Fun in Devon in the UK with my oldest friends, Amanda and Andy, an awful storm brewing over Ukraine, home again, Olivia interviewed for a documentary for HBO about the Rubiales case, I started taking Mounjaro and other stories of the week.

Home again; Madrid, Sunday 23rd February, 2025

In Topsham near Exeter on a very cold day with Amanda and her daughter Cord (Cordelia)

Good morning all. How time flies. I was in Devon from 12th to 20th Feb and now I am home again. When you are having fun and taking a break from routine life, time does fly by. Oh my, though, I have had a great time as you will read later.

I imagine that in the late 1930's people like us today were living normal lives which were interrupted when Hitler came on the world stage. Today we have Putin and Trump disrupting the world order and it doesn't bode well. There is an awful storm brewing over Ukraine which Russia invaded three years ago this month. Trump, who imagines himself as a great statesman, tried to negotiate a peace treaty with Russia (in Saudi Arabia) but without anyone present from Kyiv. Thus Macron, a better statesman but with less power, hurriedly hosted a European summit to come up with a response on how to end the conflict. Meanwhile, Kier Starmer the UK Labour PM, has proposed sending troops to Ukraine to maintain peace if and when the war ends. He hopes to be a mediator between Europe and the US but I honestly think Trump has no time for him. It could well be that the special relationship is rather fragile now.  Europe has to put on a truly united front to stop Putin and Trump carving up Ukraine and I honestly don't believe that the former would ever toe the line after any treaty or accord. You just can't trust him nor Trump. As I watch and read, I can't stop thinking just how similar a situation we have now as when Hitler came to power.

As everyone does, in circumstances like this, you just carry on. These awful men were not going to spoil my wonderful stay in Devon with my oldest and dearest friends, Andy and Amanda, from my school days in Bradford as a child and teenager. I just love their house overlooking the sea in a beautiful secluded area. Let me share some pictures of their dream home and the view.

My friends' dream home in Devon

Thank goodness it is warm and cozy inside as it was cold and windy  throughout my stay and it  rained on and off. I now fully realise that, however much I love my birth country, I just couldn't live there because of the weather. I came home to at least 10 more degrees in Spain and it feels like spring is in the air in Madrid. It did not feel like that last Sunday when Amanda and I drove to nearby Shaldon for a coffee at the Strand cafe. We had to weather the blustery and freezing cold wind to walk from the car park to the cafe. Ah, but once inside it was wonderful and I couldn't resist a Devonshire scone. I have to say I had it with butter and not with clotted cream and jam hahaha. Here I am enjoying the moment.

Coffee with a scone at The Strand in Shaldon last Sunday

Once home and out of the cold and wind, Amanda heated up some delicious homemade Minestrone soup. Here she is in the kitchen getting our lunch ready. Her kitchen is gigantic (around 33m2) with picture windows overlooking the sea. This is just a part of it. Isn't it great?

Andy and Amanda have the biggest kitchen I have ever seen

We were out again in the afternoon. My friends drove us to Darts Farm again where they wanted to buy a sophisticated bird house or whatever it is called. They are very akin to nature, are bird lovers and belong to the RSPB and collaborate with the organisation. It's a great place with all sorts of enticing shops and in the outdoor wear store Amanda bought a warm fleece. She looks lovely.

Amanda trying on a fleece at Darts' farm last Sunday

They then took me to a local place of interest, Powderham castle and farm but we didn't see the former as everything was closing. I managed to buy some Cadbury creme eggs for Suzy and a lovely bottle of local cider.

Once home, my friend and I played Ludo while Andy made our supper  - a delicious fish dish. We saw some of the Bafta awards and I was pleased to see The Conclave was the winning British film. I have read the book but don't remember it - so I  read it again this and look forward to seeing the film once it's available to stream. I always find papal stories very interesting. It's rather a coincidence that Pope Francis, aged 88, is now very ill in hospital with double pneumonia. I really hope that doesn't mean there will be another Conclave soon. 

Later we played Sevens until we went to bed and I don't know why but I won nearly every time. We went to bed after the awful news of the Ukraine situation. For me the Atlantic Alliance is in great danger as is Europe. 

Monday came and to my delight we went to M&S again. Amanda wanted to return something and we had to buy food.  Before entering the enticing Food Hall, I got some knickers for Oli and slippers for Eladio. Once in the food part of the store, I bought all sorts of cold foods I love including crab meat, sliced roast beef, coleslaw, scotch egg and some salmon spread. If I lived in England I would do all my food shopping at good old M&S. Before we left, Amanda took a photo of me coming out and feeling in my element.

In my element at Marks and Spencer a shop I miss so much in Spain

On our way home we stopped for coffee at The Ness in Shaldon but this time there was no  open fire and it wasn't so cozy. However, the coffee was excellent. My poor friend had a dreadful headache so after a quick sandwich she had to go to bed. Meanwhile I had a siesta. Later she felt better and we resumed playing Ludo with a stop for some wine (me) and cashew nuts. What a lovely time I was having.  Later that night, Amanda's daughter Cordelia (Cord) arrived from London. I hadn't seen her since 2009 when they came out to Salamanca on a Spanish language course. It was lovely to see her again but poor lamb, like her mother, she too had a dreadful headache.

I slept so so that night and was up before everybody on Tuesday morning at 7 am. Andy and Amanda had booked a table for lunch at a restaurant in a place called Topsham on the Exe estuary. I loved The Galley which is on the main street, as soon as I saw it. 

The Galley in upmarket Topsham, Devon

Topsham I was told is upmarket, quaint and very popular which made it difficult to park but Andy managed while we had a drink. Oli had asked for a photo of Amanda and her daughter so that was the moment to take one and here it is.

