30th January

I know that it has been a while since my last update but I had computer problems and being in Spain they took a little longer to get sorted than at home. After many days in the hands of the repairer I enquired if it was ready and was told ‘Manana’ but it was still a few days later until it was fixed.

We can’t believe where the time is going, about four weeks more only at this site before moving on. Last night we helped the Scots on the rally celebrate Burns Night complete with specially flown in haggis, it was a lovely night. It just happened to coincide with our 38^th wedding anniversary so very good timing. We had some friends round in the afternoon to help us drink a couple of bottles of champagne and eat some cake before getting ready for the evening which besides the meal had us Scottish Country Dancing interspersed with disco music, we went home rather tired.

A couple of weeks ago I sprained my ankle (I just wish I could remember how) and it has taken a while to get better although when first sprained I was ordered by Sue to rest it so was unable to do much, hardly a problem in the sunshine though. We have had some fairly strong winds since then but not too cold fortunately, certainly better than at home currently.

Some friends we met last winter out here have arrived now and it has been good to catch up with them and spend some time together.

This coming week is another busy one with a fairly strenuous bike ride on Friday to the Portman guns which are a relic of WW2 and sited to protect the entrance to Cartagena harbour but still in position apparently, sounds interesting.

New Years Eve - La Manga

It is now New Years Eve and we have been quite busy since my last update. Carly flew out to stay with us for a week over Christmas and we had a hire car (which we still have) to pick her up from Alicante Airport and to go out and about while she was here.

Sue and Carly enjoying the sunshine in Cartagena

Sue joining a local resident for a sit at Cartagena

We also rented a town house at Mar de Cristal (about a mile from our MH in a straight line) which was lovely. With three bedrooms and two en suites we each had a bathroom and Sue made full use of having a bath rather than a shower for the first time since we left home in September. Weather while Carly was here was kind to us except on Christmas Day when it remained overcast. We took her to Cartagena where after a day sightseeing we stayed until after dark to enjoy the Christmas lights in the streets and squares, very good they were too. We also took Carly into the Calblanque Regional Park, to Cabo de Palos and we drove the full length of the La Manga strip to the infamous hump back bridge at the top. Besides these trips we played Boules (Carly is a natural and beat us several times) and eating and drinking too much as you do at Christmas.

Part of the extensive lighting decorations at Cartagena

A dip in the Mar Menor on Boxing Day (Sue and I were not one of the participants)

All too soon Carly had to leave us but at least she had managed to get a well priced flight from San Javier airport which is quite nearby. With a flight on time she was very soon back in a grey and damp Manchester, missed by us already.

Tonight we intend to join a group of ten and go to a local Chinese Restaurant in Cabo de Palos for a meal then come back to the site and head to the beach to see in the New Year, munching our dozen grapes as the clock strikes twelve. Apparently this is an old Spanish custom and brings good luck to you. We actually got to celebrate the New Year twice, once at midnight Spanish time then again at midnight UK time. With fireworks and chinese lanterns going of where we were an looking across the still water of the Mar Menor to fireworks on the far shores it was quite a spectacular New Years Eve climax. We slept in well on New Years Day 

Seeing in the New Year on the beach at La Manga

Off now for a street BBQ in our Calle joining the other Winter residents in celebrating the New Years arrival.