I have been very lax in posting.. December 2nd and now December 31st..

Its too late to be writing..

So just some photographs from where I am in Jaén area, a very small village, less than a thousand people, and probably more cats and dogs and definitely more olive trees!

A quiet but good Christmas, Father Christmas came to visit, so twice this year I have seen him! He must be real!

Parsnips! A whole box full!

My final words from this year.. Covid19 infection year.. a new baby in our immediate family, and my brother had a grandson.

Pippa died.

This year draws to a close, this evening always makes me very melancholy..

Memories on my phone come back to haunt me like dreams..

And I hope 2021 will be better for all of us, this year has taught us how vunerable we all are, how reliant we are on others, how peoples reactions effect us all.

And how strong we can be. Thank you for all staying with me, it's been nearly eighteen years now of writing.

And next year.. just an hour and five minutes for us here in Spain, I will write more.. like I used to. It's my resolution along with a few other things...

TTFN

Marian

I have a quote on my Kindle..

The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at last started to understand the meaning of life.

Rabindranath Tagore

Yesterday the lady asked me to plant the conkers she had on her windowsill, I said there were two more in the kitchen, and that I would throw them over into the woodland behind the house.

And there, probably one if not all of them will over time, sink into the undergrowth, root and grow.. 

And it was a nice thought that in a hundred years large horse chestnut trees may well be there now, where there are none.

Not a huge amount to share today, here in Warwickshire gone into tier 3.. The highest area of strict rules.

Reading local Stratford upon Avon papers not a happy decision as far as local authorities think.

I am surprised, but maybe because it's a tourist area, and opening up hotels and if people travel here, it could bring a higher incidence of Covid19.

And read today of mass vaccination Pfizer's have been accepted.. so fantastic news, along with my appointment at Traffico in Malága for January! Just need an escort now.. 

TTFN

Marian

Speeding train

Fast as memories flying through my mind.

Watching my life fly past, my childhood and children's childhood.. neighborhood

I see me, little Marian Bonelli, and then in the rec little Barry and little Tony.. 

Now both with young'uns themselves.

My line, under my house.. under the concrete platform I lay on over the tunnel to watch as the trains past beneath.

The grand Union Canal, weaving along beside the A41 and the Euston line.

Old man's beard heavy on the passing, me passing, hedgerows.. 

Lots of bright winterly berries too.. going to be a bad winter, too many old wives tales, but I guess they must have come from somewhere.

Roads I know, knew, all too well.. the old A41.. following it along from Hemel Hempstead, the road up to Bovingdon.. Bourne End.. 

Then behind the terraces coming into Berkhamsted, under Gravel Path.. then whoosh.. gone the park at the bottom of the road that leads to Tesco.. the old conker trees there.. I have some still, from there, of course I do! I hear ya!

Wanted to make use of the time to follow the words I've recently heard about all the information coming into our minds when travelling and it passes straight through and out.. doesn't cling..

And it's only past hurts grief's that act like a net to stop us or make happy things sad by clinging on..

So plan of watching absorbing and letting go the journey.. turned into a net..

Once out of Milton Keynes.. where our first stop is, now.. and in our parked up pause back there I've quickly penned this.

Now parked up at last station.

I've seen..

Field of Llamas 

Fields of sheep, and cattle

Field of seagulls!

Mistletoe!?! Nope not just now, or maybe! But I meant to say with a photograph the other day, the what appears to be greenery in those trees is mistletoe.  We've seen loads while out walking, last week I exclaimed, as I do, that's mistletoe! And passing workman heard and shouted to his mate, we should grab that!

Back to journey, now.

There has been fog so thick at times can't see to the ends of the passing fields.. oh hang on, they're not passing, I am..

Trees of my step dads.. his type of tree, old and gnarled.. 

Fields burned after harvest.. felt for a moment I could smell the burnt wheat but just nose memory... Another few hectares with giant signs reading.. Growing for Wheetabix!

Pulling into Rugby.. and out again..

