Above is me! As seen by good friend and fellow member of the boardroom daily network meeting... Peter Maddocks! Please see link to the right for just some of his brilliant cartoon and art work... We had been talking about Marmite this particular morning, of course!

Friday already, time passes... And as the time passes bringing me round to the worse anniversary of Mom passing I don't know how to copy, looking back at this time last year, is no doubt the worse way of doing so, and throws me back immediately to all the feelings I was having then, and could in no way foresee how I would be feeling a year on... All the prayers that Mom wouldn't suffer for long; and wishing she was young and healthy once more going to all the places she loved most in world... And I see all the typos and spelling mistakes I was making back then, in my haste to write, to empty my feelings and need to share...

30 minute phone call just now... so that's put me back on track!

This morning, bit drizzly then sky brightened, sun came out... friends gathered at the table... cloud came down over the Sierra de Mijas, further and further... then the rain! We were back to full strength today at the Boardroom, or near it! We had moved to the central table, the only one rain and drip free! And we're the only ones not smoking! So was crowded round by the door of all the smokers fed up with being outside, and having to stand up! ha!

I was on the way back up the high street home and bumped into another friend who needed to go to the emergency clinic, she didn't want to go alone, and I was more than happy to go with her, we checked in after a ten minute wait for anyone to come along and take her name! But then was only ten more minutes before friend was called in! Bypassing loads of others already waiting??? Friend also wanted me to go into surgery with her! That was ok, I did stop at having the tetanus injection for her also! Enough is enough! Her cat had bitten her, and an infection was spreading up her arm from the site of the bite!

Then also on the way home I wanted to go into a jewellers and get a bracelet of Mom's fixed for me to wear, but he was shut... the shutters up, lights on, but no one home!

Once home the rain came down! So persianas closed, curtains drawn, and then later the heating panels on up stairs... night comes early in this house on days like this...

Yesterday it was the same, drizzly in the morning, but let off and I came down into town, had a hot chocolate, no Boardroom members at all!!! Then down to the electric shop near the Mercadona roundabout, I was pricing halogen fires on my way down town! The shop near us, 37€, a bazzar 17€ and the electric shop 19€! That was the real deal! Wasn't a 100% sure about buying from a bazzar, and the first price was just too silly! So last shop, and no halogen fires, but he said to wait a moment, and a delivery came in, and my fire and I went out!

Its so nice now to sit here in the lounge and when the heating is on, not see my breath!

Also yesterday I think I have found another couple of relatives, one on Twitter and one on Facebook... feel a bit like a stalker!

And writing out our family tree I found that my Mom's sister Marian Agnes, got her second name from one her Grand mothers sisters... Maybe Agnes was a favorite Aunt of her Dads eh... Mom would never have known where the name Agnes came from...

Ok, going down hill again now... adio amigos..

TTFN
Marian

A Hundred Thousand Angels - Bliss

I don't know what's worse in this photo! Our silly grins or my hair! Luckily we were in Italy and everyone had my hair... maybe just not this much though!

Was a difficult day yesterday, last of the anniversaries until the big one on march 4th... I am trying not to think about it, but not doing a very good job, this time last year was so tough, and can't help reliving it every day...

I read this the other week, did I post this? I can't remember! I really think I did! Its about the five stages of grief in death.... (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. I don't think
I have got past denial yet, so much so, when I reading about the above, I even thought, I'll give
Mom a call and ask her! ha ha ha... So this might sound more like depression? I can't remember anger, so did I skip that? or could that be the shouting where are you Mom? in my head, or even outloud over the last 10 months!

Bargaining? Not sure what that means, bargaining with whom? I just want my Mom back and that's the beginning and the end of it...

Ok lets move on, because thinking back isn't doing me any good, and you all are falling asleep! Today, work, shop, two woman were in, picking up this 'n that, over to the counter were I awaited to serve... one woman thumped a shirt down on the counter, the price had been removed [there's something new... not!], and a small bag, leather, it said on the price tag 2€, its still the sale was I said the price of both before, and now, half price in the sale! She said she only wanted to pay 50c for the bag.. I said, sorry no, its a euro, half price, she went on and on and on some more... She said she wouldn't have that bag then and came behind the counter to the rack there and took another bag hanging there waiting to go out... She said how much, same, 1€, the strap was short, for a child I think anyway, but she started to try to lenghten the strap, couldn't and half threw half passed to me, scratching me in the process! for me to do it! I just put it on the counter, so she huffed and threw it at her friend to open instead! Poor friend! She wanted it cheaper and we pointed to the posters etc on our notice board behind the counter, *money for hospice... care for the dying... support for those and they're families* I pointed and said sorry, but we cannot make things any cheaper... she said put it under the counter she would be back... Oh I almost forgot, during our er... can I say conversation? felt more like a fight! anyway during 'it' another customer asked me something, I responded in Spanish, and she was incredibly rude to me about having done so!!! spoken in Spanish that is!

Later on we had another couple of customers in also wanting everything cheaper, so we explained to them also where the money goes, not into anyone's pockets, for hospice care... he was a little better, and polite throughout, and we were graciously given the amount we asked for, and he got a very good deal on those items!

When we popped out for coffees we passed the two woman, I said hello, to be polite, she was, I thought coming back to buy those two things, not glared at me, then spoke to her friend, obviously about me, then they proceeded to jump into a new Mercedes Benz CLK convertible!! Therefore as you can guess, not coming back in to collect the things!

