Was going to Spain from start to finish but now I, Luca have taken over

 Landing at Malaga with Ryanair, early as usual, I was met on exit from the aircraft with superb blast of lovely hot air. 21.00 hours & still lovely & warm, I really felt I was glad to be back. I needed to hang about though for a couple of hours as my good friends, Sandra & Neil were returning from Scotland & were giving me a lift home. Thanks again Neil, much appreciated.

 So now after a good night’s sleep my immediate problem is to insure my car as it expires tomorrow.

Ummm, not as easy I thought, few Spanish Insurance companies want to know about a British car with English number plates & after a fruitless trip to Torre del Mar was sitting at the Plaza bar talking about it, when a total stranger leaned over & handed me a business card saying, “Go to see Esperanza at Liberty Seguros. Her office is by the police station, she is excellent”. “But will she insure my English car?” I asked. The question was in the affirmative so 10 minutes later my appointment was made to see her the following morning at 9.00am.  We talked for a while, I had the quotations & found that the package was acceptable. But horrors I had not got my registration document for the car as last week whilst in England had sent it to the DVLA for an address change. I also did not have a NIE number. I dragged my feet with that as when going to the police station some weeks ago I was put off by the disorderly shambles outside. So I returned home to contemplate my course of action but I was now worried my as insurance was fast running out. Looking again through my (extensive) paperwork I found a duplicate registration document, great, I had forgotten about that. So hastening down to Torre del Mar again I saw Esperanza again at 14.00. “You still need an NIE number” she said, “Come on we’ll get it we have all the paperwork”.

“The police station is only 3 minutes walk away we’ll get the forms, pay the bank, fill them in & you will have to pop back in the morning as they only complete the NIE’s between 9.00 & 11.00”

Well, dunno what she said but 15 minutes later they issued the number & she collected it for me the following day on which she issued me with my car insurance. I therefore very strongly recommend her to anyone. Afterwards she told me she had never applied for an NIE & didn’t actually know what she was doing, but she was more than good enough for me.

 Off to see her again on Thursday morning to complete my insurance requirements especially as I have my total trust in her.

 So, I have spoken again with Esperanza & everything I wanted insurance wise she did exactly. (And I am difficult to appease having worked in the industry for 20 years). So I again suggest if you live around Torre Del Mar, want insurance & are worried about getting your NIE speak to her she is brilliant. (She also speaks perfect English).

 Then on Saturday off to a barbecue at Catherine & Ian’s on Saturday so it’s still all go.

 Wonder if Spain will beat Italy & then Brazil to win the Confederation’s Cup on Sunday?

 At least being here back in England the weather is somewhat better (for a while anyway!), although still much cooler than being in Sedella, even up in the foothills.So far my stay in England has gone relatively well with an awful lot of things packed into my stay.

 Last week I stayed with my good friends Astrid & Gary in their lovely house. It looks far better than a show home & their hospitality was second to none. Thank you both my stay was delightful. Astrid is from the Netherlands & like all Dutch people (as it appears to me, she is highly intelligent, & her husband, Gary is also no slouch when it comes to the brain box department. They have now though departed to Normandy France for a big family get together.

So am staying now with my daughter, Marie & Andy (familiarly known as Jock!) & their three boys. William is the eldest, Sammy the middle “bear” followed by the cutest of little  boys, Henry. Three totally & completely different personalities but really superb well mannered children

 My fourth Grandchild, Emmeline (or Emmy) is two years old today so tomorrow I am popping to Lichfield to see Joanne & Gregg to see them but only after having lunch with my sister Rachel & her husband Steve.

Action filled days eh! – but in the words of the advert, “You know you love it”.

Monday should have becomes quite different! My daughters bought me a balloon ride & I was due to fly from Shugborough Hall – at 6.00am. But this was postponed due to inclement weather, where have we heard this before in the UK? So now it is re-scheduled for Friday, another item in my very busy schedule of 3 more meetings & 5 luncheon dates.

Well the UK weather continues to disappoint, cold & dismal still & yet again the balloon flight was cancelled. It has been re-re-scheduled for Sunday the day before I leave for home. I hope it is successful this time as I am relying on probably the superb scenery. But disappointment again, wind was excessive, so the balloon flight will have to wait now maybe in September.

On my way home now & after the difficult part of saying goodbye to my family, my life time friends & everyone in England I am at Birmingham Airport waiting my flight. So it’s back to a little sun, my home & all my super new friends in Sedella, & my life which is still yet new - I can’t wait

In my last blog I did say, “Wonder if I will miss Spain?” well I do. It is nice to be back in England with familiar surroundings & to see my old friends & family, but already I am thinking I will be glad to return home after all the meetings, appointments & dinners & luncheons that are arranged. I do now consider Sedella to be my home although as expected, England will always be my spiritual home.

I’m afraid Ryanair caught me out & I suffered the retribution of having to cough up extra money. I knew my suitcase was heavy but by 3 kilo’s! That was a shock & at €20 per kilo penalty I was in trouble. However after donning my morning suit coat, putting on my heavier shoes & diverting some of it my hand luggage I reduced it by a kilo, but still had to pay €40 for the additional weight. However my hand luggage was now almost 3 kilo’s over the limit. The small suitcase didn’t look bulky & still fitted into their checker easily. Now here's the thing! Did you know that they don’t have a facility to check weights of hand luggage? They only check for size, so I managed to slip that one through, which tempered my annoyance at having to pay the additional €40. I don’t blame Ryanair, I know the rules & I broke them so had to pay for it.

Yesterday was the final part of Phet’s path to become a British Citizen & she had to attend The Town Hall in Burton upon Trent for the Ceremony to affirm allegiance to the Queen, the Country & British Law. It was quite a lavish affair in quite a regal surrounding & left Phet extremely emotional. All she has to do now is to apply for her first British passport will involve her final interview which is in Birmingham somewhere.

Well things are running on a pace and there is good news & good news & good news. I love living here in Spain & Sedella & I am learning all the time. 

of good things to come.

Last Sunday I went to Sedella’s Romaria in the barbecue & picnic area 3 km’s away, another thing I’ve learned. I actually followed the “pilgrimage” along with the villagers. (I have to admit I was in my car as I did not know how far it was or indeed where it was) & I just “tacked” on the end. When they were almost their, they called me past where I drove up the single track to the designated area.

At 11.00 the weather was fine & seeing all the barbecues (there must be about 25 purpose built ones), being lit with logs from around the woods was terrific. Their followed lovely smells of cooking food which was equally good. Everyone was so happy and there was a promise of another good day.

That is until the mist came down. It started rolling down at about 1.30pm, by 2.30pm it was complete, with a temperature drop of several degrees. It though didn’t diminish the enjoyment & tarpaulins were erected & coats fetched from the cars. There were still lots of sausages, hamburgers, fish and quite literally “tons” of food to devour, not to mention the copious amounts of alcohol to be consumed. Mist or not a good time was had by all lasting many hours.

So today I drove back to the area & collected fir cones & again marvelled at the views. They are simply stunning & give wonderful views not only of the mountains but in the distance the sea some 22 km’s away.

Yet another thing I have discovered is that Sedella has two pools both open to the public. One is in the sports area & the other is Casa Pinta, a restaurant & bar no more than 1 km away. Clean & inviting, the drink & food are just as good. I hope to be up their on Saturday night where they have entertainment & special foods available. Last Saturday was a karaoke which I am told was also very successful.