Sunday 11th May
11.00 Paul decides that he wants the bags repacked so mad panic to distribute things to other smaller bags – result from 6 large bags to 15 small bags???? and 1 extra box to follow. (I only spent 14 weeks planning and packing everything)
14.00 Cannot get everything in the car so panic time and eventually get in touch with Paul's brother who is luckily in the local Tesco Brighouse – to come to the rescue taking a load to the tip and another load to Paul’s mother’s house, we lost my prized Dragon Mirror that I got for my 50th birthday and a few other great pieces that were not essential but would have been great to have.
15.30 Finally set off and get to Portsmouth with no trouble and reasonably early and board the huge ferry at 21.30 as sailing time had changed to 22.30.
21.45 Found our cabin and settled in for the night
Monday 12th May
01.30 The sea was getting a bit rough – felt like a car hitting the kerb every now and then but Paul slept through it
08.00 docked at Roscoff in France for an hour for crew change. Breakfast in our cabin was pot pasta/noodles and smoked sausage (different but was great at the time) went exploring the ship – it is huge with swimming pool, health spa, duty free shop, lazed about
13.00 found a deserted piece of deck enclosed by plastic windows (wasn’t brave enough to stand the wind outside without coats) and went on whale dolphin and tuna watch- much later I spotted a school of four dolphins (I think they were dolphins) and later Paul saw a single dolphin skimming through the waves – we were in the sun on deck on a calm sea so wouldn’t have been bad even if we had not seen anything. Food on board was great and reasonable price (beef bourguignon and chips) and early to bed again but lovely calm sea now we were way down French coast
Tuesday 13th May
Docked at 8am (instead of 6am) and disembarked by 8.30 however took a wrong turn and went round and round and round Bilbao town for 45 minutes in heavy rain.
Finally on the road to Madrid and had to stop for a pee – outside door to toilets wasn't open so had to go in the cafe for 2 minutes and came out to find passenger car window broken and my handbag gone (575 Euros, phone, my pills and some jewellery, make up etc all gone) waited 2 hours for police to turn up as garage man called them - got fed up waiting so got underway as 600k drive ahead with no passenger window – thankfully it was not raining and had warmed up by then.
No point in blame and fretting – it was done – of course phone numbers were in my phone for the Spanish contact but fortunately Vodaphone were their usual efficient selves and didn’t cut Pauls phone off on 12th like they should have. Texted Paul's brother to get into my emails and text us phone number – fortunately he did and we arranged for keys to be left at neighbours since we were running four and a half hours late by then (did 600k in 6 hours) Paul was magnificent driving and we only stopped when we had to as neither of us wanted to eat – just get there. Both got stinking colds. (Paul had never driven abroad before - but was a delivery driver in UK so ready for anything)
Lugged stuff up to 1st floor apartment (saving grace got a lift and was told it was 2nd floor) dumped stuff had a cuppa and went to bed.
Paul slept but I couldn’t as the floors felt like they were moving and laying down was a nightmare so I slept 3 hours on sofa. (35 hours on board and 18 hours driving all in 2 days will do this for you)
Wednesday 14th May
Isabelle our contact came to the apartment and said we could use her wi-fi from her garden (she lives 3 doors down) anytime we wanted even if she was out. Also would arrange for car to be fixed.
Paul walked down village as I unpacked and found little shop (only one there is) though there are 2 cafe’s and couple restaurants which are not yet open for the season.
Isabelle took Paul to garage and left car and drove him home – really friendly people and very helpful YAY!!!! Dined on microwave rice and tinned shrimps & tinned pears for pudding (gourmet?) managed to get a bottle of brandy so all in all not so bad. Both still got heavy colds.
Thursday 15th May
Isabelle took Paul to garage and they only charged 110 Euros (last time it was broken in England they charged £150) great garage to know
He even managed driving on his own on the way home driving on the right and giving way to traffic from the left on roundabouts - I had to remind him every time on our long drive which fortunately did not have too many roundabouts. The Spanish roads are fabulous – so easy and not crowded except in towns.
Spent all day rearranging the apartment to suit us and washing all the dishes etc (grease on everything the floors were sticky (yuk) and extra full cupboards of stuff we may need – unfortunately no room to put any food etc – she even left cardigans in case we got chilly- size 8 so no good to anyone but Meg and Rachel)– Paul went for walk down by beach to clear headache and to local Spar which apparently only opens in the morning at moment - so more shrimps and rice though no tinned pears to follow this time lol.
