Me and her when I was in Nottingham over Easter... 

Random day today... Plan was La Trocha car boot, meet up at 9am for coffees'... nope, no, and didn't happen! Up too late last night, got home at 23:50... and later to bed... Alarm went off at seven thirty this morning, switched it off... Got up and had my porridge and blueberries, coffee... settled down on the day-bed watching Fraser... and before I knew it, it was half past nine! I'd pulled over a cushion, pulled up the afghan and I was... apparently... out like a light! Lols

I've watched a great movie, absolutely great! Zac Efron and John Malkovich, even the guy from Big Bang Theory Jum Parsons! Strange watching it the other day and I though I have never seen any of these people in anything else and then bam! or Bang! Here he is!

Random photograph... coffee and sunshine!

Also, a few nights ago, taking about music, chatting about likes and dislikes, and the other person asked me if I knew the song by Leonard Cohen Closing Time... I didn't, hadn't heard of it... I know Leonard Cohen, but not especially any of his music..

Anyway, conversation ended and I thought no more of it.  Until the following morning, eating my breakfast, and watching a US detective program.. Cold Case I think, they play a lot of music throughout each episode... and there was the song! Closing Time, by Leonard Cohen! I didn't know it to begin, then the lyrics... its Closing Time... Closing time... Wow! Weird crappola happens a lot, especially when we're not looking out for it! And this ranks high on the weird scale!

Today, now... nearly 3pm.. town in quiet, the last day of the fair today, or rather this evening... So people who didn't close their eyes until 4 or 5... or 6am... they are still in their sweet dream worlds.. powder blue skies... a few light fluffy clouds out towards Ardales way... Its a beautiful day...

It seems its a hungry day today also! Although had my dinner, so that was lunch! I tried something different... I had bought a jar of some beautiful tomato and herbs for a pasta meal later in the week, its only a small jar... I chucked a spoonful of it into the rocket machine with half a yellow pepper, a small red pepper, and two desert spoons of cream cheese! So nice with the chicken and salad!

My Oculous Go is powering up and I'll be taking residence in there shortly! Until the 'your device is getting hot' sign comes up!! Lol

TTFN
Marian

Yesterday afternoon I came up onto the terrace after watching the movie... bit of sun cream... because we all should! Factor 30 for me... even more need to protect my skin than ever.

After a while I got tired reading, although my head was in the shade... of the washing drying on the line... it was hot hot hot!

So I drank my glass of water, slung up my hammock and got comfortable, in the shade... the beautiful breeze keeping me gently moving and I closed my eyes... drifted off for a moment listening to the birdsong... the occasional motorbike in the distance... and nothing much more, no voices, no cars on the street... nothing..

I was thinking how we are all on a road... we're not driving... its like being upstairs, up front, on the 312 from Berkhamsted to Hemel Hempstead... the big old double-decker bus... You couldn't see the driver, you couldn't see who boarded or left at any time, all you could do was sit, watch the road, and the bus took us.

Life is like that, you're headed down a road, there may be twists and turns, maybe you can see them as you approach, but that's it... you don't own the choices all the time, even if you think you do.

Life takes it away...

May 25, Saturday

I came down after what felt like a couple of hours, not having my phones with me, totally unaware of the time... and not minding one little bit!

Last night I had trouble negotiating this route with the hundreds of people flooding this street and all along the lower road... Looks so calm here at ten this morning! Apart from plastic glasses, some bottles and wet places along the way!!

Meeting my friend at a tapas bar... but we didn't stop there, too busy... correction, waaaayy to busy! So we walked along and up past the Cruz roundabout to a bar much further up the street.  Sitting outside in the beautiful warm evening, watching the world go by... which included women dressed in the very best flamenco dresses... beautiful colors and designs... everything perfect, their hair, make-up... Stunning!  The guys on their horses... sat on the front seats guiding the well dressed horses along c/Gerard Brennan, their passengers wearing the beautiful flamenco dresses or smart suits for the men...

Another couple of friends joined us about ten'ish I think... and I got a lift to the roundabout nearer my house, and only had to walk back down, instead of a long haul up to it! Got home about half eleven, so not too bad... I watched some TV, ate ice-cream and got to bed about half twelve..

Today I was awoken by birdsong at six am! They let me sleep for another hour but I was up and ready for the day by then!

The pretty pom poms on this shop window are actually for voting here tomorrow, the European election... I better read the stuff tonight and be ready to see who I am voting for tomorrow!!

Had coffee in town early this morning, back out this afternoon for more feria fun!

TTFN
Marian

Back in Alhaurín now... and above the feria is in town! Just the street shade to keep us cool... It started last night.  First the rocket fire, then I could hear the procession making its way down into town from the lower road near here... The giants and bands and all the fun of the fair! Sounded good, its usually the only part of the fair I go to... seeing the procession near the Cruz roundabout making their way down to the fair ground.  Sat eating normally... me that is!  Once 'they' get into the fair ground the street lights are lit and the fun begins! Half price for kids on the first night!

Banks and stores opening later today, and people seem very tired!!

