From the heat of Madrid to the rain and cool of Asturias, a picnic in Alar del Rey, Richard Branson flies to space, England didn't bring it home, enjoying Llanes, sprucing up the terrace, beach hopping and mountain animals, home again and other stories.

 Sunday, 18th July, 2021

A happy moment on a bench on St. Peter's walkway above Llanes. 

Good morning everyone. How are you all doing? I hope no one reading this has Covid. There is a good chance some do as the figures are on the rise. If last week the total number of fatalities and infections was 4.043.020 and 187.279.338, this week they stand at 4.099.170 and 190.797.676.

I am taking the liberty to share a photo of a graph from The Times with the main figures up till Friday evening. I think it says a lot. 

Figures for Friday evening

It says a lot but doesn't say it all. If so many people are being vaccinated then why are the numbers on the rise? That's because the Delta and Beta variants are on the rampage and infecting young, non vaccinated people and even some doubly vaccinated.  That includes the new UK Minister of Health, Javid and he has been doubly vaccinated! Thankfully within the last group the mortality rate is very low. What we need to see is more people vaccinated in the poorer countries. Our World in Data records that only 25% of the world's population has been given at least one dose. In the UK over 60% are vaccinated. In Spain the number is now just over 50%. There is a long way to go to fight this virus and in my opinion the waiving away all Covid restrictions in the UK tomorrow is not the right step. In my home country they are recording over 50.000 new cases every day. It's damned stupid. Don't you agree?

Today I am writing from Madrid where it is as hot as last week with the temperature nearing 40ºc. It's unbearable. In my home country, yesterday was the hottest day of the year but nothing compared to 40ºc here.  Last Sunday  when we stepped outside to go to Oli's house to help with Elliot it felt like walking into an outdoor sauna.

Before we left for Asturias we were busy as guests were going and guests were coming. David and his 4 companions who behaved perfectly left at around 10.30 which gave us time to prepare for a group of 8 coming to use the pool from 13h to 21h. I was also in touch with guests leaving Santa Pola and our new house in Asturias. Everyone seemed happy with their stays thank goodness. 

We were going to Asturias that day for 4 nights and would have left in the morning except that Oli needed a helping hand. Thankfully their new flat has air con installed in all the rooms. Even so, Elliot was running about in his little vest, slightly undone so you could see his nappy. He didn't seem to mind. He was playing with his cars and we joined in by creating a car race which he loved.

Elliot loves his cars

We spent a pleasant couple of hours with Oli and Elliot and were joined at about 13h by Suzy. She stayed for lunch when we went home to have ours with my father before leaving for Asturias. Stepping out of her apartment was another scorching moment. Thank God we have air conditioning in the dining room. By then our 8 bathers had arrived and even with the swimming pool they were in for some serious heat, especially when they set about preparing the barbecue. Norah, our beagle, behaved badly when she stole a loaf of bread from them. Thus she had to be shut in the kitchen during their stay. She might be old (nearly 13) and ailing but her appetite is still there, especially for human food. 

We had a quick siesta before piling everything into the car and were off by 4.30 or so. We left Madrid in boiling heat and as we drove north the temperature gradually decreased. At 7.30 or so we stopped at our favourite picnic place, Alar del Rey in the province of Palencia, to have our picnic dinner. We had discovered this beautiful spot by the river Pisuerga a few journeys back and Suzy, like us, loved it immediately. By then the temperature was a bearable 33ºc. 

Our marvelous picnic at Alar del Rey on our way to Asturias last Sunday

Soon after our delicious dinner of Spanish potato omelet, salad, gazpacho and thick black cherries we were on our way to our new home. It must have been around 8 when we left and the remaining journey took 1.5h. As we entered the Cantabrian region, clouds appeared and the temperature dropped to 18ºc which was unbelievable. 

During our journey the most incredible thing was happening. The first commercial flight into space, or the edge of space, went off for a short ride with Richard Branson, the charismatic CEO of Virgin, on board.  He had been planning it since 2004 and last Sunday he finally made it to the edge of space. In a press conference later he said he had dreamed as a child of flying into space and that it was his most incredible experience ever. That is saying a lot as this man, known for his daring antics, has done more than many people in their lifetime. His main impression was the incredible view of earth from space. 

Richard Branson flying to the edge of space last Sunday

He is now planning the first commercial flight for next year for which people are paying up to 250.000 pounds or euros. Well, I will not be queuing up I'm afraid but I'm sure lots of rich people are.

I don't know if he was back on time to be at Wembley for the all important final of the Euro Cup  between England and Italy, or if he is even a football fan.

I am not a great football fan but I did want England "to bring it home"; i.e. bring football excellency back to the country where it was born. Obviously we couldn't watch the match in the car but I did follow the score and was confident and happy when I read that England had scored a goal just after kick off. I was sure they would win. I shouldn't have been so sure.

We were "home" by about 9.30 or so and it was raining - typical there and typical bad luck for us. I mean I don't like 40ºc in the sun but I'm not keen on 17ºc and rain. We soon settled in and it was then that Eladio switched on the TV. Just as he did, Italy scored an equaliser towards the end of the game. Oh dear I thought, this match is going to go the same way it did with Spain and Italy who went into extra time at 1-1 and then my adopted country lost in the penalty shoot out. Oh how unfair penalty shoot outs are and how I hate to watch them. It's no news if I tell you that Italy beat England in the shoot out, dashing all dreams of "bringing it home" or ending the dearth of major football wins since the World Cup in 1966. They will have to try harder and other opportunities will come along, just as they have for Spain on many occasion. In fact, I think, last Sunday was the 10th anniversary of Spain's world cup win against Holland. That was amazing and something Spaniards will not forget for a long time. I heaved a sigh of despair when England lost but as fair play dictates, had to hand it to Italy and I am congratulating them with words from this blog. Viva Italia. You did remarkably. I should also congratulate Djokovic who won Wimbledon last Sunday too becoming the third player, together with Federer and Spain's best player ever, Nadal, to reach 20 grand slam wins. I am not a fan of Novak, but you have to hand it to him too.

By then it was nearly midnight and I felt sorry for all the fans at Wembley and all the hopes of a nation dashed too. I thought, wrongly, that that was the end of the story. It wasn't. The news now coming out of last week's match is about British hooliganism and how violent fans got in without tickets and beat people up. God that is so sick. Football was invented in England as was football hooliganism, one of the worst in the world. I also read that when big matches are coming up there is more domestic violence and even femicide. That is even more sickening. 

We were in bed late and I slept relatively well, waking up on Monday morning at 6.45

It was dry that morning although the forecast was rain. Our phones, wrongly, told that rain would come at 11 am and it would then continue throughout the day. However, weather apps never get it right in this area of Spain, very similar to Brittany, where it can rain and then two minutes later be sunny and vice versa. Thus we decided to make the most of the dry weather and then come home when it rained. We wanted to show Suzy some of our favourite places so took her to Playa de Póo (not pooh,  promise) but it was windy and neither Suzy nor Eladio had brought a coat of any kind. It's sort of difficult to pack for Asturias when it's 40'c while you are doing so. Thus we drove on to Llanes, a very pretty seaside town not far from El Cuetu. We took photos by the empty town beach, Playa del Sablón and then walked into the centre. I was on a mission to buy a fleece for Suzy and a rain coat for my husband and daughter. We managed this at a typical and very old fashioned clothes store where there was lots of choice. I had to laugh when I saw both my daughter and husband dressed in similar raincoats and in the same colour. Now they would be ok and ready for any weather hahaha.

Father and daughter in blue rain coats

By then it was time for coffee and we walked around the corner to La Galerna where we always have it. La Galerna bar is in a beautiful square called Plaza Parres Sobrino where I know that many scenes from Spanish films have been shot. It's very oldie worldie.

Coffee on Monday at La Galerna in Llanes

By then the sun was out and we took off our rain coats. At this same square there is an amazing gourmet store, Aramburu, which sells the best of local produce. I always have to buy "cecina" (cured beef a bit like braseola but so much tastier) and also "pastel de cabracho" which is famous in the north of Spain. It is a sort of fish pate, difficult to describe, and was first created by the famous Spanish chef, José Mari Arzac.

As the sun was out we decided to go up to the top of the cliffs above Llanes to what is called "El paseo de San Pedro" - St. Peter's walkway. It is one of our favourite walks here. Nothing beats it as the views are amazing and you walk on fresh green grass. Having Suzy with us meant we had someone to take photos of the two of us which is a nice change. This week's feature photo is of us on one of the view point benches on that walk on Monday. When I posted some of the photos of our morning in and around Llanes on social media, some friends commented that my husband was very good looking. A new friend I have, Magda, told me "you have a gorgeous man". I suppose I do. When I told Eladio he laughed his head off as he is not at all aware of his good looks. I am. 

