Time is galloping along here – and it's still bloody lovely in our Chiclana pad. Have had several trips out to the beach, which is a bit busier at the weekend but from Mon-Fri practically all ours. And we're very happy with that! Wishing we had spent a few more euros on our beach brollies as they were very keen on inverting in the breeze – H managed to concoct a way of hanging clothes and the cool bag off them to keep them intact! We even took Mads to a dog friendly beach in a place called Bolonia – though she was disgusted to be attached to the beach screw and not allowed to run freely the whole afternoon – those unimpressed doggy eyes were out in force and eventually we had to head for home…
And it was our wedding anniversary too this week – this time 14 years. We had some very nice drinks up on the rooftop balcony of one of the smarter hotels further along the coastline in Novo Sancti Petri and then dinner in the (tbh, pretty crap!) restaurant there. Most importantly we have both made it to another year of still being here, so that's pretty much all that counts.
Janine & Ross arrived on Thursday for a 4 night stay, which was fab – their first time here. Cue lots of bbq-ing, H & J boffing on about Spanish wines & sherry, walks down to the seafront for cocktails and introducing them to the Che bar, where the drink of choice is the 'jarra' – a 2/3 pint in a pre-frozen terracotta plant pot style cup. It does keep your beer brilliantly chilled…
Even managed to lure them both for a walk around the 'swamp' – albeit a shorter version minus the yomp to the swamp itself. Oddly there are about half a dozen African style statues dotted around town – here they are by the one in the swamp…
They headed home yesterday, so it was back to life as usual here today. Up this morning for a sweaty walk – 550 calories worth though, so not all bad. We've been to Mercadona the supermarket, I've sewn a couple of tops (some cheapies bought in the Carrefour shopping centre, awful buttons that had to go and now looking much nicer without – god, I'm crap at sewing though), have swabbed Mads' niffy ears, had salad for lunch, been out to book a couple of restaurants (zero online booking here, still the dark ages), had a cheeky afternoon snooze and now doing blogs and a few birthday card orders on-the-line. Just like life at home – but sunnier!
The tan (one side only!) is coming along well but sadly seems to be accompanied by my hair rapidly turning yellow – damn good job the hairdresser is booked when I get home, I'll be looking like a weird negative by then.. x