On my last train now, had a shortish wait in Coventry.. now here I am in Leamington Spa.. feels like only yesterday I was waiting here! 

I definitely need to stop and smell the roses, metaphorically speaking!

One person got off, and only me got on this train.. although time yet +1 

Taken some nice railway photographs.. said it before, I should have been writing down train numbers! Keeping my trainspotters anorak firmly under cover!

Later I am posting this as written, slightly list-like, but I'm writing lists and ticking boxes so it's all good.

Watched a beautiful movie yesterday, Last Christmas.. 2019. Absolutely beautiful watch it if you can.

Okay on our way! Back to Stratford upon Avon and what looks to be a very beautiful hotel.

And it is. The Mercure, very old, black and white frontage. Lots of twists and turns inside.. 

Very strange from outside, not the hotel, the whole lockdown look. It's a dark gray day, bit foggy here even in the town. And the hotel looked locked up, door closed, downstairs rooms unlit.

A sign telling people to ring the bell, which I did, and someone came to let me in, and locked up behind me.

Hotels in Lockdown, for us solitary lone workers, key workers, healthcare workers.

I checked in, and came up to my room. It's really beautiful, a humongous bed! With all the regular.. the bathroom huge too.

I dropped my things and popped out quickly for some food, unlocked for me to get back in. I signed in on the Covid19 track and trace also as requested.

Came back to my room and ate half the prepackaged food I bought; after a nice half hour and coffee finished I ran a bath, poured in the small bottle of hotel bubble bath.. I applied a mask I'd bought in Mercadona back home, and laid back listening to music eyes closed in the bubbles and hot water.. really really lovely.

Now in comfies, drinking a caramel latte mix.. I'll have a rash in the morning, but what the hey!

And posting this!

TTFN

Marian

Today, slightly melancholy.. it's just the stuff we have to do; I just want a time now where I don't have to have something important that has to be done. I just want to be.. without the stress and worry.

Flights tests documentation

Today, after reminding test centre twice or thrice yesterday, an email came through just after 04:00 this morning telling me I can change my £199.00 test for free! 

And I asked what time on Wednesday, they just replied yes that's fine. And I had to email again to actually get a time.

I have organised through a friend's help to get my info into the Spanish system to change my Brit license back into a Spanish one, and then in a few days to get the appointment made.

Why I changed it back to UK beats me.

And to conclude today's short Blog a short piece of script from The Haunting of Hill House.

~~~

Time, I mean.

I thought for so long that time was like a line, that...

That our moments were laid out like dominoes, and that they...

Fell, one into another.

And on it went, just days tipping, one into the next, into the next, in a long line between the beginning...

And the end.

But I was wrong.

It's not like that at all.

Our moments fall around us like rain.

Or.. The snow.

Or confetti.

~~~

TTFN

Marian

Been out for a great walk this morning.

Still 4° but was lovely, the frost had melted and it was muddy as a backstreet mud bath!

Not sure why backstreet?! 

But it was extremely muddy on our way back..

Managed to stick, no pun intended, to the edges of the muddy bits and held onto trees as the brambles held onto my hair as I did so!

Even saw parakeets, again!

Back in now and feels very warm inside compared.

Had a delivery while out, I had ordered some perfume, I wanted a small bottle for travelling purposes, I am a stickler for what I like, and will wear the same perfume for years and years.. why change it?

But recently came across one that's unfortunately in the shape of a shoe! Carolina Herrera.. I cannot find it in a regular bottle, so thought I had found a small sample bottle.. I was right, it was small, the sort they give out for free in the stores.. and some numpty like me pay for! 

I should know better! Yes! I know!

Also arrived a beautiful book I'd ordered for granddaughter, unfortunately, I did a repeat book for grandson and another book for elder granddaughter really had too much of her name, spelt correctly.. but too much.

A bit of a head in hands day today!

I ordered myself slippers for home a couple of days ago, and as soon as I hit the order button, the email came through of course to tell me.. but then said the slippers will arrive between end of December to mid January! I hit the cancel order option, got no reply until the morning when a response came through saying the slippers were on their way.. from deepest darkest who knows where if they're taking two months!

