Officially mad!

I hinted at the arrival of a new family member a few days ago

It was the Tuesday before the wedding, so as you can imagine things were pretty hectic

Our friends and neighbours firstly rang then popped by with this little cutie

We thought he was about 4 1/2 weeks old

They have several feral cats that use one of their outside store rooms so presumed that this little fella had made his way outside as they found him by the pool, but they couldn´t identify the mother and were worried that their 3 dogs would harm him

So they asked us to foster him for a couple of days until they could contact the local pet charity ARC

 He certainly kept the guests entertained

Lucy finds him irritating but at the same time she wants to mother him, Tammy has packed a sad and the others just ignore him

He is now into every thing and at the climbing stage where anything is game including your leggings

As you have probably guessed when it came to handing him on it was a done deal he would stay

So they say when you reach 10 furries you are officially mad cat people lol

but as the vet said 10 or 110 what´s one more!

Just have to think of a name now, any ideas?

take care

xcx

Memory box

I thought you might like to see the memory/treasure box I have mentioned

This time we decided to use plywood rather than the stiff mount board that I used for Daniel and Shine´s box

Chris cut the 4mm ply to size and I proceeded to cover them

I wanted the box to be bigger as knowing Rebecca as I do she loves to keep trinkets and keep sakes, little notes or cards etc so knew she would keep practically everything she could, so the box measured 12" square, it´s also quite heavy but very sturdy. Every side was embroidered with a different design with the horse shoe having a beaded flower motif and the inside was lined with purple satin

Unfortunately as I have been searching for the close up photos of the box, it appears that none were taken so I shall have to remedy that and put them up another time

Rebecca had fresh flowers for her hair and also a glitter tattoo

Leocia

Taken after the wedding so a bit bedraggled but you get the gist

Unbeknown to us, Donna who painted the banners had the same design idea that we used on the confetti boxes!

We also had baskets in the restrooms, these contained everything from hair spray and deodorant to safety pins, and they were certainly used.

Along with the fans Rebecca had a basket with flip flops in, just in case the ladies couldn´t bear their heels any more

Rebecca wanted to surprise Antoni with a song that had special meaning to them.  She had been practicing for months, with us as backing and as she had never sung before in public was understandably nervous (aka petrified) but she gave a marvellous performance and every one enjoyed it

Amongst all the prep we welcomed a new member of the household

but I think that should wait for another day

take care

xcx

The wedding

We designed, printed and assembled the confetti boxes.  We used the initials from the wedding invitation to coordinate everything

We then filled them with a mix of rose petals and bougainvillea petals that I have been drying for months.

A shower of confetti, see the video

https://vimeo.com/184694145

Here is the link for the bridal party entrance

https://vimeo.com/183927203

During the ceremony the tradition of Hand fasting was performed

It was hot so the fans were very useful, and the tissues!

This table held the bird cage for the cards along with the album we created from their wedding in Gibraltar and the memory box. There is also a large jar of money, lots of change and some notes. At the beginning of the year I saw a good idea of a way of saving money, your put one cent in a jar for every day of the year, ie 1 cent for Jan 1st building up so 10 cents for day 10 etc etc, by doing this you don´t really notice but it soon mounts up, obviously by the end of the year it gets a bit more expensive.  I had the idea for a little bit of fun by inviting everyone to guess the amount in the jar for the honeymoon fund and there was a little gift for the winner. Two guests were really close within a few euros of the correct amount

 The back drop was hand painted by a friend

I made these two special toasting glasses for them

The tables were very pretty, some had vases with gyp and beaded flowers, others lanterns, candles and a bird cage 

Amethyst guest favours

 Beautiful cake, scrummy too, the butterflies and lace were all edible

A finger print tree for all the guests

Time to stop now, more another day

take care

xcx

Stunning day

The wedding day dawned and what an absolutely stunningly beautiful day

We had family arriving since the previous Sunday with more Wednesday, the same for Rebecca

there were a few last minute challenges

A trip to the florist with all our decorations, beaded flowers, bird cages and table decorations

I arrived at Rebecca´s for 8.30 ready for the hairdressers

There were two of them and they very skillfully attended to all 6 of us.

