Our final guests

Just chilling on a Sunday afternoon, having driven Dav & Mands back to Jerez airport this morning after a relaxing but also busy week here in Chiclana.

Managed to do pretty much everything on the imaginary list, despite three days of mega winds here – including for the Chiclana Feria, where the fire brigade were out in force checking that none of the massive structures were going to blow down on the people who had still come out in their Spanish finery to celebrate. Not that the ferris wheel was going round the day we went mind you… eek! Just my hair blowing in fifteen different directions, then..

Spent one afternoon on the beach ‘crawl’ – walking several miles up the 7 mile sandy beach and then visit various of the chiringuito beach bars on the way back down. Mands particularly happy with the one that serves fizzy sweets alongside nuts as their nibble – beats yet another tray of scuzzy olives any day.. She and I headed back to Lola slightly sooner than the lager louts to go and get Mads, so we could meet them with her back in the local Che bar for a final cold beer (for them). The free pour gin & tonics had already ticked that box big time for us!

The boys also managed to cycle out to Conil across the cliffs, apparently meeting a large snake on the path which had reared up at them. By the time they’d told us the story half a dozen times, it was practically a 3 metre anaconda.. But we did have another excellent fishy meal at La Fontanilla, right by the beach – and I managed to order my second one of the most delicious pudding I have pretty much ever had – a Crema Catalana, a bit like a creme caramel but slightly smoky, amazing.

Beyond that, there were many dinners in, with the boys barbecuing and even some impromptu poolside demo-ing of the dance lessons they have been having in Harrogate.. V snazzy! Though Mads not super impressed…

And we snuck in a little side trip back to Sanlucar where we rented the first Spanish house with Janine & Ross – was it 8 years ago? Nipped into a couple of the sherry houses for some tastings and grabbed a quick bite for lunch in a shady courtyard, plus a walk round the main square, market etc. A good trip back down memory lane.. Here’s one of the little bodegas – we rather like the scruffy, local ones.

David even made a new little green friend back at the house – a tiny preying mantis that took a fancy to him… Hope it didn’t sneak back up north in your suitcase.

We’ve got 10 days or so now before I head home for the rest off the UK summer, and Paul Taylor takes over here, hanging out with H and then being his wingman for the drive and ferry homewards.

x