The World Cup goes to France, Trump meets Putin in Helsinki, a hundred years since the Tsar was killed, enjoying our Mediterranean garden, “baching” it with Olivia and other stories.

Sunday 22nd July, 2018

Reading in the garden, something I have been enjoying in the afternoons this week

Good morning everyone,

This week has had its ups and downs. There have been good bits and bad, just like "the curate's egg" and in a way I'm glad it's over and hope next week will be better. As you will read later I have been "baching" it since Friday when Eladio left for Montrondo to take care of his 96 year old Mother. That is not easy for either of us and there have been lots of challenges since he left as you will hear.

But let's rewind to last Sunday. My Portuguese guest left but he didn't say goodbye. I got a good written review from him but he only gave me 4 stars. The same thing happened with the English family from the week before. 4 stars out of 5 on Airbnb for a host is not good news as it takes down your average. My average so far was always 4.9 but now it's 4.8 and you have to have a minimum of 4.8 to be a "super host". That worried me because if I lose my super host status it means my listing will be less visible. Oh dear.

But that day I got a sudden booking from a French couple who would later give me 5 stars thank goodness. Isabel of Spanish origin and her husband drove from their home town Biarritz (oh how I love that elegant French seaside town where I spent many a summer in my youth thanks to my Uncle's flat there) to be with their daughter who is studying at the local university and take her home on Monday. So I had French guests in my house the day of the World Cup final between France and Croatia. I secretly wanted Croatia to win as France has already won the cup but couldn't tell my guests that. They sat and cheered on their team who would eventually win 4-2 and once again take the world cup back to France. The consolation prizes were the Golden Boot for Karry Kane of England and the Golden Ball for Croatian Real Madrid player Modric. France's win didn't make me particularly happy. Neither did Djokovic winning at Wimbledon again this time against Anderson. As you can guess I would have preferred to see Nadal win but that wasn't to be. 

I didn't watch either match - well I couldn't have watched Wimbledon as it's pay per view here - and read outside on the kitchen patio. It was then that I noticed that our greengage tree actually had some greengages on it. Some years it's really plentiful but this year we thought it wouldn't bear any fruit. But it does and quite a lot. The greengages won't be ripe for quite a while and then it will be battle with the birds who usually eat all the fruit.

Greengages coming along nicely

Our greengage tree

The important news that day was Donald Trump's summit with Putin in Helsinki after he left the UK. No one in Finland welcomed either leader and there were many demonstrations which I was glad to see. I hated the idea of these two oligarchs in my beloved and free press country Finland which I know so well from having worked for a Finnish company, Nokia, for many years. On the eve of his visit, the unfit man for office gave an interview to the CBS describing the European Union as his foe. Then in Finland he acted as though Russia was his friend, denying their meddling in his elections. Oh what an idiot of a president. The United States doesn't deserve to have someone like him as President. So what did the two most powerful men in the world have to say to each other. Well, we don't know as their meeting was held in private except for their interpreters, so for now, we haven't a clue. What we do know though is that Trump has invited Putin to the White House in the autumn. Why is he befriending his enemy?  No one understands. 

Trump meets Putin in Helsinki

Monday 16th July 2018 was the 100th anniversary of the massacre of the Tsar and his family as well as theor doctor and two of their servants. 

My goodness a hundred years. My Mother being Russian and her family exiles,  having fled the Russian revolution, I was brought up on all this. My Mother's family, the Lieven family who have the title  of Prince or Princess, His Her Serene Highness, lived through the Tsar's tragedy until they left Russia in 1920. I always heard from my Mother that they left on the last ship provided by George V along with other nobles, including Prince Felix Yusupov, the richest man in Russia and killer of Rasputin. The Yusupovs were family friends as well as cousins on my Grandmother's side (Stachovich) and Felix' mother was my Mother's God Mother. No doubt they all mourned the massacre which could have been avoided if the Tsar and Tsarina had been willing to leave Russia but they weren't. In the history books we all read that the Tsar met this fate because George V and Lloyd George did not welcome the Russian royal family to England but after having read the latest history book on the subject, it was not quite as simple as that. The book I am reading "The race to save the Romanovs, the Truth behind the secret plans to rescue Russia's imperial family, by Hellen Rappaport 

the prestigious historian, an expert on the Romanovs,  questions that in many ways. 

The Tsar, the Tsarina and their 5 children shot dead by the revolutionaries in Yekaterinburg a 100 years ago.

But my mind was on something very different that Monday morning, not on the fate of the Tsar. As a bonus from Airbnb for having been a super host for 4 quarters in succession, I had applied for a professional photographer to do a proper photo shoot of the house. Eladio thought my photos were fine and so did I, all taken on my mobile photo, until I saw the photos Javier, Airbnb's official photographer in Spain, on his professional camera. He swears that his photos will boost my bookings. I really hope so. I won't get them until next week so I have to wait. The photos will belong to Airbnb and not to me and can only be put on one listing. However I have been able to buy a slightly different version of all of them to keep for myself which I will be able to put on the other listings. I also thought they might come in handy if one day, God forbid,  we sell this house.

