Holibob pics!

Some shots from Malaga, taken July 17th ... Above, just an attractive apartment building!

The front end of the market in Malaga, mostly a fish market, it was closing up by the time we entered it to walk through to the next street, beautiful stained glass windows this end, and Arabic arches on the other side...

If you look closely the apartment on the second floor is up for sale!!! Hope it looks better inside than its does from the out!!

Alhaurín el Grande, our church near our house, so pretty at night.... and during the day with the Roman pillars outside the town hall and the buena vista of the valley... magnifico!

The path towards the gardens in Mijas pueblo, every house recently painted white and the pots painted a beautiful blue, so fresh and clean looking, there were two little girls selling small hand made knitted bits and pieces, babies booties, gloves etc...

This picture, a bit of an optical allusion, because I took this looking down into a gorge in the gardens of Mijas pueblo, there is a little walkway bridging the gap where rock climbers climb or abseil! Centre of the photo is me, arms raised above my head to take this photo, but afterwards looking at it, I can see the big shadow on the left, and to me, just me maybe?  but I see my Pippa dog, sat down, and leaning slightly to the left, one ear up the other down...!! Only me then is it that sees her??? Oh well... I was missing her....

This beautiful avenue of trees is on the way from leaving the grotto of the Vigin de la Peña... also in Mijas, one of my favourite places in this village, and I was more than a little bit annoyed on leaving, I had gone in on my own, put some money into the electronic candle box, lit five candles for various thank yous, and wishes... and there was a couple in there laughing about and taking photo after photo.... flash flash flash, shouting and acting about!!  I know its not some great Cathedral, but to me, its somewhere special, and beautiful, and is normally so calm and sort of listens to your thoughts... oh well!!! Tourists eh! lol!!!

Above and below taken in The Palm Trees restaurant in Calahonda, the whole place has changed, I know some would say for the better as it hadn't since I first set foot in there, back in 1989, but went in there to see Antonio, who had managed the place for all those years, or at least up until three years ago... now he is gone?  Maybe still has his other restaurant near Fuengirola, one I will try and visit next time, car permitting, its out of the way somewhat!  The whole place has been repainted, the seating running up the left hand side, the booths, are raised on a platform, they still are, but all totally new!  Less tables in the main area, but where the pool table was, are now more customer tables and chairs, gone are the champagne holders, the ice cream machine...

Franco had to settle with pasta, not the greatest thing to eat out, for those of us that eat so much of it at home, cook our own sauces etc ourselves and are rather critical of Italian food other than our own!

But I had the most wonderful salmon dish and was more than pleased with it!!!

Fuengirola market Saturday and half way round, near where mom and I nearly bought a place is this area, below, two bars, the one of the left, hardly seen from here is where her and I went often whilst living in Fuengirola, at least twice a week anyhow!

TTFN
Marian

Feliz Holibobs!

 Okay amigos, lots of photos and quick run though of holibobs in Spain last week!!

Above the view from home, there, almost the same view, a few changes, some new terrace work, the odd bit of solar panneling!! But basiclly just the same, with the wonderful Guadalhorce valley and Malaga mountains in the distance...

My Birthday cake! It was so beautiful, and tasty so beautiful too!  Only the second birthday cake with my name on it, ever!  The first on my 40th Birthday back in California...

The wonderful art work in Malaga rail station... Picasso shining through, zoom and in and see his well known face...

This big glass building is the Malaga town hall, or a part of it, tonnes and tonnes of glass, not just the windows, but hanging there as if by magic, looking like wonderful opaque shelves...

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this great Mercedes-Benz camper van!  Yes a camper van, should have taken more photos from the sides and back, but the two occupants came back and drove off, a couple of girls, girl power I say, what a great vehicle to drive around Europe in!!

Franco drove, [pedalled] us the length of the port, easier than walking that's for sure, especially for me!  We did have a rather steep ramp to negotiate, luckily it had a good hand rail for me to help pull us up!!! Must have been funny to watch!!  We were over taken by people walking, horses pulling tourists and boys on electric bikes!! Oh well what the heck!!

The little Chapel on Malaga Port, I am glad they kept this charming piece of history,  it is the most beautiful part of the Port, surrounded by the multitude of tourist shops, bars and restaurants...

Tapas above, two beers and two tapas for less than €4 for both! Not a huge amount obviously, but fresh and tasty!

