So driving down to the coast this morning, (was a few days ago now!) for work, there's the normal ancient vehicle with no brake lights and only showing one rear white light, there's the tractor on a road with a few nice curves, and people overtaking him on the straights, he's driving right up near the ditch so that people can get past then he pulls back over into the middle when he can see that there's no overtaking and cars coming... perfect, then there's a big van in front of me far too close to the tractor, I'm holding back so I can see ahead of the tractor to see what's coming around the bends, and eventually he moves over, 'you can overtake!'  the van goes, I go and one more.. and I'm smiling at the maneuvering and how much I still love driving, how much I will always love driving, and I thought oh right the art of driving it's all about timing and holding back and then I burst into laughter..

Just heard on tv highly intelligent people get bored easily.. and I always say I never get bored! So laughing to myself... 

Am I really stupid? Or just that I have so much I can do all the time that's why I'm never bored! I always put it down to being an only child in the house... So used my imagination a lot, a lot a lot! 

April 22nd 2015, nine years ago and the Caminito del Rey opened its new walk, and we that first week walked it..

No more crossing over than concrete bridge over the deep ravine..

We were talking about the walk this morning and then later came up on my Google memories.. strange that ...

As so often happens.. 

I've got all of my sofabed downstairs now, ready to go in the morning, and Wednesday a bed I shall build, returning the house back to it's original form...

Feels strange now, downstairs in the living room; gone my view of the Guadhalorce Valley, I mean it's still there, of course, just not from where I sit as I write just now..

I've been unusually building this post for days now! Need to post eventually... 

First though, long week last week, four days of work and it felt like it! 

Saturday I rested, by driving down to the coast to have lunch, popped into work and we went to a nearby bar for lunch.. and very nice it was too.. relaxed and happy, then it was Mercadona and home..

Sunday, back down again to the coast for lunch, had a beautiful walk along the beach first with friends and their comedy dog, she's so sweet.. some dogs hearts are always so open and welcoming... And hers is... She caught me immediately with her beautiful cute little face.. 

Then we ate a damn good Sunday lunch at a restaurant in La Cala, then it was home and takeout cheesecake that I couldn't eat in... And shoes full of Cabopino sand.. and a nap!

Fantastic! 

M.

A Maddocks painting above.. 

Me and my moon...

A strange day today... And probably  too late to be Blogging as I should be sleeping, or relaxing before sleeping, not writing! 

But I'm awake happy and smiling! 

This morning on my way to work fueled up and our old neighbor was there! Couldn't believe it! Was wonderful to see her, hugged at the pumps! And chatted briefly then I was off to work... Hadn't seen her for maybe five years, can't remember when she moved exactly..

So now that's four people I haven't seen for years turning up out of the blue...

But the weirdest thing today was a customer who asked to touch my hair ..

Her husband thought she was being strange I could tell! 

But, well, there we go! An odd request! Happend before, but still, in work!!! 

M.

Random photographs from Porthcawl January 1st 2014, was looking at Pipster photographs and these came up and not so sad memories...

Now! What has been afoot! 

Wednesday I met up with a couple who I met whilst working in England, it was an end of life placement and I was there for about ten days only, I've always remembered that client, it was August 2017 and I used to check on her whenever I woke up, which for me is a lot! But I'd go in, I wanted her to know she wasn't alone..

Anyways! So I was already moved into my temporary location near La Cala, and cat sitting for friends, I drove down to the coast and met the couple in a holiday resort, I parked and walking to the bar a man coming towards me said 'Marian' surprizing me! He recognized me from nearly seven years ago! 

We went and sat down with his wife and we spent the next nearly three hours catching up! 

We had lunch and a couple of cold drinks, was lovely, I had forgotten my sunblock, and came away with a red nose and left arm! 

But I'd been so busy getting my stuff together and getting down to my new place! I'd forgotten to put any on! I'm really wary now of getting my face burnt, my pointy nose primarily! And I've noticed so many sun spots now..