Cord and Amanda at The Galley in Topsham

The menu looked enticing but my first and only choice was inevitable. I  just had to have fish and chips didn't I? This was what I polished off with the help of Andy hahaha-

Amazing fish and chips at The Galley in Topsham

I sort of staggered out afterwards but didn't regret the decision; after all  I hadn't had this most English of dishes since November 2023 at Betty's in Harrogate which were very good too.

There was lots to see in Topsham. Amanda, Cord and I loved all the enticing little shops on The High Street. Andy preferred being at the main quay observing birds - his big passion, on the estuary. We joined him at one point, in between shops, and he took some photos of the three of us. I used one as this week's feature photo and here is another.

By the Quay on the River Exe in Topsham with Cord and Amanda

Shops shut at around 4pm which I find so very early, used to Spanish opening and closing times. Thus we headed home soon and were able to relax and wind down after a lovely meal and outing. Amanda and I played Ludo (yes, again) which we find very addictive. Then Andy and Cord joined us for Sevens. They got hungry around Spanish dinner time (hahaha) and even though I wasn't very hungry I couldn't resist some delicious crab meat I had bought at M&S.

We went to bed pretty early and I woke up on my last day, Wednesday,  to fog and rain. I didn't sleep well which I usually don't but that night I had an added worry. Our cleaner in El Cuetu had written  to me on Tuesday while leaving Topsham, to tell me she can no longer clean for us. Of course it is impossible to rent the house which is 5 hours away from Madrid without a cleaner and they are few and far between.   So I have a new job now to find a cleaner which won't be easy. Both Eladio and I agree that if we don't find one, we will just have to sell up which will be a pity.

Wednesday brought more news of the rift between Zelensky and Trump. The latter had called the Ukrainian PM a dictator. Honestly! Zelensky replied that the dictator is Trump and that he lives in a disinformation space. It seems Trump is repeating Russian propaganda. Now he wants a deal with Ukraine in which Zelensky would have to hand over 500 billion dollars worth of rare minerals as a sort of payback for previous military assistance. It is outrageous.

We spoke about this over coffee again at The Strand, this time with Cord. There was time for more Ludo before a delicious meal served by Andy, again. And again we went to M&S where I think we went at least 5 or 6 times during my stay hahahaha. There we got stuff for dinner and I got a few delicacies to take home the next day. While paying at the self paying area, I just had to have a photo of our photo - me and Amanda, as it reminded me so much of the times we took photos in photo booths when we were young. Of course, this time we were on CCTV hahahaha. We could never have imagined how technology would evolve. 

Having a bit of fun at M&S with Amanda

We later went to Sainsburys which is when Cord realised that her payment at Marks hadn't got through. She promptly went back and the staff there were amazed. They had written her off as a "walk away" and told her it was the first time anyone had come back in to pay. They rewarded her with a large box of Belgian chocolates. The UK is now being called the country of shoplifters so I imagine Cord's behaviour was very unusual but absolutely right as  M&S told her. Good for you Cord. 

There was time for more Ludo with Amanda before a delicious dinner mostly made from bits and bobs bought at M&S. I had also bought a mini trifle for my pudding, the others preferring a treacle pudding. Oh how I love trifle. We played Sevens for the last time that night, the first time I didn't win. I don't care who wins, I just love playing with my friends. It's such a pity that no one will play cards or Ludo with me at home. 

I woke up after a very short night's sleep on Thursday, the day of my departure. I took it slowly and packed feeling both eager to go home but sad I was leaving my friends. That day Hamas returned 4 dead Israelis including the mother and two children of the Bibas family except that the body of the mother wasn't her. Later they returned it and we heard of the savage and brutal way her children had been killed. Yesterday, in the 7th and last exchange in phase 1 of the ceasefire, 6 Israeli hostages were released while 600 Palestinian prisoners were to be returned. However, Israel, so furious at the way the hostages have been paraded in Gaza, have not yet released them. 

Meanwhile, quietly in rainy Devon, we prepared to leave. Andy and Amanda drove me to Bristol which is 1.5h away and I was extremely grateful. They left me at the airport just before 2 pm and my flight was at about 4.30. It's a quiet and small airport but very efficient. I didn't have to take any liquids out of my bags or PC, kindle etc which was a first for me. I then had a boring time waiting for my flight at a cafe eating a lovely egg and cress M&S sandwich and drinking a cup of tea. Once on the plane and just before departure I read that Luis Rubiales, Spain's former football boss, had been convicted of sexual assault to Jenni Hermoso for kissing her on the lips after Spain won the women's world cup against England in 2023. I would have liked to see him sent to jail. Rather he got off lightly with a 10.000 euro fine and 3000 in damages to Jenni. He was not charged though with coercion as the judge said there was no proof. I thought there was plenty of proof. I have been following this case keenly for the repercussions it has had on society in Spain; previously such a macho society and still so in many was. Men like Rubiales are still very common in this country and we have to stand up to them. Who knows a lot about it is Olivia my daughter as she covered the trial. There she met a team who films for Discovery Channel, HBO Max, etc. They had asked her to appear in a documentary they are doing on the case which is quite an honour. Suzy and I would go with her the next day for filming the interview. 

If I left Bristol in the cold, I arrived to find Madrid 10 or so degrees warmer. In my absence the weather had been spring like. It felt so wonderful to walk outside and not shiver. Eladio came to pick me up. He had gone to the wrong place to find me but eventually we met. It was so good to see my dear husband again, bless him. We were soon home and it was good to see Suzy and Pippa too who had kept him company in my absence. I gave them all their pressies and after unpacking, fell into bed, not that I slept very well as usual.

Friday dawned and I was up at around 7. Oli had left the kids with Miguel and come to our house to prepare for the interview - they had sent her over 40 questions! It was good to see her and I gave her all the bras and knickers from M&S and some lovely clothes for the kids from Sainsbury's. We would meet again after lunch to go to the interview.

