Happy all Hallows Eve!

Highfields Park, Nottingham, yesterday... Beautiful autumnal day for a walk around here.. 

We actually went to an area of the hospital to pick up my pre surgery preparation pack.. and it's very close to this park.

They called again, the hospital, and changed my appointment again, which is better than the 10th, less bad omen feel for me, especially... 

It is now the 4th of November, Monday!

Which is great, just my body so has not sorted itself out from its last pre surgery prep. 

Stomach feels crappy, and it's all over the place! 

Added to that a bad back! Maybe a mix of stress, and, or? Sunday night I had to have easy and quick access to the bathroom, so we had a switch around of bedrooms and I was in a bunk bed, which was great, actually,  but not easy to jump into or out of in a hurry, and getting out of is a hurry, as any of you might know if you've had a colonoscopy.

Without getting into it too much, this was my fourth pre colonoscopy prep. but I've never had this after-effect before, I guess it having only been May since the last my body is not liking it! 

Whose would to be honest!?! 

And now I am putting it through it again, immediately! I can't eat for 24 hours after the surgery is only, and then only soft foods for a further 72 hours..

After Mondays disappointment, I had thought a good meal, a glass of wine .. would be a thing for this weekend, but no..

And to be honest, not next either, I am worrying myself sick that maybe I'll be too scared to eat anything that could risk effecting the surgery area, ever again!

But living on soup or other non chewable items probably wouldn't be a good onwards journey for a body!

M.

They whispered to her You cannot withstand the storm She whispered back I AM The Storm!

These strangely gathered photographs today.. I searched 'streets' in my gallery and these were there, amongst a thousand others, of course! 

Above taken in Pembrey Country Park about eleven years ago.. they had a huge ammunitions dump here during WW2.. It really is a beautiful park,.we camped there for a few nights, took me 24 hours after going cold turkey with no data signal to calm down, and basically, just get over it already!! 

Above also in Wales, Merthyr Tydfil, very spooky looking house!

And, yes, this also, an amazingly shaped tree, wind blown by the ever present sea breeze along the beautiful coast land of the Gower..

***

So, what we really need to speak about is my surgery appointment yesterday.

I went through the ordeal of Movicol, after three days of non fibre, and then no food at all.

Up at 3am yesterday morning, for second dose of Movicol, this is a one litre drink that's tastes disgusting, has to be drunk over an hour, 250 ml every fifteen minutes.. the first dose followed by a couple of litres of water to flush it through.. and at 3:30 yesterday morning, repeat the Movicol, and 500 ml of water... a thousand trips to the loo, saying no more!

And at the hospital at 9am, actually there at half eight and took half an hour to find my ward, son and his two came with me for support.. then, left me there...

I signed in, was assigned an area in my ward, and waited, had some checks done, and waited, saw someone who would be in the surgery, he told me all about what was going to happen, the good things, and of course had to tell me the bad that could; I signed the forms to acknowledge I understood what I was signing for.. was so funny when I had to put the date, I paused and looked at him blankly, he said  'the 27th' then again at month, he said 'October,' the year... My mind was completely blank I said "I can't even think of the year" and laughed, he said it's okay, that's normal, all the information about the surgery you're about to have blanks most people's minds.. he said '25'.. I said I was actually thinking 1990 something!! 

Then, I waited some more, it was a ward for six patients, all curtained off for privacy.. and as others came back they were offered sandwiches and tea or coffee, and ice-cream and I was starving!! Smelt so good!!

Then, there came two men, one from earlier and another who introduced himself as one of the surgeons.. at 4:30pm.

They told me I would not be able to have my surgery, that the first patient had had an issue, one of the things that can go wrong issue, and when patient #2 came out, he had to go back in, and that the anaesthetist goes home at 5:30.. which is fair enough, they start at 7am.. 

So! I packed up my things, took off my attractive support stockings and left for the tram..

It was the busiest I have ever been in, I didn't really need to hold on, we were like sardines in a can! Terrible, I was tired, hungry and well, felt like crying..

They had offered me a sandwich, but to be honest at that point I just wanted to come home.

After what felt like forever, got in, got into my comfies and decided KFC was dinner! Ordered it through the app and found it was saying pickup in the restaurant and no place to change it! The phone number hung up, so changed again and, in the now dark, we walked there, and brought it back... To find wrong drinks and a whole meal missing! 

WoW, what a day!

And today, on a brighter note.. well to begin with, had a phone call from the hospital to apologise for yesterday's failure to complete my surgery, but I did obviously understand and that's that really, but was nice to get that call.

Then, even better an hour or so later another call offering me another appointment! 

So it's November 10th.. we were walking to The Range and my phone rang, excellent news... Which means I have all the prep, again, the awful week before and the day before, I have to be there at 7am, so, it's a movicol at 7pm and again at 1:30!! So I guess, no sleep at all Sunday night! But I have to have it done and soon as.. 

Then, here it stops being good news... The November 10th thing...

I opened up my calendar, clicked on the date to make the appointment, and there, already the headline I see every year.. 

When Franco told me his diagnosis.. 

I can't believe the coincidence, the fate.. The chance of my surgery being cancelled and given this date?

Worse Day Of My Life... I placed those words on November 10th 2016.

The day Franco had asked me to go get five tins of Quality Street from Iceland (Overseas), and when I messaged him to say I was on my way to the hospital, where he was under investigation for his pain and sickness.. 

And he said he'd meet me outside the front, by the steps, where patients seemed to gather for fresh air... Or cigarettes!! 

I walked up with a tin of Quality Street for the nurses, others were for other people Franco wanted to give to as Christmas gifts..

He told me sit down, I refused.. and he told me the prognosis, the result of the many tests, and the worse possible news.

So, what a date they've given me, again, the chance, the coincidence, the fate... An omen? I hope if so, it's a good one, because the way my mind is.. I am not feeling it at the moment.

M.

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

Buddha

Some photos I took the week the Caminito Del Rey opened it's new walk... Can't remember when now, off hand, if you're on the desktop page of my Blog use the search bar, top left-hand corner to find it.. if you want! Of course! 

Was amazing, and definitely safer than the old broken and dangerous walk for mountain climbers, and those of us who could only get close and look across! Or risk life and limb as we did and walk over the narrow path over the Ravine, below.. we walked from the left-hand side to the right, at that time, maybe 20 years ago? There was nothing much to stand on on the right! 

Been a stressful week, and been on a non fibre diet for last three days, white bread, white rice blah blah blah..

And today at 7pm I start the awful drink, a litre to be drunk over an hour, then lots of water, two litres or so... Try to sleep later, then about 3am, the second drink, repeat process, no more liquids from 7am.. into hospital for 9am and .. well, there we go! 3 to 4 hours surgery and hopefully all well afterwards.

Got my head in a bad place, being positive is only something I can be for others...

M.

 

Cabopino Beach..

Today someone said he thought he had seen me on beach, back home, I guess my spirit or soul sometimes goes a wandering...

Had my flu shot this morning, arm aches already! Usually the next day but this was quicker.. then few hours later blood test taken, different arm!! If that even makes a difference eh! 

So tired again today, I was out for an hour and a half this morning, also defrosted and cleaned the fridge freezer, and cleaned the bathroom floor, whoever put black mirror type tiles down on a bathroom floor never intended to have to clean them! Nightmare!

Been having bad dreams as well, adding insult to injury with my bad sleeping.. 

Had one of those weird moments this morning, listening to Harry Potter on my ear buds, just coming home from flu shot and Asda, and the narrator is saying 'October 16th.....' and I stop in my tracks!! Today is October 16th!! Weird eh? Coincidence.. yes!

Been trying to decide whether to get a car or not! I miss driving, I want a car, but do I need a car?? 

M.

Fall in love with moments..

Not really a quote, but, certainly something to think on...

Moments like when I took the photograph above.. snapshots of our lives

 

I'm sure one day I'll stop posting photography from back home.. or at least old ones, new ones are better ...

People from England who live abroad and still call England home, so I am allowing myself that privilege now, with Spain, my heart will always be there.. among the Málaga and Cadiz mountains and across the plains between them..

Down on the Costa del Sol beaches and flitting from best remembered bars and chirinquitos..

Ghosts of loved ones and friends shall always remain...

Yes, I am better, quite suddenly yesterday afternoon, better! Just my normal tired, which is fine, been dealing with that for decades, so just pleased my antibodies have won the war on COVID that was attacking me so vehemently!

Just in time for my flu shot tomorrow, I hope! And blood test tomorrow, another one! 

I ventured out last night too, into town no less, in the evening in the dark! Beware the dark ... Stay clear of the forest, sorry I mean beware the moors, stay on the path!

Had a nice evening, a non alcoholic gin y tónica, and was home by 20:45!!

It is most definitely autumn now, that wonderful autumnal smell, feeling, the promise of Halloween, of log fires, frost on the hedgerow, pimping out the spiders webs in silver frosting.. the sunlight glistening on melting frost.. 

Ooops sorry, Waxing lyrical! 

M.

Need a quote and searched my notes, this isn't really a quote, and I may have published this before, but it caught my eye and shall now reside here .

Boundaries we make for ourselves, too scared, some of us, to break free, to realize our own selves, to be brave enough to just be us and not feeling caged by own self-made electronic fences.

 

A photograph from my trip back home last month, alright feels like months ago, I guess, coming back and feeling sick hasn't helped with that!

I am better, but no way better better.. I am so incredibly exhausted, can't even tell you.

Fed up that I could have had my surgery today, and now still don't know when it will be.. and so tired... Still, sleeping at night is a bonus eh!

I did get out Saturday, a coffee near a marina, and hardly a walk around then some lunch, was lovely, but too tiring.. And today, walked to Asda and home, need to get out, need to exercise and try and build up my strength but just so damn tired!! 

Which is funny, because I'm normally not a 100% awake anyways but now it's ten times worse! 

M.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

Cynthia Ozick - Short Story Writer-Novelist-Essayist

January 2021, home.

Test kit this morning faulty, so awaiting new kits to arrive today! Still feeling crappy, dizzy, weak and my right eye is so sore.

It's reminding me of the awful eye infection I had June 2020, when I ended up having a call with the eye department of Coventry Hospital and my wonderful client paying for a taxi to bring me my medication, penicillin! Doctor on the phone said I could have lost my vision in that eye had I not done something about it.. I had had two earlier infections, the two months preceding this worse one, and only been given cream for my eye... But then, who knew it was something worse.

So today, actually a poem, from one of the Pod casts about a spy in France during WW2..

It says on Google it's is now commonly used for funerals 

***

The life that I have is all that I have

And the life that I have is yours.

The love that I have of the life that I have

Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have

A rest I shall have,

Yet death will be but a pause,

For the peace of my years in the long green grass

Will be yours and yours and yours.

Leo Marks (1920--2001) was an English poet, playwright/screenwriter (he wrote the excellent Peeping Tom) and cryptographer. He showed a fondness for codebreaker from a young age, and during World War II worked for the SOE--the British espionage agency given the task of helping resistance movements in Occupied France.

***

The kits came yesterday afternoon! I'm negative now!! 

And also now it's Friday afternoon, I went to bed about 7pm last night and woke up at 8am! Two things COVID have helped me with a) my ankles are not swelling up now! Laying down all day and night definitely helps with swollen ankles! It's my heart meds by the way!! And instead of my anklet being either close fitting or too tight, I've been able to fit three fingers under the cord, laying against my ankle together not one on the of the other!! Obviously!! 

And 2) I've slept! Not something I can normally do! 

And yes the two things a) and 2) were on purpose to make you laugh! And now I see you didn't even notice! 

Today this morning I went down to Asda, was tiring and wobbly and weird to be out in the world after six days, I felt very zombie like.. and the world looked different somehow, coming back was heavy going, it's up hill, but only just, nothing like back home.. 

Oh in Asda, I bought a Kraken (as in Kraken rum,) glass, a spare for my son, couldn't complete my purchases until an assistant came to check on a flagged product. I said the only thing I have is a glass? Is there an age limit now for buying glasses! We laughed! Apparently so she said! Saying it was for my son she said 'well, make sure he only drinks squash from it then!' I said, he's 45!! 

I've spent the rest of the day doing nothing much, but have remained downstairs all day, so that's a bonus, see if I can manage to stay awake until 8 tonight!

M.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

Seneca - BC-65 AD - Philosopher

The Pipster above, one of my favourite photographs, I suppose because I remember the whole moment in time so incredibly well.. We had gone for a drive to the lakes, the Conde del Guadalhorce Reservoir, where we went a great many times of course.. we had walked and then decided to go to the bar at the top of the mountain above Bobastro, you'll not find the bar now..

But from there you can still look down at El Chorro railway station and see the trains heading to Ronda and Seville, and from up there come face to face with eagles soaring high catching the warm thermals.. 

Anyways, we went there, and Franco had gone in to order coffees, Pip was keeping an eye on him!

And here above, is mmmm forty one or forty two years ago, Tony and I, and Elsa our beautiful German Shepherd pup.

I'm writing each new post after just posting the one I wrote before! I'm going to get confused! Lol, so it's still Wednesday, I'll test again tomorrow.. need to know when I'm safe around my family. I am thinking I could try for a walk later anyways, as long as I don't go anywhere or bother anyone at all. Just to get some exercise and fresh air, although to be honest walking around the house is stretching my abilities at the moment, I'll see...

The group of series I am listening to on Spotify is called The Spy who.. and from the there it takes us on a journey through many famous spies, and the many we have never heard of, and should have.

I'm not sure, but I think I may have already listened to four series, and I don't think I am anywhere near the end yet. They are fascinating, compelling and part of our history. 

I just hope I am absorbing what I have listened to so far.. with my foggy head, I don't want to forget..

My COVID symptoms:

Sore throat 

Extreme tiredness 

Voice gravelly 

Sense of smell

Sense of taste (animal fat, meat)

Cough and yucky stuff

Aches and pains

Dizziness 

Stomachache lower abdomen 

Right eye pain, and weeping

(Weeping as in eye not my overall tears of feeling bloody awful!)

M.

Grief is our timeless gift of love. Where there is deep grief, there is great love. If we allow ourselves to love, we must also give ourselves permission to express our grief. To continue to live well and to love well depends on it.

Laurie Taylor 

Me and my mom! Rocking it in Los Angeles California styley back in the day; tv, color camera, all mods cons that were not in the England we arrived into the following next year! 

Mom and I had full washing facilities in the apartment, obviously indoor bathroom! And arriving into England to a house with an outside toilet, a tin bath that had to filled manually! And a mangle for squeezing the water out of wet clothes!! Must have been strange for my mom, me, not so much, being totally unaware really, in the grand scheme of things... She worked for Thomas A Edison, in New York City. I am guessing a son or grandson was running the business by then. Head too wooly to check.

I know, I'm sure my random posts, full of nonsense much of the time, is my way of making sense of my world.

One that from the beginning wasn't how a life should be.. although of course who says mine is the wrong way.. but it wasn't an easy one.. oh well, okay, that too then! 

But my ramblings are my way of dealing with my thoughts, which after what? Twenty three years of Blogging? Without may well have sent me to a beautiful house in the countryside where dress code would be white, and the walls very comfy to fall against! 

Okay, okay yes, being dramatic as usual! But honestly, I need to write. Definitely a book could come out of that dramatic paragraph alone! This COVID is really in my head!! 

My small book about my stepdad, Dennis C. Randall sells a few copies a year, it doesn't make me rich, I can't write something as big as I write here, among these pages, I know I can ramble more than a hundred thousand words, but they wouldn't make a cent! 

More importantly it doesn't help me empty the continental stream of words in this head of mine, like Blogging does.

Highlight of the day!! The hospital called to say they have had a cancellation and I can have my surgery on Monday yeahhhh!! Only of course I can't booooooo..

We talked and as I might still have COVID and my immune system is presently being hacked by nasty bodies attacking my lungs and heart and other organs, it can't happen! Sods law or what!! I just knew they were going to do that, my poor troubled gut told me so! It's only troubled by the way because I'm not really eating, not, of course, because of COVID!! 

M.

Quote isn't meant in a depressing way.. I say laughing in my pit, on the morning of what will be my fifth day in bed!! Seriously!! Maybe not the best of quotes! 

Life is a great sunrise and I cannot see why death wouldn't be a greater one

Vladimir Nabokov

Above photograph taken whilst walking one morning through our Sierra de Mijas back home.

This COVID thing is really getting to me now.. I'm sure I wasn't this bad before? And last time I don't remember my taste going weird? I know it's been a long two years, a change of life two years, a monumental change actually, so some things dim in memory.. 

But last night I came down to bring down my cup and saw the babes and my son sitting there munchy through mince pies, as in the sweet Christmas treat, for those of you not familiar with this beautiful sweet pastry, crammed full of fruits and spices, sometimes warmed and covered generously in cream or warm custard or vanilla ice-cream! 

Sorry! Anyways.. I asked for one, and getting it back up to my room I prepared for the above wonderful taste.. and what did I get, what weirdly can I can still taste in my mouth?? Animal fat! It literally tasted like animal fat! It tasted so bad I haven't eaten today yet because my mouth tastes so horrible I don't think I can face it again.

Last evening I made my way through a string of movies, well string of two! Both very good, but maybe not very good for watching one after the other! They were The Map of Us and Between The Lights. Both well worth watching, separately, luckily feeling so tired and ughhh I went straight to sleep after watching.

Only now feeling so extremely sad!! Like impossibly sad.. I guess being in bed for four days does nothing for us mentally, not leaving the house, I have the window wide open, but not exactly out and moving about, not that I have the energy or capability right now, having to talk into my phone half the time because it seems confusion reigns with regards to sentences and words.

Last night I woke up thinking about a couple of my old penpals.. wondering what happened to them... and wish I could just pick up a thread, pick up a line.. Alan Andre from Mauritius and Eugene Kumar from Singapore.. Cannot remember at all what the former did in Mauritius, for some reason the army comes to mind now.. and the latter worked offshore for a French company! Lols that narrows it down at lot!! No?

Watching another movie now, when I'm not feeling sorry for myself! 

It's called Jane Austen Wrecked My Life.. it's also very good, subtitles though, so have to concentrate more .. I'll add a quote from it now..

Me and my quotes eh! 

Being held prisoner by this thing I suppose does mean I'm Blogging more!! 

Oh and I tested positive again today! Will test again Thursday, why am I testing? Because I can't give this virus to someone, anyone, vulnerable, I managed to work through COVID here in England, and not a single one of my clients caught it.. I am grateful for that.

And I still feel this way. It's not a gift to give. Was looking for a phrase there, but only found sad things so stepping away from that will post now and get back to the movie, but maybe another cup of tea first.

M.

The best portion of a good man's life is his little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love

Wordsworth

 

We often take for granted the very things t

 

Asked my telephone for sunsets, so two of these today from my Gallery.. skies from home ..

Alex Roe finally Home

Don't feel very much better, yet, I'm drinking as much as I can, teas and water of course! 

Breathing is an issue but as long as I'm not talking it's okay, my voice messages will be brief today... Strange wheezing noise coming out of me, earlier on I was wondering where it was coming from, then I realized it was me! 

I did make an order for a quick delivery but it was cancelled?!? Bit strange.. 

Tomorrow morning I'll do a COVID test again, fed up feeling like this.

I've been bingeing on series yesterday and today.. can't remember yesterday's? But then yesterday was very foggy in my head... 

Today's is Hotel Costiera, great series, it's based around a fantastic hotel in Positano on the Almalfi Coast, it has a comedy edge as they unravel mysteries.. such a beautiful area, stunning scenery, and they go into Naples which makes it even better for me...

Been awake since around 4am though and spent the first four hours listening to more spy podcasts! 

Above just an abstract photograph I took the other day in The Range.. when I guess I already had COVID!

M.

All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.

Earl Nightingale - 1921-1989-Author-Radio Personality

Another nice evening along the river from the other day... starting to feel a bit chill now of an evening and first thing ..

At last I heard from the hospital today about my surgery, it will be October 21st or 27th!! (This was last Monday! I forgot to post then didn't feel well... Excuses excuses!)

So, yes okay, not quite exact yet but almost!

Nothing to report, I can post another photograph of course, and at the weekend the Goose Fair! 

Should have posted this last week... As aforementioned.

There was a day the week before last that I just couldn't move, was so totally exhausted, it made no sense.. Now it does, I have COVID, and again no Goose Fair, it ended yesterday, the fair, probably not the COVID... I woke up Saturday morning feeling more crappy than the day before..

It was only when my granddaughter asked me to smell some strong mints and I couldn't smell them I worried! I have some test kits so gave it a shot! Within seconds, again just like two years ago, November '23, I couldn't believe it when it immediately registered as COVID.

And also can't understand how I have had at least ten days, between the the day I couldn't move and the symptoms coming out?? How many places have I gone, trams taken, exchanges of possible infection.

Anyways, I am now hopefully in recovery, I'll test again tomorrow, Tuesday, see how it comes out. This post is all over place, blaming too much sleep and too much awake through coughing in the night, and pod casts about spies!

M.

Especially beautiful words here beneath..

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever

Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Few more photographs from my visit back home, I have realized now, it will always be home, as the many people I know call England home, home shall always be Spain to me, specifically Andalucía.

Two above taken while I awaited my friend who came to drop me off at the airport...

Beautiful sunsets... The best sunsets.. 

And soon the cigar clouds will come... Roaming above like random space craft..

Isa's where we've been having coffee, since forever.. wonderful cakes, good food and service.. Happy days..

Just a short post today, well, was, I was a bit off color Thursday, eaten too many wrong things I think, my fault, sugary or fatty maybe.. or both... Just so extremely tired, and stomachache.. still sore but went to bed at 19:30 watched a bit of TV but slept on and off until 07:30 yesterday morning... Which meant yesterday had a headache from too much sleeping!! Can't win eh!! 

Woke at 4:30 this morning and not slept again, worrying about this and that, and then stupidly checking on my phone for things I was worrying about! 

The Goose fair started last night...

Was going to grab some old photographs I have taken, but on a train and the WiFi and data are not playing today!

Found this in one of my grandchildren's books.

We should all have a DEAR day, or many of them if possible! Drop Everything And Read! 

M.

Hello my love

Hello my life

Breezy (movie quote)

(Because I watched Breezy yesterday)

Forgot to hit post yesterday on the Blog! Not that I've never done that before!! Right!! 

These two photographs from just now... Well, 07:50 the one immediately above, and about 8:20 above.. 

I miss this view, not exactly, but very similar to mine... I was over a bit, further along the town, and Sierra Gorda was more directly in front of me... But it is the same... Es la misma vista.

 

My route above, that I took on the Alsa coach from T.'s down south to here.. it's broken, the route, because it was over two days of course!! 

I have my things ready to leave at a friend's for safe keeping while I am away, the same things, plus three things more! But I don't want to leave any more than this. For two reasons! For my friends sake! And it's bad enough I have the majority of my life still in boxes in a lock up, without spreading my belongings further afield.

Talking about our visit to the botanical gardens just now, I've driven past it all my life here, so easy to have gone to, at any time, we could have taken the Pipster, then we said... Life's like that, it's so true... We pass places, things, people, we think we have forever... It's a big mistake.

Still all the rest of my day ahead... Let me fetch a piece from Facebook I saw this morning... Bare with! 

It's not meant to be depressing by the way..

M.

You're going to die.

One day, you won't be here. Neither will the doubts, the worries, or the people you tried to impress.

That's not depressing. It's liberating.

So take the risk.

Say what you really feel.

Do the thing you keep putting off.

Because the real fear isn't failure.

It's lying on your deathbed... surrounded by the ghosts of chances you never took.

 

Two days to go here in my home town, trying not to have sad last days, but I am leaving again, and leaving hurts every single time

Yesterday met up with my old vecina P., coffee at Bar Cruz then, a few stores around town for her shopping list.. 

We then went to see another friend together, way down past my house, had a cool drink there with L. made a loving fuss of her beautiful dog... and helped her with something we started last week! I'm only observing, and somehow they moved marble slab seat tops and heavy supports around a huge marble top table.. 

While I shouted words of encouragement and gave directions!! Anyways, between us, three benches down and one to go! Sweating hot work, and way too heavy really for any of us to do! 

P. dropped me back in town and I went to Isas for lunch, a fajita chicken with 

M.

Let yourself go. Pull out from the depths those thoughts that you do not understand, and spread them out in the sunlight and know the meaning of them.

E.M. Forster, A Room with a View

 

I forgot!! I wrote on the flight! Not long after take off!! 

I took a couple of screenshots before my phone stopped tracking me.. 

And I took a few photographs on the plane.. landing somewhere I don't usually land.. So two views of Spain, possibly different from the normal route? I don't know...

So seems very random now and maybe irrelevant, but here are my notes from the flight:

Flight is totally full, and at the moment someone is standing in the front area of the plane waiting for his seat? Not sure what's happened there! We haven't taken off by the way, Ryanair hasn't actually got strap-hanging customers, just yet! 

Now a man had said he was in 23D, along side of me, but the man who is in this seat his ticket says 23D! 

The man had swapped 11D for another seat!! They walked off, the stewardess and him, confused and kerfuddled! 

I said to guys next to me... it's probably 23B, as it's empty, two women behind us joined in and said oh yes! Probably.. they came back, it was 23B!

And we're off!

There are two hen parties, and two stag parties on board! People drinking at the airport from 7:00am... And these groups downing as much alcohol now as they can before they land!! 

Prior to this, going through the boarding pass scan and passport check to enter the departure gate.. a man directly in front of me, his barcode beeped red! His name was wrong, completely wrong!?! No idea what happened to him!! He didn't board! 

We're leaving half an hour late, but will probably catch up...

Last time I flew into Alicante airport was back in 1999... To stay in Torrevieja, where I had first visited, back in August 1988... 

Time passes...  

Something came to my attention this morning, either Facebook or Insta, about the nine years cycle, and this being 2025, devisible by nine.. and coming late to the table for me, September already! I need to apparently catch up!

Quoting here:

The number 9 is the culmination of the numerological cycle, symbolizing wisdom, reflection, and release. This energy invites us to let go of what no longer serves us, integrate lessons from the past, and prepare for the new beginnings that will emerge in 2026.

I've always been big into numbers... Sadly not the monitory kind, but that's okay with me.. but numbers of best forever friendships, best memories, numbers of times I have been so very very lucky .. 

These are the numbers I have been, am being, blessed with.

End of notes!

The flight did catch up, off the flight quick and easily, the European passport controls working, they've been on hold in Málaga for a few years now, sat there, unused.. so maybe now they are? But still had to go from scanning our own passports to the security police to be stamped!? Which seemed daft!

Yesterday down at Calahonda, more home turf, spent three hours in the store, could have put on my old uniform, signed in and worked, was so good to be there... 

The evening before had a hour or so at a beach bar, gin&t, then dinner at a local restaurant.. familiar places and people..

Had a bit of a hiccup yesterday evening but will write tomorrow, time soon for siesta and eyes are heavy .. 

M.

Every story ever told really happened

Stories are where memories go when they're forgotten 

Doctor Who

 

Okay, down here in Andalusia.. mí corazón, my home for so long.. 

Today staying down in Calahonda, sat having coffee at Bar near work, old friends asked if I felt I had done the right thing... 

I answered I know I have, but it doesn't mean I don't miss here, my home, twenty three years is a lifetime, or can be, it's a change of life, a way of life, so different from my old, and now my new..

Three years short of the forty years that I have called españa home... 