For today though, I walked into town about 8am and had coffees with the 'boys', then went into my old work place and had a catch up with friends there, I strolled back home and came in, I had to find something that needs posting tomorrow and I needed the bags for the car...

which I then drove to Coín... I went first to La Trocha garage, the car needed a clean, in a big way, so for two euro it got the full works! Rinse first, then soap, then rinse again and finally shine wash!  All done by yours truly! It gets slippery underfoot, and the power hose sort of throws me back when I press the start on each procedure! But apart from probably looking hilarious, its good fun!  I drove out and into the La Trocha parking.

I had a wonder around Carrefour and the other shops up there.  Then I was off to Aldi for provisions!

When I got back home there was a neighbors car in the way, so I waited patiently, its always okay when its neighbors... they went and another came up behind me, who waited while I parked outside and got everything out... Because they live opposite and they got out when I drove off!

Now on here, charged up my VR, had lunch.. swept the terrace and going to ride a roller-coaster or three! Fight some dragons and help Laura Croft find some hidden treasure...


Quote: my Nayyirah Waheed (my new favourite poet)

Some people
when they hear
your story
contract,
Others
upon hearing
your story
expand,
and
this is how
you
know

TTFN
Marian

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!!

Feria Alhaurín El Grande 2016

Had a little play around with a new program I downloaded the other day... turned a photograph of a dandelion clock into the above sphere... would look great as a poster wouldn't it?

Today I went to a friends funeral, here in Alhaurín, he was too young, taken too early... He had a great many friends, and the church reflected that.... When you live far from your home of birth and so many of our friends and family are 'over there' some funerals are lonely sad places with only a few new friends or acquaintances... This one was full of the life of our friend, sad but full of good memories and color... he wanted people to wear the colors of our town; pale blue, purple or green... and most people did....

I had to go on my own, Franco had a previous appointment, we met up afterwards and had lunch in town, where can you get a plate of fresh hake and fries, a burger with fries and salad, a basket of bread and two coffees for €9.50?  Arh yes, Bar Cruz!

Some photographs from the Feria! Above, a ram crashing into the crowd near us!  Looks a bit scary actually... and the little babe in arms was scared, from then on in!

A giant chicken, you would not want in a basket later with fries!! Luckily the American Indian nearby kept us safe from him!

 

Lots of fun giants, the larger ones run by men in machines underneath.... turning the giants this way and that, dipping and diving into the crowds, the King and Queen at the lead.... the Queen had the hairiest legs and trainers on... for comfort probably!

Wednesday night we went into town and there was no where to sit at all at Bars Cruz or Rosa, so Franco and I took a seat at the little bar on the corner on the other side of the street, we were the only ones... to start with!  Watching people hanging over tables and standing like vultures for a table to free up at the other two... It really wasn't going to happen, because for the next three to four hours everything was happening at the Cruz roundabout!

One by one people came over and took the tables near us, our friends came over, they didn't see us and had gone to an inside table over the road, I ran over and got them! This little corner bar has recently been taken over by new people and the food smelled lovely, after the parade had finished, we ate, must have been about 10pm, not a great time to eat but we were so hungry...

Not only were there the giants, there were the bands, and a train!! The train took people to and from the feria ground, it was strange seeing one here, it was like the ones down on the coast we are used to seeing, down on the coast!!

The lights over the streets hadn't come on and about 10:30pm a cherry picker came along and a man tinkered with the electrics over by the bars and voila! We had lights!

On Friday day we ventured back into town again... Met up with friends down on the lower road; our town was alive and kicking!  All the bars had their bars outside in the streets, nothing went up in price, the food was cheap, the cars gone, and we were all on the streets, everyone happy, laughing, dancing to the music coming from different bars and DJ's... This is the best time in the town, and even with all the people, all so close, you don't see any drunks, don't feel any danger or worry about who might be bumping into you and why.... you feel safe and the whole town feels happy and is buzzing!

 

Its such a great atmosphere, we had a couple of drinks in two different bars, and then went up and sat at Plaza Baja... there was a mariachi band outside of the purple church, a boat full of hot coals with sardines cooking... from the very young to older girls in flamenco dress' everywhere.... One poor girl was too hot in her dress and her mom was kneeling on the ground with a fan... trying to cool her down from the ankles up!!! lol... so no photograph for that but you can imagine I'm sure!!

We went from there down into the town, Bar Rosa and then to a small bar near the Correo, the post office, and finally a Dutch bar right up the far end of town, everywhere, every street, every table chair and piece of pavement was full with happy smiling dancing people, of all ages and all countries, wonderful, beautiful...

TTFN
Marian

Alhaurín El Grande Feria 2016

Well today is getting busy about town!  The 2016 Alhaurín El Grande Feria is about to start...

Calle's Nueva and San Sebastián are colored purple white and green, stunning and shady, the plazas empty for now, but not later!!

On our way back from our walk, Pippa and I spotted the moon hovering over the terrace....

And below is part of the park we walked.... beautiful, and no dogs off leads... or otherwise!  So it was a good walk, I get so stressed when we're out and there's some massive dog running about off the lead!  Pippa senses my fear and we have to turn tale and go another way!

Down at Bar Rosa this morning, Bar Cruz was too packed to perch at!  So we had churros and café at Bar Rosa, one of the girls who used to work there ten years ago is back, so that was really great!  The town was full of people and cars and its great to see it so bustling and full of life... We have one thing to do today later, then at 19.30 we will be where the action is! Note to self, charge my camera battery now!!!

TTFN
Marian