Friday was the day I was to start on Mounjaro - the new wonder drug for diabetics which also suppresses the appetite and is prescribed to overweight people  (like me hahaha) or people with high cholesterol and blood pressure which is also my case; although the condition is mild.  It works by slowing down the digestive process so you feel full for longer. The drug comes in a pen containing 4 doses, 1 to be taken every week on the same day and time. It looked damned complicated and didn't come with needles which I would have to buy. 

Mounjaro - the pen

Thankfully Suzy helped me when I took it later that night. First though I had to weigh myself, something I haven't done since February 2024. I was dreading the moment of truth but actually since then I had only put on 2.5 kilos.  I feel like a bit of a guinea pig, yet many, many people are taking it all over the world, like me, even though they are not all obese either. The more famous drug is Ozempic but my pharmacist friend, Mari Carmen, told me it has more side effects and is not as effective for weight loss although they are the same family. A lot of people on Mounjaro or similar say "I'm on the pen" as a sort of secret way of telling friends what they are doing. I have nothing to hide. I just hope it works.

Being on Mounjaro you must do your bit too, by cutting down on unhealthy food (no more sticky toffee pudding, haha) and exercise. So that morning I started my new regime and went for a walk with Eladio and intend to do so every day. However, because of my knee I can't walk for more than half an hour but walk I will.

Later we went for a coffee in the sun at Manacor and Suzy joined us. I also nipped to the chemist to get needles which are only sold in packs of 100 as they are probably for diabetics. Then I popped into the bank to pay 4 new fines for driving our Volvo diesel car  in areas we didn't know were low emission zones. It's a bit unfair there is no signage or warning when coming near these new areas but a great way for the local councils to make money at 100 euros per fine damn them. Before heading home we did some emergency shopping at Carrefour; mostly for fruit of which there was hardly any left. Tana prepared our lunch and at 2.05 Oli picked us up in a taxi to go to Madrid for the interview. She was very happy as it was touch and go from her employer, RTVE, whether they would let her do it. Here she is hugging Suzy who was looking amazing that day. 

My girls ready to go to the interview

I was pleased to see Oli wearing my old size M blue trouser suit from Zara which obviously no longer fits me. She loves raiding my wardrobe, hahaha. 

Soon we were at the venue called Espacio Jorge Juan and were greeting the team from England whose names I can't remember. The shooting Director was English and the interviewer was from Guatemala and told us her father was Palestinian! Oli had taken us along as reinforcements but actually we both enjoyed watching and helping sometimes too. Here is a short video that Suzy took. Notice how Oli gesticulates so much with her hands. It must be the Spaniard in her, I suppose.

And here are some stills to remember the day. 

Oli being interviewed for the documentary

We didn't finish until past 6.30 and thankfully it didn't go on longer as the crew were taking the train to Granada where they would be interviewing Rubiales himself. 

If I came out feeling tired, Oli must have been exhausted. She is used to doing live reports, not taped interviews so I think she had to adapt; plus she is used to speaking Spanish on TV, not English and this case involved a lot of legalese which is never easy in a second language. But she did a great job and I can't wait to see the documentary. Watch this space.

We were home on time for Suzy to give me the injection before dinner. It didn't hurt at all. Again I didn't sleep well that night and felt lousy after 4 nights in a row with less than 6 hours sleep. But I had to get up to face the day. I had a headache but wasn't sure if was because of the Mounjaro. So far I haven't felt any lack of appetite but it is probably early days.  I met 1 of our 3 guests who arrived on Friday in my absence in the kitchen at breakfast but never saw the other two. 

Soon it was time for our walk where I joined Eladio for just half of it. I came home to rest before Oli and the kids came for lunch . It was great to see them but tiring as I myself felt so exhausted. I hope I feel better next time. While I was in England they had done some beautiful drawings for me with Suzy's help which I just have to share. I particularly liked Elliot's (right) for including Pippa in it hahaha.

Drawings done by Juliet and Elliot for me

Yesterday afternoon I was so tired I had to go to bed after lunch but unfairly I was not able to sleep. My headache just wouldn't go away but thankfully this morning it has nearly disappeared. 

There is not much else to tell you about this week, so let me sign off now and wish you all a great day. It's sunny here so we shall enjoy today's walk on what I hope will be a quiet Sunday.

Cheers till next week, all the best,

Masha

A family birthday dinner, off to England, time with my friends Amanda and Andy in Devon, foul weather, eating, drinking, playing cards and having fun and other stories of the week.

South Devon, Sunday 16th February 2025

With my best friend Amanda in Devon this week. We braved the weather as you can see

Hi there everyone. Well, this week finds me home in the UK for the first time since November 2023. I am  staying with my oldest friends, Amanda and Andy in their most beautiful home overlooking the sea in this wonderful part of the country I did not know before I came this week.  They live not so far from Torquay, Torbay and a place called Teignmouth (pronounced teenmuth). Their nearest towns or villages are Shaldon and Babbacombe. I had to look at a map to see where I was staying and  share with you. Here is one I found. This is England's West Country. 

Map of Devon

Devon is sandwhiched in  between Cornwall to the west and Somerset and Dorset further north. I was to learn more about the area during my stay. But before I tell you all about it, let me rewind to last Sunday.

It's amazing to think that only a week ago today, we left our apartment by the coast to come home after our bus man's holiday. What a difference in weather both in Madrid and here. To think just over a week ago we were having coffee in the sun in Alicante where the temperature was 21ºc. No wonder so many retired people live there. 

I took one last photo before we left on Sunday morning of the view from our apartment of the Bay of Alicante, a view I never tire of.

View from our apartment

We had lunch on the way back at one of our favourite places on the A3, Mesón de los Rosales. Love that place. We were home by about 4 pm. The house was full as Oli and the kids had come for lunch. It was great to see them, Suzy of course and Pippa. Above all, I loved seeing the sisters on good terms together. That night though we had dinner alone and went to bed early. I only slept 4.5 hours - not good. 