A little too late maybe, but, better late than never I am thinking!

So distressed as usual!

Their cat is so beautiful, she's so loving, she never left me alone for a minute, cuddling up on the sofa, sleeping with me, following me about the house...

I'd forgotten how it is with a cat... But the Pipster was the same... She also never left my side...

Okay! 

Leaving that subject quickly, hastily running backwards from old memories! 

I worked two days while I was staying down on the coast, was nice only having a five minute commute that's for sure! 

And getting home so quickly, so early, I got dinner ready, showered and dinner eaten and relaxing about an hour ahead of normal time, which makes so much difference in feeling so tired after work.

I came back home yesterday, Sunday, and straight away missed the fur-baby.. 

While I was there one of my dreams had chopsticks heavily featured, strange really! I don't generally use them!

Doctor Google says:

'Chopsticks

To dream of chopsticks signifies that you are setting forth in pursuing your goals. You will resolve any current difficulties with satisfaction, through persistence and correct behavior.

If the chopsticks were damaged, you may expect to make a long journey, or to see old friends soon'

I don't remember them being damaged? But I have seen some old friends recently, three in a week! Which is very strange!

And a journey is planned!

Today nice and easy, town and coffee with good friends, bought a few bits and home!

The top part of my dresser went this afternoon, I noticed a sticker on the back, and a date! 

Made by Broyhill, an American furniture company, now no longer in business, and this piece was made January 1980... 

I never knew any of this, for the past nine years of owning it, we bought it for €70 from La Trocha car boot, and it is actually, was, actually worth some money!

Not now though, the people who took half and never even bothered to come back for the top half, keeping the glass shelves they'd taken! 

And the beautiful top section has gone to the dump!

My stepfather would be turning in his grave! If he was in one! 

M.

"Only put off until tomorrow that you are willing to die having left undone."

Pablo Picasso

Above the calima Sunday down in Los Boliches.. the skies turn apocalyptic when full of sand.. always strange always amazing!

I was meeting up with friends, a school friend who I've been friends with since we were eleven! I hadn't seen them for years, can't remember when, I'm sure before I moved out here?

Was so good to spend time with them, was emotional actually, more than I realized, I felt like they were home, a part of my old home come to visit, and felt good.

We talked about other school friends and what's been happening and when and where... I told them about a coincidence meeting someone here who had lived in Berkhamstead, and whose two children were at school with ours, that I'd met him in a tiny pueblo two and a half hours away from here in Alhaurín, and whose number count is five hundred, and the weird coincidence of it, that I'd only met him and his partner because I'd visited a friend's house there..

When I said his name, they knew him! Crazy!! 

This afternoon I was watching a channel 5 series about the Fox, that time, 1984, was such a scary time, he was based in the Leighton Buzzard and surrounding areas, but we were half an hour away and I felt he was too close for comfort.

Through family links, police in the family, we had some inside information about what the man was doing, that made it so much worse, information that hadn't reached the papers or general public... At that time.

'The Intruder, he's watching you from Within' is the name of the series, I have to admit, its got my heart rate up recalling this awful time!

Had a good day today, went into town early to have coffee with an early bird friend at 8am, then chatted with a friend in her shop until other friends arrived at ten... Stayed an hour or more, but got so tired! I came home and napped! Because I could! 

I missed a call while I napped, and saw it was from an English number, I checked the answer phone as they'd left a message! 

Someone else I haven't seen for years! Not so long though, seven years.. meeting them for coffee mañana, added to my neighbor from when I lived down near El Zoco, that came in the store last week and hadn't seen her since well before covid it's turning into a crazy old week for sure!

M.

A photograph taken at my secret spot.. I should go there again soon.. 

And today:

Well, that was a bit rough, taking and dropping some items off at the charity shop... Seeing other things of mine I'd taken before... Bit unexpectedly upsetting.. damn these emotions! 

