I woke for my first morning in charge to a cloudy start and with Val in the Big Apple I took the executive decision to have a lazy morning watching Victoria Derbyshire and the unfolding story of child abuse that has rocked football. What a sad story. Let's hope the victims receive the support they desperately deserve.
I started feeling guilty just before lunch that I hadn't done much except sit around watching TV so as boss I ordered myself to do some cleaning. The carpets that could be removed were taken outside for a good beating and the ones that couldn't be removed were thoroughly swept. Now I really was behaving like the boss and getting things done, namely some cleaning.
The afternoon was the walk into Catral to visit the Pomegranate Factory. I turned up at 3pm only to find the walkers left at 2pm and not the time stated on the posters. The daisies had already been donned so I set off heading into Catral. As I was perusing the road signs to take me into town my new friend Mike from Bridlington pulled up in his van so I got a lift and caught up with the walkers who set off earlier. Just as I got to the factory everyone was starting to come out and head back to the site so I tagged along and worked up enough thirst to enjoy a welcome beer down at the pub.
Val had left me plenty of food in so it was a TV dinner followed by the FA Cup draw on BBC's the One Show and then a Netflix movie and another day was done and dusted. Just before I climbed into bed I got a call from the girls who were walking over the Brooklyn Bridge heading back to the hotel ready for happy hour.
31 January 2017
I spent most of the morning sat out in the sunshine reading a Tony Hawks book about his adventures buying a house in the Pyrenees until I felt guilty about my lack of meaningful endeavour, so I got off my backside and swept out the tent and the outside carpet. Duty done I jumped on the bike and had a ride into Catral to do a bit of exploring. I found an English pub and an Indian restaurant which I'm sure we'll try on Val's return.
After lunch it was time for Pétanque. I was teamed up with two old dudes called John and Trev and a younger lady of lesbian tendencies named Pauline. Together we made up Team E, although the three older members of the team called us Team D and Team F on numerous occasions. Only Pauline seemed to keep a clear picture of who we were. We played four games in total and managed two wins, a draw and a heavy defeat. I retired to the pub to lick my wounds. The girls phoned and sounded to be having a great time. It was 10am and snowing in the Big Apple. They had enjoyed a good breakfast and were headed to the Ice Skating Rink.
My evening followed a familiar pattern. I enjoyed chilli-con-carne kindly left by Val to keep me going until her return. I only had to cook the rice following the step by step instructions, and very nice it was too. Washed down with a little vino tinto and a drop of brandy. Happy camper.
1 February 2017
The first day of February started cloudy but by lunchtime the sun was cracking the flags. After a late start I headed out on the bike to do a bit of shopping down in town.
The early afternoon was spent reclining in the sunshine with my Tony Hawks book. Expecting a call from the girls round about 2:30 pm I made my way down to the bar so that I could get my latest updates through Facebook, email and over the phone. The holiday sounded everything that the girls had anticipated. It was just after breakfast in the Big Apple and after enjoying Phantom of the Opera on Broadway last night, this morning they were heading to the Empire State Building.
After the phone call and downloading a film on Netflix for tonight's entertainment it was back to the van to soak up some more rays. Both the sun and the temperature started to gradually fall around about 5:30pm.
In the evening I enjoyed some more of Val's chilli but this time with noodles. Well, variety is the spice of life. I was a bit boring in sticking to the ritual of a little vino tinto to wash it down before another Netflix movie. Happy days.
2 February 2017
It was a cloudy start to the day but I was up in plenty of time for the bike ride that started at 11:00am. I was breakfasted, showered and had even managed the washing up and up at the clubhouse with ten minutes to spare. Out of the clubhouse walks Jackie Parker, you could have blown me down with a feather. We were supposed to meet up with Dick and Jackie on the third of next month but here they were. It's a small world.
