! She did so well, she won a Scottish Highland cow! 

We ended on four freshly made, as we waited doughnuts with a biscoff and caramel sauce!

Oh!! Posted and nearly forgot!

Sitting down to watch TV just now, Sherlock caught my eye, started the first episode, and looks at the date! October 12th! That's today! Freaky eh!! 

M.

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.

Lou Holtz - Former Football Player

 

En route now to airport.. but a slow lazy en route.. 

We have left the apartment and Uber to M.'s next one..

Was a great ride, we filled up his whole trunk area! Looks like we're moving in for a year! 

Funny how us humans can accumulate so much in so little time.. 

I have thrown away things I would normally carry, but my wonderful new case, which I do love, is a half and half which means I can't just fill and squish! 

The driver asked where we were from, I said I lived in Nottingham; he knew already I had lived here because of talking about work and Alhaurin .. 

And M. from Wales, lived in Londonderry, then very strangely he said, no, but where am I actually from? I said Los Angeles, and myom and dad both born in New York city, he said he knew it! From the way I talk, maybe my openness? Lol I certainly do not have a problem talking to strangers! Lol

But how completely strange! Then he said he has family in California and his mom was born in New York!

Above! Sunday lunch at Fiddlers Inn, at La Cala de Mijas.

Sunday evening with went to Marbella, the Clave club, we watched nine new comedians, and my friend rounded up the evening perfectly, he stared in the comedy club in Benalmadina our first weekend too.

Was a really great evening, they were amazing, their first onstage performances, so brave.. 

They had been on an in-depth weekend course, ending with their first performance! WoW!

Late night, back about midnight.. then hard to unwind..

Above, my trip up to see friends in Alhaurin on Monday, came with rain!

A short visit.. because of it.. 

But I am glad I got up there again to see everyone.

Yesterday just a wander round locally, popped in the shop a few times, like I still work there, they did ask if I'd stay for stocktaking on Sunday, I declined!

I am looking forward to sleeping again! For some reason, maybe Fen Shui, which I don't usually take any notice of, at all! But the room was difficult to rest in, nine different walls in such a small area.. maybe just bad orientation.

M.

It never gets easier, you just get better.

Unknown

 

Interior photographs I took two or three weeks ago inside el Zoco at Calahonda, a couple of areas where people don't usually go but I found myself there none the less..

Below just a view of the woodes area near where I used to work and overlooking where we are now staying..

This below I took a I approached the boardwalk at the Chiringuito el Capricho, in the old days so much smaller.. I know things change, improve? Grow, evolve.. I do know this... But I kinda miss how everything was.. Selfish of me? I guess so..

Just a tree, at Mijas Pueblo this past week, flamenco dancers, singers and guitarists.. the full compliment.. I enjoyed egg plant and honey.. very nice, possibly the worse item to have coming into wasp season, but they steered clear and I wasn't bothered by them!

Just a stroll around the stores, didn't do the gardens or La Peña.. 

Next week, next month, next year.. today in Puerta Banus, the market, El Corte, no puerta... otro día, otro momento. Until there are none.

This is not my life anymore, and although I yearn to be here, then am surprized by my sadness and longing and feeling of such sadness.. that I don't want to be, here, any more... 

M.

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. "

Buddha

 

Time marches on eh! Monday evening and Royal Beach Pirata.. 

Amazing sunset, thank you very much nature.. and the food!! Thank you very much chef!! What a seafood plate I had.. I didn't quote finish it, but I did good enough!

Dark walk home along the boardwalk, torches on mobile phones! Thank you very much whoever thought of that bright idea! No pun intended!

Tuesday we went to Benalmadina again, after a brief stopover in La Cala de Mijas.. 

Another wander through the stores, along the port, late breakfast or early lunch? At a bar facing the boats, which we returned to later, for a cool drink for M. and an ice-cream for me!

Wednesday? Probably stayed local.. Thursday similar during the day, and the evening meeting up with friends at Miel y Nata up in Sitio del Calahonda.. I have been there before, but donkeys ears ago!