Suzy loved the walk and I took pictures of her too. I particularly like this one of her on another bench by the sea.

Suzy on the St. Peter's walkway on Monday

The weather held for the full walk which was about an hour or probably more because we kept stopping to take photos, like this one of me with my beloved Pippa who enjoyed the walk as much as we did.

Me and Pippa. Pippa and me - always together. On our walk on Monday

Our morning hadn't finished though as before going home we had to buy some fruit and veg. We would do the rest of the food shopping in the afternoon when it wouldn't matter if it rained. We went to a great little green grocer in Posada de Llanes. Just look at that great big box of all we bought which came to a paltry 35 euros. Suzy was astonished. Me too.

Suzy coming out of the green grocer in Posada on Monday

Some of that would we would have for our lunch that day and it was delicious. Just as we got home at around 1.30 it began to rain. But we had beaten the weather that morning and enjoyed Llanes and the surrounding area. Oh how I love Asturias. If only it was just a bit warmer (hahaha).

We all did our own thing after lunch. I did actually get a few winks in while watching the boring news of the Spanish government's reshuffle. Suzy had to work in the afternoon so it was just Eladio and I who went into Posada de Llanes to do the food shopping and also restock the house with cleaning and bathroom products to last our guests this summer. 

By the time we were home, Suzy was ravenous and started making dinner. We had the "cabracho", the "cecina" and a salad all washed down with local cider (the best). That night I slept like a baby. 

I woke up at 6.30 on Tuesday morning, refreshed and ready to go. Rain was forecast and the day looked very dark and cloudy but as often happens here, the sun made its appearance at mid morning and we had  a beautiful day. Eladio and I had been keen for a while to spruce up the rather forlorn looking terrace attached to the house, perfect for sitting out in the sun. The only way to make it look more attractive was to fill it with plants and flowers. People there decorate their houses putting flower pots everywhere so we decided to go to a garden centre we had been recommended, "Mijares" in a coastal village next to Llanes called Cué. We already have flowers in the windows and all along the front of the house but our terrace desperately needed some colour. One day, too, we shall see to the ground and pave it properly but for the moment the flowers will have to do. 

The garden centre was up to expectations and we found everything we needed there.

The garden centre in Cué

We chose flowers that thrive well in this area: geraniums of course but also hydrangea and calla or arum lily. The latter is native to South Africa but grows here too. There are lots of exotic plants, fruit trees and flowers which you would never expect to grow in then north of Spain but because of the climate in this area they do. I have seen lemon trees everywhere as well as kiwi trees, peach trees, orange trees and palm trees. In the summer there is an explosion of hydrangea and bougainvillea so typical here. 

Suzy by some beautiful hydrangeas growing wild behind our house (she is showing off the giant courgette). 

Our calla lillies. Love them. 

We  needed 6 huge bags of soil too and our car seemed very heavy as we drove away, pleased with our purchasse at the garden centre. As soon as we were home, even though it was time for lunch, Eladio who is a good gardener, wanted to get started. 

Eladio about to plant the new flowers for our little terrace

Meanwhile, I got on with our lunch; home made fish and chips. Suzy had an exotic looking vegan dish. We sat down to lunch too late to watch the news. In fact we hardly watched the news during our stay at El Cuetu. In any case, the news was depressing. That day Spain recorded nearly 44 thousand new infections and passed 4 million deaths. What is happening I ask myself again? Well, many young people who are not vaccinated yet, are getting the virus as they are not maintaining social distancing or wearing masks. I also read that 77% of new hospitalised cases are of people who have refused the vaccine. How stupid is that? Can't they get it into their head that deadly viruses like polio or small pox could only be eradicated by vaccines? 

More worryingly, there are cases of people who have caught the virus even though they are fully vaccinated, like Javid. Of interest in the news is the story of thousands of people demonstrating in Cuba - something unheard of - in protest at the lack of food, medicines and the situation of the pandemic there. Since we visited the island a few years ago and witnessed first hand the shortages Cubans suffer, I am following this story to see where it leads. Right now the government has blacked out internet and in the US they are considering providing internet coverage free to all islanders. I can only hope the protests lead to improvements in this ridiculously led communist country.

So, no we didn't watch the news really. Instead we spent a pleasant afternoon sprucing up the terrace, cleaning the outdoor furniture and pruning some of the flowers. The result was very pleasant especially as the sun was out and everything looked so much better. Thank God the rain had gone.

The terrace and house with all the flowers and plants we got at the garden centre 

At this time of year in that area it is light until 22h so we sat outside until late, only going into the house to make our dinner. I also spent part of the afternoon skyping with my friend Amanda. Oh how I wish she and other friends could come to stay at our new house in Asturias one day. 

While we were sitting outside, our dear neighbour, Loli, who looks after the house and waters the flowers, takes care of our guests and looks out for us in our absence, came over to offer us a huge courgette from her vegetable patch. She had already left us half a dozen of eggs from her own hens when we arrived and another half a dozen that morning. I love the way she looks out for us and we are very fond ofhers. The courgette was as big as Pippa so Suzy had the grand idea of taking a photo of the vegetable and our little sausage dog together hahahha. 

Suzy with the giant courgette and Pippa 

Suzy, being a vegetarian, was delighted with the courgette. I could have made it for dinner but had already bought clams that day. 

I made "almejas a la marinera", a dish I make quite often now that I have mastered it. That doesn't translate well. Really it is a onion and garlic based sauce to which you add white wine, vegetable stock and paprika and then cook the clams in it. Delicious.

We sat outside afterwards until it was dark. What a change from the rain. We went to bed relatively early for me and I was awake at 6 am on Wednesday morning, our last day in Asturias. It was supposed to be sunny all day but it wasn't really but at least it didn't rain nor was it cold with the temperature reaching 21c. That day we decided to go beach hopping. First we visited the nearest beach to our house, Playa de Barro. It's about 8km from El Cuetu. Here we parked, enjoyed the view and walked up to a hill above the beach but realised the path didn't lead anywhere. But we shall be back as it's a pretty little beach and would be wonderful with good weather. 

Eladio in the field above the beach Playa de Barro. It's the nearest beach to our house

We then drove along the coastal road past other enticing beaches. But our destination was the Poó beach (not pooh hahaha), my favourite so far. There we had a coffee at a pretty little restaurant and bar, La Farola del Mar, overlooking this beach. It wasn't bathing weather but strolling along the beach weather which is what we did. The tide was out so we were able to walk for a long stretch and we enjoyed every minute of it. So did Pippa. Dogs are not allowed on most beaches in Spain so we carried "Pipps" until there were no people in sight and then let her loose. Silly dog, she tried to drink the sea water.

Walking on the Playa de Poó on Wednesday morning.

When we could go no further we turned on our heels and walked back. We couldn't leave the beach though without going up the hill and showing Suzy the cliffs there with amazing views of the mountains and the sea. I never tire of the views up there.

On the cliffs above the Playa de Poó on Wendesday

We spent a while up there contemplating the views and taking in the beauty. By then it was nearly 13.30h and we had a table booked for lunch in Llanes at a restaurant that had been recommended to us by a local last time we were there. We were at El Campanu by 2 pm and happy to sit down to a served lunch accompanied by local cider. Only Eladio chose the flagship dish of Asturias, "fabada", a bean stew cooked for hours with chorizo and a sausage a bit like black pudding that I don't like, called "morcilla". This was it.

When in Asturias you have to try the local dish "fabada"

We had our dessert at a very good local ice cream parlour. Did I ever tell you my favourite "pudding" is ice cream or that my favourite flavours are pistachio and coconut? Well they had both flavours and I had a scoop of each. Thankfully Eladio helped me. I reminded him that when we were courting, the first thing he ever treated me to was an ice cream. He still does that today, bless him, "my gorgeous man".

We arrived home feeling full and sleepy, mostly thanks to the cider so had a longish siesta. After my afternoon "cuppa" of decaf tea, Eladio and I decided to go on another little trip. After all there was loads of time as it wouldn't get dark now till 10 pm. We had been told about a village called El Mazuco up in the mountains so we took the road which eventually leads to Llanes. We later read a famous battle took place there during the Spanish Civil War. The road couldn't have been steeper or more windy and at times I felt a little bit whoozy as I hate heights. At times too I couldn't look down but I certainly looked at the scenery in front of me and all the animals we encountered. At one point I saw a huge Spanish goat with amazing horns on the road in front of us. I made Eladio stop to take a photo. This is the photo I got. Isn't this creature, this buck, just incredible? My husband who knows about farm animals as he was brought up on a farm said this he goat could be dangerous. To me he didn't look at all dangerous; just magnificent. Die I ever tell you too that I love all four legged animals from rabbit size (that's to exclude rats) upwards? Yes I do. 

