Ok amigos... We're still in Frigiliana! Above, a church! We were sitting near it, waiting to be served, before leaving, as we never were, along with a few others who gave up!

This little house above was very funny! There were all these signs to the left/right/both doors, promising strange weird and wonderful surprizes for anyone who put 50c or 20c into the slot above the peep hole thingies! I put 20c into the door on the right and there was a kaleidoscope of colors! And that was it! Franco put 50c into the one offering a promise of a desert island, something like, he said "quick have a look at this" I did, there was a yellow[sand?] circle turning to represent an island maybe? Little cut out palm trees and a setting sun! I was just pulling my camera towards the hole to take a photo when a stream of water poured out of a thing at the top of the door!!!!! Muchas gracias!

We climbed these steps and turned a left at the top... the pathways around the town were all cobbled, although rubbed smooth from time, and patterned, very pretty....

If you look close, or zoom in, there is a restaurant through this pretty arch way....


And a view from the top! High high above the town... We were almost in the avocado patch by this time!!!!

TTFN
Marian

Well, after that long Blog, [to follow] confused? I have blogged already, but ran out of photo upload space, so here are the photos that belong with the blog below... And surely I cannot confuse you by now!

I have had to up load from my camera first, and rename! Stress! Well not so much stress and just too tired... But done now, hope you like them, five at a time, so will take most of week to get through!

Top pic from where we had parked the car looking up towards to village... Oh of Frigiliana of course!


In the village now... Starting the steep walk up hill, all the way!


Isn't this pretty... Its a shop and all the metal work is for sale!



There are many many twists and turns, we only covered a very small part of it, we know... Some spectacular views over to the Mediterranean... Glistening in the near distance...


These are very small, so zoom in better to see greater details!

and to the rest of today's Blog.....

Ok, vamos a ver [lets see], we're still on Thursdays little jaunt around these parts... above was a photo of a development on the way out of Alozaina... an awful concrete mess of buildings, not a very close up view, I should have zoomed in before unloading it... but there it is, mid shot! Don't know what it is to be, if ever, looks like construction has come to a stand still!

This great view of the archway over the road! Not a drop to drink, ociffer! Franco was driving anyway, and I was hanging my camera out of the car to get a photo!

These, above and below, are the arches on the way in and out of Alozaina!

Below the beautiful avenue of eucalyptus trees that lined the road from Tolox all the way to the spa park...

But its Monday today! Drove into town, don't hear my saying that very often do you? Had a cuppa with friends, then I took the rental back to base and walked back down the hill home!

Did my usual collection of our post from around the local houses and gave the things we were delivered to their owners!

And made a cake! I might know what's going into all these cakes I keep making but it doesn't mean they're good to keep making, and keep eating! So today's crumb cake had crushed walnuts in! To counteract the sugar content! lol

I really want to get cracking on yesterdays trip because I know I will forget bits if I don't make a start... So will begin, and the photos, will be above[?] in the next blog entry, never mind!

So, yesterday we started out and headed into Malaga, and onto the A7 [N340] and headed east, up coast that is... We wanted to stop for a coffee, and even came off the road a couple of times, but got back on without finding the bar, some are in commercial parks, like La Trocha, or Miramar, that sort of thing, so their out of town, but also not right next to the motorway, so if we didn't see it, we left it! which meant we didn't get a coffee until Nerja! We pulled off the A7 and parked, nice bar/petrol station, English couple at the fruit machine the whole time we were in there! About 40 minutes mas o menos! We had coffee and a pastry, it was a chocolate covered croissant... I had to pick off the chocolate! Too sweet! So we got back on the road, but just to the junction and headed inland from Nerja and up and into Frigiliana...

We parked along the road just coming into town, and walked, up hill, its pretty much up hill all the way, until you come down again, to leave! Very very steep town, and we, typically walked up as high as you could, above the town, and into the mountain above! We ended up walking in an orchard of avocados!!!

Pretty little town, lots of bars, tourists shops, a sign said Frigiliana dulce wine 0.75€ so, 75 cents, but a woman nearby said to her friend "oh look local sweet wine, for 75€" Not sure if she thought that was a good buy or not, but I turned to Franco and said, " lets get a few bottles of that dulce"....well for 75c each... of course it would have been cheaper than the super market, but I was being silly, we didn't actually buy any! The woman turned to look, she must have thought us rich.. or stupid[Ummm, dont answer that amigos!]

We had another drink stop here, in a polish bar, there were two in a row, in a new complex, they were quick to serve and bring our drinks, unlike a bar in a small plaza we stopped at, the only thing to move there had been the parasol when it blew over in a strong gust of wind that came by! And after quarter of an hour, a rest for me, we had gotten up and walked off! The barman had come over to raise the parasol by the way, just didn't take any orders!

From Frigiliana we went back down the coast, and back onto the A7, but in the Malaga direction... We came off at the Torrox turn, and went to Torrox costa, we drove all the way up the beach road in the direction of Nerja, turned about and came back, staying on the beach road we went through Torrox costa... Probably more there than we saw, we only saw a few bazaars, the usual suspects of Mercadona, Super Sol and Eroski, all the supermarkets, oh and a bar *Lady bar*, not sure what they did there!!!!

We retraced our steps [wheels] and back to the roundabout we came off the A7 and went up into the mountain.... and into Torrox pueblo, a pretty little town, we parked and went in, few bars were open, and a bazaar!!!! We wandered about a bit and got back in the car...

We continued up and up further up and further inland to the not so small town of Cómpeta... to quote *Long known as the pearl of the Axarquía is the town of Cómpeta*... And beautiful it is... Once again very very steep, not for the faint hearted, or faint of body that is! We had been driving for some time, expecting to see the town around each, and every corner, 700 meters above sea level, and we felt it, and at last, not disappointed there was the town on our right! Wow!