Wonderful architecture of the approach to the Port on foot, took this on the way out, the open roof is in the shape of a wave, sort of! The shadow below shows you the same design... beautiful eh!

We arrived Tuesday July 16th, mid day ish, got the bus to Malaga bus station and then onto home in Alhaurín el Grande!  Chilled out in the afternoon, very tired from getting up so early, left before day break and travelled through very foggy patches at times, but then as time past we watched the sun rise on our way to the airport at Bristol.

Wednesday, my birthday! Whoop whoop!  Still excited about my birthdays, usually left with a cold empty feeling by the end of the day, but not this year...  First thing I went down to 'The Office' and had coffee with the gang!!! Was met along the way and safely escorted into my chair!  Had the most beautiful birthday cake as seen above... very very nice! It lasted up to the last morning when the final slice and crumbs I consumed!! lol...

Then it was off to Malaga City, the first bus to arrive! And spent the whole day there, walking, sitting, riding [the bike], eating! And more food!!!  Last bite to eat was near the bus station and we got the 6pm bus back to Alhaurín el Grande! Took the bags back and came back into town for dinner at Bar Rosa...

Thursday a day around town, and visited friends locally...  In the evening met up at Bar Rosa and three of us went to Al Alegra, lovely dinner with great company...

Friday bus to Fuengirola, we went to a parada further away from us, so as to beat the rush of kids who would be going down to the beaches, it worked, or we wouldn't have made it at all!  And because we had gone to a bus stop we wouldn't normally have used, I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen on my last visit, so was really great to see her, catch up with the past year or more, since I last saw her... Wouldn't have seen her this time otherwise... fate eh! 

So, back to the bus.... Was all push and shove to get off at Mijas, but I had to have some time there, we did, the whole morning, some small changes here, and one big one!  I remember when they cemented the walls around the garden walkway, disturbing something Tony had left for me there, gone forever more... and now I was disturbed again! A special place that I had loved as it was was different, extended and just not the same anymore, why can't they leave things alone... don't like changes sometimes... We had food there, at a bar I have also been using for twenty four years... then bus down to Fuengirola, another to La Cala, where we visited a friend at work in her bar, then onto Calahonda!  And dropped off out bags, again!!  Back out and to El Zoco, all change there with bar owners etc, opened shops, closed shops, new shops and some old ones!!

Before eating in the evening, on way through El Zoco, we detoured to friends house, they haven't been having a great year so far, and not been out, but thought it would be worth just popping by.... and there was their car!!  They were visiting too!! So popped in for a chat and made a date for Sunday evening with them!  Then off we went to The Palm Tree restaurant at one of the resorts there, one I have been going to since 1989!!!  Expected to see the owner we have known and last seen about three years ago... he was gone!!!  Will have to visit his other place near Fuengirola, need a car for that trip, hope he is okay...  took some photos... tomorrow of the new place, felt very strange in there now, things change eh!

Saturday bus into Fuengirola and around the flea market, love that place!  I went with purpose, to buy ornaments for home in Spain!  Enforced ornament buying does not work, believe you me!  Its alright seeing something when your not looking for it!  And only saw one thing out of the billions of things there that I actually really liked, but it was too costly, no way worth what they were asking, so let it go... no matter eh!  Went to the usual bar I always went in with Mom, and had the usual croissant toasted with marmalade!  Spent the rest of the day on the beach, parasols and sun beds incluido!  Kept leaving for drinks and snacks at another friends bar, he wasn't there, had had a knee operation but caught up with his wife about how they've been doing so far this year...

When we eventually came away we thought we would eat there in town and had kebabs!  I know I know... I hear ya'all!! But you know, it was pretty dam tasty!  In a restaurant, sit down dinner and drinks!  Ice cream of pink bubble gum from a parlour along the paseo maritimo and job done!  Back on the bus and back to apartment on the beach! Thank you Maria.... xx

Now, before leaving town we went for a wander about town, shoe shopping!  For Franco!  His favourite shop, we were in it for ages, then I wanted a pair, of course! lol, and because of that we then bumped into friends we had been looking for earlier but couldn't find! Made a date to see them Sunday morning! Another lucky fateful meeting!El Zoco again in the evening for wifi! Thank you peeps!!