This house is far too big for us: 650m2 with 2.500m2 of grounds and no doubt one day we shall rattle around in it and probably it is not suitable for old age but while we are living in it we are enjoying it, even if we have to rent out rooms on Airbnb to keep it up. What I have been enjoying particularly this week, in the afternoons, is our Mediterranean garden as you will read. 

After the photo shoot I had to rush off as I had an MRI on my back and hip both of which are giving me pain on and off.  The appointment was at 12.30 but the MRI didn't start until past 1pm. I had only ever had one many years ago and didn't realise that it would last one whole hour and that I had to be completely still. I could only move my eye lids!! The MRI was a closed type tunnel and I hated every moment of the experience and the damned noise which despite the ear plugs I was given was excruciating. My hands became numb, my body began to feel itchy and I couldn't move to scratch it and I thought the torture would never end. It did end thank goodness though and I was out by 2.30 or so. It was great to feel free and be on my legs. As I lay immobile in that tunnel I thought of the fate of people with tetraplegia and felt for them. It was great to be out in the open and walking to my car afterwards. I will get to see the results on 1st August when I have an appointment with the traumatologist. Keep your fingers crossed it's just a bit of arthritis hahaha. 

I was home late and had lunch on my own - leftovers that day. That afternoon was spent as most afternoons were this week reading. On Monday I read by the pool as I always do, except for when we have Airbnb guests when we go the garden to find a quiet spot under the trees. This week I have been devouring books by a new author for me, Kristin Hannah, famous for her book The Nightingale, about the French Resistance in the 2nd World War. I have read quite a few since then. I buy her books for my kindle via Amazon. It was Amazon Prime day on Monday but I didn't get anything. I heard later there were big strikes at Amazon warehouses by packers who do their work in dreadful conditions. Shame on you Amazon, treat your workers better. 

Tuesday came and Oli would be back from Valencia to brighten up our lives. I was up early that morning as always and had my coffee outside on the kitchen patio where the greengage tree is and where I can contemplate the beautiful adelfa flowers on the hedges. They are so abundant and colourful. I have tried to capture them on camera but they are much better in real life. I do so love them although they say they are poisonous.

The adelfa bushes surrounding the kitchen patio

My favourite moment of the day is my first cup of coffee which I drink outside in the garden. 

Soon Eladio, the dogs and I were ready for our early morning walk. As we walk down the path to the gate I always inspect "my roses" and I love them. This week the miniature red ones came to flower. Aren't they beautiful?

Our miniature red roses are a delight to look at

That morning the antenna people came to fix my Father's TV which had stopped working. It's vital for it to work as he watches the BBC World News everyday on his TV in his lounge/our study. There is always some repair to be made around the house and garden. It's never ending and damned expensive to keep up.

I was cheered up that morning by the arrival of my Emma Bridgewater parcel. I had been seduced by their email promoting their Sale and I am a sucker for their pottery of which I have a lot. This was what arrived on Tuesday morning to add to my collection.

More from Emma Bridgewater for my collection

Joy of joys, Oli was back for lunch. I wasn't inspired as to what to serve so got out some frozen "bitki" (Russian style hamburgers) which are standard in our house. Later the three of us, Eladio, Oli and I and the dogs, of course, spent some quiet time under the horse chestnut trees by the pool. Here are Eladio and Oli that afternoon, Father and daughter together with Pippa (of course). Oh what I would have paid to have Suzy with us if only for the photo.

Oli, Pippa and Eladio and a little bit of Norah  - Tuesday afternoon by the pool

But we weren't there for long. I wanted to go and buy more flowers to replace some of the dead ones that hadn't survived the heat or the lack of irrigation when there was a burst pipe while we were in Santa Pola.  Irrigation is another of Eladio's battles and another expense of course. So off we went to Verdecora a nearby garden centre. I wanted to get blue hydrangeas but there none to be seen. Instead I got lavanda, some yellow and orange flowers I don't know the name of, some jasmin (my favourite) and chrysanthemums  or something similar. Here they are called simply "margaritas".

New flowers for the garden

Eladio planted them all, bless him, when we got home and they are looking good. Let's see how long they last this time. While he planted our new flowers, Oli and I bathed in the pool. I have hardly bathed this season so it was lovely to be in the pool with my daughter. Since then we haven't as when we have Airbnb guests around the pool, we leave them to it and find a quiet corner in the garden so as not to be in their way:-(

Dinner was better than lunch. Oli and I made prawn cocktail with mangoes and avocados, perhaps one of my favourite dishes. This is what it looked like.

My delicious prawn cocktail for dinner on Tuesday

The day ended with us watching a film called "Don't say a word" with Michael Douglas on Netflix comfortably from our bed in our air conditioned room. It was hot that night although the temperatures have been unusually cool most of the week not exceeding 33ºc. This is luxury compared to last year's intensive heat wave which lasted so long. 