TTFN

Marian

The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.

Helen Keller 1880-1968

Watching Gremlins.. yeah yeah I know! Anyways.. and seeing the hi tech modern equipment.. and then fast forward to now, to real life tech and the enormous leaps we've made in the past nearly 40 years since this movie was made, can you believe it was 1984.. makes the TV tech seem so old fashioned, even when it had seemed impossible to us back then.

But, look at us now, in this Covid world, this locked in, locked out, restrictions and tests, no contact, no travel no life life we have now.

Who was better off.

I know this will pass, maybe not completely, ever... This will have changed so much for so many.

I just want to go home and can't, down to the bare bones of it I need to work for the money.

If I could go home I would right now, BA are flying, and I can go home with no test and just be home where I want to be.

But I can't.

Lols yes sound a bit stroppy, stamping my feet and throwing toys from pram.

But we all must feel we've just had enough now.

If only more people had been more careful or more caring for others.. if they hadn't just acted like this isn't a life changer.

Okay.. off my soap box.. or soup box as I called it the other day!

Just looking at figures at home and thought I'd add a little history info here.. 

Leapt from Gremlins the other day to this evening watching Notting Hill.

Family all a'bed, and I'm watching this..

Four weeks time I'll be home, fingers crossed of course. Third flight booked to get home, Covid test booked, train's and hotel prior to work, Airbnbs closed so has to be a different one to last when I paused in Stratford Upon Avon.

Looks a very old building.. so maybe full of ghosts and spooky happenings.

It's been so lovely staying here with younger son and his family.. spending quality time with the new baby.. well nearly eight month old baby. Was awful not being able to visit when she was born and then the long gap before I came back to the UK.

Now of course I miss elder son and his family so badly too, I've never not seen them for this long.

I know, and feel extremely lucky to have spent a month with them in April and lucky now to be here either side of these placements dates to be here.

Mmm photos?

I'll post one that isn't really great! Lols but has parakeets! Like the ones on the coast!

Lols spot the parakeets! There are two there, was crazy seeing three of them flying about!

TTFN

Marian

And to come back now and add a post script. I returned to Notting Hill movie, and a song began to play and instant tears fell.. how music can effect our emotions so quickly eh..

Oh the song? Ronan Keating, When you say nothing at all.

 Today feels like a poorly made 1980's movie..

"you are asked to wear a face covering at all times, covering your nose and mouth except if you are exempt"

"Please wash your hands and keep a safe distance from other people"

"Our station is being cleaned more regularly"

All said by what sounds like a poorly made android.

This was Monday, travelling back to Tony's from work.

Journey from hell, left at 2pm arrived at Tony's about 8:20pm.. long long journey.

Taxi, trains, bus.. an hour at Coventry station, an hour at a bus stop in the rain.. 

Pretty yuk, without the pretty.

Been a good week here now, relaxing, walking when weather nice, being very well fed, both my daughter's in-law great cooks, both my son's and offspring very well looked after..

Few stressful events, worry over getting a certificate to time with flight home in December. Glasses ordered great, but don't fit.. I am too worried about breaking them to adjust to much.. they've been sent back, unfortunately.

I have another two weeks here, and two more at work.. plus a couple of odd days, and that's my eleven weeks done!

My third flight booked, fingers crossed no more cancellations, hotels booked and cancelled, and now this Covid test to have done to be able to gain entry to my home country!

It starts November 23rd. And the issue of timing a test no longer than 72 hours from arrival, a test that might take three or four days to get emailed.. is causing weird dreams and great worry!

TTFN

Marian

Wanted this photograph on yesterday's blog, but I was weary and no amount of trying got it to load.. 

So here it is today, Alhaurín under a fiery sky..

Because for some reason.. fires and all things warm are making me the more eager to get home, which might sound slightly confusing to those not living in a warmer country.. but, when you have hot summers day in the 40's.. and winter drops to high teens.. that's one helluva temperature drop! And the thought of wooly sweaters, and roaring fires just sounds perfect!