Thankfully many many other people care and care enough to bring things in for us to sell, they wouldn't want us to give things away! They could be doing that.... Arh, it makes my blood boil... obviously why the pressure is high... well not anymore on these meds eh!

Yesterday to the bar Cruz, por supuesta... then a friend and I went down to the coast, first to the Euromarket, I made a few purchases of things I didn't even know I needed! Then to Worten's [electrical store], I needed printer ink, then a trip to Aki, where they tried to get an extra 5€ from me on a sale product, well I guess they had to try...

Rain has been forecast for all week, yesterday down at Fuengirola it was fine, very windy, but no rain and quite bright! Wish I could say that about here, today...

TTFN amigos,
Marian

Above c/o Daniel Diaz.. Cannot believe this! Must be at the top of the Sierra de Mijas, can't think of anywhere else it can be, but looks like a level road... Not been snow in Alhaurín el Grande since the 80's... Its about 10c outside...

This morning we went to a friends house, then to La Trocha market, couldn't believe how many people were there, and so many with packages and bags, so the market holders did well today, which is good.

The restaurants up stairs busy for them too, I think its busier there on a Sunday than any other day of the week!

Rained on and off all day today... Dawn till now... and its 19:24!

The house still seems fine, no smell of damp, no damp patches making their way over ceilings or up walls! Even the cave is damp free, fantastic!

Tomorrow is Mom's birthday... I shall be.... I don't know what I will be tomorrow.... melancholy.... probably to say the least, must be saying melancholy too much, I didn't need spell check!

Mom..
Mother's are the most important individuals in our lives. We begin our lives completely dependent on them for our every need. Many believe that we search for aspects of the mother child relationship throughout our entire lives. Love it or hate it, she was your first love and will never be gone from your heart. You will always be in her heart also. Try telling her not to love you, try telling to her to forget you existed. It is impossible. Unless you are a mother yourself, you can never understand the intensity of this love.

Source: (Do not remove) Mom Poems - Poems about Mom http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/family/mom-poems.asp#ixzz1BsvhzIdB

TTFN
Marian

Above inside the Ayuntamiento here in Alhaurín El Grande... Lots of people come and go from this building without seeing its beautiful interior...

And so to the week so far... Felt like everyday was a day I had to do something! Monday, above, to pick up my new[old copy of] my padron, Tuesday to medical centre first to pick up my hospital appointment date, then to work, after quick networkings session, of course! After work met up with friends who now live down at Estapona! So great to see them! A bit chillier up here compared to the coast, and Tuesday was a bit nippy! The cloud stayed over the Sierra de Mijas and the town felt damp and breezy all day because of it, no sun, at all!

Wednesday, a walk to Blas Infante to pay the car rental... So all the way up to the top of the town, before walking all the back into it! Long morning outside Bar Cruz, moved tables three times! Don't ask!! Finally got to see mate in shop and then to Mercadona where I proceeded to busy too much and was a difficult talk back home, made worse by a whole load of kids, taller than me without a single one moving aside for poor old me trying to get up the hill, so I got pushed and bumped into by all of them!Ok so only by some but it felt like it! And there were hundreds of them.... Well maybe 4 or 5 classrooms at least! The teachers were the last and were so busy talking to each other I don't think any of them would have known what was going on up ahead, or even care! So I was in a wonderful mood by the time I got home, as you can imagine! Today the weather had been better, the sun at least made it out, over the mountain!

Then this morning I had a plan which went ahead to the point of actually going into the office in Coín I wanted to go in! Friend and I got the bus, all went well with that, then to the office, but too busy, too much going on, and I... well I suppose I bottled it! But then, I don't think it would have done me any good anyway...

So it was a hot chocolate, wander round the shops and back to Alhaurín!

And home! Oh no, not home! I had promised to pop in to see a friend, which I did, had to climb another hill to get there, so was not feeling great when I got there, and started to feel worse over the next hour, so didn't stay as long as I had wanted to, I think too much this week, too much up hill struggle...

Feel like a good verse here, let me go have a look... A bit of a saucy poem today... I have chocolate on my mind, and none in the house! I wonder how many of you will rush to that bar of chocolate you have over there!!!

Chocolate Pleasure

I love the pleasure of chocolate
As it melts upon my tongue
It dribbles all through my mouth
And squishes around my gums

I close my eyes for a moment
As my senses are quite aware
Of the delicious wondrous flavour
Of chocolate lingering there

There are so many chocolate flavours
The dark and the medium too
White chocolate is truly scrumptious
Just perfect, my friend, for you

So whenever you need something sweet
You must try this simple treasure
Just pop a morsel into your mouth
And enjoy some chocolate pleasure!

Marilyn Lott

And with that I will leave you amigos...
TTFN
Marian

I'v been playing with Picnik.com Its brilliant, I mean look what it did for me... hahahahaha!!! Ok Ok, the photo is getting on a bit now... the photo!!

I should be playing with the scanner really... and down loading somethings I really want to scan!!! Oh heck, just realised Franco has taken his lap top out with him today!! I don't seem able to use the printer on this little baby of mine, now I have an excuse not to scan, when I really thought I might actually get round to doing it!

I hunted down a hot water bottle we bought for Mom some years back, its a microwavable one... Never used it before, and it has a warning on it about 2 years something or other, hope that's two years of using, not two years of buying, anyway its warm, despite the horrible smell!

Bit chilly in the house today, warm outside in the sun... oh just noticed the window is open!! That's not helping much is it!

Yesterday Franco and I went to garden centre, for a coffee, lots of people using the 'new' road, girl in BP garage says it should be opened on the 27th of this month, just the roundabout at La Cala turn off to get ready! She also said, it was to be the 17th, but there are delays... So, of course, not holding breath for 27th either!!!

From there, we popped into friends, then to La Trocha market, very busy, lots more stalls, and up stairs stores all was closed again now, just the restaurants open, of which we took use of, cake and drink for 2€.... Not our usual place, so not the apple strudel I was anticipating, cake was nice on eating, but was reminded of it all afternoon!

Meeting up with friends tomorrow after work, not seen them for.... some time, more than a couple of years I think, can't wait!

Franco said to me yesterday "your looking good, put a bit of weight on??"..... well you can imagine my response! Then I weighed myself and I have put on a couple of pounds! Then Franco brought out a bunch of mini doughnuts! I am receiving crossed messages here!!

Collected my new Padron this morning from the Ayuntamiento, I took in my passport, my residencia certificate etc... Strange how the padron says just what it said from six years ago... So incorecto but well, it will have to do, I suppose, I hope!?!

Just had a call from the medical centre, I have appointments to collect, so I will, collect them tomorrow!

I have to repeat something I said to Franco over the weekend... It may not be funny now of course, it was something we were watching on TV, a man walking on his hands and knees with his two small children on this back... and I said "Awww, that's just what I used to do with Barry and Tony" Franco smiled, then I said "until they were 18 and 20 and got too heavy!!!"...

TTFN
Marian

Well better get Blogging hadn't I!

I really don't know where the days are going, be Mom's birthday soon, 24th, and then it will be gone....

The weather has been lovely today, think we had some rain the other day? But when the sun is shining its warm on your back if your out... Pippa was MIA this afternoon, so I went up onto the terrace to find her, she was sunbathing! So I joined her, pulled up a chair and took off my hoodie! Sitting in the sun, eyes closed, beautiful, I thought I better check the temperature, to tell you! It was 18ºC in the shade, and 36ºC in the sun! WOW!

Coming back in half hour later.... freezing in doors... Look! I can see my breath!

Trying to remember back as far as Sunday! We had some power cuts in the afternoon, no rain, just power cuts, 2nd ones, then an hour.... at that point skytv went off for us, and didn't come back, the signal gone, un locked, nada de nada! I tried a few times on Monday to get it back, standing on a chair on the terrace wriggling the dish, but to no avail! I think it must have been Tuesday I got the sat. man out to fix it, but its pretty poor again now, the signal going, and switching between locked and un locked.... Just hope it hangs on in there... Maybe its a bit windy, but can't hear it if it is! We don't really watch that many DVD's and having to watch them again isn't high on my list of priorities!

Mercadona man delivered Tuesday afternoon, but I had missed some very important things of my list... I thought it was them, but checking back... no, I must have deleted some of the things in error! Then it was the sat. man...

Yesterday, a friend came a visiting from down the road and round the corner! We did some baking, and lots of talking, it was really nice...

Monday I had the doctors, to find out the results from the blood tests from a couple of weeks ago... I am, un usually for me, going to cut a long story short! I have a joint disease, will be going to the hospital for further tests etc, to determine what disease it is exactly.

And another doctor, same hospital, to have my irregular heart beat checked out, more to put my mind at rest, that it is nothing more than that hopefully.

My bad cholesterol is just a little higher than it should be, but so is my good cholesterol???

When I asked about exercise the doctor said only walking and swimming, nothing else at all, and to walk on the flat!!! Er hey... you know we live in a mountainside village right doc?? Oh and I cant swim.... Well I already walk Pippa and walk into town and back every day, so I guess that's it!

Think that was the results, more or less.

And there it is! Look forward to many Blogs based around trips to Malaga hospital mis amigos!

Quick change of subject, I have been trying a different food to cook for dinner! Moroccan! Remember from Saturday? Well I guess so, it was my last Blog! I made it again with beef, and much nicer it was too, some of the spices stain the spoon, plate and kitchen somewhat! So goodness knows what my insides are like!!

Yesterday I went up early to the Ayuntamiento[town hall], I need a copy of my padron, think its going to be a new copy altogether, anyway, I can collect it on looney lunes!

Work on Tuesday was good, lots of laughter as usual, and some customers too! Good day for the shop considering the town seemed so quiet, we had two coffee's, the only coffee I now drink all week, maybe one other; and we had free pastries on both occasions! Can't be bad!

TTFN
Marian

Some wonderful shots I took early this morning from our terrace, above the view over towards Villafranco and Cartama! I think the Poligino Rosa is over there somewhere! [the industrial estate!]
And here, above, the view over towards Las Delisias... shrouded in mist....

This one is good, that is Sierra Gorda! Looks like a big animal laying down for a nap! With all the valley a sea of mist!

Before I forget... because I nearly did and reached the bottom of this and have had to come back up... Yesterday a friend and I went down to the coast, I had to beg and plead, and with offers of coffee and lunch and money! He didn't take the money by the way! I needed to get a some paint for another friend, and could only get it from somewhere down at Las Lagunas, turns out I could probably have got it from one of their other branches... No matter, done now, and we popped into Iceland while we were there for him... I topped up my supply of Shredded Wheat! Would say I am now well ahead, but with only 30 in each box, that's only 15 days, so I am ok for the next 6 weeks! Oh and a packet of Jelly Babies!

It was pouring yesterday when we left, had been a few spits and spots but then the heavens opened and down it came!!

I wouldn't normally photograph my food before I cook it! That sounds like I do afterwards? Well I have occasionally haven't I!

Tonight on the menu is a strange combo... I wanted to make a Moroccan dish, a lamb tagine, but instead its going to be a pork something or other! I left the *boardroom* and went to Mercadona, stupidly expecting to find all the spices I needed in there! Not sure about the others in town, but Mercadona only sells herbs and spices more or less for Spanish meals... I know lots of others sell them for all the dishes of the world...Anyway, my problem I guess! So I got confused and got the wrong meat, thinking that I wouldn't make what I wanted to! Then found most of the other things and decided to go to the English food shop to see what they had... And with heavy bag in hand I did, and found one spice I could use!

And about an hour ago I set the meal in motion, adding and changing spices which were already in my cupboard! It smells nice.... And I think will be enough for two days! That's if the neighbours don't come a knocking!

I have found the good luck King in the Kings cake! Surprise surprise! Its the first one I have had though, Franco usually gets to be lucky all year!

And talking of luck, remember we... our little syndicate... won on the Euromillions last week? We won again! Still not enough to go wild on... But we're all paid up for the next few weeks!

Then I went back in and handed over my El Niño ticket.... and got the 20€ ticket price back!

Talking of our regular meeting place, we are now getting smoked out! The rules about not smoking in the bars here came in on the 2nd, and now all the smokers are coming out of the bar to smoke, then back in again! Then some of them are just sitting outside... period! We are now inhaling more smoke than before the ban!!!


Pippa this morning, my little baby, with the not very baby ears!

After town, with the weather being so lovely I got some washing out on the line... Must go up and bring it in soon, before the damp gets in... Getting hungry now with the lovely smell coming out of the stove... Pippa is waiting expectantly, I don't she should have any of it!

Ok amigos, adio.. Just checked my dinner and its cooked already! Quickly getting some rice done and I will we well away!

Its never too late to be what you might have been.-George Eliot

TTFN
Marian

Once again I am borrowing, or purloining a wonderful Patience Strong verse from a fb posting of a friend of mine.... Enjoy...



THE GARDEN PATH

Where does it lead, the garden path ?
To the lily pond where the blackbirds bath ?
Or rustic seat where the old trees lean
To make a bower of gold and green ?

It does not lead to the pool at all,
Or the wicket gate in the orchard wall.
It leads you to a world apart,
To the garden of dreams that is in your heart.
Patience Strong.

TTFN
Marian

Above is the wonderful cake the neighbour brought yesterday for us... The Kings cake, cream in one half and turron in the other... as I say won-der-full... These are only for Three Kings day, and all come with a crown, and somewhere inside, careful of the teeth, is a small lucky charm, and he who gets the charm get year round luck!

We bought four of these [check spelling] Poinsettia plants, from Ikea, actually, only 1.99€ each! And this morning, when I took the photo last week, was a pretty covering of dew....

You must totally ignore the last paragraph of yesterdays Blog, as I am about to talk about my Mom, or at least to say, a year ago today I was spending 14 hours at Malaga airport, as one of the Luton 7, as we became known! Well just amongst ourselves that is! And it was at 5am tomorrow morning that I at last arrived at Tonys in the snow!

Anyway, another lovely day today, very very quiet in town after last nights festivities, there were still lots of sweets and wrappers and colored paper all over the streets, on the way into town all the shops were closed, but on the way home all the bizarre's were open, and a few others!

ok amigos... time for cake!

TTFN
Marian

Happy New Year... on Three Kings day!

Hi... its me! A bit late... already the 5th of January and I haven't said "hello" yet!

Is it the 12th night tonight? I don't know why I always get confused, I begin counting, and include December 25th... And tonight outside in the streets of Alhaurín el Grande the Three Kings are parading on their floats throwing tonnes of sweets at, sorry, to children, although it tends to be the adults with their upturned umbrellas and huge carrier bags! I can hear the band playing... and the good old rockets are blasting away, much to Pippa's annoyance, and mine!

Tonight I will put away the Nativity... this year without breaking anything, not that I actually remembered doing so until I got it out a month ago... I must replace the chap I lost next Christmas...

I also have a plan, a positive one for Christmas... We went to friends for lunch on Christmas Eve, and their tree was magnificent! Up to the ceiling and filled with wonderful decorations! Tinsel, baubles, lights and small toys! Little cuddly toys... I spoke to my Aunt Rita yesterday and she said she always used to have toys in her tree also... So, what I am going to do is buy a small toy, a tiny doll or bear, every month this year. And on our tree will be 12 small toys! And hopefully this will be a positive thing... Maybe another tree? And we will need more lights, since the last ones only lasted for a day and we only bought them last year! Its strange I am thinking towards next Christmas so soon after this one, feeling so sad, and spiritless towards it... We will see.

There is rain down on the coast, so I hope that stays just where it is!

It was a lovely day here all day, although suddenly a wind came up and was really chilly sat outside the bar, you could see our breath!!! But I came home, did some washing, up on the terrace and it dried!

I also got this morning some more flea drops for Pippa, apparently the first ones I tried only kill adult fleas, not the young or eggs? So I really don't understand why they would sell the first one, as its them who make the eggs and therefore the young! oh well... They got another 30€ from me anyway!

We are almost back up to full speed at our boardroom table[table outside the bar], on Monday I went to get this weeks lottery ticket and we had won last Friday not a lot of money, but enough to pay for our next three weeks... there are five of us, so wouldn't be much to share, but who knows... maybe next week there will be an extra couple of zeros on the end! A good start non the less me thinks!

The coast road is still shut... I know your waiting to hear all about it! April 2009 the works started, then it was shut to traffic to make things quicker, well that didn't work! Our neighbour told us it would be December 22nd, hope he didn't mean 2011! And we're presuming when the coast road opens the Mijas road works will start, supposed to take four months, but if the coast road is anything to go by it could be 2013!

I am going to try not to keep on about how much I am missing my Mom, because it cant be much fun to hear my going on and on... Things like me telling you how I hunted down Mom's card from last Christmas the day before yesterday, to see her handwriting and how it had changed...

Ok off now... I am struggling to talk, unlike me I know...

TTFN
Marian

Closing cycles...

Today, and before this year ends and the next begins... the end of a year I shall remember for all my life...

I am linking to Paulo Coelho's blog he has just published...

Closing cycles...

Thank you my friends, as I have said before, for travelling the road with me... My road has been bumpy and hard underfoot this year, with many a twist and turn... thank for all the kind words and prayers for Mom and I...

I wish you all a Happy New Year... Rich in health, family, love and life....

until next year 2011...
TTFN
Marian

And now, this morning Franco and I went to friends for a late lunch, we went to Miramar first down at Las Lagunas, how busy? very busy! Everyone was shopping like it was Christmas Eve!!! Oh yes it is isn't it! And yesterday down at La Canada it was the same, difficult to walk a straight line, due to many people going in all directions! And we only went in to get some curtain pole supports... you know, the thing you want most just at Christmas time!!! We also bought a curtain pole of course, which was great fun to carry out of there, the Christmas decs are only about six foot high in some places and our 3metre pole was way higher than them!!! I could see Franco pulling them all down! We managed to negotiate the mall ok though, and fitted the pole in the car, and today, well tonight now I think Franco may put the pole up and we can hang the curtains!!! Well maybe....

Its just a short Blog today, Christmas Eve, below is something that came by way of fb, and I want to share with you all....

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered come with me. With tearful eyes we watched and we saw you pass away. Although we love you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, he, only takes the BEST. Put this on your status if there is someone in heaven you will miss this xmas...

Merry Christmas everyone... thank you for hanging in there with me this year, its not been easy, but knowing I have friends *out there* who listen, without judgement, [well I can't hear you can I!!!], has been a great help.... I hope all your Christmas wishes and dreams come true... Make them happen.... take care....

TTFN
Marian

Say (OST - Bucket List) - John Mayer

Going to put a rush on this Blog today, see who can win, the electric company or me! We have rain, again, been some everyday for last few days... Cant even remember when it started... That's a sign of the mood I am in!

But before I forget, you must zoom into above photo and check out the *cheeky* chap who is lingering near the castle, and to the right! Actually, know I have told you exactly where is he you won't be able to miss him!

This is the Alhaurín el Grande Nativity, of course, a wonderful piece of workmanship, a bit different this years from the past years.... Which is good, when I took a friend who had never seen it[gasp!] [shock!] [horror!] So was good for me to see something different myself, but just as excellent!

I think maybe a shot video would have been good, maybe tomorrow, if we can get the kayak out and paddle up stream to get to it!

This morning our electric did go out with one heluva bang, but couldn't find anything that had set it off, or rather taken it over its limit, so just put it back on, and it stayed on, gave Franco a shock, not literally, but it happened when he was up stairs and it was the up stairs network that went bang before throwing the whole lot off!

When did I last Blog? Heck a whole week ago! I'm sorry, I am not doing good, all I can think about is my Mom and how she was this time last year, and her Christmas card in absence is.... is... well just tearing at me...

And all the moves I seem to find on TV are sad, its just the simple part of a movie that did it for me yesterday, the movie itself, Noel, was fine, although the bit where Robin Williams said "tell you Mom its ok to let go now" got me going, but right at the end the daughters sat on her Mom's bed in hospital, the Mom took hold of her daughters hand and just held on.... And maybe I should be letting the movie go too because remembering it now, isn't doing me any good either.



This morning Pippa and I got out of the house, turned right, turned right again, then the heavens opened and we turned back around and got back home pronto! We were both soaked through in just a matter of minutes!

We went to Ikea the other day, got some nice smelly Christmassy candles, we haven't replaced the tree lights, so that look cheery, not!

What have we been doing all this week then? Yesterday, work, was very very quiet, but started well... The poor lady opening the rejas first thing, couldn't raise it up and a guy from Mercadona helped, only he didn't really, she hadn't taken out the keys! So up it went with the keys in situ and no way to open the store or reach the keys, this is when us other two arrived and we used a ladder from over the road, I volunteered to go up the ladder, on a slope, in the wet!!!??? And once up there realised the only way to release the keys was to pull the rejas back down, so I suggested we used the top of the ladder to pull it down, this was hilarious in itself! But we got the keys out and opened up the store!

Then a customer came and and told us a store down the road was chucking some things out! And she had told them about us, so I went down to let them know we would be collecting it tomorrow when there were more staff and to thank them.... Only they gave me a bag and said there was one more to come, I carried that back up, went back down and found the last bag was a huge black bin bag full of their unwanted stock! I couldn't carry it and got one of the guys there to carry it for me... Which caused a bit of an argument, they, being Chinese and not speaking a lot of Spanish, and me not speaking much Chinese! It did cause a few problems!!! And once over the Mercadona roundabout I told him thank you, and I'll take it from here, and he just gave me the huge heavy bag to carry... So that was fun!

One of girl got soaked through running an errand for the shop also, so we sent her back out for coffee's... well once your wet, how much more wet can you get??

We had coffee and mince pies and gently steamed....

Monday Franco and I went down to Fuengirola, popped in to see some friends, oh and went to La Trocho, twice, on Sunday we went to the market there and up stairs, as it was open, I saw a lovely coat which Franco said he would get me for Christmas, they didn't have my size and the man said he would bring in a couple of different sizes on the following morning, so we went there, at 10am... his stall wasn't open, nor did it the hour or so we waited about.... and on our return he was open, but didn't have the coats, said they didn't have any other sizes, but took my number in case... oh well C'est la vie...

And as mentioned we went to Ikea on Saturday, busy busy busy there... and later to Miramar in Las Lagunas, also very busy.... I think we went to El Corté Ingles on Monday? or Saturday, oh also we went into Coín on Monday... had some bills to pay for friends, five in all, couldn't pay them in Alhaurín, only town in the whole of Andalucia that you cannot pays the bills from Coín in!!!! When it list the banks, the BBVA which has the bar code reader payment machine in its doorways... even that wouldn't except it!!!

So off we went, four of the bills were just over 20€, but you couldn't put any more than 35€ in notes into the machine... the other bill had a limit of 50€, so we went to the cash desk first, thinking 50's would be ok, but then found otherwise, luckily a bank guy was doing something there already and took the money and changed it into notes we could use!!! We were causing a line up behind us, tough! One woman said, how long are you going to be? Franco turned round and said not long and she said, "I am double parked out there!" Franco said, well there's a car park just under here which is cheap and less chance of getting a ticket!!! Who double parks there car in Spain to go into a bank? Well ok, maybe lots do, but she was English, and we all know it can take half hour just to do one little thing in a bank, you can never expect to walk in go to the desk, and go out again!

The desk in this bank by the way, didn't have any customers at the desk, but there are many many signs saying bill payment at machine only, and it means it, even though we had all the money to pay the bills when we got change the woman wouldn't have offered to take them and the payment there!

Was good to have a coffee afterwards... and a pastry, [for me], and so much change, five bills and tonnes of change from the machine!!!!

Oh yes, also Monday, I had an 8:30 appointment at the doctors, almost forgot, although I still have the bruise to show for it! I have never had a bruise like this from a blood test, and so painful, she tied a piece of rubber round my arm so tight it was agony it was a wonder she got any blood out at all!

Then I had an EKG[ECG] That won't show up anything at all, I was laid out there in the freezing cold with what looked like a set of jump leads on my ankles, wrists and chest, for one minute, and not an irregular heart beat or palpitation moment, in that minute!

Well its still raining... outside and in my heart...

I feel for all my friends who have lost their Mom's this year... five, five other girls all without their Mom's this Christmas, just in my little circle, and thousands of others I know...

So before I bring you all down with me I think a mug of lovely hot chocolate will give me some good happy chemicals, for ten minutes!

TTFN
Marian

What a wonderful song, Coldplays, Christmas Lights, just as it came on the radio our Christmas tree lights went off! Bizarre... They don't look like they're coming back on, and can't see any bulbs that are blackened, so must just be broken, only a year old! I had lights last year from ten years ago.... Just don't make them like they used to eh!!

A Chocolate cake is in the oven, well sort of, its my normal crumb cake but with some cocoa powder in, and a couple of bananas which were on their way out, or off! so I chucked them in for good measure...

This morning down town, was cold, until the sun came over the Sierra de Mijas and warmed my back up! Down at Bar Cruz, started off with a té, but followed up with hot chocolate, much bigger glass than the té too! Good old cola cao chocolate powder...

I took some trousers back to the shop today, they were smaller than I thought, or am I bigger than I thought!!! Nah, the first thing I think!

Yesterday in the shop a couple of women were walking around for ages, and one of them bought a belt, and stole a top! We didn't realise until she had left the shop and another customer commented on the top, as she had liked it too, but it had left the building.... how sad is it to have to steel from a charity shop!

It was also like summer yesterday, well maybe not the extreme heat of summer we have here, but it was a wonderful warm day, only its today I have put washing on the line and am waiting for the sun to make it over the town hall and onto our terrace to reach the clothes! I came home and went up there to have a read with a coffee, but after half hour came back down, too cold in the shade, and with wet hair!!

Today, I am going to write out our Christmas cards, infact as soon as I leave you, I am going to do it! I am going to put on a CD, that old classic "Its a Wonderful Life" by Frank Capra...

and I shall do it now!

TTFN
Marian

ps, enjoy the song...

Coldplay - Christmas Lights

Some random photos today, I am in a random mood!

