Where have I been?

Sorry guys, I've seem to have been away for ages. To be honest I think I've taken too much on!! With all the stuff going on with Eye on Spain and in trying to sort out our crumbling urbanisation in my new role as president, even posting messages on my blog has become a luxury.

So where have I been? Well, last week I had a meeting with one of the top bods at the town hall. We're still living on a partial building site and it's not very nice. I don't know if they will action anything after the meeting but we'll have to wait and see. I think it's going to be one of those where I have to be on their backs for ages!

Been to see the top maintenance guy from the developers to try and get loads of problems sorted. Not the most forthcoming of people and I will REALLY have to keep on at him to get things sorted!

We also went to Marbella last weekend for the day. I'm not one for all those "glam" type areas of the coast but Marbella is actually a great day out. There are some really nice restaurants along the promenade, the famous "orange square", the inevitable train ride for the kids (we're forced to go on every time) and just loads of things. Definitely worth checking it out if you haven't been before. But, as with anywhere in Spain all the shops close at 2pm so go early in the morning.

We also announced our new community website facility and so far we've had an incredible response. We've got a lot of work to do to roll it out now...yes... more work!

Selwo Marina

Despite the hot weather I've had a terrible cold for the past 2 days now, so yesterday we decided to avoid the beach and head for Selwo Marina in Benalmadena instead. We srrived there at the silliest time....1 o'clock in the afternoon, just when the sun was at it's hottest. The first thing we did was sit and watch the dolphin show. Arriving at the last minute, like we ususally do, we had to sit in direct sun to watch the half hour show. Wow, I have never known heat like it. I was sweating so much I could barely see as it all dripped into my eyes (nice image there!).

Other than that the dolphin show was great to watch.



It's quite a good place to spend the day (although I would suggest you go later in the day really). You have to watch the dolphin show, the snake show and if you've got kids they even put on a show for them too.

There is a really great "penguinarium", a 3D cineama (can leave you feeling a bit sick), sea lions and lots more. We paid 40 Euros for a family of 4 which we thought was good.

After a long day at Selwo Marina the kids made us go on a a mini "train" ride around Benalmadena. I don't usually like places such as Benalmadena as they are very touristy but yesterday we actually felt like we were on holiday ourselves, which was great. We're going to be going back to Benalmadena again next month as there's so much to actually do there...I'll report back soon.

Maria Figueroa at la feria

We've been really busy over the past few days as the "feria" kicked off last week in Manilva and there's just been so much going on for the kids.

On Wednesday night the feria openend and we had a great time...and the kids too! The rides were cheaper than usual (1.50 Euros instead of 2.50....it's not cheap at all). The kids went all the rides and at midnight there was a concert by "Los del Rio", remember them? Made famous in UK with their "Macarena" song.

We went down again on Saturyday afternoon as the kids HAD to go and see a performance by "Maria Figueroa". She's only 6 years old and is famous for her pom-poms and all the kids love her. We sat in swealtering heat to watch her (kids decision not ours) and you can just about make her out in the photo below:

After that the kids went on the rides again (up to 2.50 a ride each now....ouch).

That night there were more singers performing....it really is non stop here..part, party, party.

Call me Mr President

Last Wednesday evening we had our annual community owners meeting. It was the the third one we've had in the past year and also the worst. If you've been to a community meeting with predominently Spanish owners there, you'll know what I'm referring to. If you haven't then you're lucky!

You see, in community meetings the English tend to be reserved (as they are) and the Spanish tend to be more outspoken and louder than ever....they don't hold back. Most of the Spanish owners have had it in for our administrator since the beginning and they weren't going to hold back in getting rid of them on this opportunity. A chair was kicked across the room, the administrator was called all sorts of names, she called the police, there was general shouting and abuse until in the end (only 10 minutes have passed by this time) everyone votes the administrator out they prompty leave fearing for their lives.

It might sound funny but it really wan't nice to witness at all. Anarchy ensued and some of us managed to calm the situation down. After some "discussion" I offered myself as President (yes, I'm totally mad) and we then selected the rest of the committee.

So here I am today looking out of my window wondering where to start. We've no administrator, contrators need paying, we still don't have proper water, electricity or phones, and the list goes on. I'm going to start at the town hall to try and see the mayor to get some things sorted in the area. I don't think I'm going to be getting much of my own work done for the next few weeks....

I'll keep you updated on how things go....but wish me luck as I'm going to need it!

It's too hot so we've closed the windows

I know we moved to Spain for the nice weather but there's just nothing nice about it at the moment. It's just way too hot. In fact, it's so hot outside that we've taken to closing all the windows during the day...and no we don't have air conditioning. But the temperature inside the apartment is much lower than outside so closing the windows is the only way of keeping the heat out. Sounds mad really but it's what the Spanish have always done...and we thought they were mad!

But, we have invested in some rotating fans and things are much better now. What a difference they really make. I don't like air conditioning just because you can get too comfortable with it and never leave the house. But the fans are great, they just keep the air circulating which is all you need.

Even the pool water is warm at the moment, it doesn't really refresh you. In the sea is the only place to be as you're pretty much guaranteed to be cool there.

GET SOME FANS!