We did have a little wind up as we were waiting to dress and get Rebecca ready when we had a phone call saying the venue wasn´t ready, Chris hadn´t been able to set the gear up and the florist had not been allowed in on time...................

So although we were all ready and waiting to go we had to wait for the call which meant we were an hour late! If that didn´t do anything for the butterflies then nothing would

We were greeted at the venue and served tiny purple vodka shots

maybe for dutch courage but it was a surprise.

The bridesmaids were delighted with their jewellry sets and even more with their wands especially when they realised they were for keepsakes

The two younger ones sat down but these four stood waiting to contribute to the ceremony and say a poem

The happy couple with their special glasses for the toasts

We have so many photos and videos in various different places that I am finding it difficult to locate them, so bear with me and there will be more to come

just thought you might like a tiny taster

take care

xcx

Speech

I´ve written my speech..........about 6 minutes long, not too bad, just got to get through it without choking up lol

Finished the toast glasses too, rather pleased with them (piccies later)

Daniel, Shine, Leocia and Maia arrived late yesterday afternoon

Whoa......Leocia was a huge ball of bouncy energy

Into everything

oohing at the furries, who all kept their distance except Thomas

who just carried on as normal

Half her dinner on the dining room floor

But she did settle a bit when I set the playmat out and produced some toys

Maia, well she has grown in the last month since I last saw her, but she is very sweet natured

We did have a little flurry on Sunday as they suddenly requested a bottle sterilizer

after web searches and asking around I managed to hire one for a reasonable price

and they delivered up here and will collect so I was more than impressed

I suddenly decided that after all the flower making I was going to have some too

so I have selected a gardinia and two roses to make into a little corsage

that still leaves 57 flowers for the table decorations so that´s enough

Must remember to take lots of pics

take care

xcx

Wedding wand

The main fires have more or less been put out now, but some hot spots are flaring up.  Another one suddenly happened in Gata De Gorgos at a waste dispoal site, then in forest land near Lliber, all random and probably suspicious!.

Other places have had fires too, but it seems to have gone quiet now, thank goodness, no more!

They are threatening storms for mid next week, one half of me says great we need it desperately especially to fill the reserviours, but the other part says Noooo, guests start to arrive Sunday and through the week, and of course the wedding...................

On a much nicer note, thought you might like to see close ups of Rebecca´s wedding wand she had for Gibraltar

Have completed two smaller ones for the flower girls and 1 of the bridesmaids, 5 to go....

Not really panicking, honest..................

take care

xcx

Update

Just a little update on yesterdays post.

The horrendous fire in Javea and surrounding areas appears to have been all but put out or under control, although flare ups keep happening due to the ground being so hot, the weather and winds

Unfortunately the second fire over Tarbana way behind our Bernia mountain has spread

The water planes have been flying since first thing this morning, but the wind keeps changing

It has crept up the Bernia and we have seen flames at the top

It also spread along heading towards Jalon, but we are told the army has been deployed to help

The ash is falling again and we are keeping our fingers crossed they get it under control, of course another problem is some of  the terrain being inaccessable, so when the planes can no longer fly that´s when it can get a hold again.

So want this to be over

take care

xcx

Nightmare

Just about 20k away on the Cumbre del Sol, a large urbanisation, a fire started yesterday afternoon, this was controlled and extinguished. Then suddenly everything hit the fan as the whole mountain seemed to be on fire with huge plumes of black smoke engulfing everything.

More fires started, raging and tearing a great speeds all along the forest areas and into the urbanisations. The water planes were called and continued until it was to dark and unsafe to fly, this meant it was only ground crews. It spread, it was wild, frightening and unbelievable.

The fires were also in the densely populated areas of Javea and Benitachel, gas containers were blowing up, urgent requests for help evacuating 20 horses and other animals and so many areas evacuated sometimes at great speed as the fires roared onwards.

We have local weather and fire groups on facebook, people so scared, displaced, others living back in the UK but with property friends and relatives here, frantic trying to find out what was happening, but it is

a brilliant site giving second by second info from people on the ground along with official news.