Above and below out side the Globe Inn on the bank of the Grand Union Canal, on the outskirts of Linslade/Lieghton Buzzard, Bedfordshire...

Its a great pub, I was going to say little, but its quite big, there was a log fire burning and that smell was glorious. The food is pretty good too!

This is where I went with friends while I staying over.

Above is next doors[Tony and Kates] cat, the poor thing was seemingly out day and night! In the snow and ice! Patting at the door to come in, but we had to be strong, once in, it would have been cruel to turn it away next time....


This was the terrific view Tony had out of the windscreen on the morning we went up to see Barry in Nottingham.... Fog and snow, snow and fog!

I have just been reading back, and added a bit to a past post, a bit I remember now, but may not one day... I am having real trouble moving forward this week, I know this time last year, I knew it would be a miracle if Mom was still here this year and had thought ahead to now, but this isn't the now I thought I would feel.

I am always a bit of a procrastinator, but, I think I am almost moving backwards now! If I don't get a move on with our Christmas cards they will be arriving in time for Easter! Or not sent at all!

I want to just hole up and get in a little cocoon with warm milky drinks and soft sweet foods, I also want to slap myself out this feeling!

I enjoyed work this morning more than I thought I would, we had a laugh and although it wasn't very busy, we kept busy, and Thursday is the Christmas Bazaar which I am going in for, for just an hour or so...

We have some lovely Christmas lights up in the town so I will take some photos and post them soon. That's as soon as I have taken them!

I also want to take a friend to see the Alhaurín Nativity before she flys off to England for Christmas as I know she hasn't ever seen it!

We have bought the little lad next door his Christmas present, which I am in the mood for playing with! Its a small football table, his Dad will be pleased, he has to put it together first! And it doesn't look like a quick job either!

Talking of putting things off, I planned on writing the Christmas cards yesterday afternoon, put in a CD, The Golden Compass, as it happens, watched it to nearly the end, then fell asleep, woke up and had to find the bit in the CD to watch the last bit! Then came across a game on the PS3 which I couldn't leave alone!

... The Christmas cards? Nope never got round to doing them!

TTFN
Marian

Today is a page taken by a fellow blogger Positive Thoughts...

12/11/2010

May you. . .

May you find serenity and tranquillity in a world
You may not always understand.

May the pain you have known and conflict you have experienced
Give you the strength to walk through life
Facing each new situation with courage and optimism.

Always know that there are those whose love and understanding
Will always be there, even when you feel most alone.

May you discover enough goodness in others
To believe in a world of peace.

May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours
Every day of your life,
And may you give these gifts as well as receive them.

Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.

Teach love to those who know hate,
And let that love embrace you as you go into the world.

May the teaching of those you admire become part of you,
So that you may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched
And who have touched yours are always a part of you,
Even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.
It is the content of the encounter that is more important than it's
form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters,
But instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.

Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world around
you.

Realize that each person has limitless abilities,
But each of us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard
May be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
May become one of your strengths in the future.

May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by
yourself,
And not be dependent on another's judgement of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.

I didn't dare look back to see when I last blogged amigos... Over two weeks ago, *red faced* and sorry, apologies mi amigos.... I don't know where I have been, physically yes, emotionally no...

So....... lets pull up a comfy wing backed chair, each [big room!], in front of the huge log fire, with a mug of creamy hot chocolate, and don't forget the marsh mallows on that for me! And I will begin...

... begin with the fact that I have had to make random notes in no particular order, just when I remembered things I have to tell you....

So, are we comfy? Then I will begin! See how I hesitate, what's the matter with me, I am amongst friends, ok, notes, and the photo above to get me going... Our little Nativity, that I have had since the mid nineties... I got it out of its boxes and put it in place Wednesday, my first real day home, as on my return I had a migraine [what's new], I took out all the people from their cosy homes in amongst the paper trimmings, and one was missing, and another chipped?

I really had to struggle to remember what could have happened, and after a couple of hours, I think when I put them away, in one heck of a hurry before going over to see Mom, and before the 12th night, I must have dropped one of the Kings surfs, and one of the other surfs base chipped... I am not really sure that's what happened, I can imagine I was in a hurry, but I truly have no recognition of putting them away.... You'll notice to the right of the stable, a little white speck of something, with a red top? That's a small snowman candle that has hung out there over the last few years.... He isn't a 'normal' Nativity symbol?

I noticed last evening when the candled flickered, that Mary, Jesus and the Angel's shadows moved on the back wall of the stable, it was a surreal moment until the candle calmed....

As I say Tuesday, lost to me altogether... It had been a nightmare trip home, friend dropped me off at Luton airport on Monday, about 11:30, maybe a bit early, thinking my flight was 2pm, not actually 2:40! So already an hour ahead of myself! Checked in quickly, only .02 over the 20kilo, and straight through the control check upstairs, being allowed into the express check in line! Muy bien!

Then it all went pear shaped[!], apparently our plane, coming in from Gibraltar couldn't land due to fog, so was sent to Birmingham, and another plane had to be found which could land and take off in fog, so it wasn't until 8pm we eventually took off for Spain.

There were many flights cancelled, or delayed, and I couldn't risk leaving my seat in search of food or drink, due to the many people sitting on the floors or just standing waiting for a chance of a seat, luckily I did have water and sweets! So I just sat, relaxed[sort of], and waited!