I slept reasonably well although I had a headache when I went to bed and it hadn't gone when I woke up on Wednesday morning. My first cup of coffee in one of my new Emma Bridgewater mugs cleared it up though quite quickly. I had a video call with Suzy in Bali that day and it was good to see her and also hear that she is feeling very happy there. Oli joined us on our morning walk after which I had lots of errands to do. It was lovely to do them with my daughter. My new Airbnb guests arrived that day, a family of four from Utrecht, Holland. They are lovely people. They arrived just as we were about to sit down to lunch but I soon showed them around and left them to it. They get up really late, owing to their teenage son and daughter, then go out sightseeing and come back early to use the pool. The pool is the big attraction here. 

Thus we spent the afternoon in the garden and that is where I am discovering and enjoying our Mediterranean garden which we have hardly ever spent time in because of the pool patio. So it was that afternoon I discovered we even have a grape vine amidst the adelfas, hibiscus, an olive tree and God knows how many other shrubs, bushes, trees and even palm trees. I even discovered it has lots of budding bunches of green grapes on it. How come we never saw it before? Thanks to a recipe from my friend Jacky I shall be using the leaves soon to try out her recipe of stuffed vine leaves until the grapes turn ripe; that is if aren't all eaten by the birds.

A grape vine in our garden

A grape vine, palm trees and an olive tree for me are the essential parts of a Mediterranean garden and I don't really know why I never appreciated the garden before. Now I do. I love it in fact and I feel so happy sitting under the big elm tree reading my book on our beach chairs. I would like to replace them with proper garden furniture one day. The photo illustrating this week's blog is of me reading in that particular spot and feeling at peace with the world. 

While I sat, Oli preferred a towel on the grass where she was joined by the dogs. Or rather they hogged the other towel from her hahaha.

Oli reading in the garden with Pippa

Norah and Pippa hogging one of the towels in the garden

Oli went out for dinner that night but of course Eladio and I stayed in. For our meal that night I made a Spanish tortilla (omelet) adding spinach to the traditional ingredients: potatoes and onions. I served it on one of my new Emma Bridgewater plates.

It was tortilla for dinner on Wednesday night

Having finished the Michael Douglas film, we started watching a new espionage series, an Australian one, called "The Secret City". It's not bad but not the best we've seen. And that was the end of Wednesday. 

Thursday came, the day before Eladio would be leaving me for 10 whole days. The morning was a bit of a rush as after our walk I had to race to my appointment with my Father's doctor. For some reason we can't find his health card and have to go to the health centre to get his prescriptions. From there I went to the chemist where I was told the prescriptions were not valid because the doctor hadn't put some stamp somewhere. So I will have to go back. What an archaic system the chemists use here. 

I came home to finish making roast ribs for lunch. Our Dutch family, meanwhile, had taken off to visit Madrid. I should rephrase that as they had gone to visit the Real Madrid stadium, not the city. They are obvious football fans. What is the point of visiting a stadium if there isn't a match going on I wonder? Apparently, after the Alhambra the Bernabeu stadium is the most visited place in Spain for tourists. It's not the Prado, no, it's football that is the lure. 

While they were out we spent more time in the garden and our day on Thursday ended like most days this week, dinner, early to bed and more video streaming.  Our Dutch family, meanwhile, had had their dinner and were playing table tennis which seems to be very popular with them. It's nice to see someone play on it as usually no one ever does. 

Friday came and I was up having my coffee on the kitchen patio at 5.50. Now that is early but I had lots to do as I had to pack Eladio's clothes etc, as well as all the food he had to take. I had made him a list of meals to make with all of it. He is a man capable of many many things but can hardly fry an egg. 

And off he went after our walk at around 10ish and it was goodbye to my husband and Oli's Father for 10 days for me. So both of us were "home alone" and as you say in Spanish "de Rodgriguez" which means you are temporarily without your spouse or partner. I looked up a translation of the expression in Spanish and actually found one in an Urban dictionary  -to "batch it" coming from the world bachelor. So yes,  I have been baching it since Eladio left and Oli has since she left Valencia but only until tomorrow when Miguel, her partner returns. It felt weird but actually quite liberating. We could do nearly what we wanted or so we thought and above all I could watch films and series on Netflix and Amazon Prime in English. With Eladio I have to watch everything dubbed into Spanish. 

After he left, Oli and I went out fruit shopping and brought back the very best we could find, in cherries and select fruit from Carrefour Market and the rest from Mercadona, Spain's mainstream low cost supermarket which I actually quite detest, it's so unexciting. It was funny but by the evening half of them had been eaten but not by us. A mystery. 

Being Friday night I suggested to Oli we go out for dinner and that's what we did. Oli took me to a new restaurant for me, "El Kiosko" in nearby Boadilla. I loved it and we shall be going back. For starters we had artichokes cooked deliciously and served as if they were flowers with some sort of honey sauce, followed by octopus and then guess what? Yes, fish and chips. That is why I shall be going back.

