Jen's visit
Time for an update!
Derek's cousin Jen arrived on 7th for a week's stay with me - well, six days as it turned out, as FlyBe messed with their flights or changed to winter scheduling and she had to return on the 13th instead of the 14th as originally planned.
We arrived back in the house about 8.30 pm, too late to go out to eat, so after a snacky type supper we settled in with the wine, and sat up chatting until 3 in the morning!
The last time we saw Jen and her husband David was in November 2006, three months before Derek died. She and I realised during her visit that we had never ever spent time alone together before, there's always been other family around us, so it was good to have this week together and properly get to know each other!
Wednesday I took her into Moraira in the morning, then headed off for lunch to the German restaurant, Pedramarla, at Coll de Rates. It was quite a breezy day, a little cloudy, so the views weren't as clear or good as I'd hoped for her. You need to go to this place for lunch rather than dinner, as the servings are enormous! We both had the menu del dia which included Weiner Schnitzel as the main course - massive but extremely good. No more food that day, except nibbles with the two bottles of wine we again managed to consume.
Thank goodness we went to Coll de Rates when we did, as Thursday dawned wet and horrible with torrential rain all day long. We didn't get out of the house at all, instead spent the day reading, watching dvds and lots more talking, along with more wine! Fortunately we'd bought a large pizza at the supermarket 'just in case'!
I know I can't fix the weather, but most of my friends feel the way I do (personally responsible!) when we have visitors and it fails to come up to expectations. There was talk of this bad weather becoming another Gota Fria, as it is just a year since the really bad one of 2007 (some of the damage to properties and infrastructure from 2007 still hasn't been fixed or repaired). Further north in the Valencia region there was some very serious flooding and two people drowned trying to cross a ravine. I think we got away quite lightly here.
Friday was market day and I was keen for Jen to see it. As we were planning to eat out most of the time we didn't need much in the way of fresh fruit and veg. We spotted a stall selling red jeans, unfortunately he only had 3 pairs, one each of small, medium and large. We both wanted medium, although he tried to tell me I should buy large! No way! OK, they might be right at this moment but they'll be too big in a few weeks when I've lost that last 7 lbs! Jen bought the medium, they fitted her beautifully. I can wait until he gets more in of the size I want. In the evening we went to Monroe's for a meal, to listen to John, back after a 3 week holiday break, and to meet him and June and my other 'Pedreguer' friends. Had a lovely evening, very lively; Jen enjoyed it so much she even bought one of his CDs.
On Saturday morning we had another stroll around Moraira, followed by a light lunch and a lot of 'people watching' at Jimmy's. In the evening we picked up Helen and Julia ('spanish' Julia) and went to Annie's for drinks before going on to the Bar Canis in Benimarco for paella. Our starter was a huge 'special salad' which frankly would have done all 5 of us as a main course, along with the pan (bread) and alioli (garlic sauce). The paella was equally huge and very very tasty. The restaurant was full - spanish, english and german customers. To our surprise we were the last to leave -and it was only 10.30, very early for Spain.
Sunday morning I finally got around to painting the kitchen ceiling and cleaning the light fitting! I only do jobs involving ladders when there's someone else around. A patch of plaster had been left unpainted (where the old cooker hood had been) after the kitchen was refurbished last year. Apart from that piece it's impossible to tell it's been done. The rest of the day we relaxed, listened to the radio, read, drank and ate. Another successful day!
Monday, the day Jen was returning home, was warm and sunny. Typical! We'd had no more rain (except showers once or twice overnight) but it had remained generally cloudy since Thursday. We went into town for last minute shopping and lunch with my friends before returning home just before 3 pm, in time for Jen to change and pack last minute bits and pieces, before setting off for the airport. Her check in time was 5.10 and we arrived just before 5.
We had such a good time together and I was sad to see her go. I think she felt the same too. Hope she'll come back again. She met my friends, saw where and how I live and what I do with myself, which was part of the aim of her visit!
I was back in the house by 6 pm; always feel a bit flat but restless when visitors leave. I intended leaving the chores and laundry until the next day but as the weather was so good I decided to do the laundry. Went upstairs to collect bedlinen and towels from Jen's room - and found the gift she'd left for me. THE RED JEANS! I don't think I could have been that generous if the boot was on the other foot. Bless her! And the good news is - THEY FIT ME! OK, a little snug at the moment particularly over the thighs but I can fasten the button and do up the zip. Hopefully 2 or 3 more lbs off will do the trick - after I've taken them up by about 4 inches! So ner ner ner ner ner to that stallholder!
Tuesday was a 'getting back to normal' day in more ways than one. Back on the diet (to my surprise I seem to have only gained a pound!), chores to be done, and in the evening to the President Bar in Javea. It had been three weeks since my last visit because of John and June's holiday. It was good to be back there and turned out to be a great evening, good company with lots of laughter and singing. One of our favourite 'waitresses', Adrianna, has been missing for a few weeks, when I mentioned it to June she said she'd heard Adrianna was appearing in the Spanish Big Brother! Well, I've looked at the website and can't see her on it, so maybe she's a reserve or due to go in later. Will have to wait and see!
Don't know why but it seems I more often than not update my blog early in the morning, so now it's time for my shower and breakfast. On that note I'll say 'bye for now', and hope everyone has a good day!
