Hóla amigos,

Probably shouldn't be Blogging right now, just been reading my Blog from 2 years ago this month, and December and was just getting into January when I realised this self infliction of pain is, probably stupid? Reading about those last months of my Mom's life, are seriously not the life and times my Mom would want me to remember!  But I cannot keep away, I had even checked out her place on google maps again, did it the other week, what's the matter with me??

All the change that's going on now for me I guess, the move, different direction on the path of my life.  These boxes!  Will be glad in a way when they're gone, the house will be empty I know, and we will be left with the bare minimum, in fact just the way the first few months were, a couple of sets of cutlery, few kitchen cookware bits, few clothes... Ending here how it began, and at Christmas too, no tree, no decs, this time no Mom.

No cards for anyone this year either I am sorry to say... Next year yes! So bare with us on the card front!

Reading your comments too from two years ago, once more, I have to say, thank you, thank you, those words helped me so much, and my Mom, when she would ask if there were any messages on my Blog or Twitter!!!

Think I really should close this now, give my self a shake down, and get a cup of tea, sorry for being so melancholy....

We learn simply by the exposure of living. Much that passes for education is not education at all but ritual. The fact is that we are being educated when we know it least.

DAVID P. GARDNER 

TTFN
Marian


Keep forgetting must link to our house! SELL SELL SELL Property Search Spain

Well organised the removal of our Welsh Dresser, phoned to let her know and oh surprise surprise, she had changed her mind, worried it would be difficult to paint behind????  Well I guess that can be said for all furniture, period!

So I was a happy bunny, had to call the guys back to cancel the removal I had just booked with them!  He suggested I try a fb flog it site, so I went straight on it, posted a photo, and it looks like its sold, again, its for Thursday, so lets all keep our fingers crossed please!

Because the boxes came on Wednesday and today I started packing, they are taking everything away in two weeks, and I can't just sit here looking at them, so today, had a nice morning around town, wandered into lots of the shops, beautiful day, warm in the sun, a pleasure to be alive!  Then I came home and began the beguine....Mmmmm just googled exactly what 'beguine' means and it means white lady in Creole language! So no I just started packing actually!

And I stopped for a bit of lunch, started again, kept telling myself to stop, relax, leave it!! And I did, eventually, 18 boxes are standing here, so the living room looks like a warehouse now!

I have numbered the boxes and written what's in them on in notebook!

I now have two kindle books pending to publish, have to edit and type out the first, the second, another cartoon book, I have scanned but need to change in order to be able to publish it...

Hate sitting in this disarray, its like having an untidy desk at work, too much mess, makes my head messy inside!  I may go to the market in the morning, either that or I will start work on the rest of the packing and be shattered by midday.... and ill all week!

So adieu my friends for now...

TTFN
Marian

The Sneezing Whale

Another book to do now, about a Teddy Bear that tells the time.... Will be typing it out over the next few days, and hopefully latest mid week it will be 'live' on Kindle!  Going great guns now, kindletastic!

Been a frustrating week thus far, the boxes for boxing up the house, [as if it were that easy!], that should have come last Wednesday will be here tomorrow now, I do know its early, but its not going to be easy to do it all in only two weeks!  Worse as I have been known to pack everything up at least a good month in advance!!  And when it arrives, its all unpacked in a matter of a couple of days likewise!

Anyway.... Also been trying to move on the Welsh Dresser, a neighbour is having it from us, but has it been easy to get it gone? Nope!  Trying to find a man with a van, who actually answers the phone, calls back or can do it immediately there is not!

Thankfully we have found someone now, probably should have called him first, but wasn't up to me... so I did take over today and its sorted, for Friday!  So we shall have 50 or more boxes and the Welsh Dresser to fight with in the living room!!! Mmmmmm!!!

I did something so funny, but not really!!  I was filling out an on line application for a job website, I had to put in an open letter.... well! Whata mistake'a to make'a!!!

I wrote the letter, sent the letter, received a copy in my in box and woah! OMG.... I didn't write Dear Sir....

I had written Dear Sire !!!!  Well as a facebook friend said, if I am applying to Kings of old for a job as a servant, all well and good, but in the 21st century?? oh dear what a typo to make to a job firm!!

Oh well, they will either see the funny side or think I am especially subservient!!!! Not!

Rains looks imminent again,  hope it stays off long enough for me to get everything out of the cave, another reason I really wanted the boxes now, so everything I have doesn't get ruined by water!!  Once I have the cave empty is can rain all it wants.... well maybe not eh!

Ah ha.... got the name of the Artist went to the other week in Marbella... Its Don Clarke!

Polar Bear Tales










Its getting cold at night, thank fully I have a lovely warm duvet, and my hot water bottle,  microwaveable! Whatever next!! and waking up with it stone cold next to me isn't very nice, like a cold dead fish!!!

And on that note!
TTFN
Marian





 

Time is going so quickly, on my Blog that is!  Apologies to all!  Cannot believe its Saturday, a week and a half since my last blog...

I have been busy, honestly!!  Got another book uploaded on Amazon.co.uk, another childrens book called Polar Bear Tales...