The magnificent Spanish billy goat we met on our drive up the mountains on Wednesday afternoon

Eladio also pointed out a very large bull with a herd of cows high up on the slopes of the mountains and I had to have another photo.

The bull and the herd of cows

It seemed there were more animals than people or cars on this road. We were driving slowly when in the distance I saw what looked like two lion cubs. But that couldn't be possible. As we drove nearer I realised they were bullocks lying peacefully on the side of the road. I had to have another photo of course. 

Bullocks on the mountain road

No doubt there was more fauna and we did see horses. What we didn't see, because they hide away, were brown bears of which there is a growing population in the north of Spain. I know, because one was spotted on the road outside Montrondo not long ago and because we have often seen their paw marks in the snow. I was happy to see the lovely 4 legged animals I did on that rather somber drive on Wednesday evening.

We were back quite late but were actually hungry - it must have been the mountain air - and we tried our neighbour Loli's eggs for dinner that night. What a difference there is between them and supermarket bought eggs. If only we could get eggs like that at home. But we took back a dozen she had given us. That night her husband Pepe brought us round a bag of lemons too from their orchard. We were very touched.

There was time for an evening stroll around the village of El Cuetu which we actually haven't explored  much. Eladio was keen to show me a couple of the typical graneries which are called "hórreos". I love them and dream of having one one day. Of the two, this one was the best.

Eladio showing me one of the "hórreos" in the village

I was envious of the property next to the granery which commanded a fine view of the village below, Meré. Actually, our village, El Cuetu de Meré, is a hamlet that is part of Meré. 

The view of Meré from our village El Cuetu de Meré

It was still light when we ended our stroll so we sat outside on our newly spruced up terrace. We were admiring it but thinking too that it could do with even more flowers. That will have to be next time. Wednesday  night was our last night in El Cuetu and we were sorry to leave the next day. We would have stayed, especially because the warm weather was coming, but we couldn't as our third set of guests were arriving on Thursday evening. July and August are now fully booked with not a spare day so we won't be able to go again until the autumn. I look forward to going again.

We didn't have to leave until 12 so there was plenty of time to get ready to go. We left shortly after midday but before we could really get on the road we made a stop to get petrol and we also had a coffee there to keep us going. Then in Posada de Llanes we went to the local bakery as Oli had asked us to buy some tuna fish pie. While there we got lots of other things too (naughty cakes for example). Our last errand was to pump up the tires at the local garage. Thus we only really hit the road at about 13.30. We stopped for a wonderful picnic lunch this time at a little village called Rioseco in the Santander region. We actually had our picnic on the grass next to the beautiful church, San Andrés. Here is a photo of Eladio and Suzy. It's one more memory of our little holiday in the north of Spain and one to treasure.

Our picnic lunch on the way home on Thursday

We were home by about 7.30 and arrived to a very full house. A group of 5 very young boys aged from 18 to 14 had been staying since Monday. What a nightmare group they were and quite picky and demanding too. I knew they would be trouble before I left and I was right. Felipe, our lodger, told me they had been a nightmare from hell. Poor Lucy. I won't go into the details but just imagine what a group of young boys (they are actually Romanians) of their age can get up to. They virtually turned night into day and left a mess and lights on everywhere. They were not particularly pleasant either and I thought they would leave me a bad review but they didn't. Thankfully bad guests are few and far between.

During the car journey I was on my phone constantly, working, of course. The Communications Director, Esterfanía,  from the Swimmy Platform where people can hire private pools, like us, had asked me to do an interview with a news agency about my experience as a Swimmy host. Unbelievably the interview was with the Russian news agency, Sputnik! Estafania also asked me to appear in a live TV report the next day.  This would have been easy if we didn't have guests leaving and more guests coming which was the case on Friday. 

We finally hit the sack at around 9.30 but I couldn't sleep nor could Eladio with all the bother from the group of boys. We eventually did though. I was awake at 6.15 on Friday morning knowing I had lots to do. 

But first things first in the  morning which means my breakfast and the headlines. I was aghast to read about the freak floods in Germany, Belgium and Holland with so many fatalities and missing people not to mention destroyed homes and the evacuation of residents. Last night the death toll came to 153. People are asking how the flood warning authorities hadn't reacted on time. How could this be happening in a country like Germany? How awful. This is due they say, to global warming. There was no sign of rain in Madrid thankfully. We had come back to hot weather; from around 21c maximum in El Cuetu to 33c when we arrived on Thursday evening. Yesterday it reached 38ºc and we are seriously considering escaping the heat by going to our house in my husband's village, Montrondo. We may go tomorrow. 

I woke up also to another email from one of what I call my father's "old boys" from Bradford Grammar School. John M. who was his pupil of Russian in 1980, reached out as others have done over the years. It's amazing the impact my father had on his pupils. Their testimony shows just what an inspirational teacher he was. Of course I printed the emails out for him. I knew they would make him happy as they made me happy. 

I also watched Oli on TV which I try to do every day. What I didn't know was that Friday would be her last day until after her maternity leave. So we probably won't be seeing her again on TV until next spring.  I hope she gets some well deserved rest before Juliet comes. 

It was all hands on deck that morning and then just when everything was ready for the TV cameras, I was told they would not be coming as they had too much content for that day's programme. They may well come next week. I was busy too contacting new guests in Santa Pola and preparing for our new guests who came to our house here that night. It was to be another group of young men and I hoped they would be a well behaved group. I commented to Eladio that this year because of the pandemic, the quality of the guests we receive here is below what we have experienced in the past. 

The day was hot and I escaped to our air conditioned bedroom until the group arrived. They came from the Basque Country and seemed a nicer group than the previous one. That night we went out to dinner as we have now resumed our Friday night dinners out. Again we went to El Tinglado. We booked a table for 8pm on the terrace and then wished we had booked one inside as it was far too hot outside.

We came home to have our very own dessert, thick green plums or giant greengages from our very own tree. This year it is very plentiful, more so than last year. There and then at 9.30 pm, Eladio got out the ladder and picked about 2 kilos for immediate consumption. There are enough for us for days and days and for the birds too unless they beat us to it. 

Giant greengages from our garden

Entertainment that night was watching a film about the Spanish Civil War, another favourite genre of ours.

I slept relatively well that night and was up at 6.45 yesterday morning. It was just too hot for a walk that morning and it will be too today. Instead we went to visit Oli and family. We were dying to see Elliot again and he seemed pleased to see us. What a lovely little boy he is. We left around midday but would be back for dinner; having the pleasure of Elliot's company twice in a day.

Our guests were out for lunch presumably so the house was quiet. We had our siesta and I didn't leave our air conditioned room again until it was time to go to Oli's house. We took with us some cider from Asturias and little "Isidrín", a cider pump, some of Loli's courgette, "cecina" from Arambura in Llanes and of course plums from the tree. Miguel served us home made gazpacho and Oli made a wonderful salad. Again we played with Elliot and for much of the dinner he sat on my knees - the joys of being a grandmother. Nowadays he plays more and more by himself and gives his parents some free time. I caught him on camera playing with his sippy mug, pouring water into a jar. Oh, he loves water.

Little Elliot playing with water and caught on camera yesterday evening.

When we left to say goodbye he wasn't happy and kept saying "no, no". He babbled words only his father understood which translated into "grandma and grandpa, don't go, stay with me". That was heart wrenching and so sweet to witness. We left in the heat but happy to know we would see him again, probably today.

The guests were out when we got back. In fact I didn't see them yesterday. I can't remember what we watched on TV last night - oh yes, some silly Mexican series - but I fell asleep quite soon. This morning I was up later, at 7.15 and had the kitchen to myself with the dogs.

Today will be another scorcher. Our guests will be leaving at midday and my plans are for us all to spend time by the pool this afternoon. Maybe tomorrow we will go to Montrondo. You will hear whether we did or not this time next week in next Sunday's blog post.

Meanwhile, I wish you all well. Cheers for now,

Masha

Home for a week, looking after Elliot, super host again, a dinner to celebrate life, England through to the final of the Eurocup, the question of meat in Spain and other stories.

Sunday 11th July, 2021

Me celebrating life at a surprise dinner out on Wednesday night this week

Good morning my friends. 