I cant remember having taken off in such dense fog, once on the run way approach, you could barely see the light from the terminal buildings any more, and when we had arrived, in day light, the top of the control tower was not even to be seen, only the leg!

The seating was changed to 'any seat' so bad luck for anyone who had paid extra for their extra leg room seat etc! But turned out I had a whole row to myself! As did all of us who just went up to the back!

The flight had been ok until the last half hour when we hit cloud over Spain, and the turbulence was awful! Not just up and down, but side to side! A bit of a white knuckle ride thrown in for good measure!

Franco was there to meet me and my rather foamy case, the foam turned out to be my mousse! The whole can had emptied out on route, leaving a few things moussed up and a bit damp! Apologies to other peoples cases ;-)

Once out into the night, now about midnight! The humidity was high, and home, the house felt humid too! It was about half past by then, and about 1am when we turned in...

I woke up with the migraine, and tried getting up about 5pm to get up, having breakfast, but it made me bad again, and didn't try again until Wednesday morning.... spent the day, emptying moussy case and housey stuff....

She looked ok... from a distance, and with the sun in your eyes.... Not me! Well maybe me, but I mean our car! Although up close, the peeling bumper, the poor paint condition, the scrapes and bumps and black ties!... apart from the lean to the left, she seemed to shassay up the road! Or it could have been a swagger! She didn't know she was on the way to be scrapped! Our poor baby car! She did us good for five years though for sure.. yesterday, Franco and I had been to the coast, got some bits and pieces, and home about 3pm! We were planning on staying in but had to go back down to the coast again, with our car, we got a call from a mate who could do the deed... So I drove the rental and Franco drove old Betsy[!] and down we went again!

The suspension finally gave up the ghost a week ago, and Franco had had to rent a car, we couldn't leave our car in the car park much longer, we had found a number in a paper of someone who would give us €100 and take the car, deal with the paper work and sell it on!!!! I one couldn't imagine anyone wanting to buy it, poor thing isn't road worthy any more and I would want some else risking life and limb driving it now! The last few days Franco had had some near misses with it! And also I couldn't have rested, I'm not sure if we would have received yearly tax bills, parking fines or speeding tickets, if not worse!

So hopefully this has been the right route and its bye bye baby, baby bye bye.... to our little Opal Corsa!

I got to walk Pippa yesterday morning, "at last" says Pip! And there was still a noisy cricket chirping away to remind me of summer, but not this morning, this morning there was a wayward wind, it didn't know which way to blow! Rain was for cast, and it has rained, not much, just a light sprinkling, I hadn't even noticed it rain, but just went up onto the terrace and its a bit damp!

This morning in town it was ok, little bit of sun even, but then as I was coming I could tell the rain was on its way... It was just cloud from over the Sierra de Mijas... but it felt heavy....!

We have one of those salt things, orangey and you put a tea light inside, do you know what I mean? Well when I moved the Nativity into place I found it was wet, not inside, but its outside and underneath, like it was melting... Very strange, but its made of salty stuff, I wondered if it was the humidity? I have been keeping a candle burning inside and it seems to be doing the trick!

I have had a couple of funny experiences to over the last couple of days... The first on Wednesday, I was using the little kitchen foldaway foot stall thingy, to give me a little more height to put the suitcase[minus mousse], back up on top of the wardrobe, when it slipped and hit the base of the wardrobe, and broke! Sending me flying! But I caught the case! With my face! And I was left having to just 'oike it up there! Pippa moved... she moved into the other bedroom when it broke!

Then today, I was changing the light bulb on the ceiling light on the landing... Franco had put the only spare bulb we had in there last week, a 25 watt! It was like poor candle light! So I am standing on the chair, and the the light fitting starts to move about a bit... horrible, its like at the market when the clothes are just floating on their rails... Same effect on me, vertigo, or something like! It makes my head swimmy! Anyway, no falling, and all done, we have light, bright light!


I have put up our tree, Franco says it looks a bit sparse... I'll have to get out the rest of the baubles! Not really in the Christmas spirit... And I must do our Christmas cards, cannot find the labels I had written out before I left for England, to take with me... Will probably find them, one day!

I brought a few things from an extra case that we couldn't bring back with us in March, an odd selection of things, wish they were things to do with the family now, the books with family names in etc, and any memorabilia, but I couldn't get to them in Tonys house...

I did bring back a camera of Mom's, I thought there were only 3 or 4 photos left to take and then I would get it processed, but as I turned the next picture, its a 'throw away' type, I have found, Mom had only taken 3 or 4 photos! I wonder what of though? so I will get the film used up as quickly as I can, to see....

In Nottingham, with Barry, they had the giant walk-in snow globe! Not sure if it was the one Mom and I went in at Milton Keynes, but there it was...

While I was in England and visiting family next door to Mom's it was a sad sad visit, I couldn't look at Mom's place, not the front room window, or the back door, it just tore my heart out all over again... When I left and walked away I felt like I had visited my Aunt and not Mom! And in the shops and on the streets where we would go, at every turn I thought I saw her... in one of her hats... just out of the corner of my eye... I have now been to lots of places we would go on my visits over, did it help? No not one iota, and I really thought it would, I was wrong. And just feel bereft all over again.

ok amigos, my notes are used up, and so am I, lots more to tell about my visit, happy things, but for now.... everybody out!

TTFN
Marian