Kindletastic I say! and yes, it probably is just me who says this!!

Really really proud of this, the sixth book already, and have another one out in the next week, maybe, talked over the ideas, and given orders to the author, I am the editor in charge now, although not giving any money upfront, which is how I believe Publishers normally do it!!  Checked the reports and the six books are selling well on the Kindle, fantastic.

I have taken my editing steps a little further now too, doing some editing on Wikipedia!!!  Was a bit nervous going in with this its all the http format, but all working out well so far...

The weather has been quite good for the time of the year, a little rain, well heavy when it rains, but little of it I mean!  The house is dry and so is the cave... which is great as its being used as storage at the moment, the boxes are due in the next coming days and the Welsh Dresser on its way out.... shame, I love this piece of furniture, but I didn't bring it out with me, so that's life! Things change...

Anyway, when the dresser is moved I can bring everything in from the cave and put into proper boxes, and then in a few weeks everything will be taken out and away....

Went to the Kasser Rassu in Marbella the other week, did I mention that, I don't think I did because I can't remember linking to the Artist... whose name has completely gone from my memory, or the memory of my computer!!! Ooops!  Well if it comes back to me I'll let you know, either his name or my memory!

Was a friend birthday the other day, from the Boardroom, so took a cake in, and lovely it was too, maybe some would say 9am was a little early to be eating a trifle sponge cheese cake... but, no, it was fantastic!

Had a headache for past few days, and now at the weekend, when I have a medication withdrawal headache, its not getting any better!  And Pippa is staring at me, she wants her dinner!

So adios amigos...
TTFN
Marian
ps photo is up at the lakes from earlier this year...

Beginning with an awful scare I had during the night! I hadn't been asleep long when I sensed something  which woke me up, thought someone was standing in the doorway and screamed out "what do you want??" silly really! I mean had it been a 'somebody' not sure the reply would have been good!  Pippa in her bed, wasn't bothered by my shouting or thought indeed that there was even anything to be shouting at in the middle of the night!!!!

Anyway, I gave myself a scare which was bad enough, couldn't get heart rate back to normal, my normal that is, opened the persiana a bit to allow some light in.... still no good, so went and got some warm milk, switched the tv on for a while while I drank said milk, and tried again, this time I went to sleep....

This happens a lot to me, I don't know what actually wakes me up, but often I think I see something, just black bits on my eyeball, I don't know, usually looks like a person, or huge spiders coming towards me, and I'm not afraid of spiders but when they seem to cover the ceiling even I scream!!!

This morning after coffee at the Boardroom I got the bus down to Fuengirola, I sat on the side to give me the best 'buena visa' of the coast on the way down, and back for that matter.

Its very strange, I almost feel like I am now thinking everytime I see stuff its one less time I will see it whilst living here... like counting down.  I still haven't walked up to the tiny chapel that overlooks Mijas pueblo!  Twenty years of looking up at it, and never made the climb, I will have to persuade Son who is coming over for Christmas to take the walk with me!  He doesn't read this, so will be none the wiser as to my evil plan!!!

The bar I always have coffee in was closed, probably just for this month, like so many after the long summer months, have known Luiz for about 15 years... So I sat at a restaurant in Las Rampas which is opposite the doors Mom and I used every day to enter our apartment, which is by the gates of the car park we first parked after we landed at Malaga airport, with only a case each and no bed for the night! Until we saw Snr. Lorenzo, which, while I was thinking this, came out of his office to go get his coffee!  His hair is almost white, and much less than there was nearly 10 years ago!!!  But his business is still there, which is good, and cannot be said of many of the other shops and restaurants that were here back then, all changed, or just closed in some cases!

It felt strange, and I felt like a stranger...

I sat for a while in the sun by the church in the middle of town, where all the wonderful Christmas lights and decorations will be soon, some are already up over the streets, I remembered sitting there with Mom and taking a photo of the church, a woman came up and started screaming at me that I had taken her photo!!! I hadn't, of course, "why would I" I said.... she went crazy! I know now of course, her religion may have meant that taking a photo is like taking your soul....

I should have got off the bus here at the top of town, but for some reason stayed aboard, and had trouble making it home up hill all the way... I had felt that I should stretch my legs after sitting on the bus for over an hour, the trip back home was a nightmare, there is a detour of a local urbanization on the edge of Fuengirola, its sort of like going through Hollywood Hills, without the million dollar houses to look at, i.e. you go really slow, stop outside every single property... and there is nothing to see!!!  The journey down to the coast, takes you almost all the way, then does a turn around at the roundabout and back up to the A7, its like a trick, nearly there folks, oh no we're not, we're heading back up again!!!  The street maybe opened before I go, but I won't be holding my breath.... and now at last they are putting a round about at the T junction where you come off the N340 from Miramar direction, and you come up to the Mijas - Fuengirola road, its been hell trying to turn left, even going right, going around the roundabout and back up to Mijas pueblo is better than just sitting at that intersection forever...

