Where Does the Time Go?

It is now Thursday, Bonfire Night, and we have been here for four weeks. The last few days have flown by and we don't seem to have done very much! But on reflection we have planted the Cypress tree, we have had a good go at the pool. The chlorinator has been soaked in coke to de-scale it and is now producing chlorine from the salt. We thought at first we were low on salt, but tests revealed the opposite, we now need to get the salt levels down and the chlorine levels up. We also invested in a stiffer broom, which has made it much easier to get the dust up off the bottom and sides, so that it gets into the filtration system! We have also spent more time in serious discussion with our local Citroen dealer about a new car, but that will have be in the future still as buying a car in Spain is a much more involved procedure than in the UK.

It is still very windy and the temperature has dropped to 19deg today, so not as hot as it has been, but probably the warmest Bonfire Night we can remember! They don't celebrate it here although the Spanish don't need much of an excuse to set off fireworks! But you need a licence from the town hall if you want a bonfire as this is the driest part of Europe and the fire risk remains very high. Not having fireworks going off every few minutes for weeks on end is one of the unexpected bonuses of being here and one that the animals certainly appreciate.

We went in to Mojacar yesterday and wandered along the beach, where it was a very pleasant 26 in the shade, with very little wind. Our quiz evening went quite well with a commendable 46 out of 60 - the winners managing 52! Quiz evenings are very popular here and we could probably manage one every night if we were so inclined! However our plan is for one a week, but if a charity one comes up we will add an extra one in.

We have had some very beautiful sunsets, helped by the fact that the sun disappears behind the mountains before it "officially" sets. This one was also helped by the fact that we had both clouds and wind!

The next major project is to attack the garage, getting it painted, adding shelving for storage (Spanish houses don't have loft space!) and generally getting it ready for use as Marion's craft room with a bit up one end for tools. Michael has decided that he can probably manage without a workshop as most of the time he will work outdoors. One of the things we are discovering is that we still have too much stuff and although we thought we were being ruthless when we packed we obviously weren't ruthless enough! Looks like a boot sale coming up!

Bank Holiday - All Souls Day

Busy weekend. Market Saturday morning for fresh veg. etc. followed by starting to clean the pool ready for the winter. Spent the evening playing cards and trivial pursuits with a couple of friends.

Sunday planted our 2nd orange tree and then went down to Mojacar for Sunday lunch - roast pork with all the trimmings. Came home and had a relaxed evening chatting to a couple of the kids on messenger. Sarah managed to talk me through getting it up and running - no mean feat at this distance - using facebook chat. Will be a lot easier to keep in touch with her and Alex now.

The weather today is breezy - very breezy in fact - although the temperature is 25 in the shade. Another orange tree has joined us and we have spent quite a time hoovering and testing the pool. Will pop down to Albox tomorrow to pick up a few more chemicals so that the pool is OK over the winter. Have problems keeping the chlorine levels up although there is plenty of salt in the pool - will speak to the guru tomorrow and see what he thinks. I have my thoughts on the matter but what do I know about pools!!

So we now have 3 small orange trees in our nursery and they are soon to be joined by a Skyrocket cypress tree - just have to dig the hole and go and collect it from a neighbour.

Tomorrow will be yet another busy day with a trip into La Alfoquia to see if we have any post, a trip to Albox to see the pool man and our Spanish lesson which was moved from today, it being a bank holiday. We are then off to a quiz with Lynn and Jean. That should be a bit of a laugh. How did we find time to go to work?

Am starting to really feel that we are living here and not just on holiday. All the bits and pieces are slowly falling into place, people recognise us when we go into shops and there is always a smile and an 'hola' when you pass people in the street. Life is definitely more relaxed especially for some!

Ceremonial Tree Planting

Yes Thursday was ceremonial Orange Tree planting day. Our first plant underwent the Woolnough wizardry and has found itself down the bottom of the garden - we have 2 more to go but they are still in a friends garden so will stay there temporarily until other things have been completed. And yes I must admit that Muchael did do most of the work but I was being the brains of the outfit (poor tree).

Thursday was also a good day for paperwork - we went down to the townhall and registered onto the padron - normally quite a long drawn-out business but we were lucky as it only took just over half an hour and we came out with the necessary papers - under different circumstances we would have gone back another day but we were 'sponsored' by a local councillor which made the process so much easier. Thank you Jim.

As we were out so quick we popped into the Citroen dealership to have a look - Xsara Picasso is still readily available here so with a bit of luck and a nice bank manager...

Today was completely different - I spent the morning trying to communicate with banks etc. and sort out finances back in UK. After a frustrating morning everything was sorted (fingers crossed) - and they say it takes ages to do things over here! We then had the peculiar experience of swapping hire cars. We said goodbye to our upmarket top of the range Berlingo with not a lot of mileage and changed it for an old Clio with 175,000 km on the clock and had to drive both cars to the airport to take the Berlingo back. About an hours drive either way but it was an easy drive with not a lot of traffic as is the norm around here. Had to pay 25cents for airport parking while we handed the keys back and waited to make sure all was well. I can see that happening at Stanstead!!