We have now been home for just over a week after our stay in Gran Alacant. But we shall be off again today; this time to our home in Asturias. It has been a busy and hot week at home and I am looking forward to the cooler temperatures of our house in El Cuetu. Guests are leaving there today and the next set are not coming till Thursday. Thus I booked the vacant 4 nights for ourselves as the house will be full until the end of August and we won't have another chance to go for a while. 

I hope today finds you all well or as well as can be expected. The world is not well though as we are still living with Covid. The numbers have gone up again from 3.987.458 fatalities and 284.247.157  infections recorded last week to 4.043.020 and 187.279.338 this week. In Spain we are going through a 4th or 5th  wave with numbers of infected rising and rising yet the mortality rate is very low. The reason for this is the Delta (ex Indian) variant which is now dominant here. It affects those who have not been vaccinated, mainly young people between 16 and 30. 

It has affected Elliot as one of the children got Covid at his day care nursery  at the TV studios Prado del Rey, and it has been closed until 13th July. Last Sunday saw both Oli and Elliot at the A&E to see if they could get a PCR test. They were appointed one on Monday. Oli needed to know if they had as she is 7 months pregnant and it could affect Juliet (her baby). That meant she had to postpone her vaccine on Monday until she got the PCR test results. It also meant we would have to give a helping hand with Elliot this week while she and Miguel worked. 

We went on our walk last Sunday morning, our first since returning from Santa Pola.. Norah, our beagle, was especially pleased. We went early to avoid the sun as that day mercury rose to 33ºc. In between our walk and lunch the three of us went to see Oli and co at their flat; the excuse being to go and have a coffee but of course we wanted to see Elliot. Suzy was especially keen as she had missed dinner with them the night we got back from our beach holiday.

Elliot was delighted to see us again as he considers us his play mates. Here he is playing with Eladio. I always love to see the two of them together.

Elliot with his "playmate", his grandfather, Eladio

We did make coffee using Oli's sophisticated coffee machine. Suzy made a decaf to which she added foamed up milk. Elliot was curious to try it and he loved it. I'm not sure it's good for him but there was no sugar and it was decaf. 

Elliot trying Suzy's decaf.

He is not yet 2 but loves trying "adult" food and stuff. I loved the moment and took a video to share with you.

We left shortly before 1 pm as Oli and family were going to Miguel's parents' house for lunch and we had to be back to receive a new set of guests and finalise our own lunch arrangements. Candela and her 2 friends arrived at around 13.15. Candela had been here before and I made an exception for her when I allowed her to stay for just one night as my rule is 2 nights minimum. They wanted to sleep together so we added a fouton bed to the downstairs room which they loved. We hardly saw them after their arrival as I always let guests who come in groups have exclusive use of the pool.

The afternoon thus was quiet. The highlight of the day was my 2 hour long skype call with Kathy and Phil who live in Yorkshire. We hadn't spoken for about 2 weeks and it was good to catch up. I had to catch up too with more booking requests after that and answer lots of questions to a prospective "Swimmy" user.  I had my doubts about her. Those who ask too many questions are generally picky and can be trouble. 

I was too absorbed to hear Suzy calling me for dinner which she made. Thank you darling. We had a lovely dinner al fresco except that it wasn't particularly "fresco" on the kitchen terrace table. After that it was to bed to watch the news and some entertainment from Netflix. I fell asleep watching and woke up at 5.40. I had to force myself to sleep a bit more and in the end got up at 7. Monday would be a busy day. 

So what did I do on Monday? Well, we went on our walk with the dogs. We had to be back by 10.30 when Miguel was bringing Elliot for us to look after until his mother came back from work at 1 pm. He behaved perfectly but of course, aged only 21 months, needed constant attention. He loves the toys we have for him here and the swings. Here he is surrounded by the toys which are getting a bit old hat now. That's a reminder to get some new ones.

Elliot surrounded by his toys at our house on Monday

Apart from looking after Elliot I had to make our lunch and it was divine - chicken Korma curry made from my own quasi Indian recipe but which everyone loves. Thanks to the British supermarket in Santa Pola, I had naan bread to go with it. I also had to see off our last set of guests who went off sun drenched, relaxed and happy with their stay. We then tried to give Elliot his lunch but he wasn't interested. He was delighted to see his mother a while later and that day the four of us were together for lunch, as well as Elliot and his great grandfather. It was quite an occasion.

Oli went off at 3 for the PCR test which they didn't do on Elliot and we waited with baited breath for the result to come 36h later. We were all delighted to hear it was negative. Thank God for that. I had a short siesta when they left and at 5.30 sharp my resumed weekly call with my best friend from school, Amanda. I was sitting in the shade where it was 31ºc while she was sitting in her home in Devon, UK, with 16ºc. I love England but I don't love English weather. That day Bojo (Boris Johnson) announced the lifting of nearly all Covid restrictions to come into force on 19th July. This included the end of social distancing and the end of masks, indoors and outdoors. My friend Amanda did not agree to the latter and I don't either, especially as the UK is seeing up to 30.000  new cases and over daily thanks to the rampant Delta virus variant. 

I was then busy with more reservations and contacting upcoming guests to our various houses (that does sound pompous doesn't it? When I had finished I decided on a quick swim in the pool. As we had not guests it was all for me. Eladio was reading in the shade and Suzy working in the sofa area. 

Dinner was at 8 pm sharp and Suzy made a salad. She is the chief salad maker in this house hahahahaha. We were in bed early and that night I had a great night's sleep apart from a brief interval when I awoke at 4.30 and got excited when I saw yet another booking on my phone. I was up at 6.45 and ready for a new day. 

I had a small piece of good news that day. Airbnb had once again awarded me with Super Host status. Amazingly, I have now maintained that status since I began back in 2017. Wow! Sometimes my family think I take "my job" too seriously and maybe I do but that's why I am awarded with Super Host status over and over again. I can never take a job not seriously enough. That is not how I am made.

Super host status yet again

I had lots of work that morning, all related to my little hospitality business and when I was finished, off we went for our walk. Tuesday was cool and it rained which is unusual. But it would be the only respite from the heat and sun this week. 

In the afternoon I accompanied Suzy to the doctor in Madrid. We were late and I had to wait outside and get a parking ticket. But, oh God, I just don't understand the semi new machines in the city of Madrid. I didn't dare ask for help and after a few attempts gave up. There was nothing for it but to wait in the street by my car in case a traffic warden came. If one did I would ask him or her to help me use the damned machine. I felt so useless. It didn't help that I was dying to go to the loo or that Suzy's appointment took 1 hour and 20 minutes. I had to wait until I got home to go to the damned loo. By then it was 9pm and Eladio was watching the match. What match Suzy asked? Well, the semi finals in the Euro Cup between Spain and Italy. I had predicted Italy would win and Italy did win but in the worst way, once again with a penalty shoot out. I hate penalty shoot outs. That depressed me so I turned to Grey's Anatomy to stop my brain buzzing with all the wrong thoughts. Do you do that with TV series?

Wednesday came and Eladio and I went out on a few errands after our walk. Of course we had a coffee out at midday before we came home. Suzy was busy and Oli  was too as she has been presenting together with the main presenter of her programme every day this week. At 7 months pregnant and having to get up at 4.30 every day, she must be exhausted. She sent us this lovely photo of her and the main presenter, Igor, just when they were about to go live. She was taking a selfie and the studio photographer caught her in the act. I love the photo. I love her in red too. Lucky here, she got to keep the dress too. That often happens as brands gift their clothes to the programme for so-called publicity. 

Oli caught on camera this week, just before she went live on TV

Our highlight of the day was going to the hairdresser together with Eladio. "Together" is the highlight. You probably know I find going to the hairdresser a necessary but boring task but being in the hair salon just with my husband and the hairdresser was a first. Caty is a stickler for timetables and appointments are always on the dot. Caty, our local hairdresser who charges just 22 euros for a cut, rinse, dye and blow dry, is closing her salon this month so Wednesday was our last time there. The reason is sad. She has developed  fibromyalgia and can no longer stand the hours of hairdressing as she must be in constant pain. We were sorry for her but both pleased with our haircuts. I love the way she also "retouches" Eladio's eyebrows (haha).

On the spur of the moment that day we decided to go out for dinner.  I wanted a break from routine and to go out with my husband. Eladio always agrees. We went to El Tinglado, our local favourite. We sat outside and the temperature was just perfect. The heat wave wasn't to come until this weekend. With a glass of wine in our hands and new hairdos, we had to have some photos. I had only put on a bit of "lippy" but Eladio's photo of me came out well. That's why I chose one for this week's feature photo; me, feeling happy and celebrating life. I took one of Eladio too about to devour his Spanish style fish and chips.