We took a wrong turn... [ahem] but it turned out to be a good, wrong turn, and brought us up into the town from the back and we were able to park the car almost centrally, although we saw a better car park, the one we parked in, but a weekends only, well Sundays only, belonging to a fruit sellers and open!

We climbed, this time by weary feet to a plaza and I took some photos, a few open bars, but they seemed very busy and we wanted a quieter one, so back down to the car and back on the road...

We didn't want to go back the way we had come, so took the final option on entry to the town, and we drove back down to the coast by way of Sayalonga, east of Velez Malaga, a small hillside, cross that, mountain side, of course, village....

We came back down onto the A7 at Algarrobo, and back on the high way.... phew, we were dry of mouth and very tired by now... We wanted a coffee break badly.... At last we saw a sign, even though it said the restaurants were at a commercial centre we came off and entered Rincon de la Victoria... only a few mintues from the A7 was the centre, we parked, and stumbled into the shopping centre, at least it was cool in there, it was a hot day yesterday and both wearing jeans and trainers we were boiling!

We went up stairs and had a kebab meal!!! Ah yes! All those E.numbers, some of which are popping out on my face still as I write this minute! But it tasted so gooooood! [that'll be the flavourings then!!]

Once back on the road... we only had to negotiate a few problems on the Malaga stretch, so near, yet so far... We came off the road at a wrong place, we hadn't got into the right lane in time, and a lovely fella wouldn't let us in, so we drove along side the A7 for a short while and back on after five minutes, which may have turned out to be good luck, as an accident had just happened at the airport turn! Only causing traffic to slow up, to rubber neck, and pass on!

Then we were on the home straight, about 5:30 we got home I think? About that, cant remember already!

Very tired, but a great day... We definitely want to go back to Cómpeta, have a proper look around... And I'm sure visitors would love to see Frigiliana too...

ok, and once again I am tired, again... will upload a few photos onto the page you will have already seen!

TTFN
Marian

Early morning Choir

This morning at 7:30 am, we had a choir coming through the streets and past our house, so I did a quick video, poor quality, sorry, but every October we hear this, and every other year I have missed recording it... So here it is!

Testing this out, not sure if it will work, check out this route we did today! Google maps...

But before today's photos... batteries on charge anyway so cannot access my camera! I am not so clever as to have some others ready to pop in!

Here are more photos from Thursday's trip!


Above is the motorised wheel barrow! We only knew we could get through these streets because the trailer was wider than the car we were in!


This was the view from where we parked our car to have a walk about and an ice cream! There was a narrow river bed beneath... Think I took a photo of it? Manaña...

Nice statue of a mountain goat here! This is opposite the Spa...

The Spa of horror! After reading about them spraying the stuff into your throat and nose to make you better... Lounging in hot therapeutic waters sound great, having them thrust at you is a different matter indeed!

The wonderful hotel at the top of the mountain... This is probably not the most wonderful photo of it though!

Still lots more photos to come! Well I had been through a bit of a photo drought recently!

TTFN
Marian

I promised I would be back tomorrow, well today now! Its Saturday, and I have catch up from Thursday...

The car, after having a new something the other week, was making another weird and not so wonderful noise, and on his way to the coast Thursday morning, Franco took the car into the garage we use and it was "tengo un malo noticia" bad news... The water pump had gone... gone broken that is of course! I know they steal some things from our car in the car park occasionally but the water pump? No, just broken!

So we were then in desperate need of a rental car, which thanks to Rentacar 3000 here in town we got! I got back from town after Franco had called to tell me the car had broken down... I checked on the internet, then gave them a call, he said come on up and get the car now! Brilliant, so I went up the hill and did so! I think I haven't driven since over a year ago? Not sure if I drove when Barry was over last December, I don't think so. We never bothered renting a car when I was over with Mom the last few months of last year.... So it could have been when I was over in the spring, when Mom and I went down to Hayling Island and the little tour we did then. I wasn't worried, jumped in the little Fiat Panda, and off I went! Didn't get far fast, caught up with a heavy vehicle just before the Moreno roundabout, went in for petrol and then caught up with it again! He pulled over a bit and signalled for me to go past and I was off! It was great to be driving again, I miss it so much... So down to the coast I went to find Franco! He wasn't where we would think he was going to be, so I came to him instead!

We stopped down there for a coffee then came up to Mijas pueblo, we parked somewhere different, on the road up from the coast that goes past the American hand car wash place etc...


Which means I actually, after over 20 years! Had never seen the church above in Mijas before!



Or these strange archways.... filled with plants and candles! Only showing one above... Very strange!


And above a beautiful little street... a woman popped her head out just as I was taking this, and like a small meerkat, popped it back in again!

We walked into the centre of town, and had a coffee and a tapa, I had some boquerones, [whitebait] gently fried in hardly any batter at all, luverly!

We walked, [up hill] back to the car and felt like we were on holidays! Strange streets, rental car! We had holiday fever! So back in the car and off again, we turned off via Coín and went to Tolox.


We had seen the signs to Tolox on many occasions each and every time we went to Ronda... But never went to check it out, glad we did, there is a Spa there, as the link tells, we know about the Spa at Carratraca, but never realised than another was so close also... although it says [above link] the gases are sprayed into the throat and nose of those who visit! We saw tables and chairs in the up stairs rooms and did wonder what they were for! Bathing sounds ok, but not sure about that! Sounds a bit like torture!


We drove into the town firstly, following signs and then ended up with a choice of a one way street near a bridge, that we couldn't go up! or a car park! We hadn't wanted to follow a wheel barrow with an engine that was being driven by a young guy with a strange spiky hair cut with an elderly gentleman hanging on on a trailer behind! But we were forced to, we followed them, up and up and up, through tiny and tinier streets, till we left them and chose our own route... Which ended up coming down a one way street over a bridge and there was that car park again! We went round the now familiar round about, but headed along parrell to the river, the road was beautiful, an avenue lined with eucalyptus trees, huge massive old ones, the wonderful smell as we drove over the leaves, [love that smell]...