And something else, at last, after all this time [or has it been longer than I know?]  I called up and cancelled my Vodafone contract yesterday, the number I had before when I cancelled Franco's is now a no go... So I popped into Vodafone yesterday, waited about 10 minutes for the lady who was being served, to be served!  Asked for the number and came home to phone it! 22189 Fantastic!  You follow instructions, press 3 for English, and 1 if you want to speak to someone immediately, and after 24hrs, every time you call, you will automatically speak to someone speaking the language you requested!  Absolutely brilliant, late, but brilliant...!

TTFN amigos
Marian

Photos I have taken near our house.

The Santa Vera Cruz to the right here. 

Rainy day today, had a pyjama day! Or would have had I not suddenly remembered something very important I had to do in town at 11:30am, but was back home, before the rain started again too much, my tea was still warm!

The corner of the Ayuntamiento [townhall]
Fun in the bank while I was there... Only one bank person, in the bank, line of five or six of us waiting, la la la, and waiting, when there was a *toot, toot* out side and the man, the only person working in the bank, left the building!  Yes he left the building amigos!  Came back in a moment later with a brown package which he took to a room behind the desks, where you could hear a bit of noise as he put it away, somewhere, then he came back out!!!

And the old pillars!!! Sorry, I mean Roman Columns!
I defrosted the freezer today too, I thought what the heck, plenty of water outside, might as well flood the kitchen as well!  And flood it did, amazing how much water comes out of these things, it wasn't over iced, just 'normal', I thought rain water had come into the kitchen, somehow, then realised it was from the freezer, finding its way out of the door and into the outside passage way!  I always forget the floor in the kitchen has a, so subtle you don't notice it, tilt to allow any water to leave the house quickly!  Same in the lounge too, to allow any flooding out the front door! Very handy, if needed!

This week I am been trying to better the cartoon books on the Kindle, not happy until I get it right, the newest book, The Sneezing Whale, came out so well, I up dated Santa's Pipe Dream, and its so much more professional now! As of course, it should be!

The cartoon books I am finding harder, they will not translate to HTML, so having to use .doc.... oh its just not easy, but so much better now, going to re-do one, one more time, and perfecto mes amis!

Watched a couple of programs that I had missed, on too late for me, wonder how long it will take me to get used to London time?  When I was there for two months last year, I still couldn't... I guess though because of calling home, here, that is.

I watched a BBC2 program called Brains, from the Origins series, fantastic, learned alot, never too old to learn it seems!  Or maybe I did learn it, but forgot it? Yes that must be it!

Don't look back, your not going that way...

c/o a Twitter friend

TTFN
Marian

Today, I have turned with thanks to Winnie the Pooh for help... he who once observed...

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you suddenly know everything there is to be known.

Right now, take three or four long, slow, deep breaths, focus on the pauses between breaths, and feel your consciousness shift.
Visualize yourself leaning over a bridge railing, watching the river of life slipping slowly away beneath you.
Be the river, be the flow... then just be.
Ah!

TTFN
Marian




Property search spain

Soon be Halloween folks!  And time has past since I last Blogged, as you may be aware!

Too much time gone past for catch ups... lots to tell???

I guess I should really start with this... we're moving!!! Arh! I said it out loud, and on here.... shock horror!

You will no doubt get fed up with the constant links to the house... and odd stuff I put on in the hope of google picking it up for top shot and exposure! So sorry ahead of time for doing so, but a girls gotta to do, what a girls gotta to do!

Alhaurin el Grande we will miss, of course, friends here.... So many new friends we would not have met if we had stayed down on the coast, not sure how I will cope with my last days here... maybe not tell myself when I am going exactly, then I will just be gone...

Pippa too of course!  She will travel in style with Posh Pets!  She has only stayed with them once before, for nearly 2 weeks, and I hadn't seen her for over 2 months when we did go to collect her, she looked very different, I wonder how different she will look after a trip from here to the UK!

The house will be empty when all our belongings have gone, just me, Pip and a suitcase of clothes! Not much, but at Mom's I only had a case of clothes for 2 months... Its amazing what little you need actually.  And when Mom and I originally moved out here, 9 years ago, we were in a rented apartment for 6 six months with two suitcases each of our own things!!  Knowing you will see your things again, you can live without them for a while...

We have a 'Se Vende' sign up outside, so its no secret, all the neighbours must know by now???

I have also been busy getting a fifth book on Kindle for Peter Maddocks, a children's book,  proof reading, editing, and now publishing, few problems with this one, but it should be 'live' any day now!!

We have also had rain!  Been a great six months with none! I think just a sprinkling of rain while I was on holidays in England, but now its here!  Been lots of it, as always, in Spain, when it rains, IT RAINS!!!

Very dry October, and someone said we're due a dry winter! Lets hope so!

Not sure what else to write today, feeling a little hollow... its a big move, step? Onwards again, always wanted to live in Spain, took sometime to get here, and now, I have done my time, for whatever crime it was[???] I will always love this country, these mountains, this buena vista we have here.... nothing better!  But, its time to go... We both need to work, real work, paid work!  The people who owe Franco will still owe Franco!!! Just because we're going doesn't mean their debt to him disappears!! [in case they are reading this!]

So, friends... hang in there with me now, who knows what is ahead, where, and when whatever will be will be!  I guess my header of My Diary Blog of our life living in Spain and beyond... Is moving to the beyond now!  It's both exciting and scary....

