Spain again

Ali’s niece Lauren picked us up from Harpenden and dropped us off at the train station for Gatwick Airport. Good flight with EasyJet and very cheap. Landed in Murcia Spain to brilliant sunshine ☀️. Peter and Sue had hired a car so we all piled in for the hour and a half drive to Les’s in Arboleas. What a welcome spread he had laid on for our arrival. Cannot believe he will be 80 in 2 days time. Sue and Peter were not staying at his villa with us but at a very nice golf course resort not too far away. 

Outside Les’s villa 

At the golf resort for a gorgeous lunch. David and I shared Paella 🥘 which was really good. The weather was perfect too. 

A turtle on the golf course!



After lunch Sue and Peter had a swim here while we went back to Les’s for a swim in his pool. 

The day of Les’s 80th birthday we all met at Mojácar beach for as Argentinian steak meal at La Cabana. 

Peter Ali Les and Sue









Cheers 

It was a fabulous meal and Peter and Sue kindly  treated us all for Les’s birthday.

We then drove up to Mojácar Pueblo (village) for coffee. It was a great view from up there.











That night we celebrated in an old railway station as the venue and was entertained by a comedian a singer/comedian and a Cher impersonator. No of us were really expecting much from the evening but it turned out to be brilliant. Us girls danced together for the first time in 32 years and we even managed to get the boys up for a couple. It was great to see Les dancing with his 2 girls. Peter even managed to fall off his chair when it broke underneath him which was a worry as he had just had back surgery. But all was good and we laughed about it after.



After all the celebrations David and I started working on the jobs that needed doing around Les’s villa. This job was attacking one of the 2 olive trees. We both jumped in the pool later on as it was ver hot - but not the pool it was freezing! 



David tackled lots of rendering jobs.



More pruning. Things grow so well here and we were trimming things we had done before only in June. 

A shepherd with his goats where we were getting rid of the green waste. 



Beautiful sunsets and a few well deserved  G&T’s.



I cannot believe we took to Spain with us a 3 thousand piece jigsaw 🧩 puzzle! It too over the whole dining area!  

Les’s budgie Alfie who was recovering from being attacked by a cat. 

Took it easy today as I twinged my back by doing too much on the first day.

Yes it’s Sunday and Jo must have her roast (even if she has to cook it herself!) 

David was very pleased when Les let him test his freehand skills on the yellow window surrounds. 

Started painted all the areas David had rendered. 

See David i you p the ladder? He did eleven windows and all the eaves. 

I painted all 8 balls to match





Les had winter wood delivered so we got all that stacked under his supervision as he is just a little bit fussy 😩!!!

Les’s golden balls.

After a great 10 nights in Spain Les drove us to the bus station for our two buses to Murcia airport for our flight back to Luton. So I spent my 57th birthday travelling. Is that the last of the sun for this year? Hopefully not! 

Catch ups

20th Sept to 13th Oct 2019

We had a good drive to Devon from Wales which took us about 3hours. It was a warm welcome again from Peter and Susan and we surprised Ali,who didn’t know we were here, when she arrived later in the evening. Peter has recently had a back operation so was grateful that we had come to help out and we were ready to do some jobs too, as a change from walking and camping.

Getting to know the horses again.

The gardens look more colourful than when we were here last.

The first job was to set fire to the accumulated rubbish that had built up. Yes we had the hose pipe at the ready.

Bertie & Elsa helping Jo with the weeding.



Ali & Sue

Peter Ali & Sue all dressed up to meet Jacob Rees Mogg at the Conservative Club. The following day Ali & Sue went to The Brexit Party Rally in Exeter.

Jo mowing one of the lawns.

David and Bertie harrowing the riding school ready for classes tomorrow.

Jo cooked everyone a Sunday roast.

The 4 of us went to see Downtown Abbey at the movies in Okehampton. 

We kept very busy most of the time and this was one of those easy jobs that took longer than expected but David got there in the end. Water trough in one of the stables.

Drove out to Bovey Tracey for a delicious lunch at the very interesting House of Marbles.



Watching the glass blowers.



Ali & Jo testing out the new adjustable bed we had just put together for Peter & Sue - what a laugh! After another enjoyable stay at the farm in Devon we headed off to Cornwall to visit David’s auntie Pat who has been in hospital for a few weeks. We will see Peter & Sue again soon when we fly out with them and Ali to Spain.

One the way we met Ian and Linda in Tavistock for an enjoyable lunch and catchup. It was good to see them again.