Baited breath today on the Presidential election. Trying not to fear the worse! 

Six weeks tomorrow I fly home.. I sigh with hope and great excitement!

TTFN

Marian

Do I need a quote here?

Lols just got all poetic but deleted it! Bit wordy! 

So hey, "just be you!"

Getting back to the lady for whom I carry her memories.. watching Coco, again.. this evening on the night that this also is..

Like the man forgotten and fades away in the other world because he had no one to remember him.. 

I will carry her memories for as long as I am here..

It was Halloween when I wrote the above.. 

So two evenings ago.. lady called then buzzed me, and buzzed me again.. 

I went flying downstairs.. and racing along the floor towards her at break neck speed.. the father? Or mother? Of all the great house spiders.. arachnid muy grande! He was on a mission to get to her! The lady had a tissue in her hand which I grabbed then grabbed the spider and ran through the kitchen into the utility and unlocking the back door threw said arachnid out, tissue and all!

Locked the door behind him!

I ran back in and in mock shock fell to floor laughing! 

Halloween spider! Thanks little furry friend!

And today, I hit my head on the open oven door, no I wasn't on the floor it's a high double oven/grill, I was grilling cheese onto my lasagna! And bent to throw something in the bin and whack.. it really hurt, it still hurts, actually.

Flights! Have mentioned my flight home on the 14th December I had to change, work error! I changed it to the 15th, Ryanair changed it to the 16th.. this is all from East Midlands.. they then changed it to the 14th.. round robin! So of course I can't fly on the 14th.. money back please, and thank you.

So booked a flight from Luton on Wizz Air.. for the 15th.. they cancelled this afternoon.

I have now booked a flight Ryanair from Stansted! Fingers crossed, and will only believe it when I'm on board..

Very tired now, noisy house as night; we get to know the noises in our own homes.. the creaking, the refrigerator motor, just odd sounds we don't take any notice of any more.. it's not like that when you work away in someone else's house, you don't have time to settle in, every noise could be something wrong.. someone wrong. Sleeping with one ear open and one eye open, like having a small child in the house, sleeping but barely, and always aware of noise, shadows.. sounds, or even lack of sounds..

Now to sleep, perchance to dream, of olive groves and lakes.. of mountain air and dark starlit skies.. of a warm fire, a blanket, a hot drink and a good story.

TTFN

Marian

Halloween 2020 Hunters Moon

Our new regulations as they stand today..

Yes we are in the yellow sector..

And here in the UK emergency talks later with regards to a full on lockdown, again.

Feels like the end of the world as we knew it, brings all the distopian ideas, films, books.. into a reality none of us could ever have envisioned.

And I just want to get home.

Don't want to be here feeling like this, it's worse being away from home at times like this.

Bit of a nothing Blog.. but needed to share how I feel.. 

And I'm not alone in this, I know.. I mean about these times we're all in together.. not my Blog!

Was ending here.. but it's Halloween, and a full moon today, Hunters Moon..

The moon photograph above is probably the best photo of the moon I have ever taken, taken December 3rd 2017 from my brother's home in California...

This purloined piece of art.. just because I've always liked it.. 

I jokingly told the lady I am supporting I would be out tonight on my broomstick.. she said not to leave her at home, so I said I'd hitch on my sidecar to my broom.. and we can fly like that! 

We had this conversation yesterday, and today she brought it up again, so tonight we shall fly towards the moon a while, me on my broomstick, her on her sidecar.. 

Wish I could pen this picture in my mind to paper.. what a sight!

Happy Halloween peoples across the world.. 

TTFN

Marian

Searching for other things the other day.. just thought I'd remember back in March this near and happy days in NYC.

The Vessel..

Me in Central Park, Strawberry Fields area.. John Lennon's apartment beyond me..

Just abstract colors above.. taken from my aunt's house..

This amazing old store between the high rises..

And home in February before.. deep cloud cover.. 

A huge area of Andalucia went into lockdown as of midnight last night.. Jaen, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz, Jerez, many of the smaller towns and villages encompassed in these areas..  