Wish my Mom was about....

anyway amigos
TTFN
Marian

Here is Pippa the other week, enjoying here wash at the dog wash down at the vets.... I know she doesn't look very happy, but she was!! Honestly, she volentarily walked up the gang way to stand while she was washed.... soaped up.... and finally, blown dry!

We walk her dry, another dog had come along, and seemed interested, well the owners did any way, and Pippa had had her time, so we had a run in the sun to get the last bit of wet out of her... amazing though as soon as we were through the door she just had to run and rub up against anything material, just to be sure!!

Took above pic down at the beach last week, I had had to zoom in for these sailing boats above, and didn't do a very good job.... not sure why the sea is at an angle...??  Must have been me I guess!!!

Y al final, a praying mantis!  Cute little guy isn't he, not sure if he was running towards a female or away, in fear of losing his head maybe!!!

TTFN
Marian

 Uh Oh, Blog looks different.... for me I mean, here, the part where I have to work.... So anyway, above, me, peering into the mouth of a hippo... of course, what else does it look like!

This above is the classic pose, I have seen it on so many Facebook status's you wouldn't believe, well I am not putting there.... Mmmmm, well I guess I might!

These chaps above, were playing amongst themselves, flying about so fast, jumping from the pool, sliding along the floor, chasing each other, fighting maybe, they were bearing their teeth, alot!

Good to see they do all these trips by themselves, and without being urged on by any of us humans eh!

Now since last Thursday? Oh I can't remember, there was this Tuesday when Franco and I went down to Cabopino beach, got sun burnt! Unbelievable eh, and badly, I can still feel the burn four days later!  I think actually, just between you and me, it could be one of the meds I am taking, it does say on the box, 'stay out of the sun'.... well, I didn't know exactly to what extent that was, and the doctor didn't advise me to read the instructions, nor did the farmacy, and they are in Spanish after-all... Any other excuses I can come up with?? Give me a minute....

We went down to the coast again today, checked on Maria's apartment, all good there.... we sat on the beach nearby, there was a yacht race on, took some photos, but am not holding out much hope of them being any good to be honest!  There were some fishermen, they didn't catch a thing, and a couple had a blazing row, he stormed off and came back later, her and the baby had remained on the beach to wait for him to calm down!  Holidays eh! some people are not used to spending 24 hours together, never mind a whole week or two!

We had also gone into Fuengirola earlier, we needed something from a 'light/lamps' type of shop, it was shut, sign on the door said it was shut due to the feria that is on this week and until the 12th of this month...There were many, many shops shut.  You would think, if I am correct, in thinking this, that with the recession on at this time, and bad it is here in Spain, that the shops would stay open, take money from all the extra people who are about in town, during the feria week, after all, the fair isn't open so much during the day, are the shop assistants really all at the fair every night, what a loss of income, what a loss of sales and possible customers who wont bother going back again!!!

We went to buy a couple of things in Lidl, but the lines were too long, so we went to Super Sol, no lines, not many people, don't know why, most of their prices seem to have come down, radically, which is good!

I was so hungry before dinner, I have eaten far too much and now feel too full, I have a food baby which is complaining too much, and I have such a wonderful story yet to tell.... Sorry, got to go!

Mañana amigos
TTFN
Marian

Well what do you think of the new format of my Blog???

All comments will be greatly appreciated! Ha, you bunch can be extremely quiet on the old comments section, I wonder do I put you all to sleep sometimes!!!

Photos from Whipsanade Zoo....



Above the elephants... no kidding!

... and to the left some cute brown bears, they were being fed when we got there, thats why the close up Kodak moment!

At the elephants I got a call from the hospital... so that was fun talking in Spanish there for a moment! [yeah well trying as always]...


The lion area, was amazing, I hadn't seen it that way before... where have I been??? Oh yeah, living here!!

There was 'just' some plate glass between them and us, and there was only us looking, so it was wonderful... the lioness on the left was looking straight at me, a close up tomorrow, if I remember to do it!!



And then this shot here, wow wow wow, our feet were so close, they, all the lions, looked so soft and touchable....all asleep apart from when her up there popped up her head to look at me!!

A group of Mom's and kids arrived and broke our quiet moment with these amazing creatures...

As you can see the day was beautiful, a bit breezy by the pick nic area, but then it always is there, above the famouse chalk white lion, its always a little bit breezy!!!

Today, oh yes today, there was much excitement as a road block suddenly came up, men with big guns... plain clothes police all over the place, a van stopped, a man removed from it, frisked and taken away, followed by his van and all the police were gone, quite a moment at our bar it was, everyone outside... and before we knew all gone, and none of us even thought to use our phones to record the moment, and my camera? In my bag of course, where it belongs!!

TTFN
Marian

Oh dear.... left it a week again, and now I do not have a clue as to my whereabouts over the past 7 days!!

Today, now, back home in Spain... Did some food shopping, can you believe Franco and Pippa ate all the food in the house!!

The photos are from the court house in Nottingham, the scary man next to us... goodness knows how long he has been in there, a tiny, six foot x 4 foot room, the bed sloped downwards... ???