We came to a car park with a kiosk, drove through a gate and parked up beneath some of the wonderful eucalyptus trees and went for a wander... It was here we found the spa, photos to follow tomorrow, and lots more... about the day... We went from there, up the mountain, higher and higher, I had seen from the approach to the village a big house or something way way up at the top, and we found it! It was the hotel, also mentioned in link! There was nothing else up there and the road ended there.... Wonderful place to stay, looked so peaceful....

Back down the mountainside we went, didn't try to get into Tolox town centre again! We drove out and back to the main road and turned left to Alozaina... We got to the town in a few minutes, at the roundabout we entered the village.. but couldn't, the road was under construction! We took a detour and came to the other end of the main road! It was a small square, no parking or way out, so we turned around and left the town! We left a different way to the way we came, passing the turn for Casarabonella, where we on my birthday... and returning by way of Cartama, but the day wasn't finished yet! We popped into La Trocha for a coffee! The shops were still open, in fact some of them, the small little market stalls in the centre isle were just opening!

We got home about 6:30pm!!!! What a day! As soon as we were in I got dinner on, and we ate, we were both absolutely shattered! There was a knock at the door an hour later mas o menos, and there were friends! Friends who were staying down at Maria's on the coast! It was great, we never get friends just popping in here in Spain... Really completed out day wonderfully! Later when we walked back to their car, and a short walk to the church, I had to get out of my pj's which I had put on when I got home! Although we always see lots of ladies out and about in their pj's, nighties, rollers! At any time of day, [or night!]

So needless to say, yesterday I was completely exhausted! I got back from town, and went to bed for two hours! Only getting up to feed Pippa, and going back again for another two hours! I had good intentions of painting some rubber water proof stuff we bought, on the gully between our house and our neighbours house, after all the rain at the beginning of the year we think it might be a way the water had got in and caused a lot of the damp, I had cleared the plants and pots etc out in June, but after the rain we had last week I knew we had to be quick about it, before the winter comes.

So this morning! Am back to the Bp readings again for a week, not looking any better yet... There are about 4 or 5 people in the farmacia, and so many people having their blood pressure reading done they wouldn't remember one from another, this morning the woman said I needed to get my bp checked out with the doctor as it was so high, I said I am, and am on medication now, have to have readings done for a week and go back to see her, she was surprised that it was still high after 16 days, anyway, will find out what the doctor has to say when I see her on Wednesday!

After that I met up with my mate, and came home, and went straight up stairs and did the painting! Left it a couple of hours and did a second coat, I have painted the whole length of the house, not a huge widthways, it varies... like the rooms beneath! And I also painted a couple of inches up each side also! It looks good, nice red rubber paint!

Weather is still lovely thank goodness, washed the bedding, and its back on the bed all lovely and fresh smelling... And now I must go, lots of writing here, lots of photos tomorrow... No writing!

TTFN
Marian

Ok... Guess what I remembered something! And how on earth could I forget!? The Girls were off to Timbuktu on Saturday!

Above one of the quad bikes to go on the long long journey.... check out the skeleton on the back seat!

Andaluz TV were there to interview Katrina and Margo... And the Mayor of Alhaurín el Grande!

The full line up!

I asked the girls to look at each other for this shot...

They set off about 11:30am, after breakfast, a hearty meal and all that! There was a good turn out of people to wish them luck and send them on their way, they're on Fb if you want to track they're journey, its not without mishap already! My friend and I noticed the tow bars on the quads, they are already making use of these!

Today, I have lots to tell, but will save for tomorrow, or do later, we will see, I am a bit tired...

TTFN
Marian

Thursday was my last Blog! What occurred since? The days go by so quickly and mix together! I'v made some notes earlier while I thought back, good job too it seems, although not sure I will make it back 5 days!

While I type Jamie Olivers new series 30 minute meals is on, I may have to invest in the cook book that goes with the series, I know the recipes are on line, but its just not the same as having a book in the kitchen is it!

Well that was a distraction while I tried to remember back, didn't work so I will continue... In pain as it happens, right hand is so sore, hurts to hold a cup! So predominantly right handed even holding a cup in the left hand is weird and awkward! Just seem to be having an *all over* flare up, the weather? The bp meds? Who knows... who cares!?!

And back to books[!] Any of you know the bazaar type shop when you have come down from Mijas pueblo, gone over the Malaga/Algeciras toll road... On the left is a big big store full of things! Furniture, English soups and drinks, bric-a-brac, you know the one? Well they have some English books now, all up to date, brand spanking new! And only 2.50€, fantastic! Who knows how long they will be there, so get'em....

Walked Pip this morning, clear sky, all the stars out on show, but by 9:30am, pouring down with rain! It stopped and I went down into town an hour later, met up with a friend and we had coffee outside Bar Rosa, the toldo there is bigger than Bar Cruz... *sorry*! I think people thought we were mad, but it was dry, and warm enough to do so! So!

Afterwards, and up until half hour ago, blue sky and sun shine, then the heavens opened and down came the rain, straight down, no holding back! Its letting up a bit now, which is good, I missed most of Come dine with me! LOL

Ah, Friday, I was trying to get over Thursdays trip to coast, I could hardly move my neck! Saturday it rained some... friends coming out in the evening and its raining! Typical!

Then Sunday we went down to Maria's, had a chat and drove into Fuengirola with them for some lunch, somewhere we hadn't eaten before, and had ménu del día, at 7.99€, I think that was it, not bad for three courses, bread and coffee! We got home about 6:30!