That night, after Oli left me, I went to sleep but not alone. Pippa was to be my bed partner while Eladio was away. It's amazing how she keeps me company God bless her. Ah, but before I went to sleep, I had to do my husband's nightly job of checking all the lights and doors and making sure the dogs were in their baskets in the kitchen. That's my husband's job but it will be mine now until he comes back. 

Saturday was not a good day and when we most missed Eladio. On our walk Elsa got completely covered in sh** and we had to drag her into a bath tub when we got home, no mean feat as she weighs 25 kilos. It's not easy washing her either, a job my husband usually does. She wouldn't let me dry her properly and soon she was running up the stairs wetting everything in sight. 

It was a stressful moment but doable I suppose. More stress was to come as I had to deal with or help Lucy, our housemaid and my Father's carer. She has had back pain for at least two weeks and there was nothing for it but to get medical assistance that day as she couldn't stand the pain more. Getting medical care for her when she has no health insurance, no residency papers, etc is not easy. She is petrified of being deported and I had to think quickly yesterday morning. Do I take her to a private clinic and pay a fortune for an appointment and x-ray or do I risk it at the local state hospital? I asked her to choose and she chose the latter. I was a bit worried she would be reported to the police but thankfully that didn't happen and she was attended to. 2.5 hours later we were outside and had a diagnosis; muscular contraction on her back and she had been injected a pain killer and prescribed more to take orally. She was also told to rest for 48 hours. 

Olivia meanwhile was making our lunch, home made pizza which was delicious. Thank you darling.

Oli's home made pizza

The problem for Oli and I was after lunch. Lucy had disappeared to rest in her room and lie down and we had to take my Father up the path and into the house through the garage and into his room. With Olivia that was ok but I couldn't do it on my own. The problem came when we had to get him out of his wheelchair and into his bed. We asked Lucy how to do and we got a very curt reply that if she had to do it she would leave the house immediately. I was only asking for her guidance. She may be in pain but she has been pretty bolshie recently and has been rude in replies on occasion and I feel as if I am bending down on my knees to keep her happy. That can't go on for much longer.  Eladio has been taking my Father up in the wheel chair every day. If after her 48 hour resting period, she can no longer do the most important tasks of looking after my Father I shall have to find someone else. Olivia is going tomorrow, Eladio is away and I have my eye operation tomorrow so I am in quite a bit of a quandary. What to do? It's not an easy situation. 

Oli and I spoke about it for a long time yesterday afternoon in the garden. Here we are together. Not a good photo but reflects the moment.

Oli and I in the garden yesterday

Oli was joined by some of her friends which I love her to have but stress me a bit when we have Airbnb guests who I want to have a quiet atmosphere. However, the garden is big enough for everyone and I don't think our guests even saw Oli and her group. Later they, Oli and her friends, went out for dinner. I stayed of course, to supervise my Father's going to bed ritual, etc and by 8.45 was in my room with Pippa. What a day. It ended with me watching Mamma Mia (in bloody Spanish - don't know how to change the language on the remote control) on normal TV. I love the songs but the plot is downright stupid. I don't really know why it was such a success as it so so cheesy. 

Today is Sunday and it seems Lucy is a bit better. She has done her chores but has been surly as usual. I don't think I can keep up with her surliness or bolshie attitude. I will have to talk to her but of course, being me and hating confrontation, that will not be easy. Oli, I'm sure could deal with it a lot better than me. 

So my friends that has been my week, not the best week and not the best blog. I'm running late so will love you and leave you until next week.

Masha

PS "baching it" is ok for a day or two only:-( 

The end of the “Cousinade” in France, goodbye my "Kiwi family", back to Spain, The World Cup is not coming home, Trump visits the UK and other stories.

With my "Kiwi family" on the last day in La Teillée

Sunday 15^th July 2018 

Gosh (what an old fashioned word!), this time last Sunday I was still in France for our annual cousin gathering, the "Cousinade". How time flies. 

I was up again early that day and after publishing my blog and a leisurely breakfast with some of my cousins - others, the younger ones, slept on . I went for a walk with Tony and his little daughter Ruby, my "room mate".  Katty couldn't join us as she had to drive her son Luc's friend, Luke (the other Luke as we called him) to the station in Poitiers.

Tony, my cousin Katty's husband, the "New Zealander" among us and their little daughter, Ruby on our walk last Sunday

It was another warm day. I complained about the heat in France but my goodness it is far hotter here. 

We came home to spend a leisurely morning playing all sorts of outdoor games. The first was a water fight where we all got completely drenched. I had to change all my clothes afterwards hahaha.  Only Katty and I out of the "oldies" joined the younger cousins in the game which we all enjoyed. It didn't matter about getting wet as it was just so hot. 

The water fight at the Cousinade last Sunday

People began to leave as many had to go back to where they lived to be able to get to work on Monday morning. So we were just a few less around the lunch table where we ate plenty of leftovers.

In the afternoon, after much clamouring from the kids, we all played croquet; such an English garden game and one I am not good at. This time the champion was my cousin Zuka whose team won hands down thanks to her skills. I had no idea she was a good croquet player. Later she told us she used to play as a girl in Biarritz and had won a championship organised by "Knigina" (Princess), a relative of the Tsar who had fled to France during the Russian Revolution and who my family was very close to. She was a Romanov.

