Purloined a public domain photograph here, purely because as a tiger mosquito settled on my hand I automatically shook it off! 

It's how my reactions work! Mosquito! Shake! Bumble bee stroke his soft velvety body! 

I tried to find the mossy again but I either shook him unconscious or he went into hiding!

"The tiger mosquito – a potential carrier of dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya – has already doubled in number and will be present in all areas of Spain this summer."

Apparently then reached Alhaurín El Grande! 

Terrific! I remember getting bitten badly by them summer 2019, on the Moho journey, they were in Italy.. and all over me!

Just realised I have been bitten just now on the terrace, only up there five minutes to water plants, although very distracted by the amazing sunset this evening absolutely heaven sent, nature sent.. 

Three bites are already having a very bad effect on me.. time to get the bite cream! 

No filters, no camera help.. just pure beauty..

M.

Photograph from Friday November 29th.. I was in Naples at the time Google photos chose to remind me I drank coffee it seems!! 

By the by... The tendonitis that hit my right arm in December last year and was immensely painful, more so at night, keeping me awake along with other aches and pains.. like sleep isn't difficult enough already!! 

Anyways!! I had noticed it was getting better, the tendonitis I mean! And then the last week or so really was only noticeable at night..

And right now there is only minimal pain in my right wrist from it and if I'm sitting holding this phone for long periods, that doesn't help.. but at night it is the only time the whole arm hurts... 

Still waiting for the physio the doctor was organising for me... So I am guessing by using it fully at work, as much as I could on painful days.. and exercising daily as I do.. and now some wall pilates, has helped I guess...

And on a brighter note..

Went out to lunch today, to the Picasso restaurant in Banús, was a beautiful day and the walk around Banús and the lunch were lovely, the food was excellent.. We got there as it opened at 12 noon, first in, and by one, not an empty seat in the front section, it's a huge place and there is plenty of seating at the back.. 

Drive down was slow going, stuck in an unfortunate traffic jam on the way there, added about half an hour, must have been a bad crash, four ambulances.. just our side of Cabopino.. 

Although the speed restriction is now 80k it's the on/off lanes.. some are short, a few are on bends, and all are difficult for drivers not used to this way of driving.. you pull on and have to build speed fast.. coming off can be as bad, trying not to slow down too much it causes problems, but enough that hitting the barrier doesn't happen!

M.

Time flies.. as always, Saturday took friends to a tattoo place I use in Fuengirola, Art Monkey, two tattoos later, they're both very pleased with their new ink!  And we headed to the paseo and had a cool drink, went to a bar I've never been to before, it looks recently updated, and maybe I have, a long long time ago..

Time has a habit of running away without us if we don't keep an eye on it! 

We had a bite of lunch at Luis Bar, where I have been going since '89, and also very changed, not sure in a good way though..  then we went to the Sky Bar.. definitely never been there.. it's in the hotel that faces the statue of the woman whose back is to the med.. near Luis Bar..  I say in, the bar is on the rooftop, like at the TWA hotel at JFK.. similar but not the same.. 

Was wonderful up there, sat on sofas, and under a shade, good friends and conversation, the warm sun and a little breeze.. very very nice..

Above and below La Cala de Mijas on Sunday..

Sunday I drove down to La Cala, sat on the beach, then along onto a sunbed, had a bite of lunch.. sea breeze was wonderful, but then I could see dark battleship gray clouds approaching from homeward direction and decided to head home, saw my neighbor and had a coffee with him, before it started to rain, which it did so we had another coffee!! 

Today a coffee up this end of town, before a walk down to town, and, more coffee! 

I've had a bad day on Facebook, shared way too many soppy poems and saved even more in my 'to keep' list..

Sometimes we have days like that, they weigh heavy for whatever reason.

M.

 

I can hear a hoopoe bird while I'm parked here waiting for a colleague, my favourite birds.. Used to see them every day at work on the golf courses.. and been lucky to see them now and again in unexpected places..

What's been happening? Last weekend I watched the Eurovision for the first time in fifty years! THAT was quite a thing! 

We, two of us girls from work, started off at Playa Luna bar, had lunch, very nice.. about 2pm..

Then moved to a different table and enjoyed the singer..

Then we walked along the boardwalk to the Chiringuito Dunes, the breeze had picked up and it was a bit chilly, well, I suppose not really! But we've already had high temperatures, so felt cooler.. 

So we were inside, then outside, then back inside and finally outside and out back in the sun!