Yesterday, I packed and chilled out watching a few episodes of Murder she wrote!


Left here I am... sitting in the judges chair!!! Maybe I should have moved the other wig and my hand bag off the desk in front of me eh!!

What do you think, suits me???

We had a questionnaire to fill in afterwards, I didn't, not enough time, never enough time...


Last time I was here I completely forgot to photograph anything, due to being frightened by a woman who I had at first glance to be a mannequin, yeah yeah very funny, but believe you me when what appears to be a mannequin comes to life, you would be frightened too!!

My batteries were 'exhausted' as we went into the exercise yard, but luckily I had brought some spares... I think Barry would have
gone crazy if I made him go in there again at any point!!!


Not sure how easy you can read these last two photos only a couple of the many words written by the prisoners, the walls around the whole of the yard are covered in they're names and signature... whole histories....







We have a great day up with Barry, only problem is a cannot just wander about at the moment, so after drinks, the court house, lunch, and more drinks, a bit of shopping... I was exhausted like my batteries, unlike my batteries I cannot recharge.. at all!!!






Back to Luton airport yesterday, checked in fine, took ages in the line to get through into departures... got to my turn and I two massive boxes to fill, they're twice the size of the Malaga ones, and heavy empty!! My net book and Kindle in one, the other my hand bag and then shoes, as ordered, the man told me to take off my little cardi I was wearing.... had to tell him it was attached to the shirt beneath... [fashion eh!], and he made a little joke that I still had to take it off!!!!

Ha ha ha!!!

And so into departures got a coffee, well over 2 pounds, but it said you could have as many refills as you want, I didn't even drink the one cup, it was awful coffee.... Improvement needed!

I had a wander around the shops, we boarded on time, left on time and got in... on time, which is always half hour earlier than it says on the ticket!

While I was on the plane, Tony and Kate were also flying... to Vegas!! Wow lucky things!

Loved using my Kindle while I was away, Facebook'ing and Tweeting away on it! Reading it of course too! Then Tony got my phone working, on the last day and I had, at last the free internet I get with the English Vodafone top up!!

I got to Berkhamsted on Saturday met up with Janette there, Costa Coffee to start, of course! Then down to a small Antique/second hand shop down by St Pauls church and the boys school... what a wonderful fantastic place.... the shop!!! There are three small rooms to look around, then a whole Aladdin's cave of others areas open up! You go out the back door and there are about 6 more rooms...in the garden!! oh its great! Although I was slightly held back by the fact a small suitcase was my only mode of carriage!

I could have bought a whole load of things!!

Time ran out, as it does, that thief stole it away, as he does... he? Got to be a he!!!

Missed out on seeing loads of friends, some don't know I was there, well I suppose they do now!!! Next time.... always next time....

Its still hot here, but then its only been less than two weeks, not sure what the temperature is, will check it out... phew ok, back in, with the washing! Its 31 degrees in the shade, so not bad! The washings been out an hour or so...

Off now, need to cook dinner, the fresh washing away... been busy around the house today, Franco has painted and decorated, the house looks amazing, but nothing is where I left it!!!

TTFN
Marian

I am actually working backwards here... So, Friday??? Ok, yes, got it! Up to town, and waited at the bus station for my cousin to get off her bus... should have sat down to wait, but didn't! She arrived just in time, the next bus we were both to go on, was in... and off to Tring, to visit her Dad... Which we did, then it was back on a bus, her in one direction, me in the other, back to Aylesbury, we held a strange conversation over the [old]A41... seeing her again on Thursday! I had a real bad neck ache then a head ache later, took a pain killer, just a normal one, when I had to take it anyway, and an hour later felt a little better, what would a visit be, if I didn't get a head ache I ask.... I ask????

Saturday! We went to town! And to see the new, and final, Harry Potter movie, was great, can't believe its the last one, but it was a perfect ending....

Sunday, Tony picked me up and we went to Milton Keynes, short walk about, after having a Costa Coffee, coffee! Then it was back to the house, Kate had done a run in the morning and came back not long after us... we went back to MK later and went to the movies to see... ummm, hang on will have to check.... ok, that doesn't sound good, if I have to check out the name of it, does it? 'How Does She do it'... its called... Well it was ok, but sorry, not really our cup of tea, and not made any better by the fact of three women sitting by me, who commented all the way through, and laughed, even when not necessary, or over laughed, it sounded so false, and really, really annoying!!!

Yesterday, we went up to Nottingham, to see Barry, fantastic, I was worried I wouldn't to see him this trip over, its a fair way up country, when you have no wheels... thank you for taking me.... The weather was ok too, bit cloudy down south, then we were north of Watford Gap and north! Sun was out, bit breezy, but nice day, met up with Baz, in Costa Coffee, of course, took a couple of phone calls for me to find it though, my normally good sense of direction leaves me lost in Nottingham... We got the tram[two minute ride], up to the court house, and did a tour, I had to, took photos too, later with those! We had lunch in Nandos, of course, and a bit more of a wander about, but i just can't wander about any more, or rather, at the moment, it was a two hour drive up, and about the same back, so good to see my Son....