Daylight was prayed for and immediately the planes and helicoptors were back up, collecting water from the sea or peoples pools which ever was the nearest, more evacuations, more flare ups, at one stage there were over 420 personnel on the ground including the army and 20 aircraft dropping water, in what seemed a never ending struggle, torn between which area to cover first, its that huge. Now loss of electricity is complicating matters along with the ash and red hot embers falling

Some of the fires have been controlled, but we have just heard that another area, the Montgo now has a fire and others are springing back up again threatening all over again. Soon they will have to stand the aircraft down, then what?

There was another fire in the valley yesterday behind our bernia range, but that was controlled and put out, but then today it seems it has reignited itself and we have plumes of smoke being blown towards us with ash falling from the sky, they have fire crews and 4 planes helping, I can hear them flying around now.

Now its getting close and scary

We are having very hot dry winds coming up from Morroco and the temp in our shady courtyard has reach 38C

The devestation is hard to believe, people are not allowed to return to property as its too risky, pets have gone missing, it´s just too awful for words, but the community spirit is there with people offering any help they can, including accommodation and pulling together .

We are advised to have our evac-packs ready just in case as notice to go could be very fast

But you know the worst of all this is, it is being reported that this is arson with two teenages being arrested but as more of these fires are springing up they think there are more of them. I have no words polite or otherwise, that can convey all our feelings if this is the case.

I also have not put up any photos because I find it all just too upsetting

where ever you are take care

xcx

Flying furries

Our friends popped in the other day bringing their two labradors with them, there was a flurry of flying cats and they all decided to make themselves disappear.  Thomas decided to sprint up the almond tree in the courtyard where he sat watching and waiting - very regal

A few more ticks on the page with Chris designing, printing and assembling the confetti boxes and I have decorated the bird cage for the cards

Rebecca is collecting her dress today, so exciting

We have just had the engineer here to try to improve our network connection, its still up and down but as least we can get on again.

Better get going, after a morning of household chores there are pom poms to make

take care

xcx

A beautiful, wonderful event

We have just returned from our trip to Gibraltar with Rebecca and Antoni

we left Tuesday morning, flying from Valencia to Malaga

(didn´t realise just how big Malaga airport was)

We grabbed the hire car

squeezing our luggage in and headed off for the one and a half hour drive to Gibraltar

This time we had booked an apartment in town which we hoped would save some costs as we could do self catering, although in the end I´m not sure if we did .

The two bedroomed ensuite apartment was very shabby from the outside, but hey we were living inside which was really quite nicely furnished, the beds were comfy and the presentation was, well adequate, but for three days it was fine

We had the fore thought to stop in La Linea on the spanish side to find our usual supermarket as we know the products and it was far far cheaper than Gib´s Morrisons

Rebecca and Antoni set off by 8 o/c on Wednesday to wait for the Registry office to open just in case there was a long wait, being August Gibraltar was extremely busy.

However they were first (and only) in line and finished the first part of the paperwork quickly

You have to return for 11.30 to receive your documents and confirmations all is ok and to get the affidavit signed and returned

Nail biting moment in some respects, but considering you have already sent these via email and had them confirmed before you attend should mean it´s plain sailing

Which of course it is, but human nature makes you stress a bit!

Approaching the Rock

Our view, every bit of space is built on but they do plant trees etc in between

We had a mooch and then a drive all around the island

Thursday went in a flash, getting ready, arriving, and the ceremony
We were allowed to film and also make a video link via skype for those who couldn´t attend
It was a very nice atmosphere, serious but relaxed....
After the ceremony on Thursday we walked back through Main Street, gaining lots of smiles, looks and congratulations as we went

This is being considered as the legalities with the ´wedding´still to come

We found a lovely space for a photo opportunity

Not sure if you can tell how proud I am of my beautiful girl but it was very moving and emotional considering (......) and Antoni ended the day calling me Mum...........