Sunday! Off to Fuengirola again by bus, great seeing everything on the roads we used to travel on every single day, for so many years, seeing the changes, the updated buildings, the beaches, all the wonderful flowers in bloom... Looking for the new speed cameras around La Cala!  First of all in Fuengirola we met up with friend for coffee near their place, then onto another bar in town, and there, someone called my name, a friend from up in Alhaurín I wouldn't have got to see otherwise, more fate eh!  Its everywhere no doubt should we stop and take notice of it!

Then to the beach again, another parasol another sun bed!  Left the beach and had a wander around town again, coffee in a favourite bar near the church where me and the boys used to have chicken and salad sandwiches going back to the early 1990's... Then a bus, then back to the apartment to change and back out again for dinner with friends.... but on the way, saw a neighbours blinds open, which had been closed the previous walks past, so popped in and caught up with her, just two doors down from our old duplex apartment at Calahonda, been ages since we had seen each other, and not enough time, but so glad we came around El Zoco that direction or we would have missed her altogether.... fate, again...  and then to dinner with friends.... Went to a new Mexican restaurant, where the sushi bar was.... where the furniture store was until the fire took it all out!

Great food! Could eat Mexican until the buffalo come home!!

Where am I now.... Monday July 22nd VID!  After a meeting to do some business!  Our friends gave us a lift back up to Alhaurín, via the garden centre which was great, had wanted to visit it, but not sure if I could have made it by foot and the bus goes only as far as the golf club on the main road!  So thanks to our friends, fate intervened and drinks at the garden centre were enjoyed by all!  Back home,  and out again!  On my way to meet up with friend past by another neighbour I wouldn't have seen otherwise... fate!

And to the home of the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood! For music, food, y té!

In the evening out for dinner, first at Bar Rosa, then onto restaurant, not sure which one we were going to, and therefore can't remember the name the place we did eat at... it was further up the street and the food was lovely! We went to Bar Cruz after dinner, and watched the Full Moon rise over the apartments and over the Sierra De Mijas... A new future King of England had been born that afternoon, an amazing day... ending with my roof top vista of Alhaurín, the lights, the smells, the sounds of a village in Spain... I feel a poem coming on, the colors purple and green and yellow.... with Rod Stewart playing in the back ground and a padded room!

Tuesday... to town, coffees, more coffees, time with friends, shopping, food! Back to the house, everything cleaned up, swept up, washed up and closed up!  Thankfully my friends visit every day whilst walking their dogs and I am eternally grateful for that... the house was clean and fresh and totally damp free, dust free too!  It did feel very strange the whole week with no Pippa there though, at every turn, and every room, I felt Pippa had just left or would soon be walking into, even or especially on the terrace, where is she, what is she doing!  Will she bark when she hears 'that' noise in the street, those people talking or walking past?  Those dogs barking!  And when down at the coast, I felt I had left her up in Alhaurin on her own!!!  However much I had cleaned, swept and hoovered before leaving there were still some signs of her... her hair of course!  And a load of her toys!! Brought a couple of them back for her, her nose buried deep in the suitcase when I opened it here, she was burrowing down in like the hunting dog she is!

We were getting the bus back to the airport, a return trip to the one taken last Tuesday, but were given a lift, which was a great saving, of time and journey, and kept Alhaurín and home that much closer to my heart for doing so...

The flight wasn't until 23.40 and seemed to be in the middle of the night, entering the airport in day light, dropping off the bag and returning to the outside bar for drinks, a headache I had had for an hour or more really started to kick in by then... Once into departures wandered about the shops, Desigual, of course! One of my favourite shops!  And then I bought a purse in a different shop, designed with Blythe dolls all over! Perfecto!!

A little too early we went through into the gate area, nothing much there, and it was the old area of the airport, so seemed to be going back in time by nearly four years, and felt like the rest of the airport must have reverted to its old self, and that by walking back out time would have gone back... and so much unchanged, so much to do again, some for good, some for bad, but so much all the same....

The flight took off on time, and we watched the whole journey over France and Southern England the amazing display of lightening storms going on beneath us and in the clouds... bright white and green? The lightening flashing through the skies in the most amazing patterns only nature can produce!  The still Full Moon seems to follow me the whole way too, always outside the window...  and then we landed about one am back in Bristol, collected bag, and bus to car all in good time, the drive back was good, dry, clear night, but the moon had a mist over it, a sad veil of whiteness...

Back at the house about three thirty am, Pippa still so sleepy still so excited to see us, but soon went to sleep as did we, and the neighbours no doubt!

That's it amigos... a holiday in a nut shell! Bound in sunshine and moon dust, heat and sand...