So yesterday I didn't feel great and we were off early to Ikea, Franco had to get a few things for a mate, and then into Fuengirola for a coffee, or tea for me! Some guy was begging, well one of the dozens that do down there, he had a piece of cardboard round his neck held by string... It read money for food please, and he said as much as he walked around by the tables in Las Rampas, only the ironic thing was, this man who said he needed food, was massive, his stomach prevented the card board from sitting flat on his body, he was incredible well fed! From face to feet!

I got the bus home, bit of a wait sat on a wall in full sun! But it came on time, a young couple got on on the Mijas road, they had a pushchair with tiny baby, she, the Mom sat next to me as I was right by the big space from prams etc, once the bus was off she picked up the baby, wrapped her up and held her tight, and he, the Dad, sat on the other side of the aisle, he had his MP3 player blasting... I asked how old the baby was, she was just 2 months and a real doll, perfect... Anyway, we were along above Mijas pueblo and I could the girl next to me, something had changed about how she was sitting... I turned to look at her and she had fallen asleep! Her the Mom I mean! The tiny baby was already fallen down to her lap and held now, very loosley! So I gently woke her up! I didn't want to make her jump and drop the baby! She thanked me and lifted the baby back up again!! When I got up and off in Alhaurin she thanked me again! The man? Still playing his MP3 player... loudly! Its not that I didn't like the music by the way, or anything to do with not being their age any more, I can hear my sons now.... But it really was as loud as you might play music in your car, but we were on a public bus! That's my reasoning and I am sticking with it! Ok? Ok...

Oh and I had a headache! Nearly forgot that! And when I got home I had to go to bed for about 3 hours or more, I think this is what I did Friday and Saturday too, too many head aches.... Its just my neck, and I am still grinding my teeth! Day and night!

I made another cake today, got to stop this, as only I eat them! At least it was just as is, no added anything, and I think a slice with some custard is what I shall be having shortly!

Did I mention they are starting work on the Mijas road? So from the BP garage/Moreno restaurant, they will be resurfacing it! Down to... I don't know, the Toll road!?! Will we be able to use the as yet unfinished Fuengirola road? No, fines for doing so in progress! Anyother route to use? NO!! Organisation skills in road planning department Nill! Disruption to Alhurínos total!

The longest ever seen shoe horn Franco bought me to help me get into my trainers first thing in the morning works great, I just need a contraption to hold my jeans open and pull 'em up for me!
Someone suggested the one they use on Wallace and Gromit, have included a link for those not familiar with this cute and very well loved pair, but to the person who suggested they're use of electronic clothes dresser thingy... Its not real! But thanks anyway amigo!

Tomorrow I am hoping for a no rain day, I have a list as long as my arm, which includes, the bank.. the medical centre and the farmacia for the start of my 7 days of readings to take to the doctor next week! I think the bp reading should be the first thing I do, what do you think!!!

Ok, I think that's it for now... my mind is wandering to thoughts of calling my Mom's phone number again, so much to tell her, so many silly things I used to tell her now just get lost into the air and left unsaid...

TTFN
Marian

La vie en rose - Louis Armstrong

Good day to be in Fuengirola...

Feria in town! I felt decidedly under dressed! Some beautiful flamenco dresses, and the guys on horse back looked amazing... Ok even the horses were dressed up too! There was lots less traffic, and roads closed all over the place so crossing the street no problem at all! Beautiful day... hot in sun, warm in the shade... tourists in shorts and t-shirts, or no shirts! Pleeeze.. think about it eh???? Oh not you! The tourists! Oh and the bus arrived early, and left early!

Bad day to be in Fuengirola...

Feria in town! I felt decidedly under dressed! Franco and I had a coffee and then I was getting the bus home... alone ;-( All the shops were shut that were any good to look in, the bazaars were open and the 1€ type places... So I bought [for a fortune] an English magazine, and popped round to Luiz's bar and had a coffee! I was boiling in my jeans! Should have had my shorts on! Luckily I was ready to catch the early bus, which had to change its route because the street was closed to traffic!

Got off the bus with a head ache, not sure where *it* got on, maybe around Mijas pueblo! But its still here, and sort of worse, not so much a head ache, as a pain in my head... Had been toying with the idea of going to Gib on Tuesday with a group, but, no way Jose! [sorry Jose!], am hobbling about like a.... a thing that hobbles! Joint pain seems worse, could be the meds I am on, will ask Doctor when I go back...

Had my dinner already, chilli con carne! And starting to feel a bit better with the head pain, had a big drink of water too, maybe a bit dehydrated and in need of food, or sugar in food, natural sugar that is... Or could the pain killer I took over an hour ago... Oh I dont know, if I did I wouldn't be still having head aches after 30 years would I! Seriously!


Feel sure I have a 100 other things to tell you today, but cant get my mind straight so, will just leave you with an interesting date for this coming Sunday! Beginning with the time of course!

10:10;10 10/10/2010... What's that *2* doing in there!

TTFN
Marian

photos... from Paris... Mom and I....

Was it really Monday when I last posted a Blog? Seems like Monday was months ago, already!

Tuesday was a long day for me, not being used to nearly four hours on my feet... and back to Cudeca the cancer hospice shop in town, that's what it was...

Was a good day though, great to be back, whole different bunch of girls in there, who I now know, although their names, maybe not, good thing we have badges with them on!

Some of the customers, who I have always seen about town, seemed pleased to see me back in the fold!

I went home afterwards and collapsed! Well sort of, Mercadona man arrived about 3:30pm, and there was still the usual housey stuff to do, but was so tired and heavy....

... So getting up at 6:30am and off out early with Pip was awful, but I had the doctors at 8am, so had to be done, there were a few people already there when we arrived, and quite a crowd by the time the doors opened, a friend had told me were to go, so Franco and I raced up the stairs to the waiting area outside the door I wanted, I didn't get to wait at all just went straight in which was good.