Today, at last got to it! Tuesday...Got the bus from Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead, passing through the usual suspects! Aston Clinton, Tring, Northchurch and Berkhamsted.... The area where my Mom lived, the whole area, is just a green grassy field now! Can't believe they took down all the apartments, which were being used, not by the people who were there when Mom was, but by others, is now... nothing, nada, nowt!

What a waste, maybe they cannot afford to now rebuild the site for whatever they took down all the apartments, but surely would have been better to keep people housed, take rent, and have the place lived in!!

Lots of shops seemed different in the high street too, was going to stop off, but was just too tired to do so, stopping off in Northchurch though, as planned to see one of Mom's friends, her son was there, we first met when I was 16 and working Saturdays in a taxi office in Berkhamsted, it had a small parts shop too!!! You know not sure why I worked there? Must have been for the money, I was working Monday to Friday elsewhere... must have been the motor oil already coursing through my veins....

Woods garden centre in Berkhamsted has had a name change. Its called Woo's now, or could just be the 'W' is lost!!!!

I didn't manage to get to Hemel last visit, which, to some might not mean much at all, but, I needed to go there, Mom and I were always there, the shops, the coffee, the shops, and then the coffee.... I told my friend I would meet her in the central coffee shop area... I got there, but it wasn't !! The coffee bar I mean, so went back to another one and texted her!

We did lots of walking, ate a Cornish pasty in a new restaurant, there used to be a huge Cornish pasty camper van... now its a whole restaurant, we sat outside in the sunshine, and then, later, continued around the shops, I was so tired though, too much walking, not enough caffeine maybe?? I saw so many things to buy, and then, of course, didn't!! Turned into a window shopping trip, the bus back came on time, while I was waiting I tried to find my sun glasses, searched everywhere.... then... there they were, on my head all along!!

The journey home, became very eventful when we reached Tring! People got off and another passenger told the driver a woman had pee'd on the seat across the aisle from her!!! OMG.... So he said ok, the bus will have to terminate here now! We all caused a riot... well nearly, and whoever he spoke to on the phone also told him to continue to Aylesbury, he taped across the seat with some ticket roll, and said if anyone sits on it, so be it!!! There was only one more person got on, the rest all off, bar 4 of us for the last stretch!

Crazy eh!!! Anyway, I got off that bus, crossed through the seating area and boarded the bus home... perfecto! Oh heck, everything disappeared then... what happened??? and don't do it again!!!

I will get around to the hospital visit, the day before I left for my holidays??? Oh I'll do it now, while I am on a roll, and fighting off the daddy long legs beasties.... horrid things, glad friends didn't come home a moment ago, I was screaming while I was hitting one, then screamed again, tearing up a news paper and picking the most horrible thing up, its legs still flapping about!!!!!
[oh, its in the bin by the way!]

So hospital, and the cardiologist... got to the appointment ok, just on the dot of nine, handed in my form, and went in quite quickly, didn't have my translator with me, but managed, just fine as it turned out, he prescribed me some more meds for my heart, and told me I had to see another cardiologist, to these strong meds 3x a day for a week, then one a day, but weekends off, woopie!!! He didn't tell me anything about them, their common effects, and other effects, one common one seems to be eye sight, its definitely worse over this past week, but hopefully after I stop taking them[?], it will improve again, well back to its normal thing!

ok, that really is enough now, all typed out..

TTFN
Marian

Beautiful sunny day today.. Blue sky and sunshine all the way... I arrived here, England! Yesterday, the flight was good, left on time and came in half hour early... Came through to baggage reclaim in an unusual place, just to confuse the heck out of all of us... we were like ants who had had their little mountain crushed and didn't know which way to turn!!

I 'met' a fellow traveller departure side at Malaga who had been in the line at check in, we found ourselves sitting together waiting for the gate to be announced, which it was, wonderfully, the screen even said how many minutes until the gate number would be coming up!

We walked together to the plane, and were seated in the same line, but four persons inbetween, on the coach from the aircraft to the terminal we ended up next to each other again... and stayed together chatting until the lady got her case and left! She has lived in Churriana for 18 years, makes me a bit of a newby at only nine years doesn't it!

As I was so early had to hang on a while for my friend, so got phone top up, and wandered outside to wait in the sunshine, was a bit breezy there but Luton airport is on top of a hill, and is always breezy!

Janette came on time, and we were off to Aylesbury, we went to a supermarket, Costa coffee cafe, and had a drink my favourite of creme brule latte! Perfecto! The Steph arrived, and we swapped my case from one car to the other of we went again, home, here... Had a lovely dinner, then relaxed, had a bit of trouble trying to connect to the internet, but seems a very generous person round about here has their connection open... so muchas gracias whoever....

This morning I woke up a bit early only 5:30am!! English time, I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't really, I caught the bus into town, only a few minutes from here... and then I was back in Costas, in Aylesbury, updates from my Kindle, to fb and Twitter.... read for a little while, everyone up stairs in the cafe were either on their lap tops, net books, mobiles or reading, [normal] books! Felt a bit like a very relaxed office up there! Us all with our milky drinks and yummy cakes... Not me, no cake this time!