Not sure why not Málaga.. it's like we're being kept out.. locked out.. not locked in.. although of course we can't get into these areas..

Maybe they want us to thin out and reclaim the beaches!!

Very strange..

This morning my alarm woke me for the first time in five weeks here in the UK..

Sounds good eh! But really probably because I was awake for a good or not so good.. three hours or so in the night..

You know, the thoughts start up, I am worried sick about moving around here in the UK, and even worse the worry again, of not being able to get home.. 

It's awful, just want this to pass.. like we all do. It'll be here next year, maybe the next? 

Children whose first years only have this? And people whose last.. what a world.

Then that set me to thinking about a lady I supported a few years ago now.. 

About how she said I was her keeper of her memories..

Until we came to support her she had not lived with anyone since her parents passing.. her fiancé having died in WW 2.. and I was her first live-in support..

So over time, I learnt and remembered her life.. 

A sick cousin whose sheep Norman, would bang on the farm door, come in and go upstairs, onto her bed, shifting her dogs off .. and lay there with her.. almost like he knew she was ill.

A day in Aldershot when the King and his young daughter, princess Elizabeth.. were being shown the hospital there, and the lady's father being the most important person there normally and his young daughter with her dog.. the young Princess noticed the childs corgi and commented on it to her father the King.

The memory of her fiancé dying and how she learned of his death; all her recent letters to him, returned unopened and left on the mantel of the Hotel the Pumphouse  in Llandrindod, being used as a war hospital.. the matron hadn't even bothered to tell her they were there, or why.

How she went into London, lost and broken hearted and visited an art gallery.. she saw a painting, a Stubs.. Whistlejacket.. and somehow she gained a strength, found in herself a reason to go on, to carry on living even though she felt her life too had ended.

How, in the hospital, a cousin, a different one, was asked to clean all the men's false teeth.. (the men were very young and dying of their wounds and missing limbs.. so many false teeth?) She gathered them all up and washed them all in a bucket! Matron was like.. " whose teeth are whose?? Stupid girl." Needless to say the cousin left shortly afterwards. 

Of how also in the hospital.. these young men, always teasing and wanting kisses.. not been near a female while fighting, and probably would never live to have a girl again.. 

Wounds these days that can be healed, or prosthetics to bring a full life back to injuries, which in the past would have lead to only death.

She told of being in church where a minister, very ungodlike, told her she could not join the mother's union as she had no child, or ever would, because her young man had died.

I have since checked, well, then and there, actually.. no one is not allowed to join now, male female any age race creed or color.

I remember for her, the awful day of Aberfan when 116 children and 28 adults died, a colliery tip buried and killed them, and she amongst others went to help, to save, to dig, to give grace and support to those who they could, and those they couldn't.

And above all that she was born in Nepal in the town of Nainital, her first sight each morning the Himalayas from her bedroom window.

Her and her brother being cared for by an ayah.. It was the time of the British Raj.. 

The now famous artists she met; a writer called Bruce Chatwin. I'd never heard of him but his info is well worth reading.. I think she held a candle to him, as the old phrase goes.

And he knew Gerald Brennan.. who of course, those of us in Alhaurín El Grande.. know of, and many other people too I'm sure.

So many memories, so much history.. I'm sure if I live long enough to start to forget.. it's her memories I will remember by mistake.. and that will confuse people! For sure! 

TTFN

Marian

 Sometimes life has more color..

Just saying..

Today I'm on my way north, Tony and family dropped me of at Watford Junction.

On my first train now and headed for Coventry, a high level/tier/stage!! Area.. And where I saw the man with the crisp packet back in the vending machine incident.. Ugh!! 

I've had a great two weeks, enjoyed every moment with my newest grandbaby, she always is so happy to see me.. Maybe she's just so 'oh Nana! The hair! Your the face!' Whatever, so beautiful to see her beautiful face shining into my eyes..

Passed through Berkhamsted! Wonderful.. but so fast..

