Via Espana

We're back in Southampton where is quite a bit colder than Spain. Southern Spain was gloriously warm for 5 out of the 7 days we were there. The other 2 is was kind of windy and cold, but that was OK as we found stuff to do. It was a very relaxing week and we visited a lot of places and found time for lots of sunbathing as well.

We visited Gibraltar, which is bizarrely British and quite tacky (the town part). The rock is lovely though, with friendly monkeys and an impressive cave system that I didn't want to leave. I could seriously become a cave dweller if they all have cool lighting and play soothing, classic music like this one had, it was really magical with crazy droopy dripping stalactites that looked like melted candle wax and fishes gills.

We also drove a couple of hours north from the coast to visit the Alhambra Palace in Granada. It is more like 4 Palaces, all perched on an impressive hilltop, and I'm so pleased we had the chance to see it. You can see from the photos below that there is a lot to take in, and I'm really glad we went in March when it wasn't too hot.

Aside from those two highlights, we also went out from Calahonda (where we were staying in a friends apartment) to Mijas, a pretty hilltop town, Marbella which is pretty and massively touristy, and Puerto Banus which is quite expensive and not that impressive. Both in Marbella and Puerto Banus it is pricey, but if you go to the smaller, less touristy towns close by it becomes cheaper for drinks and food.

So a good week. And now we're back to the house buying shenanigans here with lots to sort out. I have a lovely tan but I'm sure it is soon to fade.

I am loving the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer at the moment. Just watched the film which made me laugh unintentionally, but the books! The books are cool. I think all romantic girls everywhere can't fail to enjoy them, but boys will probably not, in general. Anyway I've got Nick's sis reading them and we're both loving them and can't put them down. I also read Wetlands by Charlotte Roche the other week, now that was something a bit out of the ordinary. Wouldn't say it was brilliant but it's quite unusual! Quite un-British in attitude.

The Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain!

*~*~*FAIRY GODMOTHER*~*~*

Here are a few pics of Catherine, Damian and their gorgeous little girl, Samantha! She's about 5 weeks old in these photos and as you can see she is already getting to grips with the camera. I went up to see them in Dunham Massey for a few days last week which was really lovely. Their tabby cat Tom was also a complete tart in front of the lens as you can see.

Damian works as the Head Gardener at the National Trust place there and they live in the most wonderful crazy old house, with a menagerie of animals including chickens and chinchillas. Catherine is pretty much the oldest friend I have; when we were little we used to pretend we were Princesses from the planet Zultria and through our teenage years we developed a penchant for Guns N Roses and the film Lost Boys.

Anyway they have wisely (?!) asked me to be Sam's Godmother which is awesome and a first for me. VERY exciting.

In other news we have negotiated a few grand off the house as the drains have all collapsed at the back, and it's pretty much all steam ahead with the trying to buy it thing. Went looking at kitchens in Ikea this afternoon, it was rather overwhelming.

Nick & I are flying to Malaga this Friday for a week. His folks are already out there and staying at a friends villa so we're all going to hang out and get some sunshine. We're going to Calahonda, but where I really really want to go is Granada so that I can visit the Alhumbra Palace. It's kind of a 'must see' for me. I think it's a couple of hours away so that's do-able.

I've started jogging! How about that. Not very far and not very fast and in completely unsensible shoes but nevertheless. I swallowed a fly last time I went out and even that didn't put me off, even though it made me retch. Need to lose a few pounds and generally be a more healthy person so while I'm not working it seems like a good thing to do. Makes me feel all smug and self satisfied saying that I go jogging, I think that's half the reason people do it if I'm honest. I'll most likely give up soon so better enjoy that feeling while it lasts!

Pictures of the House...

I like the front door. It is wider than average and with the pretty window above it.

2nd pic is the dining room, complete with a couple of original cupboards.


The 3rd shows the view from the front a bit better than the last picture. Also here we have the inside of the garage and one of the upstairs bedrooms.
Then no.6 is me looking very seriously at the cracks up the side. Someone told us it was old bomb damage from the Second World War! It is entirely possible which is very exciting.


And a few more pics of the outside at the back. The garden goes back about 70ft but it utterly overgrown and hard to make out in this pic. The second to last pic is the kitchen which yes, does need some work. It's still early days.. looks like we are buying this place. Whether that is a sensible idea or not I'm still not sure but I feel a bit more chilled out about it now!

In un-house related news I have been not working, just behaving like a retired person really! With lots of walks in the countryside and visits to the New Forest. We went for a picnic there on Monday and I had to shout 'BAH!" at the naughty ponies and wave my arms at them because they caught a whiff of the mini cheddars and were trying to trample down our picnic blanket. Earlier that day we did a 5 mile walk called the Lepe Loop and we saw a field of Llamas plus a buzzard. Wildlife a plenty! Yesterday I went JOGGING can you believe around Southampton Common and today my legs ache so much I can hardly do stairs. And this morning I had my hair highlighted for £16 at Southampton College by a student. Bargain of the century as it's turned out really nice. I don't think I'm ever going to pay for a proper hairdresser again! They also do a whole range of massages and facials which are all under a tenner... fantastic. I will definitely be going back.