Selfie! Sorry! Taken Sunday on the coast, not sure about the little orb floating nearby!

Took these Tuesday morning, walking up to Bar Monika, although I didn't make the bar as stopped to talk to a friend at Bar Cruz.. 

Top two photographs are along Gerrard Brennan, just before 9:00 so fairly quiet...

The one above is near my house, Plaza Alta, so quite a few of this already in my (phone) gallery, over the decades!

And here above of course another well photographed view looking down over the valley...

The streets look so blue... The town still isn't rh shade of the Sierra De Mijas...

I of course, did not walk down my street, I glanced up as I passed before the ayuntamiento, and walking back down, risked a quick glance up the street.. I wonder if I'll ever have the strength to pass my house...

I feel at the moment still, that I won't, and that's okay.

M.

A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.

Jim Watkins - American Anchor and Journalist

Memento Mori

 

However people ignore signs, or weird sh!t, it really does happen! 

I was telling you about the weirdness already of Memento Mori on tv, and on the flight over I am reading Suzie Dent, Guilty by Definition, and, as you can see there it is again! 

And again!! Just now this morning in El Corte Inglés.. I wanted to buy it! But that's not very practical... So.. against my own wants wishes and need to keep a bottle of this on a shelf indefinitely... There it remains on their shelves!

These words are obviously meant to be on me!

So be it!

A quick walk around the Calipso flea market this morning, then a coffee in the small bar by the gasolinera there.

All like old times...

...my old times, there opposite is the original timeshare I had, Lubina Sol, Apt B11B... c1989

It didn't need to be in black and white... Nothing usually is! Oh how I twist and turn my words! 

Back home now, after a quick trip to Elviria and the above supermarket for wine, then over the road for bread at a wonderful bakers.. I paid €9 for two cinnamon rolls! Extortion! They better be good or I'll be taking the crumbs back to him!!

Looking forward to getting back to Alhaurín later today.. My heart and soul are happy

M.

I wish someone had warned me when I was younger, now I stay up all night and weep; the ghosts of everything you have loved and lost come back to haunt you in your sleep.

Nikita Gill

Cabopino... Day one, or is it two? Arrived safely yesterday afternoon, good and speedy flight..

Ate an early dinner, late lunch? I was starving.. a good walk out, the photographs... and an evening of enjoyable talking and a glass of good wine... And chocolate

And chocolate!

This morning a drive to Puerta Banus, a quick visit to see friends working at the market, then back into Banus, a coffee, and another friends store, but she wasn't in until later... 

A nice walk around the port, and window shopping! Then another coffee! And home.. 

Lunch and another walk! Came home and got the car.. I was dropped back at Calahonda and walked along to my old shop .. saw five people I knew before I got there, was good to be back, although my buddy isn't there any more.. Was very strange... But had a good catch up with J. And another J. from work stopped by, good to see her too... Miss them all...more as time goes by... Not less... 

I went down to a bar I used to frequent and had, another coffee!!

We have been out, again, and down to Elviria, yes for more coffee! Sat and chatted in the warm sunshine.. very nice..

Window shopped while I was there, two sweaters later.. but they won't fit in my bag to get them back!! I'll be like the Michelin man on my flight!

I came home and needed to nap, surprisingly, although the body is tired sleep is being elusive! The caffeine maybe! Ha!

So no nap! And it is with heavy lidded eyes I am now writing, next I'll practice some Spanish, and or German, and do some brain games..!

M.

Whatever you are doing today, do it with the confidence of a tutu wearing four year old in a Batman T-shirt 

Purloined from a Facebook page!

I have started watching a Depesh Mode series on Netflix...  I didn't look too deeply at the intro, just thought that'd be good to watch, after a few minutes I kept hearing the words Memento Mori and I googled it, it was Depesh Modes Memento Mori world tour...

Ok so that's just as it is, but what is a bit odd is that I was looking at an idea for another tattoo earlier, because whilst watching a movie I saw this very same Latin quote; I made a note of that on my phone to go with the drawing that I want it to go with... So I find it rather strange that I then pick a random music video to watch where that same Latin quote is mentioned, all the time!!

Not strange? Okay! Just me then! Lols! But definitely my next tattoo!

All the time, so many strange coincidences in my daily life.. Maybe I look for them subconsciously, maybe because I talk to so many people, maybe they find me!

Saturday we went back to the antiques place in Ilkeston, Armstrongs Mill, I was after a pair of boots! Pavers is there, amongst a lot of other suppliers.. 