Zuka our croquet champion with her safari hat on. 

After croquet where my team came last hahaha, we moved on the Molkky, a sort of Finnish skittles which we play every year at the Cousinade. Here we are playing. Luc, Katty's eldest son, beat us all hands down by the way.

Playing molkky

When the game ended, more cousins began to leave and we all got a bit sad. When Elizabeth started crying that made both Katty and I cry too. I do hate goodbyes. We had such a good time I hate to think I won't see all my cousins again for a whole year. We do live so far from each other. Those who live in France and, who are the majority, see each other more often but those of us who live in England, Spain and New Zealand not so. 

Our group was diminished by half late that afternoon but the cousinade was still in full swing. What I love most about it is the difference in age. The youngest member is just 9 and the oldest 93 which makes for a lot of fun. We did all sorts of things together, including hairdressing, would you believe it. Helene needed her hair cut and Katty being an amazing all rounder -  she can put her hand to anything - obliged. Here she is cutting her Helene's hair with Ruby and I looking on. I am wearing my favourite summer outfit, my blue jumpsuit which I bought last year at the market in Majadahonda.  I say that because Ruby was wearing a blue jump suit too and she remarked that we were dressed the same, bless her. 

A bit of hairdressing during the "cousinade"

Soon it was "beer o'clock" as dubbed by Zuka's son Sasha which made me laugh. Those of us who were left, sat around together on the big veranda talking, drinking and in the case of Sam (Katty's son) and Helen (Marie Helene's daughter), playing the guitar and singing. It was beautiful to watch them.

Helene and Sam playing the guitar on Sunday evening.

Little Ruby sang a Maori song for us which impressed me. She's such a clever little girl for her age - 9 and an accomplished gymnast too. 

We chatted and listened until really late, late even for dinner in France. Katty had made a delicious dish called "pull pork" or at least I think that's what it's called. None of us were hungry but we ate it with gusto. The kids and I especially enjoyed the ice cream afterwards. That night we went to bed relatively early at just past midnight.

Monday came and it was my last day in La Teilée. After breakfast I went on a 2 hour walk with Katty, Tony and Helene. We left a little late at 9.15 and it was already hot. I love the countryside near La Teilée especially the sunflower fields at this time of year. They remind me of images of the Tour de France which of course is on right now. We had to have photos taken and this is one of me which reminds me of a similar one the girls took of me in a rape seed field in the Cotswolds and a video also where I keep saying "it's all yellow". This was all yellow too hahaha.

Me in a field full of sunflowers on our walk on Sunday

We even came across miniature plums which we picked and took home for Zuka to make jam. 

Picking plums on our walk last Sunday

Helene and her Mother Marie Helene were leaving after lunch and then I was the only cousin left with my "Kiwi family", Zuka my cousin (the daughter of my Mother's brother Nicky) and her Mother, my Aunty Valya (Nicky's wife). The kids wanted to go swimming so I joined them all when they went to the swimming pool in Vivonne, about 10km from La Teillée. I think I disappointed Ruby by not going in. I would have but I think I am spoiled by having my own private pool and don't like going into a public pool full of people. Or maybe that's my age. I did join them though when we all had an ice cream each. An ice cream at  a swimming pool is the height of joy in my books. 

The pool closed early for me at least, at 7 pm - they close at 9 pm in Spain - so we only had a couple of hours there but it was quality time with my Kiwi family. Before leaving Vivonne we stopped at a local supermarket to get more ice cream. The kids had earned a tub each for singing or dancing (hahaha) and in the end we got lots of tubs. I marvel at the range of ice cream flavours in France as opposed to Spain where there is little choice. I was dying to try the raspberry, mango and passion fruit ice cream although my favourite is pistachio and coconut which I had bought at the beginning of my stay. Not for me the traditional flavours of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry thank you very much. 

We were home on time for "beer o'clock" and Zuka, her Mother and I had an intense and wonderful long chat about my Mother and my Aunty Masha. My Mother was Zuka's favourite Aunt and she lived near my parents in England for many years. There were so many funny tales to tell, especially about my very eccentric Aunty Masha. 

That evening,   my last in La Teillée, I remembered before it got too dark to have a photograph taken with little Ruby on the natural "love seat" on one of the big trees in the garden. We have one together taken the first time the cousinade took place, three years ago,  and I wanted another one this year. 

With little Ruby on the "love seat" of this beautiful tree

Ruby  and I are as thick as thieves. I love her so much as I do her Mother Katty and her father Tony and two older brothers, Luc aged 17 and dear Sam aged 14. They are such a special family. I call them my "Kiwi family" because they live in New Zealand. I do wish they lived nearer. We took lots of photographs on the love seat that night and I have chosen the one of Katty and me with her 3 kids to illustrate this week's blog. I really feel a part of that adorable family and was glad that we had spent the last day of my stay together. 