Early on Monday morning I enjoyed watching Oli live on TV reporting on the Rubiales case. She has borrowed a few of my coats -the ones that no longer fit (boohoo) and looked great in my red one. Here she is, clever girl.

Oli reporting on the Rubiales case on Monday morning

That was the day Trump announced 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium entering the US from any country. The world was not happy. That was also the day that Hamas announced it would delay the next hostage release for this Saturday, claiming Israel had broken the ceasefire. Trump was the first to react saying that all hell would let loose if they were not released this week. God help us. I think he did because on Friday Hamas issued the names of the next 3 (men) hostages to be released this week. This week, thankfully, those who were released were not emaciated but the parading of them continued. 

Life continued in El Bosque, the area where we live and that evening Oli and family were coming to celebrate my birthday belatedly. I was to make fish and chips for 8 and thank God for Tana as it's a very messy process. My sweet grandchildren came bearing red roses with which I was delighted. Here they are in this lovely photo, bless them.

My grandchildren bringing me red roses for my birthday

As I love receiving flowers and my husband never buys them, I told him to look  and learn hahahah. 

Everyone enjoyed this most English of meals and it being a birthday there was, of course, a cake. And below, my friends is the cake moment which is quite funny. Elliot wanted to blow out the candle while they sang and I had to put my hand over his blowing lips to stop him spoil the moment hahaha. Miguel took a video with his new Samsung S25 which you can see here on my YouTube channel. 

Monday came and once again Oli was reporting on the high profile Rubiales case. This time she was wearing my blue coat hahahaha. If she wears my coats, she must think I have good taste I thought. 

Oliva reporting on Tuesday again

The damn man claimed the kiss had been consensual but that was not the case. Believe it or not, the BBC wrote to her that morning to interview her on the case for their programme Newshour at 15h. I didn't know but for her or any employee from RTVE to appear on another TV channel, they need permission. She was gutted it wasn't granted, the main excuse being there wasn't time to process her request. Not fair boohoo.

I spent part of my day packing. I also went to have my nails done and then I had an all important appointment with my new GP, 30 year old Elena Criado, who I loved at first sight. She shared my blood test results and told me my cholesterol was very high. I knew there was a new drug, Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) which is the new weight loss wonder drug. It suppresses your appetite but also brings down cholesterol. To be prescribed with it you have to be pretty over weight and the dear doctor put down in my notes that I weighed a lot more than I do although, my friends, my weight is a state secret and I don't even know what I weigh myself as I detest scales. I wont' start taking it until I get back from England but watch this space. This could be miraculous for me. Let's see. My main reason though for the appointment was to talk about my daughter Suzy. Ideally I wanted the doctor to get her records from Alicante but she told me our hands are tied as she can only do that at a patient's request. So we remain in a Catch 22 position. We can do nothing, just wait for another crisis.  This week too, we learned she is back on dope. But we do not know how on earth she is funding it as we cut the financial cord 2 months ago. God help us.

Finally Wednesday 12th February came, the day of my trip to England. It was also, my friends, my brother George's birthday. He would have turned 70 this week but unfairly died aged 46, 24 years ago of melanoma. He is always in my heart. I love the fact that my dear friends Amanda and Andy knew him too and my family of course. So I could talk about him to them and they understood. 

Eladio drove me to the airport and we left at 7.45 even though my flight to Bristol wasn't until 11.15 but we had to factor in the morning traffic on the M50 ring road. I am so glad I no longer have to face it now that I am retired. Everything went smoothly and my Easy Jet flight landed early to fog and cold weather which was not unexpected. I was flying to Bristol but wouldn't  visit and kept thinking of my roots to the city where my father spent most of his childhood at the  New Vicarage in Henbury and went to the famous public school, Clifton College. My dearest friend Amanda was there waiting for me and it was wonderful to see each other again after more than 2 years. We have been friends since we started grammar school at St. Joseph's College Bradford when we were either 10 or 11. Her husband Andy was also an integral part of my teenage years. He was my father's pupil at Bradford Grammar School and my friend too as he was my best friend's boyfriend. I used to host amazing parties at home, with the blessing of my mother and I well remember my friends' first kiss  happening in our house with my mother and I looking on. Now nearly in our 70's we are still friends and it is just wonderful to be with them here in for what for me is their new home which is gorgeous by the way.

It's an hour and a half's drive from their home to Bristol so bless them for picking me up. On the way home they took me to a lovely cafe for lunch. Called Dart's Farm it's a very enticing place. There I couldn't resist a cup of tea with a scone filled with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry jam and  a cherry pie. Don't worry guys, I will be starting a diet when I get back with the help of the new miracle drug Mounjaro. 

It didn't take long from there to drive home to my friends' house. And what a beautiful house it is. Above all it has a stunning view. The inside is superbly decorated and comfortable and nothing looks dated like our house I'm afraid. I was taken up to my splendid en suite room with lovely views of the sea and I soon settled in. 

View from my friends' house

It felt so strange to be back in England and to be staying on my own here but it felt good. I loved the independence of my room and just felt at home with my dearest and oldest friends.

If Andy was our chauffeur he was also our chef, throughout and makes delicious healthy food from some healthy cooking app, The Doctor's Kitchen. Interestingly, he has a book called "Food as medicine". That night we had fish and veg with a glass of delicious Sauvignon from New Zealand called Stoneleigh. While Andy made our dinner, Amanda and I started watching a new series on the BBC filmed in Bradford, our city of course. Called Virdee we did not like it. There was hardly a white face in the series which I suppose sums up Bradford today which, this year is the City of Culture. Bradford is a much maligned city but it has its beauty spots such as the Town Hall, St. Georges's Hall, the Cathedral, the Corn and Wool exchanges and many other amazing buildings from the time of the Industrial Revolution. This was when Bradford was the wool centre of the world. Today it is not the centre of anything apart from crime as it has an  astonishingly high crime rate. I still love Bradford because of nostalgia for my childhood but wasn't keen on Virdee. 

