Home from Santa Pola, a few days in Madrid, dreaming about a little house in the garden, to London for a 4 day luxurious jaunt with Olivia and other stories.

Rosewood (Hotel) London, Sunday 15th September, 2024

Covent Garden yesterday in the sun

Top of the morning to you all from London town and more precisely from our amazing 5 star hotel, The Rosewood near Covent Garden where we are surrounded by and swaddled in sheer luxury. I have stayed at many luxurious hotels over the years for work purposes but that was a very long time ago. So it's wonderful to experience such luxury again. I am here on a 4 day jaunt accompanying Olivia who will be presenting the prestigious World's 50 best hotels at The Guildhall this next Tuesday. It's wonderful to have mother and daughter time together and in London which is always fun. 

But let me recap to last Sunday which was our last day in Santa Pola with Suzy, our eldest daughter. What a world of difference between the two even though they have had the exact same upbringing. I often wonder if we did anything wrong and can never help blaming myself. We had a quiet day together and Eladio and I only went out to have a coffee. That evening we had a serious conversation with Suzy who just before we left told me she was committed to her treatment, both medication and with her psychiatrist, Viriginia. 

Thus on Monday we left her on the straight and narrow again. For how long? I don't know. Before driving home we went to Lidl to fill her cupboards and take stuff home. Our drive home was long and boring only brightened up by quite a decent lunch at the Venta San José. We were home by mid afternoon to be greeted by Tana who holds the fort so well in our absence. She is a real treasure as many of our Airbnb guests tell me. 

The big news that day, in the UK, at least was the publishing of a personal video by Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. 

A still from the video published by Kate Middleton this week

She told the world in a unique  and unprecedented way for the British Royal family, that she has finished her course of chemotherapy but that doesn't mean she is totally cancer free. But it is good news. 

Tuesday's news, of course, was the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. I didn't watch it but later read that the lady for the Democrats had done better than her awful rival. The actual elections aren't until November and the circus will continue. I just hope we don't have a similar outcome to when Trump beat Hilary Clinton by a tiny majority. Please may the world not have to suffer another term of Donald Trump at the White House. 

My mind wasn't on the debate on Tuesday. We resumed our morning walks which we so need. I had guests going and coming that day as is the norm in this international guest house we have created in our own home. You must think we are mad but it helps maintain the house, it brings in income and we get to meet people from all over the world. September is a very busy month and I wish we had more rooms (one of the reasons for building the wooden garden house - read on). This week our guests have been from Lithuania, Mexico, Brazil, India, Iraq and Malta of all places. Today while I am away new guests will be arriving from The Philippines, Croatia, Armenia and Portugal. See what I mean when I say this house is a bit like the United Nations. 

It was all hands on deck to get things ready for the 7 member family from Valetta who were arriving at about 2.30. But there was time for coffee out and some shopping which was a bit rushed as we got a sudden call from Oli to pick up little Juliet from school. It was a thrill to pick her up from the nursery and to get a bird's eye view of her in class (sweet). She jumped into our arms and soon we were home. As we hadn't been with her for her 3rd birthday when in Santa Pola, it was the perfect time to give her her birthday present - previously arranged with Miguel and Oli. So here she is trying on her beautiful new winter coat. She loved it although it looked a little incongruous on such a warm day. 

Juliet in her birthday coat

She ate her lunch with us and shortly afterwards Oli came to pick her up. No sooner had we started our lunch when the Maltese family arrived; 4 adults and 3 children (not the best combination). They were soon invading the house. When that happens we just retire to our own quarters or to the study. There are plenty of places to escape to hahahaha.

They went out later which is when the man who is most probably going to build our wooden garden house, came to see us and measure the space. This idea started a while back and we are only now embarking properly on this project which I know we will enjoy immensely. It is an investment as of course we will be renting it. Recently I saw an advert for the rental of a very ugly mobile home in someones's garden. Ours will have everything it needs and will be much nicer; that is if we finally go through with it. We have yet to see the plans and the budget. Basically it will be a two room one floor wooden cabin with a similar style to one I found on the internet - a typical Nordic cabin. It will have a full bathroom and then open space for a small kitchen, living space and a bed or beds.

The style of house we want. The front would be on the longer side and would have a terrace

As to the size we are thinking 25m2 (269 sq ft). It doesn't sound a lot but actually for 1 or 2 people it's much larger than you would think.