Eladio at dinner on Wednesday

We drank "to life" and counted our blessings. Not everything is a walk in the park or a bed of roses but overall life generally smiles at us; I think. We were out within the hour and the metre said "that was quick" when we left. I replied we had been married nearly 40 years and did not need to linger over the table. He laughed.

We came home to have our own dessert as El Tinglado's dessert menu is not really my thing. I finished off a tub of Magnum ice cream, Bridget Jones style, and Eladio, as usual, had some fruit.

While we were celebrating life, English team supporters were celebrating football when England played Denmark in the semi finals of the Euro Cup at Wembley that night. When we turned on the "telly", the teams were drawn at 1-1. I thought the match would go the same way as Spain and Italy, to extra time and a penalty shoot out. It nearly did if it hadn't been for a penalty awarded to the UK which Harry Kane aced but with two kicks.  It think that's a horrible way to win a match. But, it does mean England will play in a major final for the first time since 1966. As the papers said the next day, only those of us over 60 remember that. I well do as I was 9 at the time and we were on holiday in Germany and the names Bobby Moore and Jack Charlton have forever remained with me. I remember having a gloating feeling about beating the Germans. After all, it was only 20 years since the end of the war.  The atmosphere must have been electric and England will be on a high until tonight when the team meets Italy, the downfall of Spain. I am rooting for England of course. I really hope they win. If they do it will give the country a lot of morale everyone needs right now.

Thursday came and we had to babysit for Elliot again. He came a bit earlier that day, at 10 am which meant our walk had' to be earlier too. He was only in our care for about 3 hours before his mother came and was no problem whatsoever. He always behaves very well with us. Oli says he doesn't at home (hahah - that's for you Daddy). Here he is in the garden with his adored grandfather on the way to the swings which he loves.

Eladio and Elliot on Thursday morning

Time flew and his mother was home earlier than planned. She had gone straight from work to the local health clinic for her first vaccine. She got the Pfizer jab and her second one will be in 3 weeks time. Thank goodness she is finally vaccinated now.  She is 7 months pregnant and I can only hope that her immunisation will also protect little Juliet, growing in her "tummy". 

Oli got her first jab this week

Suzy, I'm afraid is one of those anti vaccine people. In Spain the number of infections is rising and rising and we are the second country in Europe after the UK with most new cases. Thus young people need to be vaccinated as soon as possible. 

We had another family lunch that day and we had it outside on the kitchen terrace. For the record I made fabada (Asturian bean stew) that day, more a winter  than a summer dish. Fabada includes chorizo and other types of meat and that day there was a big uproar in Spain all about meat. It was big because Spain is the biggest consumer of meat in the EU. Just think "jamón ibérico" and you will understand. That morning, the politician Alberto Garzón who is a minor Minister in the coalition government and comes from the far left party Izquierda Unida, announced in a video that people should consume less to save the environment and their health. The Minister of Consumer affairs was probably right in his advice except that it seems he had't shared it with the rest of the government, notably the Minister for Agriculture or the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister later said in public that in his opinion you can't beat a piece of medium rare steak. But it was the farmers who were up in arms. Garzón, didn't actually say not to eat red meat, just to cut down on it. He is right although it's not good for the industry or our health, it's something we should all think about. I was wrong, then, in his opinion, to choose steak from the menu at El Tinglado. On the other hand I totally agree with Pedro Sánchez that taste wise, nothing beats a medium rare piece of steak.

Naughty but nice, my steak and chips dinner at El Tinglado

The afternoon was quiet and just before dinner I had a quick dip in the pool which I had all to myself. It was lovely to use the warm water from the solar shower when I came out. Dinner was just the two of us as Suzy had gone to spend the night at a friend's. Later I fell asleep over the news until I woke up at 5.50 on Friday morning. 

Friday was a crazy day. I had 5 guests arriving at Santa Pola, 7 guests arriving at our house in Asturias and 5 guys arriving here in the afternoon for the weekend. I also have a booking for the pool today after the 5 guys leave. That will leave just one hour to clean the pool and terrace. Then tomorrow, 5 more are coming to our house. Thankfully we will be away as we are off to our house in Asturias, in between guests, for 4 nights. That had me on the phone all day chatting to the different guests and my neighbours Lucy in Santa Pola and Loli in Asturias. I also had to upload all the guest details to the Civil Guard police in Asturias, one by one. Last week I flunked it but this week I mastered it. The logistics behind my little business can get a little hectic sometimes, I can tell you.

But we managed an early morning walk and then we were out shopping with a detour to a horrible suburban town near here, Móstoles, to take back my Kenwood blender which has broken. That set us back an hour. We still had to go to Mercadona and Carrfour, get all the weekly food shopping done and be home on time to put everything away and make lunch for the family. Both Elliot and Oli were home which added to the fun but to some stress too. 

I couldn't rest much before my guests came. They seemed a nice crowd and weren't noisy but I did find the pool terrace in a state the next morning and one of the men sleeping on the wicker sofa. That riled me as I say in the rules that no one can sleep on the sofas, only on the beds. He apologised later, telling me he couldn't sleep in the bed because his friend was snoring. Oh well, what could I say?

I had some rest after their arrival until dinner time which Eladio and I had on the terrace on our own. We weren't very hungry, probably because it was so hot. This weekend there has been a heat wave and temperatures above 40ºc are forecast for today. We shall be escaping the heat going to Asturias later today.

I didn't sleep well that night and was up at 6.30 am while it was still cool. The big news yesterday in Spain was the reshuffle of the cabinet by the PM Pedro Sánchez. He let go of some of his closest ministers which was a bit of a shock. 7 left the cabinet and 7 joined it. The good news is that there are even more women now; 14 women and 9 men. I can't wait for the day when the top job goes to a woman.

That day we went to have coffee with Oli  who needed our help looking after our grandson as Miguel was working yesterday. He will be too today. Funnily enough he was the cameraman that morning filming my friend, the famous Spanish cyclist, Pedro Delgado. He later sent a photo to Oli of him doing his job. Prizes to anyone who recognises the tall guy next to Pedro.

Miguel (in an orange T-shirt) filming my friend, the Tour de France winner, Pedro Delgado and another chap for TVE1 yesterday

We stayed a couple of hours until Suzy came to relieve us which meant we could come home to have lunch with my father. 

As we were preparing lunch, so too were our 5 guests. They were trying unsuccessfully to light the barbecue but as often happens, Eladio had to lend a helping hand. He is very good with fire. Well, he is very good with anything practical actually so often guests need his help and he is happy to oblige. That's why I named him "head of maintenance". He is worried I may promote him more and hand him one of the houses to manage its rentals. He told me he is happy to keep his current role - hahahahaa. 

Eladio helping our guests get the barbecue fire going yesterday

It was so hot yesterday that we spent the whole of the afternoon in our air conditioned bedroom. I watched the end of the delicious yet sad romantic film, Me before you. I had read the book and just loved the screenplay. I wanted to watch Suffragettes on Prime Video but didn't when I saw that it was only available dubbed in Spanish. I don't get why Amazon doesn't  always offer films in the original version. 

We stopped briefly for dinner which we had to have indoors in the air conditioned dining room and then it was upstairs again to our cool bedroom. We watched the news, all about the shock reshuffle of Spain's government and I think I must have fallen asleep with boredom. 

Today I was awake at 5 but got up at 6. Shortly afterward I was joined by Suzy who also gets up early. She likes to do her yoga in the mornings after drinking her "maté". I tried it once but didn't like it.

Today will be a scorcher with the temperature reaching 40ºc. In the south of Spain, in some parts of Andalusia, it is expected to reach 43ºc. Imagine! We are going to Asturias where the highest temperature today is just 21ºc but it will be pleasant. You will, of course, hear all about our time there in next Sunday's post.

Meanwhile, all that remains is to wish you all the best but mostly to wish England luck in its more than exciting match tonight against Italy. Can they bring football home? I sincerely hope they can. 

On that note, I shall leave you now and get on with the day.

Cheers till next Sunday,

Masha

Summer break in Santa Pola, , "our beach", the pool on TV, fish and chips in Spain, EU Covid vaccine certificate comes into force, making new friends, home again and reunited with Oli and Elliot.

Sunday 4th July, 2021

On the cliffs by the lighthouse near Santa Pola with Pippa - one of my favourite places in Spain. 