It was funny to wake up in Devon, a part of England I really didn't know, on Friday morning. I was happy to find a Nespresso machine and milk frother in my friends' enormous kitchen. Mid morning Amanda drove me to the local village called Shaldon which is described as a quaint seaside village or town. But it was pretty empty that morning and bitterly cold. Our first stop was at the lovely pub and cafe The Ness overlooking the Teign estuary. I had to have a photo to immortalise the moment haha.

Happy to be back in England even though it was freezing cold and very windy

I loved the pub and we were lucky to get seats or rather very comfortable arm chairs next to an open fire. There were people, mostly with dogs there as the UK is such a dog friendly country, unlike Spain. 

We then went for a very bracing walk around Shaldon which was pretty deserted. Amanda told me that half of the houses were holiday homes as Devon is  coveted place for British tourists in good weather obviously. This week was not good weather. Just look at how my friend is kitted out to shelter from the cold. I got a picture of her next to The Ness, a beautiful building I thought.

Amanda outside The Ness in Shaldon

Lunch was lovely; most of it from M+S. Andy and I shared a scotch egg and sausage roll we got at Dart's farm which I adored. Whoever says Engish cuisine is rubbish is very wrong. On the table there were lovely M+S food; prawns, salmon pate and coleslaw, followed, my friends by apple crumble which Andy and I shared .It was a divine lunch. Later Amanda and I played Ludo which I adore and introduced her to when she came to Spain in September 2023. For the record she just beat me after 1.5h play. It might seem a childlike game but I can tell you it has its strategy.

Shortly afterwards my friends took me to M+S where I had a list of lingerie to buy for Oli and myself.  We then walked across the car park to Sainsbury's where I got clothes for my grandchildren. If I had an M`+S anywhere near me in Madrid I would probably spend all my money there, go bankrupt and be so fat I couldn't get in the door  hahahaha.

Once home, Andy started making dinner for us; a concoction made of red rice, prawns and veg, while Amanda and I started watching a series she highly recommended me called Bad Sisters on Apple TV which I do not subscribe to at home. I'm not sure about it yet. The Irish accent was so thick I needed subtitles, unlike Virdee where the Yorkshire accent, however thick, is very familiar to me. 

I slept so so that night, having tried a new sleeping tablet prescribed to my friend which did not work at all. I woke up with a splitting headache which thankfully went after my first caffeine shot. On Friday morning I read that Trump is to impose tariffs on the EU, damn the man. I also read he was pushing for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in a meeting to be held in Munich of all places; so reminiscent of Hitler's time which by the way, did not happen. I also read somewhere that Russia had already been promised they can keep the territory they have claimed during the war. For me these talks are a non starter; totally unacceptable to Ukraine. To quote the BBC, "Trump wants peace .Ukrainians fear what that might look like". However, a headline I saw on CNN worried me too. It is a quotation from Vance the US VP and  reads "US could send troops to Ukraine if Russia doesn't seek peace with Kyiv". I'm not sure I see that happening do you? There was actually a meeting this week in Munich - a big Security Conference, attended by Trump's VP, JD Vance. He took world stage berating European countries for their economy and accusing Germany, Sweden and the UK of censoring free speech. 

It was absolutely foul weather on Friday and I did not go out. It was also Saint Valentine's Day which I always spend with Eladio, except for this year. But we shall celebrate when I get home. How lucky I am to have the husband I have. 

Missing Eladio on Valentine's Day this week

I spent the day inside and we had great fun really and ate well. We had sausage rolls again for lunch; that is Andy and I, as well as some M+S pork pie, neither of which I could resist.  We also had Eton Mess or rather Andy and I did. We both seem to love the same fattening food. I commented that if he and I were married, we would both be obese and that it was a good job we had the partners we do who are so moderate about their intake, like Eladio. I then had a short siesta after which we played Trivial Pursuit which had the most devilish questions. It was a UK edition so not to my advantage as I have been out of the country since 1981. Amanda beat us both hands down. But I beat her at ludo later. After another delicious meal by Andy from the healthy cook book, we all played 3 card brag. We used to be mad on it at school but that was over 50 years ago and none of us really remembered how to play. Thus we turned to a more traditional card game called Sevens which I won each time hahahaha. We really had a lot of fun and games this week and I was in my element, eating, drinking, playing cards and laughing all the time. Oh how I love my friends and wish I saw them more often.

I went to bed pretty late for me after enjoying a day playing cards and a board game which I love but don't do at home as no one is interested I'm afraid.

We woke up to dense fog and rain on Saturday morning. We braved the weather though and went out, for more food my friends. I can't stay here much longer as, like Pooh Bear, if I carry on eating like this, I won't be able to get out of the door to go home, hahahhaa. 

My friends took me to a very special place which is a farm but also has a restaurant where everyone gets served a surprise menu and only when everyone is sitting down to eat. The farm specialises in organic veg and my friends get all their veg from them. Called Riverford Field Kitchen I loved it at first sight. I got more photos that day and here is one of my dear friends outside the "field kitchen" before we went in.

Outside Riverford Field Kitchen yesterday

The whole place was rustic and warm with a great atmosphere. As to the food, it kept coming, dishes and dishes, mostly of amazing veg with some incredible combinations. Our mains was duck in beetroot sauce. But best of all was my sticky toffee pudding for dessert; probably my favourite English pudding of all. Here are some pics to remember that lovely place and meal.