TTFN
Marian
E&OE [typing in the dark]

Alhaurín El Grande!

Be looking at this wonderful view again soon! Cannot wait, well have to, but not long to go, before this buena vista of the Guadalhorce valley will be in my sights...

And the terrace from which the view is seen by... of course Pippa dog will not be there, that will seem very strange indeed, been the odd night when Pip was at the vets... but the house will seem empty indeed without her very noisy presence....

I have been very slack in my Blogging, been busy, working and working!  I go to a centre once or twice a week and have leant some new things I hadn't learnt before!  Card making, and gift bag making, I have been really enjoying the experience, not just the craft work of course!

I had a long days course on Thursday, luckily nearby, very interesting course, day went quicker than I thought it would, but sitting for over seven hours is not high on my list of must do's is it!  So was not surprised when a migraine followed yesterday, wasn't too bad at the centre, sort of managed to hold it back, and my day ended earlier than it should have, lucky again, as the migraine took over, although maybe of course, had I still been working it may have held back a bit longer?  not sure though...  Anyway, came it did and bad, went to bed, stayed there till whenever, got up and sent a couple of messages and was back into bed soon afterwards, in the night it kept bothering me, but when I woke up this morning, I was better, took a while to get going, bleary eyed and slightly dyslexic as I am after a bad migraine... and then I finished Lorraines book on both Kindle and LULU, and then finished Peter Maddocks Pig & Whistle on Kindle and CreateSpace!!  So two books, three different formats all done today - after a bad head!!

Well well, and the sun is still shining, lots of washing washed, dried, brought in and put away!

Need a poem here, bare with, let me go purloin one from somewhere.... play quietly while I am gone....

Summer:
Birds song rises early
Sun through trees filters like golden speckles
Plants grow green and lush
The lawn runs wild
Sun sets late
Red gold the sky
Swallows here, so is summer.

TTFN
Marian

Just a picture today purloined from Facebook friend...

Been very busy working, think I am settling in well now, every day is different, every day is a learning curve, lots to remember, a whole lot more not to get wrong!!!

Its not a job I can talk about too much, so will add I am editing on a new book for Peter Maddocks 

It is an updated version of a book we have previously published, The Pig & Whistle of Downtrotter Farm... this one will be bursting with full color drawings, bringing the whole story to life for children to enjoy more fully!

I am also about to receive another book from LJ Bush, a book of poetry and art all by Lorraine... to put together and publish on Kindle/Paperback.

Our car had a hiccup at the MOT station last week, FAILED!! to be precise!!  So had some work done on its body, mmmmm, not a bad idea!!  And some on the engine, apparently its being driven hard enough, too many short journeys, Franco is only 3.4 miles to work and I am even less!!  It needs to be driven further once in a while, probably once a week, blow out the cobwebs, given the engine and oil inside it a chance to actually move about a bit!!!

Not feeling very talkative, mind is full of new job, bit tired, and stuff..... oh just thought I can put up a couple of photos I took on the longest day.... it was a bit cloudy, therefore taking some of the light, but I took these gone half past ten at night.... shame about the clouds...

But you the gist.... light isn't it!  I had to get the palm tree in on the upper photo of course! 

What can I say about my new job?  I work a full week, over any day out of seven, and several different shift patterns and sleep ins...

TTFN

Marian

THE LONGING FOR UNION


There is a hunger, a longing, deep within your heart
And it has been there from the moment you were born
It is not this foolish longing for romance or money
It is not this hunger for success and recognition
It is not even a desire to be surrounded by beauty

The hunger that presses upon you so acutely
is simply the longing for you to reach again
the state of complete oneness,
to access your own soul, right here within you

For it has not left you, of course
It has not ventured away and gotten lost
in the forest of your life
It has merely been a bit covered over,
like an old garden wall that gets covered
in moss and brambles over time
But yet, this wall of a body still holds within it
the glorious garden of the soul

It still harbors that great and glorious blossoming
that is you

You, who are individual and unique and,
at the very same time, one with all that is.