Didn't do much, of course, walked most days.. Ate well, thank you very much.. And stayed safe.

Now feeling the stress again, three trains, and then an Airbnb.

So many areas going into stage 3, in Spain areas doing similar things.

I wanted to see Barry and his family, but looks like I can't, not allowed to travel into areas and stay, and work against any travel into restricted areas if I'm not working. Fingers crossed things change, and I'll hope for the best.

Have to complain now, here again.. People wearing splatter guards in this train without a mask! Hello!! Won't work without a mask! Only keeps splatter from getting into eyes and off faces.. Not infection coming from you, or getting to you!

And passing trains, can see people who have pulled their masks down or off..

I'm wearing mine to keep you safe, I would like the same respect.

This won't go away without everyone being vigilant, well, and a vaccine of course.

As soon as I boarded and we were off I started to get a tickle.. I know the masks make breathing difficult, moist air, out and back in.. But please..

Do we want this to be a way of life, or a time we did good, we fought through it together.. And..

And here I have deleted  huge portion of me complaining about someone on the train..

Lols okay Calmed down now, but because I left the train and in less than two minutes I boarded another, off that one already and sat on a sunny station platform in sunny Leamington Spa!

Thankfully only in Coventry for two minutes! Wow! I just got the first one away! Maybe not the correct train? But ticket says any train.. 

Anyway, here now.. Awaiting third and final train of the journey. stomach rumbling like crazy!

Been used to a lovely lunch served up for me..

Just got into the Airbnb before the torrential rain! These photographs are the wrong way around.. but not matter.

I got out between storms to get snacks, and again later to collect a Chinese takeout.

And now, here I am at work, serving up the food for my client..

All good, a return placement for me, and a bit like a coming home feel to this pretty village and part of the world.. and safe..

Like I wrote the other day on fb, saying feeling safe, or in a safe area, is not something the majority of us, would have ever thought we'd say.

Posting now!

TTFN

Marian

Bit tired should I do that E&OE?

I'm with my youngest son and his family now, since Friday evening, I am out of quarentine! Yeahhhhh!

He came to get me, it was a long drive, and twice the distance for him... 

We came through our old area, Aylesbury.. passing where we used to live.. it's changed a little.

Been out for a couple of walks, I'm wearing my mask mostly, always on to pass people, it feels very strange not wearing one here from door to door, so feels more natural already just wearing it..

I ordered a frame which fits under my mask and makes it so much better to wear, it keeps the material away from my nose and mouth so breathing is so much easier, I found it very hard going especially in the heat.

I am kind of worrying now, already about getting home, all this time here, and only half of it for work, I mean the work is good, I need to work, but I am worrying about flights back home. My flight has already been set back a day by Ryanair. 

It's so lovely being here though! Seeing my newest grandbaby, absolutely wonderful, her beautiful happy face.. seeing eachother for the first time not through a videocall! Makes me so happy... 

She watches my every move, and I hers..

And their dog has taken to sleeping with me! Even escorting me to the bathroom! Lols, and in the lounge, sitting on my lap when he can!

TTFN

Marian

 

I finished watching the movie I spoke of yesterday... 

I'm glad I persevered, it wasn't how or what I expected at the end and and there was some random dancing, which freaked me out now and again.

But, the last third of the movie for me was the best.. It is split into three parts really, the drive to his parents house, at the house, and the drive back to town.

It's what they spoke about; sometimes we hear things when we need to hear them, for instance I listened to a YouTube video and in the feed was this amazing poem.

Do Not Love Half Lovers by Khalil Gibran 

Which I had never heard of, but so glad I have.

And to follow up on 24 hrs of 'things we're meant to know, cropping up at the time we need to!'

I have just watched the new Pixar movie.. Onward..

So that brought tears to my eyes.. Its a wonderful movie, absolutely.

These above photographs; unusual fruits were on the ground at the botanical gardens in Gibraltar.. Osage oranges.. which I have never seen before or even heard of! 

My last full day here.. 

And off to son's tomorrow.. 