The roads were very bad, a nearby dual carriageway was blocked by police to divert everyone off the road, three accidents in a matter of about a mile... I expect speed, bad braking, and just not taking the road conditions into account! 

Anyways! A small diversion and we arrived, the carpark was like an ice rink! When we got out of the car a lady was still trying to get out of the passenger side of a car next to us and was struggling to gain a footing, I asked her if I could help, and I guess understandably she said no, she was fine, but, me being me, offered again and I'd feel happier helping her, she was worried if she went down we'd both go down! I said not to worry.. so she took my wing, as I call it! And we walked to the doors of Armstrong's.. where her husband was waiting for her! Ha!

I'm all packed, said that before didn't I, but I've kinda repacked a few times, taking things out, swapping them for other things... 

Feels like the bag is too heavy, so I'll see later what's not coming with me!

Just need my passport! Oh and meds!! 

M.

Either you run the day, or the day runs you.

Jim Rohn - 1930-2009 - American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker

Odd selection of photographs today because I was looking for something else, and came across these.. from Roquetas del Mar.. and up that way! 

And below Alhaurín de La Torre.. beautiful hand crocheted sun screens above the roads...

Yesterday the rain had washed the snow away, and without a worry or concern I stepped out to the supermarket! 

About two hours later feeling tired and blah! I changed my clothes, walking leggings, thermal top, walking socks and boots on, waterproof jacket, ear-pods in, book on and out I went! 

Down the street and through a muddy path to the river..

Started a call with a good friend, we talked for about an hour or more.. caught up after a bit too long of not talking! 

Photograph above is a field on the other side of the the River Ere wash was flooded out.. 

I walked about 3.5 miles, in total! Was probably about another half an hour from Ilkaston..

M.

You were made of light

Before you were made of fear

More from Matlock

More photographs from the weekend before Christmas, and Matlock, and me feeling a bit ill, not knowing I was coming down with the flu!

This unusual building at the top of an impossibly steep road! And that's from me who lived on the side of a mountain for nineteen years!!

This I think I have already posted on Instagram, it's a bar, but so cute with Father Christmas's suit hanging on the line!

And the Christmas market at night, should have taken lots more photographs, and much better ones!!

I'm all packed for home, not taking anything really, very minimal packing, my small back pack, and nothing fancy!

I think I should write everywhere on everything I am taking..  not to buy anything while I'm there!

M.

We should meet in another life, we should meet in air, Me and you.

- Sylvia Plath, Winter Trees

Snow arrived last evening, at last! Looks like it'll stay all day! Just had a yellow weather warning for ice until midnight tomorrow!

Did I tell you one of those small lights that a lot of us have around the house these days to cover those dark spots at night.. it came on a few times at the top of the stairs.. 'In the night, in the dark!' Sorry, can't resist a movie quote! That's from The Haunting.. 1999 movie.

And a completely different one I have in a different place, it's flashed on at least the twice I've caught it doing so! It inside a tallboy cabinet, the top lifts up for makeup stuff, well, it's in there.. 

I know, of course, it's just a fluke, I mean it could be triggered by a fly, a night fly? Or moth? Maybe, but not the one in the cabinet? Surely?

A week today I'll be flying south, like the birds.. so excited, although already thinking of having to leave and that thought makes me sad.. 

Going home, being home, is such a mix of emotions, of being happy, of being sad; of what was found and finally, of what was lost..

Of course I really feel those decades were definitely my glory days...

What was found...

Days of driving to work along the coast road with the many advertising boards saying 'Living the dream.'

Working on beautiful golf courses like the Rio Real, Cabopino, the La Cala courses.. and so many others.. was very damp underfoot, and occasionally I would end up wearing crocodile shoes that needed replacing at regular intervals!

But good days..

Living a very lucky life, up in our house in Alhaurín for the week, and sometimes staying in my sister-in-laws apartment on the beach..

A life of amazing mountain ranges, stunning ranges, colored bronze and purple and greens, different times of times of day, different weather and temperatures.. Those mountains never look the same.. The sea; the sound, the calm or the stormy.. the energy we can draw from the wide expanse of the Mediterranean..

The bars, for coffee and tapas, the thousands of dropped napkins, the warmth of the sun, filling us to our bones.. also, of course, the overwhelming heat of summer searching for cool spots in the supermarkets, walking in the shade, needing the shade of a tree for the best shade and some cooler air.. Keeping the persianas closed in the house all day when out, to keep the cool in and heat out! 