Then I went off for a look around some of the shops, bought a great little gadget, you pop your tablet in, and pop down the lid, the very nasty, very sharp blade inside, slices the tablet neatly in two pieces... so now I won't have to have 2 thirds of a tablets on time, and 1 third the next! Probably not what the doctor ordered!

I couldn't manage to take the meds I should have yesterday, some new ones that have to have at least 8 hours between the three doses a day, so only two yesterday, two so far today, and the third at 11pm!! Got a bit of a sore throat, not sure if from the plane, [had the blower on me the whole journey] something to do with these new meds... or I have caught a sore throat!!!!

TTFN
Marian

Some rather random photos today... Above a cow, advertising a restaurant, not for vegetarians I take it!

Some beautiful cloud formations the other evening, September is the month for these here for sure... most of them looking like space ships, or at the very least giant cigars!!!

Walking into town the other morning.... I did turn about to check I was un observed, didn't want to look like a tourist afterall!!! Did I??


And finally above, the restaurant down at La Cala, the fast food one we went to the other week, I actually thought I had mentioned it, but looking back at my rather thin amount of Blogs of late, I see I havent written about it at all?

Franco had told me about a place, an American style diner, food all in see through boxes, money in the slot, change machine nearby for .... well, change of course!

He said the food was placed in the boxes... and I must admit I imagined the worse.... But we went in, the list of meals above was enormous, one would normally just pop the money in and I guess the door would open you take the food etc, but the shelves were all empty, so, a girl took our order, we sat, she brought it over, 5 chefs were in the very open to view kitchen, you could see how clean it all was... the booths were brown and green, very stylish, and comfy.... Franco had a whole chicken, 5€ half the price of a roasted chicken anywhere else.... and I had fish and chips, with salad, soda, and ice cream, for 3€ 95c.... how cheap is that! Definitely worth a visit if your down that way!

But so as I am missing out on complaints.... Had 'great fun' in Coín today, went to pay some bills for a friend, went into the bank to use the bar code payment machine... it said, not working, so off to wait in line at the cashiers desk... One woman working, who, when a man came to join her, left! Only of course, he wouldn't take the money as I didn't have an account in that bank! [machine still not working].... He said go to the post office, which was a bit of a journey away, but off we went.... Nice post office! Its new, and slightly further away than the old one was... And of course, the lady there said I couldn't pay the bills there either! We tried a couple of other banks on the way back to the original bank... Then, a miricle, we went into a bank of ours, another branch, and they smiled, said 'hola' as we walked in, took my bills, took my money, and were so cheerful I couldn't believe it!

Can't believe how hot it still is, I suppose it always is, just we forget every year, but an hour ago, it was still 38 degrees up on the roof terrace, which is in the shade... I am looking forward to frosty mornings, and a cool breeze, these I might feel as I am off to England next week, frosty mornings do not happen where we live in the town!

I know I have so much more to tell, sorry for being so lazy recently with my writings, not sure what's up with me! Just the heat maybe....

TTFN amigos... Be happy!
Marian

Me with my Picasso eyes! In the Picasso museum in Malaga last week, well this week past I mean....

Two tempory exhibitions there at the moment, Picasso at work: Through the lens of David Douglas Duncan, and Cartoons on the Front Line.

Both extra exhibitions well worth seeing, the whole thing was much better this visit, I feel like I have said all this before? But have checked back and didn't Blog last week about the visit, bit strange, maybe where I have Tweeted? or Facebook'ed, who knows! Maybe I am just feeling strange!

The internet is going slow this afternoon, which is very frustrating!

At least the weather is better today, well, I say better, its been cloudy and sunny both, wonderful breeze, the temperature in side has come down to 22, which is much better, more liveable...

Four books on kindle now....

I see it says available in UK only, but the're available worldwide on Amazon.com

Ok, Cannot cope with this go slow on here this evening now, so, its adios amigos, before I throw this thing!

TTFN
Marian

Last few photos from this years Malaga Feria.... above balloons!!! As you can see, a small person holding them from below, its a wonder he didn't get pulled up into the air... with so much hot air above him!!!!

This above is a small chapel I think, right on the port... its surrounded by the new 'soon to be' shops bars restaurants... looking sad, un-wanted and awkward there!

When we got there this area was almost empty, from above, fine streams of cool refreshing air were being sprayed out of the tubing... wet, cold spray, nice, no actually it was! In this heat!

But later, when we were passing back the whole area was heaving with people, eating, dancing, dancing and eating! Oh and drinking, lots!!

I had to include another photo of this amazing character... the 'drunk' doesn't he look like he is sitting down on something? Believe you me, nothing is there, just his fantastic sense of balance!


This is one of the palaces... yes, yes, I should know which one, I don't! Sorry amigos!

Now, I have to mention something that has been driving me crazy, or I shall explode, and make a helluva mess all over the sofa that I now sit upon! A friend of mine, has been asked to send, to England, a 2 into 3 pin plug converter, Visitor to UK Travel Adaptor .... to enable a Spanish cable to be used in an English wall socket.... Obviously I said, "well, yes ok.... but so much easier to just buy one there".... And so for anyone Google'ing this item.... the link above will take you directly to one such thing, in fact 3 for the price of two just now you lucky people over in Blighty! They can also be bought in John Lewis, Debenhams, Smiths... etcetera, etcetera.... if you cannot manage to even get to a shop to look they're on line even cheaper, with free delivery!!!