TTFN

Marian

I forgot to post these photographs of the Osage orange.. 

I hadn't heard of these or seen anything like them before..

Time is passing by.. cabin fever big time! I know during the limits set during general lockdown, I was either with family or in work.. and it was strange days enough indeed..

But this is way more difficult, way more weird! Yes I've walked around the garden and land.. including the private driveway.. and pathways.. and that's been considerably fantastic! But not in the rain.. thankfully not too many of those days!

Two and half days left.. am I counting down? Lols er.. yes!! 

Am I losing my mind! Lols maybe!

No WiFi.. So even more arhhhhhhh! 

Eating lots of wrong foods.. and sleeping badly! The weirdest dreams.. 

Started watching a strange movie today.. It's a 2020 movie I'm Thinking of Ending Things.. it has a couple of people I know in it, Toni Collette and David Thewlis.

It's very complex, I have an hour left to watch.. it's very well acted.. but, yes, very complex is all I'm saying.

And I'm interested in seeing it's conclusion.

Lols Sorry, sounds very mysterious, but I don't want to give anything away..

TTFN

Marian

A memory that came up on Facebook today, photographs I took passing by Benidorm today a year ago.. prompted me to continue here...

2020 has brought so many changes.. Some enforced which have brought so much to us we would never have known.. So, already I am thankful..

Isolation has actually brought people into my life I would never have met.. 

And not temporarily friends, I truly feel lifelong friends.. 

Despite my days where I get down.. I know too I am so lucky in so many ways.. 

Really wish I could post some of the field photography I've taken here..

The parrot above was in the street, down outside Bar Cruz a couple of weeks ago.

Untethered.. I think some of his feathers had been cut.. he was with three men, just hanging out and enjoying the evening.. he was watching all the birds walk by! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Lols see if that emoji shows up!

Well, today the sun is most definitely shining and my spirits raised.. I don't suffer from SAD but being here where I am is making it very difficult if the weather is bad.. 

I have chocolate, coffee and sunshine!

Another day gone, and soon we with family.

TTFN

Marian

Decided to place a quote first today.. 

Because some people see a wall, and assume that's the end of their journey. Others see it, and decide it's just the beginning.

Angeline Trevena - Author

Because, sometimes walls are imposing, or feel impossible to get over.

And sometimes I wonder whether it's even worth trying..

Today it's raining.. so not even a walk around the field today.. no looking searchingly into hedgerows for blackberries.. had one! Did I tell you? Just one I have found, hopefully although low to the ground it was relatively untouched by any animals.. 

There's lots of sloe berries.. for use in making sloe gin.. or for witchcraft, I've just read.. apparently!

No WiFi, so bear with for uploads.. 

I walked up the path yesterday to get to the field and found a jigsaw piece! Always wondered what happened to that!! The missing jigsaw piece, or the missing piece to my puzzle, take it whichever way folks!

I'm on a bit of a downer today with this weather, and realize there is no way I could have survived lockdown here; very isolated location.. 

The need now for chocolate is great! Mmm eBay maybe? Now that's an idea! Lols

I should have thought ahead for that doing the shopping before my arrival! 

Thinking of home, mi casa, mis montanas.. mi buena vista.. 

It'll be cola coa by the time I get home.. and the wood burner!

TTFN

Marian

Well it's been sunny here in Blighty, but mighty cold when out of the sun!

Indoors at the moment when the heating is off its flipping freezing! 

Feeling stuck, and isolated in my isolation period! 

Walked around the garden, took photos of the field! Lols

No WiFi, so will upload anything when I can.. will bleed off some data later!

British TV? So is it like the British high street now.. repeat episodes of very old TV series = charity shops; adverts for data/WiFi, banks/building societies.. = phone stores and .. well, banks!! 

It mirrors it doesn't it? If you want good up-to-date movies, or something different.. it would be like visiting out-of-town shopping centres with cinemas attached!

TTFN

Marian

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

Rabindranath Tagore - 1861-1941 - Poet

This world makes me happy in so many ways I didn't think it ever could again..