I told the doctor why I way there, giving her the farmacia results from a week of bp readings, and the note from the emergency from a week ago. She took my bp and said she was giving me meds, I was to come back after 20 days, and the last 7 of which I was to have the daily readings of my bp done again in the farmacia....

No questions, again, that was it, so I don't know what to expect from these meds, I wanted to find out about any thing I could expect, but didn't want to read any bad stuff... catch 22, for instance I have woken up in the early morning with a very bad headache, yesterday I took an Imigran, thinking I was going to have a migraine, stayed in bed an extra couple of hours and got up... I didn't go, or do anything, was absolutely exhausted, but probably due to where Franco and I went after the doctors, [later]. But this morning exactly the same, sever head ache, got up as normal though and walked Pippa, went to town, the head ache coming and going... gone at the moment!

And last night I woke up after only a couple of hours in bed, so a couple of hours after taking the meds, to find my right leg completely dead!!! I know this happens when you wake with an arm up over your head and you have bring it back to life so to speak... but believe you me, my leg was in no way up above my head!!!! May be more of these would be ok here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It took quarter of an hour to bring my leg back to normal, totally cold and no feeling, then with lots of rubbing I got the pins and needles then feeling started to come back! I suppose if this happens again, I will definitely go back to the farmacia and check with them about it...

Then this morning as the alarm was going off I had another horrible thing that's happened so many times now I cant count it, its not unusual, its when the mind wakes up a few, if that, seconds before the body, and you lay there panicking and trying to move or make a noise, then bam your all awake with you heart pounding and feeling scared...

Reading my families fb news from time to time, I think we all suffer from nightmares! It must be a Bonelli thing! Barry has an enormous amount of them, the other night I was dreaming something, and it was a *thing* trying to kill me, I could feel its pressure on my chest and I managed to wake up before it got me! My heart was banging, and I was just terrified! Took ages to calm back down again...

After the doctors on Wednesday Franco and I went down to Fuengirola, we parked, and ended up walking all the way to El Corté Ingles department store! We stopped for coffee, well té for me, on the way, we think he had just cleaned the machine and left forgotten to clean out the cleaner... most repulsive drink I have ever had in my life! Needless to say we left both drinks, on another day I would have gone in and complained, but was too tired...

We had a couple of drinks in the store, spending hours there, it felt, before walking all the way back to the car... I was very stupid doing all that, I knew at the time, kept saying it was too much, but we had got there, so had to get back... This is why I thought the headache yesterday morning could have been down to two days of being on my feet!

Before I go I must say some very sad news... Some people I know here in town, the wife had been ill in hospital since June, the husband, visiting every single day and worrying about her terribly, of course. The last few times we had stopped in town to talk he had broken down, the poor man. At the weekend he died from a severe heart attack, and his wife, she has also died since, a couple of days later.

Don't count the years, count the memories...

TTFN
Maria

Above, Mom and I outside the Louvre...


I wish I had written this earlier... because I have heard how much death duties I have to pay, and so am having a bit of a panic! Its not as much as I thought it would be, but its more than we have... put it that way, so not a happy girl, well panicking I think is what its called!

So I am going to continue as if nothing has happened! Luckily I had written notes this morning, so I will just go through them as if I am all A-OK! Which will be harder than I think...

ok... Stars! This morning when Pippa and I came out, the moon was bright, and there were hundreds of stars on the car park! It was like they had fallen to earth in the night! Over the weekend there was a wedding, and some hundreds of silver hearts and been blown from rockets and lay upon the ground! And this morning were glowing from the reflection of the bright moon.... Was beautiful....

Also, this time of the year the crickets are so noisy at night! And first thing in the morning, I am not sure what time is *first thing in the morning* for them! They are burning the candle at both ends big time right now! And so many different individual noises they make too! Different voices, of course! When you walk up and past where one is chirping away, it stops, then starts again after you have passed it by!

It was a right cacophony of noises this morning, some dogs in the campo had begun early, so there was them, the crickets, the roosters, a donkey or two giving his comment! And all this in the pitch dark of our early morning walk! With just the moon for company... oh and the other nocturnal creatures....! Turning up our street I had a shadow, then jumped as another joined it, mine also, from another street lamp... So, scared by my own shadow! There you have it!

Why did I write down El Dorado? Someone on FB was talking about where he is working and it looks like El Dorado, [the English TV series], and I wrote that its near here, the original one...

I suppose some people spend all they're lives looking for the real El Dorado dont they? The legendary Lost City of Gold....We can see it from the terrace!!!! And there's no gold there, but they're giving it a bit of a re-paint and making it look its formal glory!!!

Well that's my notes! This morning I went for my normal walk into town, had my BP done down at the farmacia, and then to Bar Cruz for té with friends, also I wanted to pay a bill, but was too soon, the machine, it said no! Paid our car insurance too, that came around quickly...

Saturday I was down town, too early for the farmacia, it opens an hour later on a Saturday, I didn't know, so wandered about, had a té and was still too early! I chatted and walked with a friend for a ways, she and her husband are moving back to England next month... Another, feels like so many are leaving, but then, people are buying their places, I guess its just an *all change*!!!

Feel silly having my BP done every day in the same place! But I have told them why, so there I am! And its only for a week, and I really should have done this six months ago, still better than than never! I am looking forward to getting in to see the doctor on Wednesday, sort of, I still need to write everything down in Spanish so I can tell him, and be understood, although I probably wont have any idea what he says to me! But tomorrow, its back to Cudeca and hopefully lots of local people in so I can practice mi español... trouble is, when I cant think clearly, as in panic, or its hugely necessary to do so... I have enough trouble speaking English, never mind Spanish!



Ok I am having trouble keeping thoughts of the tax and how to pay, out of my mind, not being helped by, also, today, a year ago, Mom and I were on our way to Paris... on the Eurostar... I am already finding it hard to cope, I am off now... I may be back!