Humph!

TTFN
Marian

Malaga 2011

Malaga feria week still here on my Blog today.... above, where these huge flowers were coming out from... a small building, the smoke smelt of beer... the cabin beneath, was advertising San Miguel.... so maybe it was beer brewing!!!!

A ferry pulling out of the harbour... mmmm, not a great photo, sorry amigos, it is what it is!
A ferry pulling out of the harbour!!!!

But above the Adventure of The Sea, a royal Carribean liner.... Huge with a capitol 'H'.... the gangway with people boarding, how awful!!!

Stuck out on the seas in this... beauty, I had never fancied a cruise, but the last couple of years, I have thought, yes, I could do that now! Must be my age!


I quite like the photo above, on the right, the ship, on the left the reflection!


Y el final... well for today, some more massive flowers, these are about 20 foot high, hard to show their size on here, well I tried!

TTFN
Marian

We went to Malaga on Saturday, not that you would have noticed from Saturdays Blog entry? Strange I just wrote a purloined poem.. Still who knows where my head was, even I don't know!!!

So Saturday, on the bus and to Malaga City, the feria had started the evening before with an opening at the fairground, and this day was the first in the city centre, with loads of stuff going on....

On C/Larios the main street, lots of celebrations... the street is always covered with sun screens from July through to September, just the extra bits and pieces for the next two weeks...


Above a Mom and daughter looking lovely in matching dresses, saw lots of this idea....

When we arrived we first went to have a look around the what's not so now new railway station! Estación María Zambrano, Its amazing! So many shops, restaurants etc, and the entrance to the tracks themselves looks like an airport terminal, with the X-ray machine for bags to go through before getting through, there were loads of people waiting for friends/family at the two arrivals exits.... Made me want to jump on a train to Barcelona or Madrid immediately!

Just read this link before from the stations site about an line that is no more, shame...Malaga to Coín train!


Above some revellers, pausing between songs for a photo shoot!

After the railway station we headed off towards the centre, stopping for coffee and a magdalena, [cake]... then it was onwards and further in!


Couldn't resist this pic above when the opportunity came to my notice! Below everything was mayhem, we were caught up in a huge amount of people rushing about like ants, swarming this way and that, I looked up at the manikins in store window, I was probably the only person who even noticed them watching us....!!!

This amazing chap above, more pics of him tomorrow, there were many many 'live' statues in the street, most of them very good, painted silver, gold, bronze, or dressed in many guises and poses... but this 'drunk' was simply the best! He appeared to be sitting down, as you can see, but he is sitting on nothing, just using fantastic balance and legs muscles of steel! When anyone popped some money into that box, he kind of unbent himself to stand, and bow, in a drunken manner and offer his bottle to the money giver! He had crowds round him, every time we passed him!

After the first walk up c/larios [and back], we thought we would go to the port and see if any ships were in, one was, Adventure of the Sea, a massive liner, was just boarding... without me!!! i took loads of photos... tomorrow for those too!

We had a coffee in a bar in the port before we did the 45 minute walk to where the ship was harboured, there was also a German warship nearby, they were loading up with food, water and one or two beer barrels! A small group of fellers were behind a truck having a sneaky smoke and a couple were behind another truck doing the same thing, couple as in man and woman I mean!

We stood there awhile watching people boarding and people waving them off, prematurely as the shop wasn't even moving!!! Then a ferry headed for the islands was off on its journey, not sure where, either Palma or Tenerife, both were written on the side, both in very different directions!

Then it was the long walk back... we sat for a while in the park near the harbour, we had food with us, and water! [much needed, water], then back into the centre again.... I was so completely shattered by then, I don't quite know how I was even managing to walk... just my mind keeping me moving I think! Anyway, after a walk to the main square we left down a side street, crossed the river, and back to the bus station, where I did collapse, with a cup of coffee!

Not long to wait for our bus, and the wonderful air con on board...

TTFN
Marian

from the Sufi master Hafiz :

Light Will someday split you open
Even if your life is now a cage.

Little by little, You will turn into stars.
Little by little, You will turn into
The whole sweet, amorous Universe.

Love will surely burst you wide open
Into an unfettered, booming new galaxy.

You will become so free
In a wonderful, secret
And pure Love That flows
From a conscious, One-pointed, Infinite Light.

Even then, my dear, The Beloved will have fulfilled
Just a fraction, Just a fraction!
Of a promise He wrote upon your heart.

For a divine seed, the crown of destiny,
Is hidden and sown on an ancient, fertile plain
You hold the title to.

O look again within yourself,
For I know you were once the elegant host
To all the marvels in creation.

When your soul begins
To ever bloom and laugh
And spin in Eternal Ecstasy-

O little by little, You will turn into God.

Translated by Dan Ladinsky

c/o Blooming Humans.com

TTFN
Marian