AN EVENING INDOORS.....

...even though the sun is shining outside and my scrapping area is full of sunshine! 


THE REASON?

One terrified dog!...it's a Fiesta Day here and for the last two hours there have been firecrackers going off every two minutes(or so it seems!)...and Boo practically wants to sit on my head!

I have tried scrapping, but it's another difficult thing to do while you have a dog on your knee! I have given up and come indoors, turned the TV up loud (so she can't hear the firecrackers quite so much)..fortunately, 'PRACTICAL MAGIC' is on -and it's one of my favourite films. So no more scrapping..not that I've achieved much apart from printing off some photos today.

I went to pick a neighbour up from Alicante Airport this morning, and we stopped for lunch on the way home, so it was late before I even had a chance to look at any of  SHIMELLE'S CHALLENGES today...and, like I say. I'm now sitting here with this poor trembling dog on my  lap!

I hope you've had a good weekend, whatever you've done!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

EASTER MONDAY ON THE COSTAS!

The post title is possibly a bit of a generalisation...but I'm guessing that it wasn't REALLY too different on other beaches around our area!.


Monday was a beautifully sunny day, and up here in the valley there wasn't too much wind. However when we decided to head for the coast for some lunch, I reminded DH how windy it could be down there and we both took pullovers with us....good decision! It was rather a cool cold wind down there and the pullovers went on right away. Being a holiday Monday, we had to park some way away from the sea front, and when we rounded the corner (being blown off our feet) on to the 'promenade' I couldn't believe this sight

The half-naked ones being sand blasted and hiding behind windbreakers HAD to be British...certainly holidaymakers at any rate! The Spanish and local residents among us were to be seen...

...gawping at those brave souls, whilst cosy in our sweatshirts and pullovers!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

MOTHER'S DAY

Today, in the UK, it is Mother's Day.....and, although living in Spain, this is the day most ex-pat Brits celebrate. Spanish Mother's Day (Dia de la Madre) is celebrated on the first Sunday in May, and Father's Day is actually tomorrow...it falls on the Fiesta de San Joseph, always March 19th. It is an important religious holiday, and all our shops, banks etc will be closed. 


I have made the phone calls to  my own mum and to my MIL....and am hoping that my brothers will  remember to go visit, and that DH will remember to ring his mum.
 My own Mother's Day has been spent with my non-human 'baby'...and you can see how excited SHE has been about it!

Kirsty has exams this coming week, so is (hopefully) busy studying up in Barcelona...I have though, had a card

and a telephone call.....and the news that he is coming home for a few days over 'Spring Break', which starts next weekend!

I can't help but think of Stuart on Mother's Day, so have scrapped another page from when he was born

Although none of these girls had children at the time, they now have 14 between them!

Boo has roused herself and I have just looked outside and seen this!

I obviously dropped some ribbon whilst rummaging, and 'eagle-eye' has spotted it!

Look at that  face..trying to look all innocent!!!

I have just remembered that I haven't drawn the name for PASS THE BOOK....and will go do it now before I forget again...I'll post the result later-PROMISE!!

Hope all you UK mums are having a lovely Mother's Day!

thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

(Not) In the Pink

At this point in February, our valley is usually filled with the sight and scent of almond blossom

February 2011

Like the rest of the world, we have had very unusual weather in recent months. We have had a cold, but fairly dry winter, which has resulted in a severe lack of blossom

There is only a 'smattering'  to be seen...and lots of very disappointed visitors to the area. Busloads of people come to the area during February, just to walk through the almond groves, but there is very little for them to look at right now.   The hope is that it has just been delayed, but worst case is that the trees will go straight to leaf, which will be such a pity.

We have ended up with lots of trees which look like this.....

....blossom on the side which gets the sun- and practically bare on the other side!

Is it just here, or has the weather wreaked havoc on the growing season where you are?

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

Life on December 16th

I have been watching reports on UK TV News about how quiet the Shopping Centres are, for the time of year. I popped into the one nearest to us (about twenty minutes drive away)on Wednesday afternoon, and reckoned it wasn't going to  be busy, by the ease of which I parked...I did not, however, expect it to be this quiet!

I suppose part of the reason is that the Spanish themselves don't make such a huge thing of Christmas as we do in the UK and USA, but the expats are certainly not out spending at this point either. There are certainly no huge queues to be waiting in.

Yesterday was my last Slimming Club weigh-in of the year, and although I didn't achieve my goal of losing 3 stones ( 42lbs /19.05kgs), I only missed it by .05 kg (which is not even half a pound)! I reckon I'm not even counting that miserly amount and am considering it a done deal!!

 I am hoping to lose another stone next year...now all I need to do is try not to put too much of it back on over the next few weeks! 

I have to say that I had a funny sort of a day today.....after a quick pop to the shops, and getting DD's bedroom and the spare room ( which mum and dad will be in as of Monday) straightened out ,I discovered that I had time to sit down and do not -a-lot. The cards are all posted, the house is decorated, the presents are wrapped (I'm still waiting with fingers crossed for a parcel from Amazon) and it's too early to start the food shopping. I felt quite panicky actually, but on checking my lists, couldn't really find anything that I really needed to be doing, so sat and watched a Christmas DVD (SCROOGED) 

Just want to leave you with a picture of the sky tonight...it has been totally amazing to watch!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx