Day Three:

Yesterday I got a cab down to La Cala, J. got a bus and we had lunch at a chiringuito.

Not a liquid lunch! But this wasu Mojito.. mmm very nice! 

I had chicken a la plancha y patatas fritas.. We then walked along to a bar I hadn't been in before, a Reggae bar right at the end of the beach, where the paseo ends and it's just sand and rocks..

I had a G&T, Larios, por su puesto.. J. a wine.. we sat and talked and laughed in the sunshine.. a man at a nearby table got up and leaving his glasses on the table went to the bar.. a little while later I noticed someone go up to the table and sit! I said in Spanish and English excuse me there's someone sitting there and he turned around and said yes it's me! so funny J. and I were hysterical!  another man at another table nearby burst out laughing, I looked at him and he said no no! it's very good that you care about other people like that! it was so funny!

Then after a little while a girl asked if she could sit at the table with us, there were still three empty chairs and I said yes of course, as long as you don't mind some rather raucous conversation and she said no not at all, that she would enjoy that very much! Five minutes later a man sat down her partner, and then another ten minutes later his friend joined them, joined us, so there were five of us... we were just talking to each other, like old friends quote quickly..

I have to say though something strange did happen she said to her fella that she wanted a drink, she only had a small amount of drink left in her glass, and he said well you know where the bar is! and she threw what was left of her drink at him! his face his chest! He was covered, amazing how such a small amount of fluid can go so far! so he was left sticky, it was cava I think...  and he went and had a quick shower from the shower on the beach..

 There had been a very awkward moment, a strange moment, but there was quick recovery on all parts... and we had a great amount of time with them talking, it was really nice then they left, and then us..

I went on the exercise equipment, kind of had an idea J. was taking photographs, didn't expect to see them on Facebook which is fine! Also by then I had had another G&T..  we made our way to the taxi rank said our goodbyes and both got in separate tax's..

Really good day... 

M.

Kiss slowly, laugh insanely, live truly and forgive quickly.

Paulo Coelho - Author

Arh... Paulo Coelho... 

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 am extremely lax of late! Must do better comes to mind with my Blog posts!

Above a photograph I took from the terrace at home... Not here at work, where I have been since last Tuesday...

And above taken along the La Cala boardwalk, I went to the market first, then down here... The part above the only part I could see that had been affected by the storms... I walked as far as El Oceano at Miraflores near Riviera Del Sol...

A good walk and I had a coffee at the retirees bar... Lol not just for the retired by the way! Good coffee, good food!

I had been feeling a bit out of sorts... Pippa related, and then probably did the wrong thing by stopping in the forest where her and I used to collect pine cones for kindling...

And back home, well, not a good place in my head... But, its passed now, and I know I have to let the guilt go, let the pain go, I knew two years ago this week it would be as it is...

It doesn't make it better, moving on is the only way, blocking thoughts and letting go of what was, and cannot be. My decision for Pippa is still for the best, as long as I don't think about her...

Home... Home is where my heart is, if nothing else, I know this now. Any doubts about this are gone, I love Spain, I belong in Spain, my heart belongs here...

And now! Working in a very pretty area of the UK, Wales, near Chepstow.

I am moving about in too many places! Today every road I took looked like so many others I have taken on placements, I always thought if I was dropped from the sky and landed I would know where I was! Ha, no more! Except maybe where I grew up, now everywhere looks like anywhere else to me!! Lol...

Today I drove to Gloucester Quays; oh British English language, whats with this word!!! Keys!!! Keys!! Its called keys because where the boats dock look like the sticky out bits on keys!!

Anyways! The big shopping centre there, I think I have seen it advertised on the TV for some time when in the UK, first time going there.. It was too busy, too many people Christmas shopping, it was raining and the car park packed when I arrived already! Only about 11:15 maybe... I didn't actually want anything, so just had a wonder about, bought a couple of things!!! Damnit!! (and touche, with my spelling on that I guess!)

And drove back to work, bought some lunch on the way and ate here in comfort, I sometimes have trouble eating well at work, and this placement is one of those, so ate so much I don't think I'll eat again today.

I lay awake last night with an idea for my Blog today, it was nothing to do with this because I have completely forgotten what I was thinking! Should have just written it down shouldn't i! Lol

I had also written a piece on my Kindle midair to Nottingham last Saturday... It was my eleventh flight this year, one more to go next month and that's twelve! Still, better than last year I guess, when I had eighteen flights, although a couple were my winter trip to the states to visit with my brother and his family... Seems so long ago now, and so does that ten week placement I was on at this very time! Some things are best forgotten, others not so.

TTFN amigos
Marian

Spent two hours on my terrace  this morning before the sun touched down on it!

A pallet flower planter wasn't doing too well, so have taken it from the wall and added it to the table, makes it higher and maybe more of a table...

I've replanted a type of yucca? Lol question mark because I've forgotten what it is, and frankly my dears... Dammit!! Lol I had to check didn't I! It says it's an agave!! Wonder if it's the blue variety? I can make tequila!!

Sunset last evening...

Terrace is now swept, all rubbish cleared up and in trash bags downstairs... Some old bricks and pipes... I did scream once! When a little lizard I wasn't expecting darted out and made me jump! Poor little thing! Him, not me!

Honied eggplant! Yummy!

Had a friend stay last week, was good to have company, someone to laugh and cry with! Spent some of the week away, went to the lakes, of course! La Cala beach a few times, Mijas Pueblo... Not much more, but was really nice, and helped for a while to ease my loss of Pippa...

The lakes are exceedingly low considering the huge amount of rain we had this year! January, February, March... It didn't really settle until June! Crazy weather!

So to see the reservoir so low was a shock!

Had to park beneath the gardens at Mijas Pueblo, and walk up from there it was so busy, a beautiful doorway above, leads down towards the path, so a new vista for me, somewhere I love so much.

I have some friends visiting again this week, at their place, so I'll be busy with them, and others who live here...

I don't like this keeping busy thing! I actually, just want to relax when I'm not working; yes go out and about and adventure around, but I feel I am having to force myself to keep my head from filling with things I can't change.

I have found out I don't talk to myself though now, I thought maybe I did, but I really actually was just talking to Pippa afterall.

Last Saturday evening down at La Cala with a neighbor, we arrived early, about 7pm I think, already very little parking left, the feria setting up in the fair ground so everyone parking in Aldi and up and down every possible street and on every round-about and pathway!!

You know how it is here!

In the big plaza near the beach a big stage was set and from early evening various bands and dancers performed... The atmosphere was great, always friendly and all the families out parading and talking and eating... Was a great evening...

A friend was having dinner in a restaurant up near the feria ground and was totally unaware of the festivities going on along the beach!

On the way back up to Alhaurín we stopped in the BP garage for a beer... The place was heaving! I think we sat at the last empty table... Crazy how a petrol station can be so full of people enjoying the warm evening, eating such good food and getting their fill of alcohol!!

Cordoba

Well, this could be a long post, apologies for being so lax in my writings...

I shall begin with my trip to Cordoba!

A coach party organised by a local charity shop in Coín and a friend invited me, and very grateful I am too! Having been several times to Granada and Seville I had never been to Cordoba!

This trip is every year at this time to visit the Patios Cordobas! The patios of Cordoba!

And extremely beautiful they were! My friend and I raced to the area in the city to see them and were quite lucky to be early in most of the lines to get in!

There was no charge, but you could donate, on your way out of each private house...

The wide angle below is inside one of the most spectacular buildings I have ever been in, which includes the Vatican, and the Coliseum!

The cathedral/mosque is truly amazing, it is one of the world's heritage sites and I would definitely go again.

We had an amazing day, and I'll post more photos tomorrow, I promise!!

Feel sure I should be writing something on here... Just not sure what, or even a why now...

Franco has come home from hospital, a week ago last Friday... I don't think I can write on here at the moment about stuff, so keeping it photographs and whatever...

Francos sister and son have been over, we have been out and about, below La Trocha set up for chess...

And on the top of Miramar at Las Lagunas its Christmas time already!  Lots of family entertainment for young and old!

I asked Father Christmas and his elf to pose for me for a moment!

Sun snow sky and sea.... part of a shed and a Christmas tree!

We went to the car boot sale at the Hipódromo at La Cala de Mijas yesterday, it was okay, or even quite good, especially after the same 'ol same 'ol up at La Trocha on a Sunday.  We had had a spot of rain earlier on and wind was whipping up but it stayed away while we were up there almost at the top of the mountain!

The rain came down later though, by the bucketful, and it rained most of the night and still this morning on and off... Took Pipster out and it started to spit and spot on our way home!

TTFN
Marian