It's a wonder that Spain didn't show up in my DNA, joking of course! I know that can't be a thing, although I am part Welsh and lived there for three years!?! 

These two photograph above, and one beneath, taken from a friend's home over the weekend, there below, the white line, of a white village, one of the white villages of Andalucía.. Alhaurín El Grande, my Alhaurín.. 

The hump of a small mountain in front of Alhaurín Sierra Gorda, and below looking back the opposite way...

Below two more photographs from Alicante province, did not have long enough a visit, next time... I flew in and out like a passing bird on the wing... 

Stunning.. what an amazing view to see each day.. makes the heart shine..

I imagine the angels from City of Angels, standing in awe, the sound of sunrise and sun sets pouring through their hearts and souls... 

Now! To completely change the subject!

Carlos Juan link to book and all information.

Please use code MARIAN to secure your copy as limited edition.

This is an exceptional book with foreword written by George Benson, who highlights Carlos's abilities as a true master.

Stating that "Carlos Juan would have to be among the greatest guitar technicians in the world.

You will also get valuable data about guitar action of the superstars, since Carlos worked on guitars for all of them, as well as tools, and installation tips. 

There are a one hundred pages, 1000+ artists, and 850 photos.

The Carlos brand, also known as Carlos Juan Pickups, is a world-renowned manufacturer of high-end acoustic guitar pickups and amplifiers, recognized for their superior performance, accuracy, quality, and reliability, often described as the "Rolls Royce of all acoustic guitar pickups."

The brand has received high ratings from top guitarists and trade press, and Carlos Juan has been nominated multiple times for the German Innovation Award. 

Carlos Juan and his work is highly trusted by many famous musicians, including George Benson, Eric Clapton, David Knopfler, Mark Knopfler, Al di Meola, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, Brian Adams, Gary Moore, Nathan East, Yamandu Costa and many more. Eric Clapton's guitar technician, Lee Dickson, commissioned two specific CP-1 High-End systems and two CTP tube preamps for Eric Clapton in 2004 and 2006.

The reason I am promoting this book, not just on my book Blog but here also, and not copy edited by me, but my input is there and help along the way, mainly reminding, pushing, promoting, and pushing more! As with other authors I have dealt with along my way.. So this book means a lot to me.

M.

Young people can run fast

But old people know the way

Anon

España aka home

 

Arrived in Alicante airport September 6th, last into Alicant airport around 1999..

First time August 3rd 1988.. So funny, can't remember why I walked into a room sometimes a d remember dates! Well, just normal and unfortunately know, through work, all the other reasons why parts of our brains remember, or sadly, forget..

Above photograph was the full moon last week, not exactly clear and without my good camera a very poor view of it!

Was so good to see my friend, been too long, and had been too long, and too late.. also.

We should remember every single morning we are lucky enough to wake up, that this day, today, is the day! It is the only day, love it, embrace it, cover those we care about and love with praise and beautiful words. 

If unfortunately tomorrow never comes, there will be no bad words, no unspoken thoughts.. 

I was lucky, we were lucky, nothing left unsaid, nothing bad spoken; but still I wish we could have had more.. of our life..

Sorry, this took a turn I didn't mean to take, it's being here... Sat now as I write at Bar Cruz, and my ghosts surround me.

Maybe as much as I miss here, wish I was here more, wonder what if...

I know beyond doubt I made the right choice, living with my ghosts here is not healthy.

Beautiful views from my friends home, we walked and talked and I met some lovely people, friends good for her, and that we need, for sure.

Again I am so very thankful for mine, wouldn't be here without them.

Obviously photograph beneath should be at the top! But hey! Bite me! As they say! Thinking of a pin I have now..  a gingerbread man, who has a chunk taken out of his leg! Because someone did!

Journey continues, as I am now down back home as aforementioned, and surrounded by my friends.. Sun's up, it's been very warm, as September can be.. but cooler at night thankfully..

I have already spent time staying with two friends, two very different locations, both beautiful.

Y ahora, café y charla y amistad. 

M.

DON QUIXOTE

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES SAAVEDRA

"When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!"