We settled ourselves into Pats house in Penryn then went to visit her in Falmouth Hospital. She was grateful for Jo doing her nails. She is now out of pain and hopefully will be back in her own home soon.

We enjoyed a walk around Falmouth.











David having a much needed haircut. 

We had a lovely meal cooked by Gary. It was great to see him and the girls again.

Fern and her daughter Willow who is pregnant and due soon although you wouldn’t think it by the size of her. They absolutely idolise Gary. David reckons they are the only females that do!!!

We visited Pat again and listened to some more wonderful stories from her past. 

David and Gary - our Silver Foxes off to the pub!

A great night out at The Greenbank Hotel and glad that Amy could join us.

To the left of the water is where Pat lives and where we stayed in Penryn. After 3 nights we headed back to Harpenden but will look forward to visiting again later in the year. The good news is Pat is back home and the puppies have arrived- 5 boys and 3 girls 🐶😍

Back at our base in Harpenden house sitting whilst Mike and Liz are on a Norwegian cruise. Not so many jobs to do here but we enjoyed the week on our own just chilling out. 

It’s that time again. We both visited the dentist and Jo is booked in for a clean and David a crown to be fitted after Spain as he had broken a tooth whilst walking Offas Dyke. 

A wet day.

Also some sunny days so went for a much needed walk to the pub.









Ali came over for the evening and I gave her a quick trim. 

We had a lovely evening catching up with our old friend Lana and husband John. Lana worked with Jo’s mum at a school in Luton. 

We had an Indian takeaway and a good laugh.

Jo and Ali.

Had a Sunday roast at The Elephant and Castle with Jude and Ali.

We spent the day in Hitchin going down memory lane for David. This is the old Education Dept where his Mum used to work next to his old school. Him and his sister used to get dropped off here for school by their mum and they were always embarrassed because of the state of the old fashioned cars she used to drive. 

Hitchin boys school where David went.

Hitchin outdoor swimming pool- it’s looking a bit tired now. Both of us have good memories from here.

David’s junior school-their motto is “Be Extraordinary” they got that right then didn’t they!!!

This is David’s grandparents old house which his dad renovated for them. Must be worth a fortune now opposite a lovely park and so close to the train station. These are old railway cottages. 

We spent the day in London-went on the train £15 each return. This picture is in Whitehall Gardens.

Here’s one for you dad. He single handedly put a stop to the Korean War when he arrived!!! LOL 😂 



Spent a lot of the day in Westminster Abbey it is beautiful. No pictures allowed but sneaked this one in from the newly opened Diamond Jubilee Museum. It was a good time to come to London as all the summer crowds have gone so no queuing. 



Went to visit Boris but he wasn’t in! You can’t get near number 10 anymore.

The Extinction Rebellion crowds were everywhere so most of the roads were closed to traffic which made walking around for us easy. Non violent peaceful and certainly entertaining.

Trafalgar Square has tents everywhere.

We spent a day helping at Ali’s nieces Lauren’s house. They are renovating the bathroom and kitchen. David boarded up the old fireplace ready for a range cooker.

Jo cleaned and tidied the conservatory area as it was covered in thick dust. Shame the dust sheets weren’t used in the beginning!

Nearly there

What a difference! All sorted and cleaned and now covered.

Mike and Liz had a great cruise and we taught them the game of Mexican train, think they may be hooked. 

We had a FaceTime with our Jess and Ruby who had some shocking news for us about Margaret-David’s mum. So we then FaceTimed them to hear how Margaret has been in hospital for a week with lung cancer! They removed half the lung and thankfully the doctors have said they got it all and she has been given the all clear. She looked so well and we can’t believe it. She is so strong!  They kept it a secret from us so we wouldn’t fly home.

Sunday Roast again! At The Travellers Rest in Edlesborough. We met Nick and Linda and Nick’s daughter Lisa and her lovely 3 boys Ben Lee and Jay.





That night back in Harpenden Mike & Liz’s 3 girls Claire Emma & Hannah came over and we had a good game of Mexican Train. Yep it’s getting cold now the fire is alight 🔥 

Lots of concentration on our faces!

Monday 14th Oct Happy 28th Birthday to our darling 
Jess back in Australia. Today David and I, Ali Peter & Sue fly to Spain for 10 days to celebrate their Dad Les’s 80th Birthday. We are staying again at his lovely villa. Bring on the sun 🌞