You, who are this glorious body
vitally alive in this lifetime,
and at the very same time,
this soul that is ethereal and immortal, ever present

And so the longing then is for union
Union of all the different parts that are you
The part of you that is this body
and the part of you that is this soul

The part of you that is unique and the part of you
that is exactly one with all else that is
The part of you that is God

First, go within and find the union
Find the peace that is you
Find yourself deeply within
and deeply one with all that is

Then come back out and live
Live with vibrancy
Live with zest

Allow yourself to feel and enjoy everything
that this glorious life holds

Allow yourself to fall in love with every moment of it
Infuse this fabulous adventure of a life
with your own golden glow of being

You are, right now, what you need to be
You are, right now, the perfect expression
of all that needs expressing

From this place, right here, right now,
go deep inside and find yourself,
this self you will bring forth to shine out
Nothing else is needed

Here is a prayer for your today~
I am all that I need to be
I am enough, for peace, for joy, for love,
for happiness unbounded
It is all within me

And I, just as I am, deserve all of this bounty
I am the wonderful, glowing expression of life and spirit
I am the balance where it all meets
I am the gladness and the joy of all creation
made manifest
I am the flowering and the opening

I AM

~ Carrie Hart~

C/O Blooming Humans

TTFN
Marian

Oooops, not sure whats happened to these photos!!  This is the day we, Kate, Tony and I, went to Aberdulais Falls, above some of the mining works

Here the three of us had been Maypole dancing!Yes, just the three of us, Kate and I went in one direction and Tony in the other, he did the dipping and jumping bit, Kate and I just the running round bit!  Was such fun!!  And after we had wound round the maypole and made a pretty design around it! We had to unwind it, we got some funny looks from the restaurant girls, but what the hey!!

Took above and below in 3D, must be why they have more clarity...

Beautiful day, and once again wonderful weather for holidays! Short or long stay!  I think people say it rains in Wales to keep the tourists out!  Couldn't have had better weather over the last couple of months, and yes we have some rain now, but its not cold, and dare I say it? "the garden needs it!" lol

I am settling in well to my new job, last week was a shadowing week, and today I was on my own for the first time, all went well, good job too!!  I have full hours this week, I really feel I have my found my new niche, everyone is lovely and making my progression an easy one....

TTFN amiga
Marian

Started a new job today!  Had an early shift this morning, 8-12 noon, only four hours, but when I got in I felt suddenly so exhausted!  Ate a huge lunch, as had had breakfast about 6am, then fell asleep, luckily managed to lay down first, don't know how I kept my eyes open to get to bed!

Got up when the alarm woke me up half hour ago, 3pm, and have a couple of hours of R&R before I go for a 5-8pm shift, these are the hours I have tomorrow, the latter that is, and will find out my rota, get given it for the following two weeks...

My new role is something completely different to anything I have ever done before, interesting and challenging, Support Worker, told you it was something new to me didn't I!

I am still living my passion, my books!  I finished e/formatting a book last week for one author, and started an edit the other day for another!  Nearly finished, only ten pages to go and then notes to write up and send it back for finalizing!

Then.... an updated book for Peter Maddocks, one of his children's books, at present a read only story, but soon to be full of color and a great enjoyment to children, with its beautiful illustrations throughout!


Lone star up yonder shining bright, shining alone in the early light
Earthman's Airplane passes by
Red lights flashing high in the sky  
Is it close to you up there?  
Do the people from their windows stare?    
What do you think of the world down here?
Is that why you are blinking, to hide a tear?
No gems on earth with you compare.     
As I gaze up and wonder,  
Who put you there ?.   
Poem by....        Terence West.

TTFN
Marian

Above in the forest at Craig-y-nos, the fence grown into the tree,  no, reverse that, the tree gone into the fence of course!  Could just delete and change, but if I was speaking that is what I said!!

This is the Castle/Hotel there, the one I aforementioned is haunted!

A passing cloud on this beautiful day....

Above and below were taken at the top of the mountain we were on, where the information centre is....

The weather we have been having these last couple of months has been amazing, all over the rest of the UK it sounds like wind and rain and more rain.... but here?  Been lovely! We had a drop of rain yesterday?  Or the day before? A shower I think it was, a hard shower... but then that was it!  Yesterday a bit cloudy and windy, but the wind soon blew the clouds away, I am guessing its the position here, so near to the coast, five minute drive maximum, and the mountains behind us, its been warm, nothing like Spain of course, but then it wouldn't be, we still laugh at the temperatures given on the news weather, over the years when they say "and it will be warmer here in the UK than in many European holiday destinations" !!!! NO!!! In summer the Malaga temperature is taken in the airport or something, definitely in the shade!  And in Spain the heats builds up, the further into the day you go, the hotter it gets!  Until even in darkness the heat just comes back up at you from the ground...