So tonight we are quite weary from a busy week - something happening every day, lots of new experiences and settling into our new surroundings. Tomorrow morning is market day so we will go and buy some veggies for the week then its back home to sort the garage out and get painting so that I can have my craft room up and running asap.

We do wonder where the days go but with views like this we sit and spend quite a time over breakfast while the weather holds:

We can now communicate with the world..

We are now up and running from the comfort of our own villa. A very nice little man arrived today and fitted our internet and landline radio link with the world and it feels sooooo good.

We have had 3 Tuesdays worth of Spanish lessons and are trying to speak the lingo when possible and most of the time we get by. We are finding it easier to understand than previously but they do still talk fast. One of the first phrases we have to learn is 'I don't understand please speak more slowly!' that should just about cover us. From next week though our lesson will be on a Monday.

Animals are thriving and thoroughly enjoying themselves - not that they realise this is a different country or anything but they do seem to appreciate the change in temperature. The dog likes her walks and has even been out with the neighbours on one of their daily walks and came back with full marks for behaviour.

We went on a 'pool' course yesterday to gen up on how to keep the pool at its best. It was very interesting and informative, we learned quite a lot and now have no excuse for not doing the right thing.

We have been given 3 orange trees to plant in the garden so will have to get to work out there. I will need to think about landscaping as I have money from my retirement pressie to spend on garden plants etc. I can see a trip to the garden center coming up very soon. We want to add at least one lemon tree as these supposedly help to keep mosqitoes at bay and Michael fancies the idea of picking a lemon off the tree to go in his drink.

From now on we will be able to report back on a more regular basis probably every 2 to 3 days.

One week on..

Another hectic week has passed. We are finally installed in our villa along with the dog and cats and all our belongings. Now we just have to sort itall and put it away!!!! Knew we had a fair bit but we need another villa....

The weather has been good, the animals have been settling in very well and we have just managed to get to an internet cafe that works at any speed so thought we would update our blog. The internet and landline have been ordered and should be up and running by next week. Television will have to wait - we need to be able to communicate.

We received a lovely welcome when we arrived as our lovely neighbours were sat outside having a drink keeping an eye open for us. The animals arrived an our after us which was goo timing are appeared none the worse for their journey and pleased to see Mum and Dad again. They have already started to get adventurous and even Wellie has taken a prowl around the garden and investigated the swimming pool. The book is definitelt closed on who would be the first to fall in - it was Michael! Lost his footing when cleaning the pool. Mind you the pool is nice and clean....

Tiffy is quite getting used to her local stroll to the bins of an evening and has made good friends with the local guard dog, who is actually anybody´s for a biscuit (provided you stay your side of the fence).

Another busy day yesterday with Jim arriving with our chattels. Didn´t realise how many we had but it will give us something to do for the next few days (or should that be weeks). Will have the garage finally seured by next week too and will start painting it and installing my craft room which will give us our spare bedroom back.

Been down to Mojacar to visit the bank and check on the state of the pension. It had arrived so all that paperwork we did back home worked. Decided to have a visit to Albox before going home to sign up for the internet connection etc. and know this internet cafe works well so thought we´d pop in for a browse and update as well as a drink. Then its home to get some more unpacking done. I shall be pleased to see the end of the cardboard boxes.

Will sign off for now and hope to update again sometime next week from our own computer.

All is well this end and we feel we have been here ages and its only a week....

Our bags are packed and we're ready to go.....

we wish. But we are nearly ready and all we have to do tomorrow is clear the kitchen - or what remains and make sure all is done. The carpets are clean, we can see through the windows, the spiders webs have been removed, the friendly neighbourhood frog has been removed from the garage and everything seems to be going well (famous last words). Tomorrow we finally head into the sunset.......

We are both unbelievably tired and looking forward to spending a little us time settling the animals into our new home. Must admit to them looking a little forlorn when they left lunchtime for their car journey to Spain but they will be well looked after and by this time tomorrow night, all being well, we should all be at our destination.

Had lovely couple of hours with the Grandkids - went to tea (our cupboard being bare) and enjoyed their bedtime routine for the last time for a while but then we will be able to spend quality time with them - not that all the time spent with all the kids and grandkids isn't quality time. We shall miss them all very much but with todays technology it will be so much easier to keep in touch and we are only a couple of hours by plane....would take longer by car if we moved to the west country or the North.

Off to make that last cuppa of the day and check all is secure for our last night as residence of Colchester - at least for the foreseeable future.

Will be posting on the blog again as soon as we can gain access to an internet connection.

a week away

We are now down to 1 week and then we will be landing in Spain for our new life. We are both feeling pretty shattered now and have only 3 more days to complete the packing. Time seems to be speeding up - I'm sure that by next week everything will just be whizzing by.

Alex seems to be settling in except for the fire bell going off at 2 in the morning. Would be OK but he's on the 14th floor and has to walk all the way down. Bit of a pain but these things are over sensitive - they can't afford not to work really. If it continues he may ask to move to a lower floor although it will mean that he loses his studio apartment.

Off to get some sleep before another day of packing. The dog is definitely suspicious and follows me everywhere. The cats go into the cattery tomorrow so that they are out of the way when all the moving starts when Sarah arrives Saturday morning.