We either needed to pull down the existing wooden shed which has deteriorated over the years, or build a new one in its place. One idea led to another and to cut a long story short, the idea now is to pull the old shed down but build a proper wooden garden home on the other side of the house where there is so much more room. This is a photo of the back patio where we would probably build it around where you can see a picnic table. If you look to the right of the picture, up the steps you will see the old shed. 

The garden house is now going to go where the picnic table is, that is if we go ahead with everything

That way the tenants will have complete independence and the house will face the lawn. They could even come across the lawn to the house and of course can park on the property and will be allowed to use the pool. 

On Wednesday we went to see the showroom the man from Pergoland has. He, in turn, works for Leroy Merlin (LM) from whom we would buy the turn key house - completely furnished with water, electricity, internet, heating and air conditioning. We are making a real tiny house. The wooden cabin Juan Carlos had was 22m2 and as we walked in I was surprised at just how big it felt, so 25m2 will be more than enough.  Here are a couple of really bad photos of the outside and inside. 

Our visit to Pergoland to see a 22m2 wooden cabin with bathroom, kitchen and everything elese. 

We then sat down with one of the architects who began on a plan and we came away feeling thrilled. It is so exciting to be working on building a little house in the garden. It's like playing at houses. It will also be a wonderful distraction from all our worries and will keep us both busy and happy. 

Thursday was the only day without errands but we did go out for coffee to Manacor. That's where we expanded on the idea of a change of location for the garden house. 

With only two days to go for our flight on Saturday morning to London, I did my packing that day. The most difficult part was choosing a dress for the awards ceremony at The Guildhall which is "black tie". I also had to choose a dress for the Opening Banquet on a ship (The Silver Sturgeon).  Dammit, I wish I wasn't so fat as otherwise I would have a lot more dresses to choose from.  Both events will be very exciting and you will hear about my experiences next Sunday when all will be over. 

On Friday we didn't have any errands to do either but got our walk in early in the morning and had coffee at Manacor. Friday was Suzy's second appointment with her psychiatrist which she was so looking forward to it. I was very upset to get an audio from her to say she missed the bus. I rang the surgery and was told she could turn up any time but by then she was very out of sorts and refused to go. She did later ask me to get her another appointment which I can't do until Monday. She worries me so. I love being in London with Olivia but she is always in my mind.

We saw our grandchildren in the afternoon at the park next to their school. Juliet came running to hug "Booboo" and Grandma and fell over in the rush, poor sweetie. It was lovely to see them and also Copi, the girls' childhood friend who was over from Vitoria and came to see Oli and the kids at the park. She is getting married in July and of course we shall be going as we are a bit like her surrogate family. 

And Saturday dawned, the day of our flight to London. We were off at around 8.30 for our 10.50 flight to Heathrow, just the two of us with no children or husbands. I felt slight guilty although I know we both deserved these fabulous days in London. 

And we're off

Everything went smoothly and once at Heathrow we were soon in a black cab - now electric - which took over an hour to get to our hotel in Holborn near Covent Garden. It was a beautiful day and we drove right through the very heart of the city. I commented to Oli that Madrid feels like a village in comparison. And here is my daughter paying the Black Cab. I told her the tables had turned. It used to be me taking her and Suzy on jollies with my work related travel and now it's her taking me. I am very proud of her.

Arriving at the Rosewood

Our room wasn't ready which surprised us but we didn't mind as we had to rush to our lunch appointment at  Fishworks in Covent Garden. We both wanted to have fish and chips for our first meal in London. It did not disappoint.

Fish and chips was our first choice of food in London and we had it at Fishworks in Covent Garden

Once sated with the best of British we ambled along the busy streets towards Covent Garden proper. Oli was navigating with her phone's Satnav and that day learned that there is no garden at Covent Garden. We did laugh. Covent Garden was fun with lots of street acts going on and enticing stalls and shops.

Lively Covent Garden yesterday

We had decided to be real London tourists so from there we walked to Trafalgar Square a wonderful place to feel the vibrancy of London on a sunny day in September with no other agenda. Here are some pics.

