10th March already – where does the time go? It’s
Sunday morning – well afternoon just – but we’ve just got up. I say we
but, then again, one of us is still in bed munching on her scrambled egg.
I’m listening to a jolly radio station (Siete Radio) and looking out over that
view – it’s sunny but there are some heavy clouds around – let’s hope they just
pass us by.
Last night we went to the Lions annual dinner at the Hotel
Playasol down the road – it’s a very nice venue and the food was lovely – but
the Lions president told them to serve it Spanish style, which means very
slowly over the whole evening. This was a shame because they had a six or
seven man jazz combo and by the time the dance music started people were
getting ready to go home – it was after all midnight! It was a very
formal and quite posh occasion – the Mayor of Mazarron was there and the
Regional Governor – as well as other local dignitaries and there were toasts to
King Juan Carlos and HM the Q. Daddy was all done up in his DJ and dickie
bow and mummy all in her finery as well as a touch of discrete slap. We
had fresh salad to start with cheese and Serrano ham – and some super almonds,
the biggest I’ve ever seen (perhaps they weren’t?). Then there was
calamari with mayonesa, then soup, then chicken in blue cheese sauce with
jacket potato and finally yummy desert – I had two cos Terry didn’t want
his. After the raffle (which we didn’t win) there were some speeches –
the Mazarron Bahia Lions (an international charity and alternative to the
masons – without all the ceremony) have rebuilt a school for disabled children in
Lorca which was destroyed in the earthquake some years ago. Not bad going
and something to be proud of.
What’s new at no 15? Well, not a lot really. I
have been working quite hard on the garden and I am in the process of planting
roses and other plants at the back of the house to make the back terrace a bit
more attractive. I need five more roses and the job is done. The
right hand side is planted with a mixture of seeds scattered amongst the rocks
which I have placed around the roses. I have also pruned the yuccas to
make them into a sort of spiky palm tree and they look much better. I cut
off one trunk from the back of the plant and have put it in further down near
the steps leading to the pool and a few other plants (mainly osteospermum) have
gone in around it. They root fairly easily. That’s the back terrace
– just the mountain to go, ha ha…
It’s coming up to Semana Santa (Holy Week) and everywhere
will be having the usual processions etc. I don’t know what they do in
Bolnuevo but the big shows in Murcia and Cartagena are supposed to be something
else. Today they are using the dirt track that goes down from here to the
Gredas car park and beach for a cycle event. Simon will be sad to hear
that Monroe’s has gone from the village. The boys who ran it sold it to
the lady who runs Elliott’s Restaurant further up the road but it flopped
without their magic touch (fairy dust) and it looks like it’s going to be a
burger joint. Time will tell but most people think it is
optimistic. We are quite friendly with Anya who is the daughter of Pauli
who had the German place with the number plates. He died and she was left
alone here. She works in the garden centre and is also a friend of
Terry’s. He knows everyone!
Hey, you know those Nespresso coffee cups that cost a
fortune and the alternatives in M and S – well the good old Bazaar Chino has
‘em in stock for only 4 Euros 50 for six – 6.50 if you want saucers as
well. Which is less than a Euro each – espresso and lungo.
Brill! Also, the coffee pods are 3.60 for ten in Corte Ingles, but you
can get alternatives in Mercadona and Consum (Camposol) for just over three Euros.
Bargain. We raided the Chinese shop there on Friday and got another
matching recliner for the balcony and two more cushions for the pool lounger
making three all together. Amazing, every time one goes into that store
one finds something to buy: we also got a nice little wall clock for our
bedroom – 4 Euros! Don’t laugh, it matches the décor and looks
nice. We went in for a mixing bowl.
You will be pleased to hear that for the last week or so we
have not had the heating on during the day – or in the evening – which is
encouraging – and we sat out on the balcony on Friday and cooked ourselves: for
the first time I actually turned pink – a bit.
Mum opened her Woooomans Day card today and was chuffed, for
which many thanks. Would love to take you all for a steak at La Siesta
(on Bolnuevo beach) to celebrate – or down to the Antipodas at La Azohia for
the view. Oh well, when you come again…
Pink skies tonight so let's hope Mrs P's birthday will again be bright and sunny.
Pink skies tonight so let's hope Mrs P's birthday will again be bright and sunny.