Our garden centre, Casa Las Flores, for coffee and the best fries in Andalucía! For a walk around the beautiful plants, the pond with the tortugas, Pippa enjoying it as much as us, of mom tripping over in there once!! Of Father Christmas, when not on show at Christmas time, he is hidden away in one of the areas, once I spotted him, every year afterwards I would check he was still hidden there! 

Don't forget the lakes, well, the reservoirs up at Ardalas, again, the coffees! The food there.. the walks, the Kings Walk ending at El Choro and railway station..

Too much, too many, many many years of living a different life, a full life.. That changed, not by choice, but by life.

M.

Embrace what you don't know, especially in the beginning, because what you don't know can become your greatest asset. It ensures that you will absolutely be doing things different from everybody else.

Sara Blakely, Entrepreneur

(Todays insight of the day, seems to work well with today's Blog).

Forgive me if I'm repeating any photographs here... The cool Ford Anglia and the Dalek were by a lovely cafe in Matlock, best coffee! And cream tea.. very yum! Lumsdale Tearoom, definitely go in there next time your in Matlock.

Just over the road from there... Just realized I didn't Blog about Matlock, due to flu!! 

So over the road is a wonderful antiques market, fairly big.. was a wonderful look around history and old familiar things...

I have two family samplers, 1859 and 1876, both made by my great Grandmother.. maybe because of them I always check out others I see higher and thither.. 

This caught my eye, albeit up near the ceiling! Which meant people had to help, ladders, chairs, moving other things around, because me being an awkward girl, wanted it! 

It's the words .. I love the words ..

And just now, starting series 2, episode 2 of The Change, a great series.. this piece of music came up, love these words too!

Nick Drake, Place to Be

And! More photos from before Christmas, the Dalek near the cafe...

More from Matlock tomorrow friends..

... and Christmas elf footprints at my son's! Same elf as the year before, she came home December 1st, left some floury footprints it seems! How do we know it was flour? Grandson licks the white stuff to see what it was!

M.

The truth is rarely pure, and never simple

Oscar Wilde 

Few more photographs from Sherwood Forest, and the shopping area before you enter the park, filled with eateries and craft stores...

Heard the word 'Paxes' the other day in a TV show, I hadn't heard the word in decades, in fact probably hadn't used it since school days .. 

It's a good word, maybe we should use it more, instead of talking around in circles, just agree to paxes, and move on! In British school slang, it's a call for a truce or an end to fighting.

Tattoo! Monday morning had an appointment in Nottingham with Gerry Carnelly, 

Only had two last year! One in January in Bewdley and the second one in Fuengirola.. 

I had been thinking of a scarab beetle, another Egyptian tattoo... Another link to my mom's father.. 

It is beautiful! He did an amazing piece of art work on my body, very very pleased...

I am slowing down now with the tattoos, I want one more large one, then maybe a few more smaller ones, then, I guess, I'll have to call it a day on my tats! Maybe eh!?!

Snow ice cold.. but only a few flakes of snow, some ice hung around on the ground for a few days, but after last night's rain that's all gone now... Or so it seems... I was so scared walking on Monday, after falling over in November it'ls made me so nervous! I got the train into town, and a guy was gritting the steps and platform, he told me he has to take photographs of the grit on the platform, because some staff say they're gritting and don't?? What the hell? Why wouldn't you do this it job? I don't understand at all!

I had such a beautiful dream earlier, just taking a siesta, was watching something on tv, and feeling incredibly tired .. (must sort out this problem!)

In my dream I was in my old childhood home of my stepdads, I knew he and my mom were somewhere nearby, I was in the living room, talking with someone, and a piece of music started playing, Maña, Vivir Sin Aire..  And then we were dancing, close and happy, and all and everything was right with my world.

M.

Sometimes the best memories are the most painful

Isn't this the truth... They really are..

Today, new years eve.. and at last I have visited Sherwood Forest! 

It's about blooming time, to be honest isn't it! With a name like Marian! 

Felt like I was coming back to a spiritual home! Well, not sure about that exactly , but it was an absolutely stunning day, 1°c when we left, didn't get much warmer, frost lay under foot, and stayed there all day... I think we arrived about 10:30 and didn't leave until about 14:30...

And a wonderful mince pie flavored coffee, very yum, and glad it was far enough away couldn't repeat too often! 

Had lunch in a restaurant in site after a good long walk.. 

Then walked some more...

I've been a bit absent without leave, because last weekend, away in Matlock for the Christmas market I didn't feel too well... And Monday last week, came down with flu, badly, I guess it's good I had my flu vaccination or it could have been much much worse and I can't imagine that! I did manage to cook Christmas dinner, but not eat much.. 

My ribs were hurting, or what holds them together? Whichever, I was in so much pain.