TTFN
Marian

A few shots today of the trip to Bobastro Franco Pippa and I made a couple of years ago...

This place is soooo spooky! And now you have to go with a guide, first the place was impossible to find and now guided tours for the many!!

This place is very very old ...

And to quote Andalucia Travel Guide....

Bobastro was a Moorish city built in the late 9th and early 10th century by a Christian convert named Umar-bin-Hafsun who left his rather splendid home in Mijas to lead a revolt against the caliphal government of Córdoba. After his conversion from Islam to Christianity in AD 899 he built a church at Bobastro, the ruins of which can still be seen. For almost forty years (AD 879-AD 918) he ruled a rebel kingdom of some 8000 people from in his city on Las Mesas de Villaverde among the Tintilla, Castillón and Encantada hills. The views are stunning; the position inviolable.

After Umar-bin-Hafsun died his sons continued to rule for another ten years until they were, finally, defeated and captured by the Moorish leader, Abd-er-Rahman III. Rahman was neither magnanimous nor merciful in his victory and had the mouldering corpse of Ibn-bin-Hafsun exhumed and crucified alongside his sons in front of the mosque in Córdoba. Today no one lives in the remote and desolate ruins of Bobastro and there is little left, except an impressive Moorish arch and a few stones, of the once teeming city.

End quote....

Pip above looking for Franco who gone into the bar for coffees... anyone would think she would never see him again by the look of worry on her face.... bless her, my baby!

In back ground, if I remember correctly I may have mentioned this before, but look, there is the BBQ, and to the left the chicken coup! Only a short hop from home to hob!!!

This morning I checked my BP, a bit too high, 146/96, remembering, [well how could I forget], the nurse last week at my well women check said, if the lower figure goes over 90 you must go to the medical centre!

So down town I went to the farmacia to get them to check it too, well my reading could be wrong, but theirs was even higher, /99, so after a té and to and fro'ing, I forced myself to go to the clinic, I walked into the emergency bit, it was packed... and I just didn't know what to do, so left!

I popped into the Cudeca store and asked them, what to do? How do I sign in to the emergency room? I know this is silly, but, well there you have it!

So, after some information, I went back and lined up, and she entered my information and told me to take a seat, the same people were still in there, so I hadn't actually lost any time by leaving... The doctor called my name, well I say Doctor, I think she may have been a medic, rather than doctor. I have to go to the farmacia every day, and get the reading written down on the same card as today, and after I left her, I joined the line up [again], and made an appointment for a week today to see a doctor at the medical centre.... How we will talk to each other is any bodys guess, I must write things down, in both languages, take a dictionary with me, and cross my fingers... Or who knows what I shall come out with! Still I bit the bullet and did it! The medic was a bit cross I had known I had high BP since November last year.... ;-(

When I went back to book una cíta, a lady I know was in the line, so we chatted about the queing system there... or lack of it, what you do is, go and chat to someone in the line, then just stay there, it gets you in well up front of everyone else, or, you can just walk in and say that's where you would have been had to popped in earlier! Well that's what appeared to happen while we were there... It was like, only two people in front, but suddenly 5! And we were laughing at ourselves, I mean, honestly, what were either of us in such a hurry for anyway? Where did we have to go!

I returned to Cudeca to let them know how I got on, as they wanted me to... I start back there next Tuesday! Still have my sexy [not] tabbard, will be good to go back actually, good to have something to do and people to meet and talk to, and doing good for others of course! maybe I should have written that primarily!

I have missed so many peoples birthdays this year... As I speak I am remembering I have another coming up soon! I used to have them written up somewhere I can see them, but I moved it, planning to write everything somewhere else, and haven't yet!

Heck an 84 yr old Val Doonican on tv! Amazing! And even more amazing, sorry Val, but Avon just called she is bringing my order to me tomorrow at 5pm!

Hasta pronto amigos... Trying to learn a bit more Spanish too, Barry sent me a link to livemocha.com A language learning course, some of which is free, and very good! I better get practising, every day before the doctors, although once there I am sure everything will go out of my head as usual!

I helped a neighbour home with her shopping today, we had a conversation of sorts, but even the way she said house [casa] was different from the way I was taught it, she said it very heavily accented on the *s*, so heavy it sounded like caza! And just now when I translated it on the site I always use *caza* translates as *it hunts* !!!

What hope eh, what hope...

oh I said goodbye already!

TTFN
Marian

Couple of photos I took half hour ago, about 4pm, from our terrace... Its still hot here, low 30's, we were sat outside Bar Cruz this morning, *Networking*, and the sun came round onto us... phew, we upped and moved, to the confusion of the waitress, to a table in the shade, I should add!


Here is Pippa, as soon as we got up stairs she lay down to catch some sun! I bought some bubble stuff and have been blowing bubbles for her to chase which she loves, but worked out today, I can't take photos and blow the bubbles at the same time! So will get Franco to help with that one!

Yesterday I emailed Mercadona, gave up trying to get they're site to work and let me order... I just couldn't believe it, an hour later, head office on the phone, woman speaking English, I had emailed in English, they're site is in lots of different languages...

She asked how she could help! And she did! And I put in my order... And its been delivered this afternoon! Right on time... gracias Mercadona.... muy bien!

I ordered a whole bunch of vegetables, and have diced and bagged and put in the freezer, well I thought it was a good idea for Mom, so why not for us too!

Don't I wish the man at the bank was so polite and wonderful and courteous! As you can guess I had no option yesterday but to be served by him... Now serve gives the impression of helping? I was... oh this is going to be hard... He punched numbers on the keyboard, he huffed and puffed, he passed something to me... end of!