Good morning all and Happy Independence Day to any American readers who follow my blog. Have a good time "guys".

We have had a good time this week. That's for sure thanks to our summer break at our apartment near the beach at Gran Alacant (Santa Pola). But let me rewind to last Sunday, the day after the end of facial masks in Spain. Again, I am sorry, I have to report on Covid and the worldwide figures for infections and deaths which that day were 181.669.092 and 3.932.982. Today the figures stand at 184.247.157 and 3.987.458. I count my blessings that nobody in my family or close to us has been affected. Now, by the way, my friends, I am fully inoculated as my 2nd jab was over 2 weeks ago. But I still have to be wary as does everyone as the damned Delta variant is on the rise and it is much more infectious than any other of the Covid variants we have seen so far. In the Spain we are having a 4th wave with many young people catching the virus. Thankfully the mortality rate is very low. 

That's enough of Covid for the beginning of this week's story. Last Sunday, Eladio, Suzy, Pippa and I set off for Santa Pola. I had booked us 5 days until the next set of guests were coming. I count my blessings too for all the bookings for our beach apartment and our new house in Asturias, not to mention our home in Madrid which also includes renting out the pool. That day there were 6 bathers enjoying both the pool and the barbecue. Tanya left me a glowing review on "Swimmy" as did the guests leaving Santa Pola the day we arrived.

It was our second trip away since lock down ended on 9th May but this time we were heading for the sun - thank goodness. With the car packed full of our cases, picnic paraphernalia and some food, we didn't actually leave till 12 noon. It's a 4 hour drive without stops but I had made a picnic lunch which we had in a shady park in the little village of Chinchilla on the way. Now, how lovely is that?

We arrived to an immaculate apartment. Lucy, my neighbour, who cleans it and hosts my guests, had done a good job as usual. Thus we only had to put our own stuff away. It was hot and after unpacking and settling in I went to the spectacular pool which is exclusive to our blocks of apartments. Hardly anyone was there. I came back to have a good shower and wash my hot body and dirty hair. Suzy prepared our dinner with the food I had brought - enough for dinner and breakfast - which we had on the terrace. The salient part of this little apartment we acquired in 1999 with my Motorola severance pay is the terrace which overlooks a Mediterranean garden and the sea. 

There are sea views too from the other side of the apartment of the Alicante Bay and it's my favourite view. When I see it I know I am at our home away from home.

My favourite view from our apartment

I had some more bookkeeping to do before dinner - always keeping my hospitality business register up to date and contacting upcoming guests to arrange for their arrivals and it keeps me busy. Only after dinner was I able to have some Grey's Anatomy time. I watched till past midnight when I flopped into bed.

Monday came and I was up at 6.15. Suzy had left the apartment to walk to the lighthouse to see the rising sun at about 6. Dusk comes many hours later at around 10.30 pm. Oh how I love this time of year with so much sunlight.

We were busy that morning doing the shopping and also getting more towels and bed linen for the apartment. We went to Carrefour, didn't find anything and there and then I did my shopping online on Amazon and Ikea. I hoped the sheets, pillow cases and towels would arrive before we left. There was time for a coffee together and then more shopping at Mercadona where we stocked up on food for our stay and more basics for the apartments to leave for the guests (bog roll, toiletries and cleaning products). The latter was necessary as I have another 10 or so reservations this summer at the apartment.

Suzy and I had decided that we wanted lunch out on Monday. Keen to try out Soleluna, an amazing pizza place opposite the apartment, we were disappointed to learn it closes on Mondays. Thus I rang our favourite restaurant (La Picola) but it was closed too. My third choice was the very well known and traditional sea food restaurant, Batiste, next to the port in Santa Pola. It was the former Spanish PM, Rajoy's favourite when he worked in Santa Pola as a property inspector for the local town hall - a job he went back to when leaving politics. He has good taste. Batiste may be traditional but it is excellent. We had lunch outside on the terrace and  appreciated not having to wear a mask.

We went for the "arroz a banda", more popular here than paella from Valencia. It was amazing.

Arroz a banda at Batiste in Santa Pola on Monday

Eladio was as pleased as punch with his rice dish as you can see from his beaming face in the photo below.

Eladio enjoying his rice dish at Batiste

It felt like being on holiday and on holiday we were and the feeling was good. We went home along the coastal road admiring the deep blue of the very clean sea water and views of the nearby island, Tabarca. We came home with a doggy bag too for the next day. I ate quite little, not wanting to leave the restaurant feeling bloated especially in hot weather.

We rested at home and at about 6.30 made our way to what I call "our beach". It is just down the road from the apartment but it's a very steep road and much easier to go by car. I call it "our beach" as we have been going to it since we bought the apartment in May 1991. The real name is "Playa (beach in Spanish) de Carabassi. 

The walkway to "our beach"

That is 22 years. I remember just how pleased we were when we bought the apartment. We had entered a new club in Spain, as members who hav a second home by the sea. It's a very modest apartment but we love it. It was to be our first bathe since September in Asturias in much colder waters. After all this is the Med and not the Atlantic and the weather here is guaranteed at this time of year. The beach is in between Arenales del Sol and Santa Pola and different parts of it have different names. The part we go to is called Playa de Carabassi and I love it as there are no buildings and it's all dunes and not that many people. The water was still that day with the green flag out and Eladio and I went in together reflecting on how we first met and bathed when we were young. I was 23 at the time and he was 35 and it was the summer of 1980. The rest is history except we are now officially "old". Oh my God where did time go?

My first bathe on Monday since last September in Asturias

One of the signs my husband still loves me is that he still takes photographs of me, like the one above. Time has passed but one thing for sure, we are still "loved up" to use the new expression which is not generally part of my English vocabulary as I left my home country for Spain which is now my adopted country in the summer of 1981.

I was happy for my adopted country when I learned later Spain had thrashed Croatia 5-3 and went through to the Quarter Finals of the Euro Cup. Later Switzerland surprised the football world when it beat France, the last World Cup winner. Thus Spain would play Switzerland in the next round.  Spain can be brilliant but it can also be downright bad. You just never know. Equally exciting or more would be the match between England and Germany at Wembley on Tuesday. 

It must have been the sea air that gave us an appetite for dinner and we enjoyed a healthy meal of scrambled eggs with asparagus followed by thick, juicy, black cherries - my favourite. That night I was delighted to get another international group of guests for our house in Madrid. A family of 6 is coming in August for 7 nights. Wow! I was happy too to get an amazing review from my last group of bathers who booked our pool on "Swimmy". It was on Monday that the report which included our house when the cameras came a week ago or so, was broadcast on TV. I didn't see it as I was on the beach. The Communications Director had assured me that if my pool appeared in a TV report, requests to book were guaranteed to increase. I'm not sure it works that way but the free publicity was a bonus for my little hospitality business. I did see it though the next day when Swimmy sent me the TV clip. This is it.

The TV report where my swimming pool featured and me too. I was described there as a pioneer. I like that hahaha. Here too is a still of me on camera. 

A still from the TV report on renting out swimming pools

Tuesday dawned and I was outside on our terrace with my cup of coffee when I literally saw the sun rise over the sea. What a spectacle. Tuesday was a quiet day. I spent the morning working and attending to guests, writing to future guests and updating some of the house information packs. I was pleased to get even more bookings too. Right now I have about 45 bookings to handle for 3 houses and have to juggle those at our house in Madrid as I rent out individual rooms too. That is a lot to handle and I have to be on top of my game the whole time, anticipating guests' needs, making sure the rooms or houses are prepared for their arrival and anything that can come up during their stays, etc. The work is never ending. We had a group of Argentinians at "home" this week who I didn't see but I was in contact with to make sure their stay went well. 

This summer is going to be a boom and it is a direct result of people wanting to travel after so many Covid restrictions. However, I wondered whether there would be more and some of my reservations cancelled because of it. That day in Spain we reported 7000 cases,  a high spike. Lots of the cases of are of final year school children who went on end of term trips. Now many of them are in quarantine in hotels, mostly in the Balearic Islands. What the hell were the school authorities thinking when they organised those trips? 

We ventured out for a coffee and took Pippa along, at around 12 which is my "elevenses", to a little Spanish café across the way. When we got home and I was busy making a simple lunch, Amazon arrived with some of the house linen I had ordered. It's so funny to think you can order stuff on this giant online retailer and that the next day or the same day a man in a lorry arrives. Eladio went out to get the towels and pillow cases and I caught the scene on camera. It's a sign of our times; something none of us could have dreamed about 40 years ago when all we had was a postal service and not much more. 