Wonderful lunch yesterday

By the time we had finished the rain had stopped for the first time in a day and a half. Thus we were able to go for a walk. My friends took me to the beach front called St. Michael's Promenade in Teignmouth right next to the railway line built by Isambard Kingdom Brunnel which went into operation in 1846. It is the line that runs from London to Penzance. The 10.000 or so passengers who travelled on it the summer every week then, must have loved the scenery. I did too but it was bitterly cold and rather windy. My friends keep telling  me this area is glorious in the summer but of course I have come in February. But who cares about foul weather when you are in England with your best friends, spending all your time, eating, drinking playing cards, laughing and generally having lots of fun? What a break this has been for me this week and there are still a few more days to go until I return home on 20th. Here is a pics from our walk  by the tacky Teignmouth sign hahaha. 

On our walk yesterday

Andy took more, including this week's feature photo. He also took this one where I was trying to push my hair back and it ended up like this - so funny

A funny picture on our walk yesterday in Teignmouth 

Once home, we all grabbed a glass of that lovely New Zealand wine which I nursed for hours while we played cards and played until it was time for bed.  As teenagers we loved playing betting games such as 3 card brag, poker or pontoon. That was over 50 yeas ago so our memories of the rules were not intact. Yesterday we tried pontoon using lots of coins that Andy has stored somewhere and then went back to Sevens. What fun. I am looking forward to more fun today but please Andy no more pork pie, sausage roll or sticky toffee pudding hahahaha.

That's it from me from Devon today until next Sunday.

Cheers all, Masha

A crappy Monday, my knee gave in again, Olivia reporting on the Rubiales unsolicited "kiss case", Trump wants to take over Gaza and expel the Palestinians, to the coast for a winter break and a bus man's holiday, Elliot goes skiing, my birthday and other stories of the week.

 Sunday 9th February, 2025

Enjoying a coffee in the sun

Good morning everyone.

How has your week been? Mine started off being very crappy literally, as you will read on but got better as the week progressed.  My knee caved in again and only on Tuesday were we able to get away to the coast for a winter break. It's actually been more like a "bus man's holiday" to quote my father when my parents taught in the summer holidays, because we had lots to do here as you will learn later too. 

Last Sunday was Groundhog day which was quite appropriate for me as all days leading up to it seemed the same to me. The groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter; i.e. bad weather but it's been wonderful here. I went for my first walk since I had an issue with my knee last month and it did me the world of good. It was just half an hour but it felt splendid.

On Monday though, I went for an hour long walk which I would regret as my knee caved in that afternoon. I had obviously overdone it. The day started well for me with Olivia covering the high profile court case of Luis Rubiales, Spain's former head of the Spanish Football Association. I'm calling it the "kiss case".You will remember this creepy man forcing an unwanted kiss on player Jennifer Hermoso just after Spain won the women's Football World Cup championship. He then went on to coerce her into saying publicly that it was consensual. He is also involved in other scandals but this is Spain's Me Too moment in football and sport in general and the media attention has and is being incredible. This week it was one of  Spain's main topics and my daughter was covering it for her programme La Hora de la 1 for TVE, the country's public broadcaster. I can't tell you how proud of her I am. Later she told me that the Discovery Channel from the UK filmed her reporting and will be interviewing her on 21st Feb and she wants me there. Great.  Here are some stills from her live reports.

Olivia reporting on the Rubiales case this week

Her husband Miguel later told me she had been congratulated by some quite high up people in the corporation. Oli never blows her own trumpet so we have to instead.

Monday was very crappy apart from seeing Oli on the TV,  in both senses of the word I'm afraid. It was the day of my dreaded colonoscopy at 8pm which had me on the loo from noon until noon the next day. Unfortunately, the beverage they gave me didn't work as fast as it should have. That meant that my gut wasn't completely empty so they could only see 75% of it. They suggested I come back for another test next week. But, no way I am going through that again. No way. I hobbled there and hobbled back and came out feeling absolutely lousy. My dear husband was there for me. After 2 days of only liquids, it was wonderful to be able to eat again. Generally the day was so crappy I consider it one of the worst in recent times.

The only good news that day was that Trump gave both Canada and Mexico a breather, by delaying the imposition of 25%  on goods exported to the US: How did he do it? In exchange for stricter border controls to stop immigrants and fentanyl from entering the USA. Later in the week he threatened the EU with similar tariffs but not the UK for the moment. 

I managed 6 hours sleep that night and was up early on Tuesday morning and able to watch Olivia reporting live again from the courts in far away San Fernando de Henares. She must have got up before the crack of dawn, poor girl. But as I told her, "don't complain you could be working for a bird magazine or something boring." I did later hear from her that she loves her job. Gosh, job satisfaction is more than important isn't it?

I was still crapping that morning and cursing ever having asked to do the damn test. That day we had decided to come here to our apartment on the coast as many things needed doing. We also wanted a winter break and to celebrate my birthday quietly. Before leaving, we went to A&E where I saw the same doctor who is treating my knee. He told me that I should not walk for more than half an hour. That is very limiting and inconvenient for us, for whom our daily walks are so important. 

As we drove to Santa Pola, I read that there had been a shooting at a school in Sweden with 10 people killed. It probably has to do with the terrible gang violence gripping the country. This, otherwise peaceful country, until no so long ago, now has the second highest crime death rate in Europe after Albania. According to an article I read "poverty is the main driver" in areas called "utsatta" or vulnerable areas. They are probably more like immigrant ghettos although no one wants to use that term.

We stopped for lunch at Mesón San José on our way. Reading the news while my husband drove on afterwards, I was astounded to hear Trump's latest. He wants to take over Gaza and drive away the Palestinians by sending them to Egypt and Jordan, while he turns the area into a sort of "Middle East Riviera". This came during his first meeting with Netanyahu  who was in Washington this week. No doubt it was music to the latter's ears but not to Palestinians or any other Muslim or non Muslim country.  Is this any of his business? Really? Is he mad? Yes, well, we know that. Later on in the week, the man once again insisted that Palestinians be expelled after Israel cedes  the territory to the US who will turn it into some sort of haven. This was his tweet on Thursday afternoon. Honestly, I have no words.