Then joined by another work mate, about half six by now..

Walk back to the appartment and last work mate chica joined us! 

Eurovision started at nine, I think? And finished at 01:30!! And so did we! Great night, absolutely! 

Finished it off with a McD's in the morning, well, about 13:00 when two of us left..

So that's it now for me, never again? We'll have to see! 

We've had rain, but not as much as forcast, either that or I've just missed it over my house or where I've been... 

This was some size bird making a skydive down near my steps at home!! After snails my neighbour recons! I recon he's correct! 

M.

When I left home this morning it was to bright blue sky and sunshine, coming down through the mountains was spectacular, wishing I could take photographs with a click of my eyes! A river of mist gliding between the mountains.. 

Seeing the swirling sea mist, following the valley up from the coast, and definitely not down from the sky.. then at a turn in the road all sun left and only very thick fog.. couldn't see 50 yards ahead of me! So lights on main and came down to this! Above!

A quote from The Sur in English today

"A very dense sea fog rolls in and creates traffic problems on the Costa del Sol with 10km tailbacks on A-7

Malaga Airport was put in a pre-alert situation this Tuesday morning, although the change in wind has helped disperse the ‘taro’ and the runways are currently operating as normal"

And now I'm home and its half seven and 34°..

That's hot! 

A good day at work, busy and never a dull moment!

I am tired.. had about three hours sleep .. just couldn't settle, get comfy, my mind was busy and nothing would shut it up! 

Hopefully tonight I'll sleep better..

I feel there's more to say, but tiredness is definitely kicking in...

M.

Today I had another tattoo, the itch for ink is strong ... Well, can't find a Darth Vader emoji! And may the forth was yesterday, so a tad too late for Star Wars humor me thinks!

Well, I randomly, as I am, picked up a book off the shelf... It was my mom's Grimm's Fairy Tales, and it opened at a bookmark, of mine! The piece of paper above.. which is directions of how to use the tattoo cream it came with! 

Very strange! Of course! 

Next also random, picked up this book below of my mom's.. 

Thought I'd post the writing my grandfather's godfather, Mr G Daniel.. 1894.. had written on the inner page .. almost 130 years ago.. crazy isn't it.. my family have always written in books, to whom and when, and why... And to see the history like this is a beautiful keepsake..

My mom loved the same authors as her father.. and she read them to me.. wonderful stories, I guess my favourite of his is 'Ayesha, the return of She'

And me leaving Art Monkey Tattoo today! All wrapped up! 

This above is a rubbish photograph, but I was sat reading on the terrace and one of black bees came a buzzing around, he started on the sweet peas then came down to these Heart leaf ice plant flowers! Aptenia cordifolia is the Latin name.. 

And no, until this very moment I had no idea of the name of this plant I have been keeping alive in most parts of the wall behind the house and here and there on the terrace, for eighteen years! 

Then the bee came buzzing over me, I just dipped my head down into my book, then he flew off and over to the geraniums etc on the other side and back around again, and again.. quite a busy little bee! Well no, not so little... And while I'm rambling it was the color I wanted to try to show you, but wasn't easy with his speed, I have always thought of them as black.. but he's really the most beautiful dark purple.. gorgeous!

I know I handle British bees, letting them walk on my fingers and hands, and even touch the soft velvet of their little yellow and black bodies.. but not sure about these.. maybe I could try?? Am I a true bee whisperer!  

M. 

Randomly looked at Getty images last night, I knew some of my photographs have been selected by Getty but never looked before..

Getty Images 

Was so cool seeing them here though! 

Was watching random programs on YouTube this afternoon and came across an old, 41 years old episode of Love Boat, the Italian cruise episode.. and as I watched I thought I'm sure one character was Marie Osmond.. just checked, it was! To be honest, probably not seen her for that many years so she was the only Marie Osmond I have ever known.. 

The band has been playing around town now since about Thursday, it's our local church, Santa Vera Cruz so I've been wearing green for last two days, mañana work, although here the town
celebrates the finale of this celebration, I have work! 

When I worked for the tobacconists I also got all of Alhauríns holiday days off too, but I don't think this company makes for those allowances!

I went to Ikea this morning and got the world's thinnest duvet and new cover.. something also to keep my shoes tidy, it's supposed to be hung up but fits very tidily in my otomen!

Yesterday was a trip to Casa Flores and I bought a a couple of red geraniums and a chrysanthemum!

Looks very nice up on the terrace now.. 

M.