Trafalgar Square needs no introduction

By then we were exhausted and decided to walk back to our hotel, our wonderful home in London which was once the HQ of the Pearl Assurance Company. Designed in Edwardian and Belle Époque styles it was built in 1914. We loved our room as soon as we walked in. Just look.

Our beautiful room

It was full of little surprises too such as an expensive bottle of Ruinart champagne and some amazing chocolate concoction with a note from 50 best to Olivia.

What took the biscuit though were her initials on one of the pillows. I had never seen that. Have you?

Oli's initials on one of the pillows on our bed

So with no further ado and after exploring the bathroom where I declared the amenities a bit disappointing, we opened the champagne and started on the chocolate which was to be our dinner (how decadent).  Of course, being me, I had to google the price of the champagne, a paltry 45 quid a bottle. It didn't taste much different to Cava but we loved the moment. 

We later binged on more chocolate as there are baskets of it everywhere. So of course we did not go out to dinner last night. We just chilled in our wonderful accommodation. We got into our huge comfortable bed with the best pillows ever to watch TV on a huge screen. They didn't have Netflix so we had to use my iPad to watch the Amy Winehouse biopic which I did not like at all. I slept pretty well and got in about 6.5h and was up at 6.30 UK time and had my first caffeine fix of the day.

Today, Sunday, we have a whole free day in London and we shall play it by ear and enjoy every moment. I am very aware of just  how lucky I am to be here. It's the perfect tonic after all we have been through recently.

Will leave you now to go and have a scrumptious breakfast in the famous Mirror Room.

Cheers everyone till next time,

Masha

Last day in Montrondo, home again, London and New York calling, Juliet turns 3, an emergency trip to Santa Pola and other stories of the week.

 Sunday, 8th September, 2024

With Suzy in Santa Pola this week

Hi everyone. This week has certainly had its ups and downs and last Sunday when we were in Montrondo, we were looking forward to Juliet's birthday at home on Wednesday 4th September. But we never got to celebrate it with her as Suzy had a crisis in Santa Pola and we had to leave suddenly. I hope we can make up for that when we get back. 

To rewind, last Sunday was a quiet day in Montrondo. That morning we went to have coffee in Murias with Eladio's brother Toño and our sister-in-law, Dolores. We had it at the now not so  recently opened hotel which in the past was the local prison. It is still called The Prison - in Spanish: Hotel Rural La Cárcel.  So we had coffee at a former prison. It's beautiful now, especially the setting but I'm sure it was awful when it had prisoners with bars on their windows which is how Eladio and his brother remember it from their youth.  Here are a couple of photos to record the moment

Coffee at the old prison in Murias last Sunday

It was to be our last day in Montrondo after only a few nights but Toño and Dolores had been there all summer, since 15th June. They spent most of the day preparing to leave on Monday. Our idea was to leave for Asturias that day. However, the weather forecast for both Montrondo and El Cuetu was foul. Most of Spain was experiencing rain  but not the centre so we went home to Madrid instead.

It was a long drive but with a lovely break for lunch at Asador Sybony in the pretty and historic little town of Arévalo. It's famous for its castle where Isabella 1st,  Isabel la Católica,  lived as a child. We have had lunch at Sybony many times now and their suckling lamb which is typical of the area, never fails to impress. This is the dish the two of us shared with a generous portion of delicious chips.

Suckling lamb at Asador Sybony in Arévalo.

We were home by about 4.30 to find a quiet house even though it was full of guests. There was faithful Tana to greet us and put all the food away that I had brought back from Montrondo. 

I had good news that day. If in my latest blogs I wrote that I will be accompanying Olivia to London on 14th September where she will be the Emcee for the World's 50th best hotels at the Guildhall, you will be impressed to hear I shall also be accompanying her to New York, to the Big Apple. She got confirmation that very day. Wow! She has been asked to present the Ernesto Illy (coffee) awards at The Shed in Manhattan on 12th November. I am bursting with pride and so looking forward to both girly trips. Oli has never been to New York and I have only been once so this will be very special for us and something more to look forward to. This month alone there were and are so many other things to look forward to as well; Juliet and Elliot's birthdays, London and also Eladio's 80th on 23rd September. 

The weather in Madrid was beautiful, warm, but not too warm, with no more need for air conditioning and best of all we can now enjoy meals on the terrace as we did that night when we returned from Montrondo. 