In his own words. Frightening. 

He is making some terrible decisions for democracy in America too which certainly aren't going to make it great again. I read worryingly that he wants to make America all white with special emphasis on Latinos. It is estimated there are some 11 to 13 million illegal immigrants many of whom are fearing deportation. In a Stalin like style he is offering 1000 dollars to people to snitch on them so they can be deported. Just yesterday 300 Brazilians were flown home, shackled again. Does this man have no humanity? Making America great again - his electoral pledge, he is very serious too about annexing Canada as Justin Trudeau let slip this week in words heard when he thought the mikes were off. 

All thoughts of Sweden or Trump mania left my head when we got here. We arrived to find a sparkling clean apartment with a new kitchen sink - the latter took 2 years to achieve - won't go into the details. It was good to see how well the pantry had been painted in our absence and how clean Gina our new cleaner had left it. She is a treasure. We soon settled in to our old flat which we bought in 1999. We were very grateful for the warmth from the AC/heat combo pump we had installed in the main living area last summer.Most people in this area do not need or have central heating but it can get cold. Eladio set about mounting a fruit and veg rack to replace a horrible one we had and a hanging fruit and veg basket contraption. What a difference this all made. I saw Lucy our lovely neighbour who returned to me an heirloom, a very valuable brooch that belonged to my English grandmother which Suzy had brought here. I was so relieved to get it back. I've hardly ever worn it but it's beautiful.

I slept very well that night; 7 whole hours which is a lot for me. I missed Oli on the TV that morning - she doesn't always warn me (boohoo). Later she sent photos of Elliot skiing for the first time. Her husband Miguel had taken him  out of school to enjoy a day skiing. Aged only 5 it was probably the best day of his life so far and he will remember it always. Here he is, all kitted out.

Elliot (5) went skiing this week

And here you can see him skiing with his father in a video where you can tell just how happy both of them were.

Elliot skiing (for the first time) with his father

While Oli was reporting and Elliot and Miguel skiing, we went out to do various tasks. Our first stop was to print some documents to take to the Land Registry Office the next day. Then we drove to Euronics to buy another AC/hot air pump  as well as a large screen Samsung smart  TV, both for our bedroom here. To make it even more comfortable for our stays  in winter and summer, I also invested in a memory foam mattress topper I got on Amazon. Thankfully, Euronics could get an electrician and air con installer to come during our stay. I have long wanted to make these changes which, of course, our guests will also enjoy. It was only after that that we had some free time in the morning - heaven forbid; we do not work in the afternoons, hahahaha.

 Later I took Eladio to one of my favourite places here, Choco & Latte by Dalua in the main square of Santa Pola where the castle is; in the heart of this small seaside town. I was pining to have a coffee there in the sun and my wish was granted. Eladio took a photo of me which I have chosen as this week's feature photo. It was a happy moment. But we came away having taken a hard decision. There will be no road trip this year. We realise now that we cannot leave Suzy alone at home ever again for more than a week. We haven't told her we are here, for fear she would have insisted on coming with us and then staying to live. She can never live here alone again. Her delusions would get worse and she would take drugs again. So with a heavy heart, we had to make this decision for the sake of our daughter's safety. So no more long walks and no more road trips. There you go. Resilience which was my motto last week is to be my motto forever more my friends. We have to live, despite the very big problem in our lives. There you have it. And we will live and try to be happy. 

As one has to eat to live, on our way home we stopped at Mercadona to get provisions for our stay. I later remarked how easy it is to shop and cook for just two people and not four and a dog. 

I spent the afternoon finishing The Missing on BBC iPlayer and then went on to watch the series Baptiste with the same "French" detective. He is called Tcheky Karyo and was actually born  in Turkey. I love him and I love both series. 

After a dinner of giant prawns with salad, I had an hour long Skype call with my dear friend Kathy (and her husband Phil - at times). It was lovely to catch up. We do miss them and hope to see them this year. I do pine for Yorkshire where they live.

On Thursday morning after another 7h hours sleep (hurray), the first thing I saw on my phone was a video from Olivia. She was reporting again on the case but this time the video was about being a reporter on the streets before daylight. You can see it here. 

Early morning video from Olivia showing her preparations: coffee, her notes, gloves and a brush!

Our morning wasn't quite as early but we had to hurry up to get the Land Registry office as the AC/heat pump people were coming to install it at noon. I had to go there to submit a form to request a registry code number in compliance with tougher laws for tourist rentals imposed by our socialist/communist government. It's funny really but Spain's last right wing President, Mariano Rajoy, who was a Land Registry officer before entering politics, went back to work at this same office when he was ousted from government. The staff there later told me he was a very nice person. Never in his time would he have made such stupid laws around tourism, the very heart of Spain's economy. To cut a long story short, I had to go and print something else, request it online, go home and submit it online, only to go back again physically to complete the process of requesting the damn number. Finally at noon I was done and I now have to wait for a call to come and collect the stupid new document. But I had done it and felt I had climbed a mountain.

I came back to find a group of Argentinians installing the AC/heat pump. They finished while we we were having our lunch after which we cleaned the floor. Oh what a difference the warm room made for our siesta. Not that I slept but I lay on my bed watching Baptiste on my trusted iPad. Lovely. 

On Friday finally we had no more tasks to complete. I suggested we spend the morning in Alicante with the excuse of going to El Corte Inglés (Spain's flagship department store) to get my birthday present and then have a coffee by the beach. And that is what we did. I am very happy with the noise cancelling headphones by Sony in white we got there. I tried them out at the store and was amazed at the quality.  My previous headphones have conked out and I needed new ones to watch stuff on my iPad when I don't want to disturb my husband. 