Anyway!! Off my soap box.... Feel I have lots to say but my mind is tired and my hands all typed out, feeling in a strange mood!

TTFN
Marian

More photos from friends, family.....  visit from the other week,  above a great shot I took of a huge amount of water pouring forth from this little tree!!

Or maybe not..... below! Taken with HD does it look a better photo?  Not really sure!

Below is the underside of the plane that flew above our heads when we were in the Brecon Beacons, strange how all you see it heat!  Any ideas why!!!
 

And finally below back at Craig-y-nos.... the following week when Franco and I went already evey thing much greener! We walked the same path as previously to begin, then where we had turned back last week, we courageously [!] carried on along it...  coming eventually to a narrow road, then it was down there, turn right and right again and finally, were walking back along the main road that took us back into the main entrance of the park!!!  Was the long way, and I seriously thought at one time I wouldn't make it!

We passed by the castle at Craig-y-nos, its haunted it says, peering into a downstairs bedroom by road side, I could quite believe it!  You can stay on the haunted floor, or otherwise and visit the haunted area, dinner and breakfast thrown in for an appropriate fee of course!

While we were on the Brecon Beacons, at the visitor centre, and after picnicking, walking up to the skyline, before finding it was no quite the skyline!  I got a call inviting me for a job interview!  I had an interview a couple of weeks previously, and although being able to fulfil everything on the request they also needed a Welsh speaker and that is something I couldn't do!

So two days after the call I went for the interview, intensive and well over an hour, asked to be seated out back in reception and on being called back was told "the job is yours!"  Brilliant!  Although having been working self-employed since September, it will be good to be out and working, my new job title is Support Worker... On Tuesday I attended a manual handling course, and tomorrow is epilepsy...  I will begin by shadowing, to observe only before I begin.  I am really looking forward to being part of a team who make such a difference to peoples lives, its nothing like anything I have done before, but very excited to make this huge change!

Yesterday I opened my dolls box suitcase, not looked inside since last opening back in Spain, strangely all my much loved, much used dolls and baby cuddly toys looked very sad... more sad than before even! There was even a couple of things I thought I had lost in the move!  But some of the dolls have changed, maybe opening in our little house in Spain it was darker, or without the lights on or persiana fully open I don't know, but the dolls eyes have discolored badly, turned white, like they have all suddenly got glaucoma! Some of the white I managed to just wipe away, but some wouldn't come off at all, they look bedraggled, lost and lonely... I actually wanted to find some small dolls clothes, for Blythe, I did find some, a jump suit on my Tressy! A pair of red leggings and brown shorts on Patch and a random blue sixties dress!  These dried on a radiator... not on.... by the way!  I refilled my toy box, gently placing doll upon doll, cuddly toy upon cuddly toy, the oldest from my first birthday.... some of them are empty now, their innards dissipated!  This would be the third use of this word!!! LOL Must admit hadn't realised 'dissipated' was used like this?  And so much for editing I hear you say....!  I am thinking though, that having used this word, a lot, that no one else knows its true worth either?

So, back to dolls clothes!!! Looking very small and out of proportion here! LOL!!!

This morning I woke with a bit of a headache, was so tired yesterday, that I had too much sleep last night!  So before it could get a hold I decided to make some cookies, have had a tab open here for about three or four weeks!  So I made the wine cookies at last!  I think next time [aha I hear you!], no, they are more than edible, but the mix needed to be less sticky, so I can roll them and shape them, this was more like a mud mix!!  Still they smelt wonderful cooking, wonderful to taste, so there we are then!

Also today, tax return completed! Perfec[t]!

TTFN amigos
Marian

Above taken in Brecon, a pretty chocolate box scene... Having a fabulous break with friends visiting for their holidays... first time I have had a moment to post, got some on fb, should be starting with last weekend, but today is Thursday and here we are...

Just liked this tree, so here it is, not long after seeing this tree and the surrounding views we came off the road quickly to try to take photos of a Hercules flying overhead, it was massive, it was low down and flying directly over the road, scared the heck out of us I can tell you!!! The photos didn't come out at all well, two came out looking like a UFO was passing by, will post that another day!!

Here are the three of us on a bridge and waving at y'all.... lol, that's a river we are over, not that you can see the water very much, we had just seen a pretty little bird, a Pied Wagtail, a couple of twitchers were bird spotting and told us it was by this bridge, nesting, and we found him.... he has only been here a little while on a stop over from Africa I think!