It was good to sleep in our own bed that night. I would have slept better if I hadn't had Suzy on my mind. We had left her in a stable state on 22nd August but by 27th she was no longer in touch with us and we were sure she had stopped taking her meds. That was the day after she was supposed to have had her first session with the psychiatrist she was assigned and never saw. What did make me happy though was seeing a photo of Juliet, soon to be 3, having a haircut that morning. Isn't she lovely?

Juliet having her hair cut on Monday

But the sun rose on Tuesday as it always does and we got on with life. We went on our walk in the morning and just as we were returning Oli texted to say she would be live on TV at 10.06. She hardly ever tells us, so we rushed upstairs to our bedroom to watch her live. The topic she covered was about a woman called Emilia who houses young immigrants, mostly from Africa, who have to leave immigrant youth centres when they turn 18. with nowhere to go.  It's amazing the things she and her husband have done for them. It was great to see Oli on the TV again. It was her second day back to work after a month's holiday in July and leave of absence in August to look after the kids.

Lovely to see Olivia live on TV on Tuesday morning. She looked spectacular. I love all of her but have to say she has great teeth and great arms, unlike my winged upper limbs, hahaha. Hope she never gets them. 

We went out again straight afterwards  to El Corte Inglés, Spain's flagship department store, to buy a new washing machine. We  had 2 AEGs but the older one literally exploded in our absence. So we weren't going to get another AEG. Instead, we bought a much more expensive one made by Miele. We once had a second hand Miele  before we were married and it lasted more than 20 years. However, these days because of programmed obsolescence, I am not expecting it to last 20 years but certainly more than the AEG which only lasted 4. 

While at the Corte Inglés we had a coffee at Starbucks as we always do. I had lots of guests coming and going that day as has been the case all summer. Again there was no news from Suzy which was eating my heart out and I didn't sleep well that night either.

Wednesday was Juliet's 3rd birthday and Oli sent a photo of her and Elliot having breakfast.

Juliet and Elliot having breakfast on her birthday

Her birthday was to be celebrated at our house with a special lunch with us and Miguel's mother, brother and his two sons, her cousins. I had been on the phone to Suzy's psychiatrist who had given her another appointment this last Friday but Suzy hadn't confirmed it. We tried to contact Suzy and got an awful reply from her; an audio, typical of her when she has psychotic outbreaks. It was very obvious she had stopped her medication so we decided there and then to skip poor Juliet's birthday and drive to Santa Pola, call the emergency services to see what we could do. This is the story of our life these days.  The journey was awful as you can imagine. Awful too was how she received us. She was not pleased to see us at all. That's when I went outside to call 112. The doctor and police duly arrived as they did on 30th October last year when she had her first crisis. It was the same doctor who didn't admit her that time. I told her it was because of her that we had to wait a whole year to get our daughter diagnosed and that if she had admitted her then, she wouldn't be in such a bad state. The doctor didn't admit her this time either but at least  she did get her to start the medication again and made her promise to go to her appointment on Friday. We assured her we would take her there ourselves. What a horrible situation. It was just dreadful. I felt as if Id been to hell and back.  We were back to square one. However, I have to say the meds did help her calm down although for a full effect she has to take them for up to 6 weeks. Her delusions are still very entrenched which is so difficult to witness. She thinks we are not her parents and is the secret twin sister of Prince Harry!  

I slept dreadfully that night despite taking 4 bloody sleeping pills. How can I sleep while my daughter is ill? I can't. She wouldn't talk to us about her beliefs but at least she was civil  and had dinner with us that night.

Thursday was a complicated in-between day until her appointment on Friday which I think she was afraid of.  She went out on her own so we went to Santa Pola to have a coffee in the square by the castle and to cool our heads. We later did some shopping at Carrefour, making sure we included food that she will eat. We had arrived  to completely empty cupboards and Suzy admitted she had hardly been eating. Later, though I was happy to see her eat heartily.  I was so tired that afternoon I slept a whole two hours siesta which must have done me some good.