From there we drove to the port. Eladio parked while I went to look for a table at a bar in front of the Postiguet beach. It was a sunny day, slightly windy but the temperature was 17c which is pretty amazing for February. Did you know that Alicante is the sunniest city in Europe? I found a great table and the bar buzzing with people speaking, well, all the languages under the sun. Here are some photos of those happy moments by the beach on Friday.

Coffee in the sun on Friday in Alicante

On our way home we picked up my Amazon parcel containing the memory foam mattress toppers. It should have been delivered at home but the driver obviously thought it was more convenient to take it to a pick up spot. It contained two  for our twin beds and when Eladio  opened them I was a bit disappointed. They looked hard and thin. But, oh my goodness, about 3 hours later, they had expanded to the right measurement - 7cm - and we immediately put them on our beds. These are them.

Our new memory foam mattress toppers are divine

We didn't want to spend a fortune on new memory foam mattresses here where we don't come very often, so these have been the perfect solution. I am even thinking of getting one for our 180x190 bed at home as I think it's lost some of its foam or spring. What a wonderful idea. The proof would be in the pudding though so I wondered how I would sleep that night. I slept very comfortably. My wishes for our bedroom here in Santa Pola (heating and air con, a large TV and a new mattress) would be complete the next day when someone came to install the giant screen smart TV we got at Euronics on Wednesday. Mission completed along with the admin at the Land Registry Office.  

So when Saturday came, my birthday, I was free to celebrate it, bar the man coming to install the TV at 09.30. He rather spoiled my proposal to have breakfast at Choco & Latte in Santa Pola. Ah, but I had booked a table at a new restaurant for us that had been recommended by people in the area. It was at La Masía de Chencho somewhere on the outskirts of Elche, not far from here. 

I ate 2 mini croissants  and 2 mini pains au chocolate for breakfast while Eladio had his usual healthy stuff. That's when I opened my present (hahaha) and tried it out on my phone, PC and iPad. Then my dear husband presented me with a birthday card he got at the British supermarket, Quicksave, across the way. I had sort of nudged him to do so, but even so, I was very happy. It said on the front "For my really special wife on her birthday". I can't be that special if they make cards saying so can I hahaha? Then to make my happiness complete, Oli and the kids rang. They were so funny. Oli kept lighting  a match while they sang Happy Birthday to you, many times over. Juliet knows the words in English now. Ah, and this week, Oli told me she had learned to write her name. Also this week Miguel did a photo collage of her for school which I wanted to share with you here. Isn't she lovely? Well, not always hahaha.

Sweet Juliet (3)

By 12 noon the TV was working and we were free to leave. Before going for lunch we stopped at the Saturday market in Santa Pola where, wait for it; we got 12 kilos of giant oranges at 1 euro a kilo and 6 kilos of giant mandarins; all locally sourced. They look amazing. Here I am at the stand where we got the fruit.

Buying locally grown oranges at the market

Soon it was time to drive to the restaurant, La Masía de Chencho  which is on the outskirts of Elche in a rural area surrounded by olive groves and palm trees. What a wonderful place it is too. I wondered why we had never heard of it before. We thought La Finca was the best but this is top notch too. And here I am sitting and waiting for the delicious food we would be served and enjoying my birthday.

About to enjoy lunch on my birthday at La Masía de Chencho 

We had fried baby squid for starters, some amazing artichoke dish, followed by rice with cod and vegetables. This was it. It is a local variation on paella and just as good. 

Our rice dish "arroz con bacalao" at La Masía de Chencho

For  dessert I had to go for their home made lemon pie which was divine; really divine. 

And so, full, tired and happy we made our way "home" after a lovely birthday lunch at a new place we shall no doubt return to many times. 

Once home I set up all the apps on the new TV set and soon we had Netflix, Prime Video, Movistar Plus and RTVE Play all working for us to watch at our leisure from the comfort of our now more comfortable bed. 

But Saturday wasn't all about my birthday. On the international scene, and in the 5th release, three more hostages were returned to Israel from Hamas. Very worryingly they were handed over in a terrible state, infra nourished and looking like prisoners freed from Auschwitz. All of them were men and one, Eli Sharabi,  came home to be told something he could never have envisaged. His wife, his two daughters and his brother had been murdered by Hamas when they kidnapped him on that terrible night, 7th October 2023. I have no words to even begin to understand his misery. I really don't. How can he begin to live again?

I had a wonderful end to my birthday which by the way I shall continue to celebrate tomorrow at home with the girls and Juliet and Elliot. I had bought a mini cake from El Corte Inglés which was divine. It was made of some of my favourite things; pistachio and white chocolate. This was it.

My little birthday cake we or I had last night

Eladio isn't into cakes or many sweet things so I had most of it, hahahaha. Have you noticed the question mark shaped candle? So how old did I turn yesterday? Not telling hahahhahaha.

Last night, true to tradition in Madrid, we went to bed to watch the news. The new TV is a big plus in our room here as is the AC/hot air pump and new memory foam mattress top. I slept like a baby last night and woke up after 8 hours sleep and I am feeling on top of the world.

I don't want to go home today but we have to go back to be with Suzy and I must prepare for my upcoming trip to Devon next Wednesday. I shall have to prepare for the cold in good old Blighty too. If this morning the minimum temperature here was 8ºc and the maximum will be 18ºc or so, in Devon the minimum will be 4 and the maximum 8. But I don't care, I just want to go to England and see my dear friend Amanda and her husband Andy. 

So next week I will be writing from near Torquay. I've never been to Devon except for a stop off at Plymouth once, so will be looking forward to their famed Devonshire creamed teas, as well as fish and chips I hope. 

As I come to the end of this post, all that remains is to wish you all a happy Sunday.

Till next week, all the best, Masha