Now I suspect you will think that I had fallen off the edge of the world …no such luck Dear Reader ! The reason for the radio silence is two fold .Firstly, (I think I told you when I last wrote) the DB had a significant birthday towards the end of our stay in Spain and secondly, following our journey home from Spain , my brain takes the “ long way home” arriving here at least a week after me!
Before I tell you about the birthday – let me explain why the journey home in effect prevents me from writing. Quite simply, I become a complete numpty – I find the change from living in one house in Spain to living in the other here in the UK, very hard to adjust to. Both of us were pretty useless on Day 1 back here – the DB had absolutely no idea where to find a frying pan and I was looking for a mixing bowl in the food cupboard ! Now don’t be too harsh – we just get so used to everything being in its place in the kitchen in Spain, we need time to readjust. The DB had forgotten how the television worked – of course ( if you remember I am completely useless technologically wise – you know the sort of thing, trying to turn the TV off with the phone …) I was no help at all. However, I am feeling slightly chuffed now because somehow ( and I have no idea how) I’ve worked out how to use the main control for all programmes – BBC IPlayer, Netflix, Talk TV ( my new favourite – they say it as it is 😉) – I even showed the DB how!!!
So you can imagine trying to write a blog in that state would be impossible ……that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! Fortunately I am now back to “ normal”, so off I go……
So when I last wrote, I couldn’t tell you what was about to happen …as it was all a great big surprise! Firstly, the DB had a phone call from his son on the Monday of half term . “ Hi Dad Are you ok?” Reply “ Yes” …Ross “Weather good?”…DB “Yes, we’ve had a bit of rain, but it’s been lovely” Ross “Are you doing anything this evening?” DB “No” Ross “Could you do me a favour then- and pick us up from the airport later?”
Well the DB’s face was a picture – he was completely shocked ( in the best way). I heaved an enormous sigh of relief …surprise number 1 out in the open! So I could then go legitimately to the supermarket …….no more secretive additions to the trolley or secret trips to the supermarket when he was out!!! Ross and his family duly arrived and were collected by the DB, getting to “ chez nous” at about 22.30. Just time for a snack and a drink before bed!
We had a chilled day on Tuesday , going out to dinner in the evening to celebrate our granddaughter, Eleanor’s, 12 th birthday ( which was on the following day) and then Surprise 2 happened on her actual birthday! We had decided to go to the beach for the day – it was the easiest way of enacting the second surprise. However, things never go smoothly do they – the best made plans of mice and men and all ……All of us ( with the expectation of course of the DB) were awaiting the arrival of his daughter, Emma, and her two children. I knew where she was flying to, and that she was catching a train from the airport to a nearby town. However, she had a problem with her mobile phone and lines of communication were down 🙈🙈🙈- can you believe it!!! I could check her flight had landed and hazard a guess at the time of train she may get, but we were trying to keep this a secret so….. As it happened it all came to a point,but worked out perfectly. The DB disappeared with Ross to order a pizza for lunch – so I shot off the beach and drove to collect Emma and Co.. I was sure the DB would guess what I was doing …but no…..he knew I was up to something but had no idea what ! So after eating the pizza ( and I think drinking a beer..) he was snoozing on the shoreline when suddenly Emma and her children jumped in front of him shouting “ SURPRISE”. He was taken completely by surprise…….but I could then completely relax ! There were further surprises to come but nothing on that scale.
So we had a lovely, if very busy, family celebration over several days and the DB’s 70 th birthday has well and truly been commemorated , and in great style!
All good things must come to an end though…..and so they did, firstly with the departure of all the family, and then with our own departure. We were leaving on the Santander Plymouth ferry – I have had to become very brave Dear Reader, and accept travelling this way because it makes the most sense. Now in my previous life, I travelled this way regularly – and I should say I am , and always have been, a good traveller- but I was on this ferry in October 1987 when a hurricane heading across the Bay of Biscay towards the UK and causing Sevenoaks to became “Threeoaks” . Suffice to say this tested the hardiest of sailors and completely floored me ( I will spare you further detail…) and despite the crew offering a free bottle of wine with every meal, very few people made it to the dining room! It has taken me thirty three years to even contemplate stepping back on the ferry again ….the storm I experienced is known as the “ hundred year” storm, so I have to believe that another such storm is highly unlikely to happen in my lifetime 😉 However, one of us is very happy on the ferry…..
So now we are settled back in our UK abode , brains in place……and wait for it …….we’re about to go off again, so I’ll keep you in suspense for the next blog which will describe our holiday in detail . However, to wet your appetite, I will leave you with the following…..
Camino Romero 