Dinner was long and drawn out, the highlight being the different flavoured ice creams we had bought at Vivonne. We all indulged, it was so funny. That night I went to bed exhausted, very full but very happy. 

Even happier would have been the parents of the boys in Thailand who were trapped in a cave for more than 9 days. On Sunday last the first part of the rescue took place when 4 of them were rescued. The rest had to wait until the next day. The news of their rescue which has been called the rescue of the century was world wide news and the teams of divers who took part in the operation have been heroes. What a story. 

The big story that day in the UK was the resignation of Boris Johnson who needs no introduction here. He is our orange haired national laughing stock who only has his own interests at heart, pursuing his own agenda only. He resigned after the Brexit secretary Davies resigned, all because they are not in agreement with the latest white paper on the terms of an agreement to leave EU which is proving mission impossible. Didn't they all know that when the referendum took place I ask myself? What a shambles. 

All good things come to an end and this year's cousinade ended for me on Tuesday morning, the day I was leaving. It had been an intense and marvelous 5 days with my cousins in France. I only wish my girls and Eladio could have been there with me. Of course I was up early but actually didn't have to leave until 9.30 if I was to catch the 10.28 TGV to Paris Charles de Gaulle.  Zuka and Katty were to drive me to Poitiers but before we left my Aunty Valya rightly said she wanted a photo with me. So we took one of the two of us but with Zuka and Katty too, 3 generations in one photo. If Ruby hadn't been asleep we would have had a photo of 4 generations. She barely opened her eyes when I kissed her goodbye. 

3 generations; Aunty Valya, her daughter Zuka and Zuka's daughter Katty and me

It was bitter sweet saying goodbye to Aunty Valya. She said not to put a date on when I will next see her but I hope with all my heart to see her again next year. 

It was sad to say goodbye to Zuka and Katty too when the time came to walk to my platform with my huge suitcase and PC.  A lovely young black girl helped me carry it up the steps. The train was on time which was good. What seemed a little strange was that I was unable to check into my Air France flight leaving at 16.40 but I wasn't too worried as I had plenty of time to check in as I would arrive well on time at CDG airport. I would soon find out why. At check in after an enormous queue I was dumbstruck to hear that my return ticket was not valid unless I paid a penalty fine of 250 euros a penalty for not having used the outgoing ticket would you believe? I had bought a return ticket via Expedia with Air France but didn't use the outgoing ticket as the arrival time was too late to catch the TGV to Poitiers. Instead I bought a single ticket with Vueling to fly out never thinking there would be a fine to use my original return ticket.  I cried with frustration as this has never happened to me before and I find it totally unfair and unacceptable. I tried to get a cheap single ticket with another airline but I'm afraid last minute single tickets cost a lot - in this case 600 euros! Well I needed to get home and didn't want to be stuck in Paris so I had to pay the 250 euros and then I had to run as time was running out. By my goodness the queues; first the baggage queue which these days is a do it yourself baggage drop and then security. Thus I just caught the plane by the skin of my teeth, feeling hot and bothered and with nothing to eat except a few nuts I had left from my journey out. I just managed to grab 2 copies of the day's Le Figaro, one for Olivia and one for my Father. They both like newspapers from abroad. My Father knows 6 languages, one of which is French but it was never his favourite language. Later in the week he asked why the newspaper was called Le Figaro. I had to consult google and it seems it comes from the opera, the Barber of Seville. Interesting. The headlines were about Brexit hahahah. 

The plane arrived a little late in Madrid to 35c which felt like an outdoor sauna when I stepped out of the airport. For the records the plane landed at 17.15 but I wasn't out of the airport until 18h. My conclusion that day is that flying is no longer pleasant anymore. It's one big battle in fact. Thankfully I didn't have to wait too long in the hot sun. Eladio was soon there with his air conditioned Volvo and we were shortly on the motorway going home. After such a horrible trip, all I wanted was to be home.

While I had been away, Eladio had been taking care of our Airbnb guests, those leaving and those arriving. I came home to meet our Scottish guests or rather our guests who live in Edinburgh in Scotland, Norman and his wife Alison who is from Belfast and their delightful daughters in their late teens. She is a teacher of biology and he is a lawyer. Norman speaks some Spanish - he told me he learned it at school - and enjoyed practicing it with Eladio. He could have not found a better person to speak Spanish to. It was also interesting to talk to them about Brexit, Scottish independence, the Irish question and of course Catalan separatism. We were never short of conversation with Alison and Norman. They were great guests; in my top 10 ever since we began doing Airbnb. 

We watched the France Belgium match with them as we would do the England match the next day, such was the connection between us. We all wanted Belgium to win but it was not to be. The day ended with a quick dinner on the terrace with the dogs. Our Scottish family, having adopted Spanish eating habits, went out to dinner after the match. We found that funny. We went straight to bed to our air conditioned room, after all it was plus 30ºc outside and I had good night's sleep. The best thing about coming home is sleeping in your own bed. Don't you think so?