Awwwwww

take care

xcx

   

Catch up

With all the holiday makers here we have had hardly any internet which is frustrating to say the least. It´s like this every year at holiday times and it just goes to show how we now take this service for granted, especially if you want to google something.

I´m still making things for the wedding with some finishes, so I thought I would show you the ring pillow. I took the initials from the wedding invitation and they both love it, phew!

Rebecca also decided on necklace and earring sets for the bridesmaids, how ever the costs were high, so I sourced all the components including the gift boxes and put them together myself, thus reducing the outlay considerably. 

The jewellry trade is notorious for adding between 200 and 300% to their prices

The days are ticking by, not long to go now, guests have booked flights, need to plan some menus for our house guests, thinking easy buffet style, what doesn´t get done is fine as no one will know but ourselves.

We had such a brilliant evening on Saturday. Rebecca and Antoni had collected 6 bottles of wine from the venue for us to taste and choose.

We decided to replecate the menu as far as we could to give the wine a fair go.  We bought fresh monk fish (gosh they are ugly) and made a sauce then lamb with veggies. We tried and tasted and changed our minds, but the evening was full of laughter, fun and we all put our two pennyworth into creating the dishes.. None of us are really red wine drinkers, finding them to full of tannin, but instead of a dessert we got out the goats cheese, my oh my that made a difference, wonderful.....

We then decided on a late night dip to cool off in the pool, where even I had to admit the water was beautifully warm and again the greatest of fun was had by all playing with the go pro´s under water and mucking about, so no photos unfortunately having too much fun..

take care

xcx

   

A little jaunt

Well I think the last week+ has been the fastest week ever, it just disappeared!

I flew into Exeter on the 31st July, having left home at 6.45 where the temperature was already 31C, we landed into 17C oh what a shock, cardi straight on

Daniel, Shine, Leocia and of course new baby Maia were there to meet me.

I had a very busy week doing Grandma duties which enabled them to get on with household jobs that are extremely difficult with little ones, so I earned my keep lol

Helping to prepare Leocia´s 2nd birthday party, remembering just how loud two little people can be when the screaming starts, dragging nursery rhymes out from the memory and being inventive when a 2 year old refuses to do something without yelling was seemingly all in a days work.

They had a trip to London to get Shine´s visa ready for the wedding in September and fittings for the flower girl dress, along with my outfit, which thankfully arrived just before me and it fits!

I was returning on the 8th from Bristol and luckily Chris looked to make sure all was good for the M5, alas no totally closed above Wellington, which meant the long way round. Thank goodness for satnavs trundeling down the A303 heading towards Andover seemed to be going totally in the wrong direction until Shepton Mallet when we turned left and headed through little country lanes until we came out about 5 mins away from the airport. It took 2 hours but at least we got there.

It was a late flight so we didn´t arrive home until 1.30am to a welcoming committee of all the furries.

Yesterday saw Rebecca and I in Valencia for a dress fitting, which took nearly two hours

discussions on the finer details, one layer of tulle removed and the warning of do not lose any more weight as this is the final fitting!

All I can say is ´stunning´absolutely beautiful, even with the pins etc so on the day I know tissues will be the necessary accessory.

Well enough chat, flowers and boxes, decorations and more waiting for me, better crack on

take care

xcx 

Little beaver

I have been beavering away in my little space in the inner courtyard, doing what you may ask, guess! yup flowers, flowers and more flowers.

I thought the production line was quite, well productive, until I separated them into wands, bouquet, bird cages and whatever, then realised that they didn´t go far. Keep going, keep on going

Although I did take some time out to do some secret stitching as Rebecca was away in the UK and I have embroidered three sides and the top of the treasure/memory box

I also took the plunge today and went in the pool

Now I hate being cold

But being told the pool was 28C was quite enticing

The temp in the shade was about 31.5C

Great my sort of temps

OMG it was cold!!!!

Even when you get out and ´cool´off in the gentle breeze then get back in

It was still COLD

I did do a few lengths so that was a gentle break into the exercise, no point in pushing it

Busy week, been asked to attend the meetings with the photographers and officient, its all go

Have a great week

take care

xcx