It rained in the night, lots by the sound of it, mostly dried up by the time Pip and I went out into the [what seems like] night early this morning, and strange sky it was too, although its been totally dark for the last week or so, this morning the sky had an orange/red spooky glow about it, I at first thought the Sierra was on fire again, but I think it was a reflection of the sun, still out of sight, but catching the low cloud cover and making this eerie glow about the streets...

Shoe shop in town, changing subject suddenly, selling last of sales shoes at 1€... I bet if I go back in tomorrow I will find the last day, was today!

I had been home an hour, and the mail man came past, alerted as always by the Pipster! So I collected the mail from our mail box, brought it in, finding that out of the 5 or 6 only one was for us, so I took the post to the house which used to have our number... and then to the house, which now has our old number... [still with me?] and collected 5 items of ours!!! The mail man came back past, and I told him what I was doing and why, hoping he could work out that if he puts mail into a house with *this* number on, and our name, then maybe he would wonder why he had put mail with the same name into a house with a different number! And I showed him our old number, which is on the mail box where he puts the mail!

His reply? He shrugged... I had spoken in Spanish by the way, he knew what I was on about...

Hey ho!

Love is a fruit in season at all times,
and within reach of every hand.
Mother Teresa

TTFN
Marian

I am sorry I am repeating a photo from last year.... As I have been looking back to this time last year, with our [Mom] trips to London and Paris.... because the quote at the bottom of the photo is so meaningful...

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

Very prophetic....

But to now, to the present eh, I'v booked my flight back to England for just before Christmas for a couple of weeks, hope I can hold out for that long, still two more whole months till then, and my need to see family and friends there, and to go to all the places we [Mom] used to go, my memory is getting so bad I think I have said about that already, recently, before!

Now what have I done since, when? oh yes Thursday's power cuts! I have got the battery charger out of the cave and its on charge! I thought it had its own plug socket, but no, only a light, but that's good enough for next time we're out of electric!

Friday and Saturday, nothing much, a trip down town, networking with friends, the gas man came late, which meant I was here and able to buy a can!

The weather yesterday was wonderful, a little cooler, high 20's, I have had to wear a regular t-shirt to walk Pip bright and early now, well maybe not so bright, the stars are still out now!

An article recently showed prices may be down 1% here in Andalucia, but sales are up 15%, especially of older property, well you cant get much older than ours eh! So... Let the word be out, once the death duties is paid.... A new journey awaits....

During a particularly bad evening, last night, I checked the answer phone messages, again, just to make sure we don't have an old message from Mom still there... Well you never know, wish I hadn't just deleted them without a second thought... So I listened to my brothers message from Christmas 2008, where he said he knew we were away, was it cave diving? So that made me laugh, I can just see Franco and I cave diving!!! Bless him!

This morning we went down to see a friend who is over here at the moment, there had been a leak from their neighbours house into theirs, so some paint work needed to be done... Whilst waiting, suddenly two gypsies were walking into her living room! They had quietly opened her [rejas] gate, left unlocked for the painters, normally locked, then just walked in through the front door! Our friend jumped up and got them out of the house quickly! This is nothing unusual, just the daily norm down there... sad but very true...

Then the poor woman was driving back from Fuengirola and their car broke down! The clutch went! Actually on the main carraterra! The worse possible place, traffic moving at 100k, that gives no grace to anyone on it!

Then we hear that her husband back in England who has been suffering since an op a while back, was left with two clips in side of him! Hey doctors, count as they go in, and count them when they come back out!!!

The road works are, well they are there on the road down to Fuengirola from Mijas pueblo, opening up the road as far as Lidl, the road is still open, at the moment which is a bonus! But with the other road that comes down to the coast from just above Mijas pueblo still closed for improvements there is no choice now, apparently they want people to use the upper road if coming from *our* direction and heading into the village, rather than coming all the way around it to enter!

I have another friend moving back to the UK, next month, I haven't got to see her much, she lives down in Calahonda now, since moving down there a few years back now, we met up a couple of times when we were staying down there this year. They were only renting, so they can just pick up and move out... work permitting...

Ok, seem to be rambling as usual and not about much of anything, so time to go amigos!

TTFN
Marian

The YouTube video below is wonderful, I am glad I came across it, enjoy amigos...

TTFN
Marian

Poetry Everywhere: "The Lanyard" by Billy Collins

Arh... Candle light, how very romantic! Sat here alone, first the rain started, I said quickly on FB, the tv signal will go next, then the electric, I got it wrong, they both went at the same time! Lots of rain, although its let up a little now, there are people running about in the street, its hot and humid now! I got the candles lit quickly, although Pippa didn't ask what was wrong[!], she must just have thought I turned off the tv and lights???? Dogs eh! So clever!!!

So here I sit, luckily there is plenty of time left of battery power [checks] over 2 hours, I had it plugged in at the time having forgotten to unplug when it was full!

I'm sure when the electric goes off we are the only people who light candles... oh windows open up stairs... and we're back with electric!

But no tv, so... No No tha's back now too, bring it on!

Well will carry on for a bit now, I had to sort something out on line with the Spanish bank, I think the lady in there on Monday had been trying to tell me something to that effect, I couldn't believe it when it worked the first time, that's never happened before!! Also had an email from the local Avon rep!

We had had a few spits and spots of rain today, was before I went out and still at hot, and no change of clothes yet... when I went out I took my brolly but no need, so I thought that had been it for the day!

I had an email today from a mate back in England, about the effects of Aspartame Its something in sweeteners, sugar free drinks etc, aparently it can cause aches and pains, make FM, ME and MS worse... I put it on the forum I use for FM, but had mixed replies, a few people had seen this before, some said they would try to leave the product out of their diet, some said it was rubbish... So I replied if it even helps one person a little that would be better than nothing, wouldn't it?

Ok amigos, back to tv now... the square eyes that I am!

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.
François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

TTFN
Marian

Couple of old photos from a trip back in 2007 when Tony and I went to Olvera, above, and Teba below with Franco also....