A WORD ABOUT OUR AGENT - SHE ADVERTISED THE APARTMENT ON THINK SPAIN AS 3 BEDROOMED AND SENT PHOTOS ETC BUT AS MOST DO NOT SEND PHOTOS OF ALL THE ROOMS WE HAD NO REASON TO WORRY - WE BOOKED AND PAID DEPOSIT AND 1ST MONTHS RENT - THEN WE FINALLY GOT HER WEBSITE ADDRESS. I FOUND WHAT LOOKED LIKE THE APARMENT ON IT SAYING BOOKED BUT WAS A 2 BEDROOMED. SHE ARGUED THAT THINKSPAIN GOT IT WRONG SO WAS NOT HER FAULT - WE HAD PAID SO DECIDED TO COME AT LEAST FOR A MONTH AND SEE HOW IT WENT. MORE ABOUT OUR AGENT LATER
17.50 it is now 26 degrees in front room and we are watching DVD as promised English TV not working, Plenty of time to be out in the sun – colds progressing from mild to bad
Friday 16th /Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May
Found local supermarket and got a bit stocked up. Still not ventured into our pool as I now have a chest infection and Paul got blocked sinuses so sleep is bad and we are doing the minimum. Ah well we have the rest of our lives to swim and sunbathe – I already have a bit of a tan from walking to the supermarket.
We are enjoying salads with great tomatoes and olives and generally eating healthy and I can already feel the weight dropping off – Must have lost at least 1 pound lol. While I am typing this I look over the laptop to the sea and keep getting distracted watching the small boats and the flat azure blue sea and hardly a cloud in the sky though we have found it can be a bit windy.
Not much open in our little village as they are still on winter opening hours but had a run up to Isla Plana (next village) and a few more cafes, a good supermarket and restaurants there and it is a 5 minute drive.
We have got debit cards and Vodaphone sorted but still have to open bank accounts and get Sky TV and Internet sorted – early next week I hope although we have no idea where to get such things as you need internet to get internet??? – we can use Isabelle’s wi-fi but it means sitting in her garden and I really don’t like doing this. Will get to Cartegena or Mazarron on Monday if we feel up to it as sure they will have right shops for us as both big towns.
Monday 19th still feeling bad as chest infection will not go away but at least we got to the bank to find out what we need to open an account and will return tomorrow with all the paperwork needed. (Passport, and proof of retirement income)
Internet is proving elusive as no internet cafes or wi-fi cafes (now available since Mid June) and though we keep getting told Compuserve we cannot find an internet shop to buy the damned thing. Satellite TV is far in the distance since Spaniards seem so useless at anything resembling contracts etc – we still don’t have our signed contract but it is such hard work looking at the sea at the front (10 minute walk) and the mountains behind our apartment
Got a call from the police at Madrid they think they know who stole our stuff as the garage man gave them a registration number & make of car. We have written it off but who knows we may just get something back. Hopefully our spare car key and my make-up which was all new (damn damn damn)
Tuesday -20th We went exploring to Mazarron and opened my bank account. Do not intend becoming a resident for a while yet as it means changing car to Spanish plates etc and will cost a few bob and not sure if we will be staying.
Found Campasol which is full of Brits and not really the sort of place you would go, but needs must, and found internet place with their help. It is rather expensive to have fitted since apartment is already wired for internet. On way back found wi-fi cafe on beach at home and Paul seems to think we can just go there to use internet, HA!!! I say HA!!!! Upside is Heineken was 1 euro per bottle.
Don’t think we can stay here permanently as, whilst the sea is great, there is bugger all else to do now so winter will be a ghost town. Personally can’t wait to go house hunting tho we should be able to take our pick as we will be moving in November when everywhere will be vacant. Hay-ho! Colds are still keeping us up at night.
Wednesday 21st Wind is very strong so decided against sea today but are going in our pool – which is large and beautiful – Paul says it is very cold but he is just a wuss. The wind is cold so didn’t stay in the pool long.
Thursday the something of something (days and dates don’t mean a thing except shops are closed Sundays) We had quite a windy night and the sea was very rough yesterday but now calmed down a lot tho a few waves remain, the wind is rather chilly at the moment 12 noon but going to the beach later to get the wi-fi and for me to swim and maybe Paul will paddle. Might be a bit cold yet in the sea – only 1 way to find out.
More to come...............