When we came across the twitchers they were stalking a Goldcrest so we stopped and watched him too!

This picture above is the creepiest one I took today.... see the face? whoa.... strange eh!!!

More photos tomorrow amigos!

TTFN
Marian

Borrowed piece from an author I know.... if read by said person please let me know and I will add your name, I know I have it somewhere, but this is too good to not share....

The door between life and death swings both ways, often until we have regained perfection and explore the universe. You never know when you will meet someone who holds the once lost Cultra of a loved one. It happens everyday. These human vessels are not what holds the essence of us. It is the Cultra that resides within the human body that holds are true selves. Fear not the death of your body for your body holds within the Cultra that is made up of a portion of He and She who cannot die but lives forever and ever. Amen

TTFN
Marian
 

Two pieces of my step Dads furniture above!

I seem to be moving backwards today than forwards!  Haven't started on work, spoken with friends and done the washing, hanging out now with the beautiful blue above, the sun high in the sky and a breeze making everything flap away to dry off!

Did I mention I am in the top 50 of the Authors Date Base.... AUTHORSdB.com I probably did, and this is the second week!  Brilliant stuff!  Great to be honoured by your peers and to be appreciated like this... thank you!

I am about to start work on a new book for Peter Maddocks, and hoping friend who I am helping out, will get her book live next week on kindle & in paperback too!

I went out last night!!! shock horror!!!! A friends birthday today, and just us girls went to town last evening, a local club, drinks and dancing, and more dancing.... not sure how, but I feel great today!  Couldn't hardly walk by the end of the evening, and now, already, I am looking forward to going again!

Out again tonight, not for long, same group of girls but with family too this time!  Won't be late....

We are having the best weather, more blue skies and sunshine, been a few months now, it feels anyhows, a few cloudy days here and there, but really not bad... it is cold though, yesterday morning in town the wind was bitter, everyone was hunkered down and people were complaining and moaning in the streets about it, and other matters!!  I was in a great mood though and strode out head high, and actually apart from the cold on my face felt quite toasty in my coat!

Franco is getting in good training for his sponsors bike ride for Amazon in a couple of weeks, he is cycling to and from work, which is good, although nowhere near the distance he will have to go on the day!  When he is off next week he will have to try the route maybe and I will pick him up from there.... 

TTFN
Marian

petrol station!!!

Some pics today from a trip to Aberavon beach this afternoon.... beautiful day, caught the suns rays nicely above.... men were far out picking lug worms!!!??? Don't ask, either you know or I don't!!!

Franco rode his bike to work last Saturday, so Pip and I were here at the beach at 7:30am!!!  She thought Franco was sat in the car outside the house when he left... so wouldn't go back to sleep!!  I gave up, got up, did all the usual stuff and off we went!

Later on in the day, taking advantage of the car, I drove to Swansea and the Wyevale garden centre, had a lovely walk around, sunny day, checked out all the beautiful plants, bought some herbs.... rosemary, thyme and sage.... still have to plant them out, got some pots yesterday and some mud!!!  They have so many wonderful things there, must go back for all the rest!

Sunday.... had a migraine!  All day, did get up and have breakfast, but deteriorated over the day, and eventually felt better about 10pm!!! So that was GREAT!

The end of the promenade, looking up-towards the Ferry's beach!  Nice having a personal beach, lots of people, as I have said before, who live here, didn't know of its existance!!

Doctors appointment yesterday, just BP check, and told to come back in for a recheck on a blood test from the other month!!  Had a giggle going in, a gentleman held the door open for me.... I turned and said 'thank you'.... re replied, 'no problem baby-doll'!!!  Baby-doll, that might be the last time I am called that I guess, so I am not arguing about it!!! Bless him!!!

He wasn't there today by the way.... and instead of a giggle I was at the gas station on my way back from the doctors, the fuel tank was empty, again?  Who knows where that diesel goes???  So, fuelled up, went in.... card wouldn't work???  Worked fine yesterday, checked with the cash point outside, that wouldn't work either... the man at the till said it was the fourth card that morning that hadn't worked, and all the same bank!!!  Got home checked my account which was fine by the way.... and on the way to the beach popped in and paid the man!!!  Had to fill out a form in there... terrible!!! But it looked like I was doing a stock check on their wine supplies from where I stood, mortifying?... well actually, didn't really phase me, I guess if I actually hadn't got any money in my account then I would have been!