I remember getting up onto the top of this castle and finding there was no edge to it... just the big drop down on all sides!

Today I had a Well Woman check, the two girls who are doing a charity trip to Timbuktu on quad bikes organised it, the nurse did the day for free and a donation of 10€ went to the charity...

I got a taxi there, couldn't believe the price 12€ for a five minutes drive, would rather have given that to the charity, but never mind, got there in good time, things were running behind for one reason or another, but didn't matter, had good chat and laugh with all the women waiting... First there was a weigh in on some special scales that gave a reading apart from weight, body fat, body water, muscle mass etc etc, felt like a slimming group with the scales in the middle of the room and everyone taking an interest... more so because it also gave a metabolic age... I was rather impressed by mine! Its actually the age I always say I feel inside, and now its been confirmed, I am younger than my boys now! My metabolic age read... 27 years! muy bien!

The cholesterol test I had done locally of 181 is actually very good, no diabetes. We talked about my high BP and the nurse said if the lower number goes above 90 at any time again, to seek medical help, so I guess I better had... next time....

Talked about a few others things, but put it this way, looks like I will last the week out!!!!

One of the organisers said she would give me a lift back to Alhaurín if no one else was going that way, so I waited till everyone had gone and did get a lift with her...

... it was great! My ride home was behind her on her quad bike! I'd never been on one before, the bike was huge, with a rear carrier trunk, and two extra cases on each side! I felt very safe, the worse bit was a big bump over the drain at the bottom of a road and my sun glasses hit the back of her helmet! My helmet? er no... didn't have one... What a crazy mad girl I am.. devil may care attitude... lol!

Was great!

Been watching a series called "Great TV Mistakes", trouble is afterwards I am looking out for reflections in cars and windows of tv film crew, and the so many other reasons all these clips end up on programs like this!

The new breakfast show on ITV have a bad problem with reflections, in the window behind the couple sitting on the edge of the so uncomfortable [looking] sofa, and the newscaster you can see the cameras, people coming and going, didn't have that before folks! And why do the couple look so tense? They are leaning so far forward they look like they're about to slip right off the sofa and of the program!

ummmm anyway! Just had a call to promote a spanish tv system, after I answered in English, he spoke to me, only in English! For me to tell him we have English TV, lo siento...

I just brought the washing in too, well an hour ago maybe, but was still 32 degrees in the shade on the terrace... nights are much better now, at last, and it says rain is forecast Thursday and Friday?

TTFN
Marian

Yesterday morning when Franco and I went to the car there was a horse in one of the spaces, see above and below!

There he stood, he came towards us as we came towards him! And on the other side of the car was another horse with a man, and some small boys were checking the horse out....

I was the local horse festival here this weekend past, on the new road out of town, new as in recently done up I mean, there was plenty of evidence of horses!

We didn't go far, just check on a friends house, then to a Brit shop in Coín, we had a couple of things we wanted from there, and had a drink before returning home... That was that really, Franco was tired from a six day week of early starts and late finishes... and I? Was just tired!

The Avon lady called to say she would be coming to the house Saturday morning, although after these months of waiting I have ordered something from a book a friend has, but no matter, I thought well I can order something else, and would be good practice, Español! So, although I didn't expect her to be on time, I wasn't even that surprised when she phoned to say her car had broken down! Yeah right!!!

Oh I had more fun at the bank on Friday.... I wanted to withdraw some money from my English bank account, card, ATM, push buttons.... "for me.... NO!", tried again, the same, I then thought well nothing to lose, [except the card], I will have to try another pin number, because the option to take the card out without doing so, was not there!

So you can guess, it didn't work, and the card was swallowed up!

I went into the bank [not sure what I can write here, as on public viewing, but maybe you can guess my thoughts at this point in time!], I forgot all or any Spanish, and said the machine had taken my card, he laughed almost, "no Spanish now!!!!" haha!!! Well no, I am sorry, no Spanish now, card gone, me mad! He left the counter, went to the ATM, and took out the card, he showed it to me, said I must have used the wrong pin too many times, and I could not have the card back, I must phone the bank whose card it was, I said, what then though? He shrugged his shoulders.... Ok I am not sure exactly in the UK, but I think they would have given me the card the following day, on opening the ATM, these people know me, I have account at their bank?

So I told him to cut up the card, he seemed surprised, but he wasn't going to be able to do anything else with it, send it back to England? Who would send it back to me?? He wouldn't be speaking to anyone, he said he doesn't speak English so wouldn't be talking on the phone to anyone...

Once home, I phoned the English bank, he said the cashier should never have even opened the ATM to have access to my card, and he would put a stop on it immediately, and send another...

heck! nightmare!

I went into town this morning and should have met up with friend at the bottom of her street, I had come out of the bank with something else on my mind, looked up towards her place... and carried on to Bar Cruz! Had a té, wondering where she was, paid, and on walking back towards her place I tried her phone, no answer, she was walking down towards me! Oh dear... I owe her big time, poor girl had waited for nearly half hour... she was worried about me, me about her, I had only spoken with her half hour before I left the house, that blooming bank! That or my mind is going.....going... gone!

I know its the 13th today, but its not Tuesday, the bad luck day here for a 13th, but today evening was out of kilter... few other things before I even walked into Mercadona, so list in hand I expected the worst...

I did what I needed to do, up to the till, unloaded my stuff, told him what I wanted to do, he took my details, he put everything back in the cart, told me to pay on delivery and I left, well friend was just about to get to the till, so lined up with her and her 3 items, and left the store! We had gone in together! So that was quick? And I came home, and now awaiting the delivery, or will be in an hour... then I can have some milk in my coffee or tea! Completely forgot I had none at all when I left this morning... But then its always weird going shopping and not bringing it home with you!

Tired now, so going to have a rest from this....

TTFN
Marian