I'm taking nothing I need or want or will really even miss, and it feels so good not having so much stuff! Oddly I can't see where it all went, I must have squirreled it away nicely!

Still, seeing them out of context, there, was rough!

Firstly though I had to wait in for a couple to come and take the dresser, well, they took half of it and now say their car has broken down!? 

I'm sure it has, but, you know, that little itch of doubt is there.. they have the best half! The base! 

So, until they come back.. I have the china cabinet bit! 

I've booked the car in for it's ITV at the end of month, dropped a load of broken bits at the bins and tidied up some other things! 

Had a coffee at Monikas while I waited for the mechanic to return to his workshop, sitting outside on this beautiful spring day.. but still in the shade of our Sierra de Mijas...

Now time to relax! 

And see if they come back for the other half!! My message half an hour ago has gone unread...

M.

2.4.24

Cool date today! 

2.4.24 or 4.2.24 depending on here or state side..

Having the front of my house painted as I write, and found a new owner for the wonderful dresser! I'll let you know though when it's actually gone ...

Everyone shouting "hola" to the painter as they pass, he's obviously well known, and liked.. which is good.

Early té this morning at Bar Cruz at 8am! Pretty chilly! Followed by a coffee at 9... 

Then off to Aldi and managed to do a partial shop! Have dinner for a few days, and heavy things, milk, water etc... now I don't have my tap filter I am buying water again ..

I was going to walk back into town, but managed to stay home! And sort out some more unwanted, unneeded items; it feels so good unloading all these things that I haven't used for years.

Why do we hold onto things like this? I think they've made me very heavy.. 

I have some things I'll never let go of, things people will question as to why that? Or this? Why!! 

Attachment. Issues.

Now to close I need a poem, I've given myself a two day break on Facebook from reposting poems and other such items in general!

Let me search!

Mmm nope can't find anything!

Journeys, beginnings

Paths and tracks

Moving forward, don't look back

Embrace the change

Feel the breeze

Listen to the trees..

©MB

Okay, made my own! Sorry about that!

M.

April 1st

 

Don't know why this track, I read down through my list of keeps and played a few lines of a few songs.. This I stopped at and this I am sharing..

Marcus Mumford Lay your head on me.. 

I have just lit the fire, maybe only logs left for this and one more fire...

This morning snow on the Sierra De Las Nieves! At last, first time this winter, I had been worrying about that hadn't I! It was 5° when I got up, as aforementioned, but 4° when I left for town!

Incredible, colder here than in the UK or New York when I checked!

When I was lighting the fire, I pulled out two things I'd left behind to collect the odd drop of rain that makes it's way down the flu when the rain is heavy...

The biggest had a drop of sooty water and the other, bone dry with a feather inside...

I am a believer in the meaning of finding feathers where least expected.. this was so lovely to find today...

Especially today, and the dream, with my mom it says in my search of dream meanings with your mom.. 

'She may appear in dreams to guide and support you through difficult periods.'

Thank you mom..

And I think two Blogs in one day is quite enough! More of today, tomorrow...

Tomorrow, begin again... I love this phrase, begin again.. makes the day feel new, fresh and full of promise..

M.

Whoa 5° on my terrace right now! Still looks like rain has passed.. thankfully now .

Bring on spring! And it's time for my winter duvet to clear off!! Although, so saying, I do love being cosy and wrapped up inside it..

A school friend is arriving later in the week, they're staying down on the coast, and I will see them at some point, it has been many many years .. decades in fact.. maybe 30 years? More? 

I woke up this morning from a weird dream, we were at my mom's, my boys and I, and we were in the sun lounge at the front of the house, and she closed the curtains, but didn't! (You know dreams!) Instead, in error, the whole sun lounge moved away from the house, it turned in the driveway, went down the hill and ended up by someone's house and had to stay there! 

Didn't see the boys but there were three miniature monkeys who decided to run back home! 

Now a cup of tea and my day begins.

M.