So, all in all, be glad to get rid of this year, not all of it of course.. 

There has been wonderful days, my trips back home to Spain, my wonderful visit with family in the states for my birthday...

Family days friends days... 

Laughter tears, worry... Had my colorectal surgery, that was after I had Covid, my boob squash test came back all good! Me falling in the street and probably badly hurt my right knee cap, it's still bruised!?! Oh and I fell down the stairs a bit didn't it! Back before my first colonoscopy! Forgot that!! Been quite a year of hospital visits and A&E!! 

Then this flu, still coughing badly, still hurts!

Now, onwards and upwards friends family near and far..

Thank you for hanging out with me amongst these pages of mine... Of listening to another year of this that and goodness knows what! 

For patiently reading, often between the lines.. as I skip and hide around my sentences..

I have unmade phone calls, missed text messages, and way too many people I should have called this year, time waits for no man, or woman, so I must pull my finger out and shift my ass into gear in January! This procrastination must stop!

M.

What matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished

Paulo Coelho

Mmmm.. and that will never be me, I can't leave the past where it is .. it is still part of me, who I am... 

Happy New Year everyone, thank you...

Four year memory on Facebook.. from today, 2021, Mijas Pueblo, it's like another lifetime.. So many lifetime's wrapped up in a being, how many do we get? That's a question we don't know, live each one with the greatest feelings, live each one as though it's our last.. 

Stay in the moment.. I spend so much of my time in the past, I can't help it.

It's not that I'm not happy now, I am... but it's that I was a different happy then. I felt different, I thought that was me.

And when our lives change because of others, we lose who we were, I still haven't found me yet? 

Does that ever happen.

Okay, this was a couple of days ago!

Went for a wonderful walk yesterday..

Quite a muddy walk! That wonderful smell of earth and mulch I missed so much.. lichen everywhere, beautiful.. 

I had on my waterproof walking boots, unfortunately, of course, only actually waterproof up to a certain point! And walking through an exceptionally deep lake, aka a puddle! The water unexpectedly came over the laces! Still, my feet were warm and soon so was the water that my boot-socks soaked up!

After I got home, actually a few hours later, it started raining! And today the sun is here, and the sky a beautiful soft blue.. 

Thoughts of Christmas bring me down, but a trip booked for home revives me...

Yesterday evening's meal although tasted very good, within half an hour wasn't good in my stomach, well, not stomach as such.. And it's still bad, I checked again, as I have before, Dr Google says that colorrectal surgery can trigger diverticular disease symptoms.. So I guess this will be off the menu, maybe leave it a longer time, I felt I was at last, nearly two months post surgery, feeling that I was getting better... 

Still some pain every day, but less than at first, obviously, but still pain none the less ..

Now really bad again.. fed up with it all!

M.

Music track today also! Styx, The Best of Times

We are all that we have seen and done

I found my reusable face pads! My wash and use again face pads! And their bags, for before and after use! Something made me check a draw!! After checking a couple of other places first..

But it's okay! Found them! And knew I had them, somewhere because I'd actually see them this year!! 

But my mom's china doll, and two other freaky dolls of mine, nope, nada, NEIN!

They, along with my Klimt statue have gone. I haven't seen them since my return, and it is now impossible for them to be in any other boxes.

I am devastated.

Not sure how to jump to a different subject from here.. 

I guess, just leap and hope for the best! 

So! I went to Asda, could have been an extremely expensive shop if I'd not had my wits about me! 

I self scan, using my phone, bag up as I go into my own bag, so all normal there, twelve items, and checking my purchases before paying, don't always, but now again, in case I've scanned something I've not bought! It happens! 

So, it says roll, like a bread roll? I guess, and the value? 646 pounds! Yep, £646.00 for a roll!! 

Two things? That's pricy! And also, I didn't even go to the bakery isle! Never mind but.. what how much is one roll? Let's say it's 50p so that's twelve hundred rolls!! 

So I raised my arm and someone came over to help me out! I had to empty out my bag, to check it! Like my small bag could even hold that many rolls, but in case I'd picked something up with a red discount sticker, they, another woman came out to help! Called a few people, but no help, so after having put everything back, I had to checkout through a regular machine! 

Crazy eh! I do think I know what happened though... I was looking through the discount area, for some shampoo, my phone in my hand, maybe it scanned something, somehow? A discounted item, that has been wrongly priced up? As a 649 pound roll!!! 

M.

Make peace with your past. All of your experiences have brought you to where you are right now.

Wayne Dyer - 1940-2015, Author and Speaker