Amazon arriving on Tuesday - spot Eladio and spot Pippa too (a bit more difficult haha)

Lunch was giant prawns which we had with the amazing leftover rice from our meal at Batiste. It was great not to have to make a proper meal. I am much more lazy about cooking when away from home.

That afternoon was a bit cloudy so we opted for a walk rather than time on the beach. The obvious walk in the area is to the Santa Pola lighthouse on the cliffs overlooking the little island of Tabarca. We have been countless times and it remains one of my favourite spots in Spain. I got Eladio to take the customary photo of me with Pippa overlooking the sea; a crystal blue colour. I chose it for this week's feature photo.

While we were on our walk, England was playing Germany (and all that that means) in the Last 16 of the Eurocup in Wembley, a stadium that means so much in the football world. I didn't watch the match but did hear the roars of "goal" from a few Brits around here who were watching the match from a bar near our place. I was happy for England as I was happy for Spain. England would then play the Ukraine who beat Sweden and as I said, Spain would play Switzerland. What I wouldn't want to see though is a Spain England final. I don't think I could bear the tension.

Walking back I felt hungry and a sudden desire to have dinner out. Eladio and Suzy agreed so we just walked across the road to Soleluna, an Italian "joint" which serves the most divine pizza. They make  a mean mojito too which Suzy had and a quasi sangria called "tinto de verano" (Summer red wine). It was a happy dinner with the three of us in high spirits. For once Suzy let me take a photo. I thought she looked radiant. She did. Here she is with her father, my beloved husband.

Eladio and Suzy at Soleluna on Tuesday night

Suzy and I ordered their divine pizza with its crusty but soft inside edges. Their pizza is as good as any I have ever had in Italy.  Suzy went for a vegetarian pizza and Eladio chose the ossobucco. 

Our mouthwatering dinner at Soleluna on Tuesday night

None of us could finish our meal so we got a doggy bag and would eat the rest for lunch the next day. We skipped  dessert - I am not that keen on Italian desserts, and had ice cream at home instead. Well, Eladio, being more healthy and having less of a sweet tooth, had fruit; delicious apricots and thick black cherries.

For once that night I went to bed early and slept relatively well. I was up on Wednesday at 6.50. Suzy had already left for the lighthouse to enjoy it at sunrise.She loves that moment in the day. I love it too; the silence, Pippa's company, my cup of coffee, the headlines and time to gather my thoughts for the day. 

The day would be quiet and pleasant. I had work to do in the morning on all my bookings.  I am so busy but so happy with my "businesess" haha. Obviously this is the high season and things will quieten down in the autumn but for the moment this is non stop. That day, among other bookings, I got one from a group of people from Denmark. I am now beginning to get international guests. My only worry is Covid and the number of infections going up in Spain. If we go into lockdown again, all my work will have been for nothing. I hope not.

We stopped for coffee at midday and the three of us went to a local cafe across the road. The views of the sea from there are magnificent and as we left I made Suzy and Eladio pose for me. Here is a lovely photo of father and daughter.

Father and daughter next to our apartments overlooking the sea

Of course I have another daughter as you well know. Olivia, our TV journalist who is now 7 months pregnant (exciting). She was at the gynecologist that afternoon for her monthly check up and ultrasound. Juliet, her baby to come, now weighs 1.7kg so if she was born today she would survive. She is due on 4th September and will be a big girl with a predicted weight of 3.5 kilos. We have something enormously exciting to look forward to.

Suzy who was with us spent a lot of her time job seeking and it seems she has quite a few  openings. I hope it goes well for her. She was too busy to join us at the beach that afternoon so we went alone. We went at about 6 pm and it was still hot of course but there not too many people and there was plenty of space for social distancing. Thank God we don't have to wear face masks at the beach anymore.

Our spot on the beach (Playa de Carabassi) on Wednesday afternoon

We enjoyed a bathe and then went for our customary walk to the end (where you can see the cliffs - our apartments are on the cliffs) and back and I bathed again. We left at about 8 pm and I headed straight for the swimming pool which belongs to our block of apartments. It's never ever full but that evening I had it all to myself. Wow that was wonderful I have to say.

I had the pool all to myself on Wednesday evening

I came home to have a shower and wash my hair as well as some pampering while Eladio and Suzy together made our dinner. I didn't have to help at all bless them. This trip has really been a break for cooking for everyone. I think I deserve it.

I was in bed at around 1 in the morning which is not too late for me these days and up at 6.30 on Thursday morning.  Do you know that day day would have been Princess Diana's 60th birthday? Oh how we miss her. Her boys miss her most of course and no doubt she would be sad to know they are estranged. They were there together for the unveiling in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace and I wondered if they would try to make up. She would have loved that. They actually put on a show of brotherhood and I really hope that a least a part of it was genuine. As to the statue, well it brought mixed feelings. I like the idea but just think the statue did not to justice "England's fairest child". I wonder what you think.

The statue being unveiled. Do you like it?

That morning was market day at Gran Alacant. It's just across the road from us and apart the normal stuff you get at markets all around the world - mostly cheap sweat labour clothes - it's the fruit and veg we go for. We bought fruit and veg to take home and to take to Olivia. I forgot to take a photo in all my enthusiasm for the delicious fruit and veg we bought.

Later we had coffee again at the same little bakery and bumped into a family from Virginia, USA. I didn't know the Amercans were allowed into Europe but I suppose they are. I gave them all sorts of tips of what to do and where to visit in the area. Lunch that day was, my friends, to be fish and chips. Now I hadn't had this most British of dishes for 2 years and it really is my favourite. Derby's Chippy which we have been going to for years had closed so I was delighted to find out it had been bought up by another British couple and is now open. Called The Chippy 2 it is pretty near our apartment and we were there at 2 pm sharp. Jenna (if that' show you spell it) who if from Hertfordshire is the owner and served us. She was very sweet and kind and efficient too. Fish and chips was only 7 euros each which is literally peanuts. My expectations were not particularly high as, after all, this is Spain and not the UK. But my was I in for a pleasant surprise. These fish and chips were as good as any you get in the UK or in Yorkshire, which in my mind is where you get the best. The picture below does not do them justice.

Fish and chips at The Chippy 2

Suzy took one of us about to dig in.

Eladio and I, about to enjoy fish and chips in Spain

I could not finish my plate nor could I be tempted by the very British desserts on the menu - including apple crumble - as I was too full. We came home feeling full of course but also happy to know that there is a new fish and chip shop near our apartment which we will be going back to again and again. 

We all did our own thing when we got back. With time on my hands I acquired my EU Covid vaccine certificate which came into force that day. Not that I shall be needing it as I have no plans for traveling in the EU this summer but it's good to have. It was all done on the Health Service app here in quit a quick and efficient process. Not long after I had downloaded my certificate to prove I am fully vaccinated. Stupidly I posted it on social media only to be warned by friends not to do so as it could be used fraudulently. Thus for this post I have blacked out any personal details. This is what the new EU vaccine certificate looks like. 

My new digital EU Covid vaccine certificate

For the record this certificate allows for travel within the 27 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. There are talks for it to include the UK, US and several other countries. There are talks too between the UK and the EU to allow fully vaccinated UK citizens to travel in the EU with no need to quarantine. I hope that comes into force too as soon as possible if only to allow my dear friends Kathy and Phil to visit us in Spain. I can't wait for another get together. Its been too long.

That afternoon we had new friends over for drinks. Did you hear that? We've never done that before because we do not have any friends here, except that on Thursday we made new friends. They are our new neighbours a Polish family from Sweden. Stessi and his wife bought the apartment on the same floor as ours a year ago and we had only greeted each other a couple of times but his daughter Magda and her two sons (Elliot - yes like our Elliot - and Andrian) had arrived that morning from Stockholm. We got talking and there was an immediate connection and Magda said we must come over for drinks during her stay. When I said we were leaving the next day we arranged for "tea" at our place at 5.30 in the afternoon. I had no alcohol but our new friends brought a bottle of chilled white wine which we had with some of the giant Moroccan pistachio nuts I had bought at the market that day.

It was so nice to have friends over; our neighbours and it was an immediate hit with Magda. Of course I know and love Stockholm from all my visits there when I worked for Yoigo. But this family has  a story behind it. They are from Poland and during the Solidarity uprising in the 80's (remember Lech Valesa?), Stessi was arrested while attending a wedding and dressed in a Tuxedo and put into prison for 6 months. His wife, a doctor and their daughter Magda, aged 4 at the time, must have had a terrible time. Somehow they managed to get political asylum in Sweden. Sweden was a haven for people seeking political asylum. They left everything behind and had to start from scratch in a country where their qualifications were worthless and where they did not know the language. Magda's mother had to repeat her medical degree and in Swedish. I haven't met here but I think that is incredibly laudable. Don't you?