It was also lovely to wake up in my own bed on Wednesday morning although I missed my room mate Ruby. I got up late for me at 7.15 and as soon as I had finished breakfast Eladio was urging me to go on our morning walk to avoid the heat. Thus I didn't get enough time to read the "papers" on my iPad something I love to do leisurely. 

Our guests were still asleep when we came back. Later they went to El Escorial and El Valle de los Caidos - their visit was mostly cultural. This of course led to a long conversation about Franco when they came back after the proposal from the new Socialist government here to remove his remains from The Valley of the Fallen. 

Meanwhile at home there were a hundred little things to do. Our main task that morning was to bathe all three dogs who were much in need of a thorough soap down. I hate smelly dogs and I like ours to be clean and nice smelling. 

Another guest arrived that day, Maria, from Malaga, a student of physiotherapy at the local University. She had come to do last minute cramming for exams in two subjects she was resitting this Friday. Thus we hardly saw her. 

It wasn't only the World Cup that was on this week. There was also the Tour de France and of course Wimbledon. Our Scottish family wanted to watch the Nadal Del Potro quarter final match but unfortunately you can only see Wimbledon on Pay per view TV in Spain and we are not subscribers. I well remember as a teenager in Bradford in Yorkshire watching as many matches as I could with my family. Those were the days of Chris Evert, Billy Jean King, Martina Navratilova,  Virginia Wade, Jimmy Connors, Nastase, McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and co. I do miss Wimbledon in England. In Spain I support Nadal - who else? but have to follow the matches on Twitter which is not the same thing. In any case I don't think I could watch his epic matches as I get far too nervous. I far prefer to see the play after I know he has won. He won that day and would meet Djokovic in the semi final. Anderson, the big Australian stunned everyone by beating Federer, Nadal's traditional rival. 

It was just as tense watching England play Croatia in the semi final that night. They scored an early goal which had us all thinking "it was coming home" - the chant about winning the World Cup - but it was not to be. Towards the end of the match the Croatians equalised and thus it went to extra time. We were all expecting the match to end with a penalty shoot out but that didn't happen either. Instead the Croatians scored a goal and won 2-1 which was the end of the English dream. So it's not coming home now unfortunately. I now have no one to rout for. I don't really care whether France or Croatia win today but if I'm on anyone's side it's on Croatia's if only for another country to win the World Cup.  Eladio enjoys the World Cup more than me because he is never on any country's side, except for Spain. He just enjoys the football so there is no tension for him. There are only 8 countries in the world who have won it, including France, so I think it's Croatia's turn. It' quite amazing how a little country with a population of only 4 million people has got to the final when the great teams such as Brazil, Germany or  Spain lost on the way.  All I can say is well done. 

Oli and Miguel joined us at half time and we had dinner together, continuing to watch the match on my iPad on the kitchen patio. It's amazing how you can watch TV anywhere you want these days. I love technology. 

Thursday came and it was only when we were on our walk that I remembered I had an appointment with the eye specialist later that morning. It was an appointment in preparation for the laser treatment to be performed on my left eye which still has astigmatism after the cataract surgery. So we had to rush home. I also had to say goodbye to Norman, Alison and the girls and wish them a pleasant journey home. They are such nice people I do hope we see them again.  

Off I went for my appointment which involved all sorts of tests, many of which had been done before and I didn't leave the hospital until past 1 o'clock. I had to rush home to make lunch but stop on the way at Carrefour Market to buy provisions as our cupboards were bare. I got some fresh fish which we would have with the potato salad I made for when Oli and Miguel came, with gazpacho. I also bought strawberries and mangoes as well as 2 kilos of big thick black cherries at nearly 9 euros a kilo but I didn't care as I love them and this year seem to have missed the cherry season. 

Lucy was busy after the Scottish guests left, getting the rooms ready for our next guests. A family from Surrey was coming to spend 3 nights with two little girls. I knew I would have to hide Pippa throughout their stay as she barks at children and I didn't want to get a bad review. Oh Pippa!

Jane and Scott arrived in the middle of the hot afternoon with their delightful little girls, Celine aged 6 and little Poppy aged 5. They were gorgeous girls, such fun and very extrovert. I liked the parents too. They soon settled in and in no time the girls were splashing in the pool. I felt sorry for Maria who was studying at the table on the pool patio but she didn't seem to mind or at least I hope she didn't.

My English family went out to dinner to Ginos, which I recommend guests with kids to go to as they offer great pasta and pizza dishes. Meanwhile, for our dinner, I made prawn cocktail with mango and avocado, the ingredients of which I had bought at Carrefour that morning. It was delicious as you can judge by the photo below.

My prawn cocktail with mango and avocado for dinner on Thursday night

We took Pippa to bed with us that night to keep her out of the way of the girls who hardly got to meet her hahaha. Pippa was not complaining as she loves to sleep in our bed. As I was brushing my teeth she was lying comfortably by MY pillow!!

Pippa happy to sleep with us as always and always in prime position.