But sitting on board a plane with another twenty-five people flying from Malága to Bristol.. this makes me so sad.. the lack of people.. the masks, the eyes all looking just as wary as I expect mine do.. 

The airport usually so full, full of life or hope of holiday makers leaving, of people with arms full of even more gifts .. 

Stores are all closed.. even a few of the eateries.

No long lines to wait in, no nothing really.

Not even a dozen cases loaded into the hold.

I'm in row four.. my free seat.. and two people in front of me.. no one along side me.. and then  the few others behind.. 

Now at my isolation point.. 

Bristol airport was like coming into an apocalyptic dystopian decontamination zone! So few people that lights came on as we entered corridors.. and as it was just me and one other person leading the line.. it was odd.

Only when reaching the security area.. did we see anyone.. and a room usually heaving, where on occasion I have had to lineup in an adjacent area to even reach.. I walked straight through and up to a security guard.. 

Showed passport and papers regarding the quarentine info and done..

My case along with the other nine cases came through on the only conveyor belt in operation.. 

Bus stops all moved.. I guess to keep people away from the arrivals area.. which is cordoned off now, tented off to be exact! 

A long line, and fewer passengers.. as one person to each double seat.. so a bit of a wait there, then on the bus I sat upstairs .. hadn't been on a double decker for five years! Was great! Actually! And I booked my train ticket on my phone.. 

Beautiful evening, amazing clouds and sunset.. 

And bloody freezing cold!

Okay, maybe not freezing, but my hands went numb! And then had to do the tingling and burning thing once they warmed up again!

Settled in now.. eaten and coffee.. 

Tired and missing home.. 

Wishing I were there..

TTFN

Marian

So nearly time to leave home for travel to the UK, family and work.. 

My heart is actually beating far too hard, I do not want to leave home; looking across the Guadalhorce vally now from my terrace.. 

My heart is in Spain, I wasn't sure for a couple of years.. but I know now.. completely and utterly sure.

Now I just want to go.. I can't wait to meet my newest granddaughter.. and also see my other two babes.. for them I am travelling.. and for work.. 

Then I can come home, Ryanair has just changed my return date so now an extra day in the UK.. 

Lols Blogging on my phone before I leave the house, my hands are shaking!

Okay, finish up here.. then go. I'll keep you posted, from England next, of course!

TTFN

Marian

 

Photograph above coming across the boarder in Gibraltar on Wednesday, cloud heavy and looming over the rock...

After having lived in La Linea for a while last year, I know it is not every day.. it had seemed that way visiting now and again.. and seemed only right the cloud should be there on my day trip also.

A few photographs I took in the Botanical Gardens, it's been 18 months, they have been working hard and the whole place looks stunning now.  Relaxing and calming. The zoo, a planting garden.  Really nice.. the only disappointment being, my little hiding place was gone! I had found a seat at the back on the cemetery section, mostly hidden, a relaxing quiet place.. lols.. it's gone, but then, so am I.. it was there when I needed it I guess...

I tried to get a picture of some beautiful butterflies.. but they just would not pause in their play long enough!! 

The coach was only half full, but they're hoping to get back on track and get back to the weekly trips from Alhaurín to Gibraltar.. the raffle on board is for a local Age Care, and they help out so many people in our local area.. this time here now, especially here.. we don't have the backup that might be available back in the UK. Down at the UK food shop in town our friend has been helping so many needy people, income gone or paused, no financial help available here.. people donate and give freely to help so many people.

Few more from the Botanical Gardens..

Ten years ago this memory on Facebook this morning tells me I posted this...

Journey...

What makes the 

world go round? It's people who can't sit still.  People like you and me.  Roaming the earth for new ideas.  Always wandering, constantly challenging.  And taking whatever they need for the ride.

Life's a journey. 

 Embrace it, live it, love it.

Still me isn't it? 

I really want to stop wandering now!! Lols don't I? Very thought provoking; all of my grandparents were people who travelled a long way to get to their final destinations... Maybe I have to?

TTFN

Marian