I've been working on a book for a friend too, which has been great, really gets my mind active, only trouble is I get so focused on it, time flies by; her book is massive, nearly 400 pages, and well over 80 thousand words, I haven't worked on such a big book, no editing, so I get to read first and last lines as I go along, I am wondering if that's how my mom was such a speedly reader!!... I keep pushing Peter for his next book... he won't get the authors cut if he doesn't sort it out!  Maybe I can make a start on it and put out half the book....???

Today, after our walk, stopped and had a café latté of course, Pippa had time to take in the smells, lots of people, lots of dogs, still no snow here.... was a flurry or two yesterday, not sure where it came from, a few clouds today, but nothing yesterday!

Finally me... in a facebook page pose!!  With Pip, of course!

TTFN

Marian

Added a small video here..... on the right, child of the 70's.... will leave it there a while, or move it down a ways later on, great short movie.... I remember I remember.....

TTFN
Marian

Forgotten Victims

How can one sit and weep
For a life now gone, passed by
How can one cope, with pain
If tears that once fell, are now dry
How can one look in the mirror
And not see the child I hide
How can one cope, with living
While the torment still grows inside
How can one look at the children
And not see me in them
How can I stop them becoming
Another forgotten victim
I bare these wounds of yesterday
They bleed deep in my mind
Their scars will be here tomorrow
Not for others to see, they are blind
The crime is now dead and long buried
My childhood, consumed, and now gone
The guilty roam free, unrepentant
No remorse, for what they'd done wrong
And I cannot live, or stay living
And a river of tears, I still cry
Just one more forgotten victim
I'll remain, til the day that i die.

Written by LJBush

Another work from Lorraine... she has one book out so far The Double Edged Sword ... another two in the pipeline...

Today we have been busy, hit all the Swansea retail parks, I was in a shopping frenzy, amazing how much money you can spend with your mind without even opening your wallet!!  Can't get over the amount of people always buying in these stores, and not always with their [in]flexible friends!  Lots of notes flying about! 

When we came back to the car, a note was on the windscreen and straight away I knew someone had hit the car... they had, knocked off the wing mirror, well door mirror, you know what I mean!! So great, phone number on the piece of paper, "sorry blah blah blah"... well good thing the mirror popped back where it should  have been with a bit of extra help from a screw driver.... because the phone number was a dud!  Not sure what sort of idiot thought went through the persons mind, should have just left nothing if the number wasn't going to work, maybe they just did it for effect, of others passing by to see.... and say... "ah, that's good, they have left their number...." hahahahaha!!  Well, what goes around comes around?  I noticed their forethought too with the slip of paper they used, it was a receipt but they removed they're card details etc, not sure how I could have traced them with it, but who knows.....

Been a glorious day here today, blue skies, sunshine, still burning now, but low, slowing setting over Swansea!  Was beautiful yesterday too, washing dried on the line etc, open doors and windows...

Now, hold onto your hats[!] well maybe eh!  I visited a hairdressers!!!! The second one in a matter of days!!! OMG!!!  I am going to get my hair colored properly... its all sorts of colors at the moment, I haven't used the same color, or brand for months, my hair grows so fast it needs doing every 3 or 4 weeks max!  So, I thought, get it done by a professional, especially as it has got into such a mess with colors!  Today they put three different color tests behind my ears to test for reaction... and are calling me back to see what happened to the samples I left behind!!! Yes, she cut my hair... of course you can see exactly where she took it from.... not, but I can still feel its loss..... I am not getting it cut, I shudder at the thought of those scissors coming anywhere near me.... its bad enough going into a hairdressers, no one has ever seen hair like mine!!!!  I think I should go to Italy and have my hair looked after, over there?  What do you think!!!

TTFN

Marian

I Win
Run away, nowhere to hide
Captured by my fear inside
Eats me up, both day and night
Fills my head, with childish fright
Turn my back on how I feel
Can't tell fantasy from real
Focus hard, on this cold brick wall
couldn't take another fall.
Dare not give, or ever take
Live a life that's almost fake
I never let them in my head
Although they may get in my bed
Reveal nothing, I don't need
Cast the ever doubting seed
Play their mind games, they can't win
Keep my answers safe within
so you all get bored, and fly away
And I'd have won for one more day

Written by LJBush

[Thank you for letting me publish this Lorraine.]