We had an absolutely fabulous evening with Y. and G. Laughter all the way! And the Uber back, top far to walk.. was a huge people carrier, van! At least a six seater, facing eachother.. it was like a party bus! Or limo! I said as much as we got in, saying 'where is the cava and the music!,' the driver was understanding and played Madonna, La Isla Bonita 

We were singing along and seat dancing, if that's a thing! 

Such fun!

He dropped us off at McDonald's, our choice.. So we popped in for a caramel latte! And quite frankly, why not!

M.

"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."

Willie Nelson

More Cabopino.. Feel so at home here, we sat and listened to a French singer, guitarist and keyboards.. 

We met up with my friend S. from Alhaurin on Friday, we walked talked, pastries, then ice-cream later... Left her at her bus at 5pm! From 10:45am! We then, stupidly carried on walking around Fuengirola,.got too tired, the bus stop too busy so Ubered it back here..

Below a wonderful sand sculpture along the Paseo maratimo in Fuengirola..

After tapas and Mercadona we got home just after nine.. very very long tiring day..

A couple of days before we met up with Y. and G., friends of M.s... spend a good few hours with them, closer to here up near Lidl.. that was a good day too..

M. and I have spent every day talking, sometimes singing.. a lot of time remembering.. reminiscing and one helluva a lot laughing! 

Afternoons in and by the pool, more than I ever normally would do.. mornings out and about.. I see customers from the shop, friends from years back.. 

I make us walk to Cabopino most evenings.. stretch our legs.. watch beautiful sunsets and feel the warm breeze on our faces or backs..

My neighbor from Alhaurin came down last Sunday, we sat at a local bar, chatting doe a couple of hours.. just like the old days..

M.

In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back..

Found this quote in my notes.. But actually am wondering now, if in fact the answers are.. not so much at the back.. but at, or nearer the end...

 

Days flying by... Walks to Cabopino, listening to live music.. Elvis was there ! Who knew!! Lol 

Bus to Benalmadina, walking along through favorite stores, the port doesn't change, most of bars and stores all exactly the same..

The tree above is one I have been seeing doe decades, I took this whole crossing over the carreterra the old N340 always the N340 to me... 

Taken from the boardwalk...

Above and below Benalmadina..

Oh, and I think I have fracture a toe.. lols.. my fault, we were walked back from the pool... Slumming it eh! Anyways!! I wasn't looking where I should have been.. and my left foot slipped off the paving, into a gully and then hit the side of lawn.. Luckily I didn't actually fall myself.. trust me!! 

Anyways, I got some tape and buddied it up with neighboring toes.. it turned black and purple within twenty minutes, and felt burning hot to touch.. 

Note to self, look where I am going in future!

M.

Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.

Kahlil Gibran, 1923

View from the garden room.. The bee hanging there buzzing about on the flowers... 

Been a wonderful week.. Friday I went to Alhaurin, got an Uber.. I was going to get two buses, but... well easier like this! 

Caught up with my friends, a light lunch and D. drove me home.. thank you 🙏🏻 not sure emojis come through! 

Saturday M. and I went to watch a friend gig at a comedy club in Benalmadina, it was held in CJs Karaoke bar on calle Bonanza.. 

What a fantastic evening! Absolutely fantastic! Three other comedians also... laughing so hard my face ached and my arms the following morning from clapping so much!! 

We hadn't eaten and ended up at the nearby to the apartment, McDonald's just before midnight.. ate too much, that's the trouble with eating too little and leaving it too late... 

Sunday evening we took a late stroll to Cabopino port.. watched the sun set.. 

I'll share the AI version of my photograph here, but the original is on my 500px site and can't share it anywhere else.. 

There was a strange sea mist, if you're from here, or know here, you know the mist I mean.. this above captured a young couple standing in the sea.. 

I have to say, I do like what AI has done with my photograph..

M.

If you don't sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.

Unknown