Derek's cousin Jen arrived on 7th for a week's stay with me - well, six days as it turned out, as FlyBe messed with their flights or changed to winter scheduling and she had to return on the 13th instead of the 14th as originally planned.
We arrived back in the house about 8.30 pm, too late to go out to eat, so after a snacky type supper we settled in with the wine, and sat up chatting until 3 in the morning!
The last time we saw Jen and her husband David was in November 2006, three months before Derek died. She and I realised during her visit that we had never ever spent time alone together before, there's always been other family around us, so it was good to have this week together and properly get to know each other!
Wednesday I took her into Moraira in the morning, then headed off for lunch to the German restaurant, Pedramarla, at Coll de Rates. It was quite a breezy day, a little cloudy, so the views weren't as clear or good as I'd hoped for her. You need to go to this place for lunch rather than dinner, as the servings are enormous! We both had the menu del dia which included Weiner Schnitzel as the main course - massive but extremely good. No more food that day, except nibbles with the two bottles of wine we again managed to consume.
Thank goodness we went to Coll de Rates when we did, as Thursday dawned wet and horrible with torrential rain all day long. We didn't get out of the house at all, instead spent the day reading, watching dvds and lots more talking, along with more wine! Fortunately we'd bought a large pizza at the supermarket 'just in case'!
I know I can't fix the weather, but most of my friends feel the way I do (personally responsible!) when we have visitors and it fails to come up to expectations. There was talk of this bad weather becoming another Gota Fria, as it is just a year since the really bad one of 2007 (some of the damage to properties and infrastructure from 2007 still hasn't been fixed or repaired). Further north in the Valencia region there was some very serious flooding and two people drowned trying to cross a ravine. I think we got away quite lightly here.
Friday was market day and I was keen for Jen to see it. As we were planning to eat out most of the time we didn't need much in the way of fresh fruit and veg. We spotted a stall selling red jeans, unfortunately he only had 3 pairs, one each of small, medium and large. We both wanted medium, although he tried to tell me I should buy large! No way! OK, they might be right at this moment but they'll be too big in a few weeks when I've lost that last 7 lbs! Jen bought the medium, they fitted her beautifully. I can wait until he gets more in of the size I want. In the evening we went to Monroe's for a meal, to listen to John, back after a 3 week holiday break, and to meet him and June and my other 'Pedreguer' friends. Had a lovely evening, very lively; Jen enjoyed it so much she even bought one of his CDs.
On Saturday morning we had another stroll around Moraira, followed by a light lunch and a lot of 'people watching' at Jimmy's. In the evening we picked up Helen and Julia ('spanish' Julia) and went to Annie's for drinks before going on to the Bar Canis in Benimarco for paella. Our starter was a huge 'special salad' which frankly would have done all 5 of us as a main course, along with the pan (bread) and alioli (garlic sauce). The paella was equally huge and very very tasty. The restaurant was full - spanish, english and german customers. To our surprise we were the last to leave -and it was only 10.30, very early for Spain.
Sunday morning I finally got around to painting the kitchen ceiling and cleaning the light fitting! I only do jobs involving ladders when there's someone else around. A patch of plaster had been left unpainted (where the old cooker hood had been) after the kitchen was refurbished last year. Apart from that piece it's impossible to tell it's been done. The rest of the day we relaxed, listened to the radio, read, drank and ate. Another successful day!
Monday, the day Jen was returning home, was warm and sunny. Typical! We'd had no more rain (except showers once or twice overnight) but it had remained generally cloudy since Thursday. We went into town for last minute shopping and lunch with my friends before returning home just before 3 pm, in time for Jen to change and pack last minute bits and pieces, before setting off for the airport. Her check in time was 5.10 and we arrived just before 5.
We had such a good time together and I was sad to see her go. I think she felt the same too. Hope she'll come back again. She met my friends, saw where and how I live and what I do with myself, which was part of the aim of her visit!
I was back in the house by 6 pm; always feel a bit flat but restless when visitors leave. I intended leaving the chores and laundry until the next day but as the weather was so good I decided to do the laundry. Went upstairs to collect bedlinen and towels from Jen's room - and found the gift she'd left for me. THE RED JEANS! I don't think I could have been that generous if the boot was on the other foot. Bless her! And the good news is - THEY FIT ME! OK, a little snug at the moment particularly over the thighs but I can fasten the button and do up the zip. Hopefully 2 or 3 more lbs off will do the trick - after I've taken them up by about 4 inches! So ner ner ner ner ner to that stallholder!
Tuesday was a 'getting back to normal' day in more ways than one. Back on the diet (to my surprise I seem to have only gained a pound!), chores to be done, and in the evening to the President Bar in Javea. It had been three weeks since my last visit because of John and June's holiday. It was good to be back there and turned out to be a great evening, good company with lots of laughter and singing. One of our favourite 'waitresses', Adrianna, has been missing for a few weeks, when I mentioned it to June she said she'd heard Adrianna was appearing in the Spanish Big Brother! Well, I've looked at the website and can't see her on it, so maybe she's a reserve or due to go in later. Will have to wait and see!
Don't know why but it seems I more often than not update my blog early in the morning, so now it's time for my shower and breakfast. On that note I'll say 'bye for now', and hope everyone has a good day!
posted by CaroleW at Thursday, October 16, 2008
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