It was too late to catch up as the bike ride was starting so off we cyclists went for a trip to a nearby nature reserve. It took us about half an hour to get there and then another half hour to follow the board walk around the watering hole where we parked the bikes. Then it was off to an observation tower a couple of kilometres further along. We had a coffee stop in a small village near Catral and the back to the site for about 1:30pm.
After a spot of lunch it was time to go and catch up with Dick and Jackie who I hadn't seen since the Balloon Festival in Bristol back in about September last year. We chewed the fat and Dick even had a word with Val as her phone call coincided with my visit. After a trip down to reception to catch up on Lisa's emails and to look at the girls posts on Facebook it was half five before I knew what was happening.
The evening followed its usual course. I had chilli for the third night on the run followed by a couple of small glasses of vino tinto and a video we had swapped with a couple we met a few weeks back. The DVD had three films on is so I was spoiled for choice. I chose Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins which proved a success.
After a call from the girls who were tired after a hard day's sightseeing and ready to head off to the airport to get their flight I got my head down. The next time I speak To the girls they will be in the UK.
3 February 2017
I was up with the alarm for a trip out to Elche to visit Caravanas Cruz to buy some parts for the van. I have been back filling the gas through the Barbeque Point but when we used the fire we have been getting fumes in the van. I'd seen a fiends set up and it was a case of getting what's called a pig tail connection. Caravanas Cruz is Motorhome outlet with what they described as Super-market of accessories and they duly had the right connectors. When I hooked the gas bottle up in the normal way the fume problem was cured. Yeah.
After lunch I walked down to the bar to catch up with emails and to update the blog using the sites wifi. I got a call from the girls who were on their way to Crouch End to meet the boys from school and to see Madeleine. I downloaded an episode of The Crown ready for Val's return tomorrow afternoon. Then it was back to the van to soak-up some sun and finally finish my Tony Hawks book.
Tonight's entertainment was film night in the clubhouse. Bridget Jones Baby was followed by The Light Between Oceans. The first film was great with plenty of laugh out load moments. Rene Zellweger looked unnatural, she had obviously had lots of surgery. I suppose it's the way of the world these days but her face had lost its prettiness. The second film was a dour Australian drama and not to be recommended.
I'd made up the bed before I went to the clubhouse so it was straight in the scratcher and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillows.
4 February 2016
After sleeping like a log for about eleven hours I woke just before Val was boarding her plane at Gatwick. After some breakfast and a shower I got the van packed up ready to go. I called at Caravanas Cruz on the way to Alicante but had no joy in trying to purchase a Carbon Monoxide detector.
Next stop was a wild camping spot on the beach about seven kilometres from the airport. I watched Val's plane fly overhead as she came into land. We had camped at the same spot when we got back from the UK after Christmas.
She gave me a missed call for the signal to pick her up at the prearranged spot and we were on our way in no time at all. A trip to Aldi to stock up for the boys arrival next Saturday came next and then it was back to the site.
After dinner Val managed an episode of The Crown only dozing two or three time. A quick rewind or two got her to the end before we called it a night. Tired campers.
5 February 2017
We woke up to a windy morning, so windy that we moved the van into a position that gave the tent some protection. The wind got stronger as the morning progressed so much so that whilst Val was in the shower the tent started to blow down. Fortunately the lady next next door noticed my predicament and helped me get it down into a safe position. When Val got back we packed it in a fashion and we got it into the van out of the wind. I had a walk over to our friends Dick and Jackie to see if I could help with their tent which had blown down but they were out.
The afternoon was spent cleaning the vans interior, Val seemed to find dust everywhere. I followed up with a drying cloth and it didn't take that long. We went for a walk about half three and ended up in the bar just in time for the match at five. Whilst I watched a great performance from the boys Val got stuck into the wifi and communicated with the outside world. We got some great videos and photographs of Madeleine and the boys.
After mellowing in the United result we had a longed for spag bol. I was having cravings whilst Val was away. Then it was another episode of The Crown and another day was done and dusted on the Costa Brava. Happy Campers.
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