Friday came, her big day and our big day, except that she wouldn't let us  past the door to the  health centre. She doesn't want us interfering but if no one interferes where would she be? Out on the street? Not while we are alive I can tell you. The appointment was at 11 am and we were there just on time which made me very nervous. In she went and we whiled away the time by having coffee at some God forsaken street cafe. We went back to wait for her and she came out smiling. Yes, she came out smiling. She had liked her psychiatrist, Virginia. She felt as if she had been heard and will be going again next Friday. She also has an appointment to see a social worker about finding a job!  She even suggested we go and have a coffee by the sea to tell us about the session. 

Oh what a difference in her state of mind and in ours because while she suffers, we suffer. She even let me take a photo of her by the Santa Pola blue town sign - I didn't care how tacky it was; I was just pleased she let me as she hardly ever does. That is the photo I have chosen for this week's feature photo. And here is one of Eladio and me with Pippa. As I told Suzy, we are 3 in this marriage, Eladio, Pippa and I. She dryly replied; like in Lady Diana's marriage which wasn't lost on me, given her thoughts about the latter. 

With Eladio and Pippa by the tacky Santa Pola sign on Friday morning

For now we are all happier. For how long?  I don't know. Until another crisis? Possibly. But we shall always be there for her. One good thing I have noticed is that she has stopped taking marijuana, even the substitute one, There is no smell of pot or weed anywhere.  Let's hope it remains that way.

We stopped at the local supermarket on the way home to get more of her favourite food and then had a pleasant lunch together. 

Saturday was a quiet and rather boring day but I was counting my blessings we were no longer in the middle of a crisis. We haven't honestly wanted to go to the pool or the beach and couldn't anyway as I did not pack our swimming costumes. In my haste to pack I  didn't even bring trainers and came in my trusty Birkenstocks, which, while comfortable, are not suitable for walking. Thus no walks either. 

I noticed a marked improvement in Suzy that day.  She was singing again, she listened to music - our favourite, The Sound of Music, she painted her nails,  went for a walk and even sat down to read a book. It's amazing how the meds are working even after just a few days.

Today is Sunday and will be a very quiet day. We have no plans except to be with our daughter who is the prime concern in our lives. 

We shall probably going home tomorrow as we have lots of news guests coming, including a family of 7 from Malta! I have a feeling I have bitten off more than I can chew next week. Let's see how it works out.

Cheers now from Santa Pola, after the crisis,

Masha

Back from Santa Pola but our hearts are still there, a quiet week in hot and sultry Madrid, Elliot at the barber's, time out in Montrondo and other stories of the week

 Montrondo, Sunday 1st September, 2024

Walking in Montrondo where the temperature is 10 degrees less or more than Madrid

Good morning everyone from my husband's village, Montrondo, in North West Spain where we came to escape from the heat except that it rained  in both Madrid and in the village which was not quite what we wanted. It is good for the country though. 

Today is the first day of September and it feels like the end of the summer as the temperatures have plummeted in most of Spain. But we are not complaining as we have suffered the heat in both Madrid and Santa Pola for so long now.

Last Sunday we were only just back from being with Suzy and have been thinking about her all week. Is she taking her meds? How is she coping? We don't know as she has hardly been in contact with us and doesn't want us to bombard her with messages. 

On Monday, Oli and family were back from Montrondo where they had spent a quiet and pleasant time. Here are a couple of photos to record their time here. 

Elliot and Olivia in Montrondo last week

While they were travelling, we did all sorts of errands including food shopping, of course. But there was time for coffee which we had at Manacor quite often this week. Here is a lovely photo Eladio took of me as it was a happy moment.

Coffee out this week on a few occasions at Manacor in Boadilla

We had guests coming and going that day at our veritable guest house in our own home and we are more or less fully booked for most of September already. Thankfully I have Tana to meet all their needs. But I am the main organiser and it's hard work. I have to be terribly careful with double booking which can happen. 

Tuesday was Suzy's big day. She was to have her first appointment with the outpatient psychiatrist in Santa Pola - the only public health one in the area - and the day could not have turned out worse. First she couldn't find a working hole in the wall to get cash for the bus and blamed it on a conspiracy from the state. She went to the wrong centre through no fault of her own and had to walk miles to the correct one. She was 18 minutes later  and the doctor had gone out to have breakfast! When she returned Suzy was so cross she put in a complaint and refused to see the woman.  The incident was like a huge step backwards in her progress and had us worried stiff all week. 