On Friday morning there was a bomb shell newswise. Donald Trump was visiting the UK in his first official visit there and the day before he had given an exclusive interview to The Sun of all papers. Doesn't he know it's the one of the most unworthy tabloids in the UK? Maybe his press people only judged it on its high readership numbers.  Friday was the 13th so very unlucky for Teresa May that day as he blasted her upcoming Brexit agreement with the EU. If she was hoping for a good trade agreement with the US, the news in The Sun will have chilled her. How damned undiplomatic is that red haired laughing stock of the USA. This is the front page of The Sun on Friday morning. What a bombshell and so wrongly timed.

The front page of The Sun on Friday

In the interview Trump says Teresa May had wrecked Brexit and that he had told her how to negotiate (please) but that she hadn't listened to him. He then said that an agreement with the US would not be possible anymore. Thankfully, later he went back on his words and even said the Sun interview was "fake news" (please) when it was a taped interview. He also said that his orange haired friend (my words) Boris Johnson would make a great Prime Minister. There were huge protests all over England against his visit and even a gigantic comic balloon of his baby face, a blimp, flown over London. What a man. 

It was not a lucky day for our English guests either. They had to curtail their visit as Scott's father had fallen ill and they wanted to be with him. I felt for them and was very sorry to see them go. They left me a lovely note in the visitors' book. 

It was a difficult day at Wimbledon too on Friday 13th. The semi final between Anderson and Isnier was so tight it lasted over 6 hours and turned out to be the longest match in Wimbledon history. Anderson won but only just. The final set alone took 2.5 hours. Surely there must be a better way to settle a tie break in a Grand Slam? It's not fair to players to play for 5 or 6 hours and 24 hours later play another marathon match. They had started at 1 pm and the Nadal Djokovic match was to start at 5. In the end that didn't commence until 8pm which must have been nerve racking.  They also played under cover which Nadal later complained about saying that Wimbledon is played in the open air. I agree with him. The two top players had to stop playing at 11 pm which would mean of course that they had to resume play on Saturday.  I think the Nadal Djokovic match should have been played on another court on Friday or on Saturday and the Mens' final on Monday. I think there will be a lot of food for thought for the organisers vs a vs the future of these marathon matches and the time the players have to recover. All this had me biting my nails on twitter. 

While the tennis marathon was being played on Centre Court, I spent time by the pool. My Malaga student Maria had finished her exams and had passed one with a 9 out of 10. We spent time chatting. I always like to get to know my guests. That's the plus side of the "business" hahaha. 

Being Friday night, Eladio and I resumed our Friday night dinners out and guess where we went? To nearby Ginos. I fancied comfort food; i.e. pasta. It was a nice way to end the week. 

Yesterday was the 14th July and I would have loved to be in France for the "Fête Nationale Française". Maybe I should suggest that next year's "cousinade" coincides. Just a thought. 

I had breakfast over the news of Trump's visit to the UK. Thankfully, as I wrote earlier, he went back on his words about the trade agreement. Now he was praising Teresa May and saying that the "special relationship" was "at its highest". That guy is bipolar for sure. He never got to see any of the protests as the centre of London was not on the agenda. He did, however, get to see the Queen and have tea with her which is what he most wanted to do. He told everyone that his Mother who was Scottish, loved the Queen. His Mother could have told him something about protocol too which he either never listened to or chose to ignore.  We didn't get to see photos of him having tea with the Queen but we did see images of him with her inspecting the Royal Guard. I am not a royalist but I do love our Queen and I did not like seeing him walk in front of her, covering her up completely. Ok he didn't bow and Melania didn't curtsy which is no longer a must but please don't walk in front of her you male chauvinist *** and ignorant man.   The newspapers and social media made much of his faux pas when meeting the Queen but I'm sure he doesn't care at all. These are just some of them according to US Today.  Apparently also he arrived late making the Queen look at her watch as she waited.

Trump walking in front of the Queen

I wonder if the Queen chuckled when "She" read the headlines too. I'm sure she did. I also wonder what she thought of the man the world so despises but has the most powerful job in the world. We shall never know but I doubt he's her type unless he has an interest in horses which he doesn't. His thing is golf and he has now left England for Scotland to play golf at his own golf course there. Good riddance is all I can say. 

All my sports hopes were dashed this week. England lost to Croatia and even lost now to Belgium in the third place play off . Nadal also lost to Djokovic which depresses me more. I was hoping for a third win for him at Wimbledon. But no, it will be either Djokovic or Anderson. We will only know later this afternoon. Good luck to both of them. 

Maria left yesterday morning and another guest arrived last night, Jorge from Portugal. All my next 10 reservations are from abroad. I get far more international guests than Spanish guests. My next guests will be a family from Holland. 

Saturday was a quiet day in general with no guests in the house for most of the day. After our walk I pruned the roses, filled the house with flowers and cooked. I also had a long siesta in our air conditioned room and read my book about the Romanovs by the pool. 

And today is Sunday and I have lots to do. First we shall on our walk so that's why I am writing early today to get this post published as soon as possible and also print a copy for my Father the most avid fan of my blog.

That's it then folks for this week. Wishing you all well, cheers till next Sunday.

Masha