Their story is quite amazing or rather their beginnings. Now they are happily settled in Sweden and Magda and her boys are totally integrated. It was such a pity that we only met them on our last day and who knows when we will meet again. We will meet though on whatsapp and on social media as I think a friendship has struck up. 

Our new friends and neighbours

They left at around 8.30 - yes we had been chatting for 3 hours - and it was our dinner time. All we wanted for dinner that night was some fruit. Then it was TV and bed time. That night I slept surprisingly well.

I was up at about 6.15 on Friday morning and Suzy too. Who was up far earlier was my daughter Olivia, the TV journalist. She was up at 4.30 as that day she had to be one of the early morning presenters. As we prepared to leave I left my iPad on so we could watch her. I am so proud of her and loved seeing her presenting with her 7 month pregnant bump which holds dear little Juliet who will be born at the beginning of September.

My beautiful pregnant daughter presenting on TV on Friday morning. 

It was that morning my daughter and the team of people who work for the programme "La Hora de la 1" which belongs to Spain's top broadcaster, TVE, heard that the main presenter, Mónica López had been fired. Thus Friday was Mónica's last day. She had been sacked the day before. Oli can only presume it's because of her political leanings which are a bit too obvious for a state channel that has to at least appear to be neutral. The team love Mónica and all think she has done a great job. Maybe that's why Oli posted a selfie of them both to remember the last day with her boss. 

Oli with Mónica López on the latter's last day with the programme

All this she would tell us that night for dinner at my younger daughter's new flat. 

Our departure from our apartment was a bit hectic. Unbelievably our new weekend guests arrived at about 9.30. They had left Madrid at 4 in the morning. They obviously hadn't read the information document I sent where it states check in time is at 3 pm. It has to be that late in order for Lucy to clean the flat when guests check out which is at 11 am. She needs that window. We needed it too on Friday so offered the guest, Larissa, a set of keys to use the pool and if they wanted to leave their luggage with us. They asked to leave the food in the fridge but our food was still full! Damn it. In the end we left at about 11 after saying our goodbyes to our newly found neighbours and now friends and of course Lucy. Our new guests, from Moldova, by the way, moved in shortly afterwards.

The drive home was hot and sticky, at least outside the car. We were going from about 26c in Santa Pola to the mid 30ºs in Madrid and we could notice how it got hotter and hotter. We stopped for a coffee at a pathetic little bar in a dirty street but I, at least, needed the caffeine. Finding a spot in the shade for our picnic lunch was more difficult. I am always disgusted at how Spaniards do not care for the outdoors and leave litter everywhere and nasty litter at that too. I had to drag Pippa away from a used tampon. How disgusting is that. We did find a relatively shady area to set up our picnic but it wasn't ideal. In any case we enjoyed our lunch on the way.

Suzy and Eladio (and Pippa) posing for our picnic lunch photo on Friday on our way back from our apartment by the sea near Santa Pola. 

Friday was 1st July and we were heading for Madrid. It was obvious from seeing the traffic going in the opposite direction and towards the coast that all of Madrid and his brother were going on holiday. July and August are the busiest holiday months in Spain. Thus we had planned to return before the hoards arrived hahahaha.

We were home at about 5 pm. It was lovely to see my father who said "oh great" and "you're back" when he saw me. I was holding lots of chocolate bars and biscuits I got from the English supermarket, Quicksave, across the way from us at Gran Alacant. He had been well looked after.

We had to unload the car and put everything away. While we were finishing the Quarter Final match between Switzerland and Spain had just started. It was being played in St. Petersburg. This year's Euro Cup is being played all over Europe. I wasn't keen to watch the match but of course I wanted Spain to win. At first you would think Switzerland would be an easy team to beat but not at all. After all they had knocked out France, the World Champions. Oli had invited us for dinner but Eladio was glued to the match and we couldn't go until extra time started when the teams were drawn at 1-1.

Eladio glued to the match between Spain and Switzerland on Friday

So we left in a hurry and arrived to find Miguel glued to the match. Elliot was not at all interested and nor was Oli. It was great to see them. Of course I had seen lots of pictures of our grandson while we were away but I wanted to hug, kiss and hold him. One of the pictures Oli sent us was significant as it was a sort of official school photo; not school but nursery really. That day a photo of the class with their teachers had been taken and sent to the parents. I loved it. I know I am biased but Elliot is the most beautiful child in the picture. I'm biased aren't I?

Elliot's first official "school" photo. Spot him on the front row - third from the right and dressed in blue. 

We were not joined by Suzy who had plans with her great friend Elenita. In any case she wouldn't have liked the dinner as it contained meat and she is a vegetarian verging on being a vegan but we missed her of course. There was time to play with Elliot which is what he likes best but as he gets older he spends more time playing by himself, bless him.

Elliot and his grandfather on Friday night at their place

The photo was taken after the match finished. At the end of extra time, neither team had scored so it went to a penalty shootout. I can't stand them so went outside the flat for some quiet time although I was interrupted by shouts of "goal" from enthusiastic Spain fans in the building. I went in just as Spain scored the winning goal which takes them through to the finals. They were to play the winner of the next match between Belgium and Italy. The latter won 2-0 and next Tuesday Spain faces Italy in the Semi Finals. Italy will be a tough nut to crack. I didn't watch the football but read reports more or less saying that Spain had "scraped through". Luis Enrique's squad will have to do better on Tuesday.

Only when the match was over could we sit down to dinner. Oli made a delicious bolognese sauce to go with gnocci and accompanied by lots of stir fried vegetables. Dessert was sweet melon and water melon and great big thick black cherries.

We left at around 11 and were home to a quiet house. This weekend I had blocked the calendar as I didn't want anyone here when we arrived. Our last guests, a group from Argentina had left early on Friday and our next guests arrive very soon this morning. On Friday our first guests for July arrived at our new house in Asturias. I was sorry for them as it would rain throughout their stay with the temperature not rising above 20c. See how Spain's climate changes so much depending on the area.

We were in bed by 11.30 and watching a new series on Netflix called Traitors but soon nodded off. Luckily we nodded off in a room cooled by air conditioning.

Saturday came and we had the house to ourselves. Suzy went on a road trip to the mountains outside Madrid to Rascafría with her friend Juli, Oli and co were having lunch with Elenita and our Russian lodger was out. Originally after returning from Santa Pola we were going today to our house in El Cueto as there is a lull of 4 days with no guests. In the end we decided to postpone it to next Sunday. The reasons: we were tired from our travels back and the weather in the north of Spain is not good at the moment.

Thus we went out to do some food shopping to tide us over until we do the serious shop this week. Of course we had a cup of coffee together which we always love. I came home to help Lucy make our lunch - fish and chips but not as good as the ones in Santa Pola. I also decided to make home made fruit ice lollies on the spur of the moment. It was hot that day and will be for a long time here so they will be very refreshing. This is the batch I made. The fruit inside includes strawberries, pineapple, flat peach, apricot and some soy coconut yoghurt.

My home made ice lollies

After lunch we escaped to our air conditioned bedroom. I tried to sleep but got woken up by yet another reservation. It was for a Canadian family going to our house in Asturias for 2 nights in August. There are very few vacant days left.  I now have a total of 46 reservations!! 

As the house was empty I spent some time by the pool. I think it was only my second or third bathe and it was great to be able to skinny dive (hahaha). I had bought clams for dinner to make my new dish "almejas a la marinera" (clams in seafood sauce) and they were delicious.

My "almejas a la marinera" which we had last night for dinner

England was playing Ukraine that night for a place in the semi finals where they will face Denmark who beat the Czech Republic. If Spain scraped through to meet Italy in the semis, England sailed through and thrashed the Ukraine team 4-0. They could well win. My prediction is that England and Italy will make it to the final and that England will win. They are certainly on a running streak and need this win as they haven't won a major tournament for decades. As to Spain, well, we have won the Euros 3 times but when facing Italy we have only won 4 matches out of 13. By this time next week we will at least know who will be playing the finals at Wembley, by the way.

I actually fell asleep after goal one and only woke up after the match was over. It was then I found it difficult to fall asleep again but I eventually did. I woke up this morning at 6.15 - pretty early. Today we are receiving more guests; 3 young girls here to enjoy the pool and spend the night. Everything will be ready for them.

Today will be a quiet day which you will hear all about this time next Sunday.

Cheers till then my friends

Masha

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