Olivia and family cheered us up though when they came for a swim and an early dinner. They took our minds off the main issue in our lives; the cross we have to bear. Tana made our dinner which we had on the table on the kitchen patio and it was great to be with Elliot and Juliet that day. Elliot was looking smashing as that day he had had a haircut. That shouldn't be news except it is as from the moment go, he has always had a tantrum when his father tried to cut his hair until last Monday when he agreed to go to a barber. It has taken 5 years for him to accept having his hair cut without kicking up a huge fuss. Here are some photos to remember the moment. 

For the first time since he was born, Elliot finally accepting having a hair cut without a fuss

That night my dear boys, Mohammad and Sarang, from Iraq and India returned. They had been in La Nucia near Alicante on an internship at the David Ferrer Tennis Academy as part of their Master's degree. They will be staying a month and hopefully more. What a delight it is to have them back. 

On Wednesday Oli and family were off again for their last short break of the summer. They went to stay at a flat owned by Miguel's family in Madrigal de la Vera (Extremadura). Here is a photo to record their stay if, by chance, Elliot and Juliet ever read my blog when I am long gone. I hope they will.

Oli and family in Madrigal de la Vera this week

We did a crazy thing on Wednesday afternoon when we went to Leroy Merlin to look into building a new cabin in the garden to replace the old one which is so ramshackle it needs taking down. We are thinking about turning it into living quarters to rent. Watch this space

Thursday came and we had decided to spend a few days in Montrondo to get the house ready for the winter but also to spend some time with Eladio's brother and his wife; my "in laws", Toño and Dolores. Although when we were leaving, my husband said his heart was telling him to go the other way, where Suzy is. We had left her and Santa Pola but our hearts are still there.  

We had a smooth drive and arrived on time for a late lunch. Oli and Miguel had cleaned the house so there wasn't much more to clean apart from the fridge. It was good to be back but I hadn't realised just how much cooler it would be compared to Madrid. I was soon wearing long trousers and a jumper.

Friday was a wonderful day. I spent the morning with Dolores shopping in Villablino for food but other stuff too. I got some lovely trainers which I now think might be a bit big for me but they are so pretty, don't you think?

New shoes from Villablino

The highlight of the week was a long walk with José Antonio and Dolores on a new path they had discovered recently. We took photos as we were walking up towards the mountains to remember the moment. I have chosen one of them for this week's feature photo. Our stay in Montrondo was well deserved time out for us; a chance to disconnect and recharge our batteries. Here are some more.

A new walk in Montrondo

Have you noticed we were wearing coats? That's a first this summer. We came home to have wine and pistachios at our house which later became a dinner of sorts. We opened the bottle of red wine we had bought in Orvieto (Umbria) and I drank far too much of it. Our "sobremesa" - a Spanish term for sitting round a table after a meal and talking, went on till late. But that night I slept like a log. Being in Montrondo had done me the world of good.

Saturday was cloudy and cool with the highest temperature only reaching 20'ºc. I made a typical dish from Madrid called "cocido madrileño" for lunch to share with José Antonio and Dolores' family. 

We went on another walk in the afternoon which turned out to be a bit of an adventure as we got lost trying to get back to the village without wading across the river. Eladio thought it was great fun but I must say I got rather tired. I hoped our next walk would be easier and less of an obstacle race. Here is a photo of Eladio when we finally crossed the river without having to take our shoes off in the freezing water.

Yesterday "La Vuelta" - the Tour of Spain cycling race, had its finish line in Villablino, so close to us. Had it been 30 odd years ago, we would have been there for sure; especially my nephew Miguel. We didn't go but, we met up with friends for dinner that night in Robles at a place called La Bolera. It was odd to be going out to dinner so late at night (21.30) in Montrondo but the occasion was well worth it. We were looking forward to seeing Ludy who is married to the famous ex cyclist Pedro Delgado, and her family as well as a cycling journalist and mutual friend, Sergi. It was to be a great night out and such a change in my  routine. Eladio chickened out so I went with Miguel my nephew. We had a great dinner and were not home until nearly 2 in the morning!!!

I woke up today at 9 am; very late for me. Today looks like it will be a sunny day and no doubt we shall go for another walk with Toño and Dolores later in the day. I look forward to that so long as it is on a natural path and not through fields cut off by barbed wire or across the river hahahahaha.

That's it from me today. Cheers till next Sunday,

Masha