Opps!

Hi, sorry the link didn´t work for the little squirrel video, so do try again. Its only short, taken through the car window. xx

Furries

Having been to visit some of our friends finca higher up the mountain to water their garden as they have returned to the UK until September, we were so surprised to come across these two red squirrels playing tag across the road.

We stopped and reached for the ever present video camera, but one was a little shy and darted away whilst his companion showed off.

Been living up here for nearly eleven years now and this is the first time for seeing them.

My other experience with furries today was not quite such a nice one.

I got out of bed, walked through the dressing room where Thomas, Benji and Felix were playing chase and into the shower.

After a while all was quiet as they disappeared downstair for their breakfast.

I opened the bathroom door, well I tried too, I was completely trapped

The little rascals had decided to pick at the carpet outside the door and had rucked it all up

No way was the door going to open

there was not enough room to slide something along to smooth it out either.

Nothing for it but to call for help!

The door opened no more than an inch so I yelled

and yelled and yelled...........

I even got a metal container and started to bang on the door

Nothing... nada.... no response....

Its all very well having walls about 2 feet thick but there is no way of making anyone hear

Having spoken with Chris further about it, he then admitted he thought the banging was the washing machine having a tantrum.....!!!!!!! words fail me............

Eventually after what seemed an absolute age (probably 5 minutes) Chris heard me as he walked from the hallway to the kitchen

Hello?!

I´m trapped

Oh!

Oh dear, he said with a little chuckle as he freed the door, lucky for him he disappeared before I could get out............

Strong tape/glue needed to prevent reoccurence

take care

xcx

p.s. next post is all about pigs ears!!!!!!!

From a challenge to pickleitis

On Friday we decided to use my pass for us both to go to the spa.

To start we had it to ourselves but gradually others arrived but it was still not that busy.

We stayed for about 80 minutes then went up to the bar for a coffee and a sit down.

Its amazing how it wipes you out, must be the detox from the salts in the water.

I decided to take up a challenge

Having seen all the lovely sock yarns people have spoken about

I checked out Winwick Mum blog where Christine has very kindly put up patterns and loads of tutorials for making socks.

Not having the correct size needles for using 4 ply I chose to use DK, thinking it might just help in learning the technique.

All I had were DPN´s not a circular needle. Well I did have a 30cm one of the right size but this was way to long and couldnt reach the stitches. So it has dawned on me that I was measuring the length of the cord when perhaps I should have been measuring tip of needle to the other tip??!!

The way I knit is using long needles with one tucked under one arm, obviously not usable with DPN´s. So not only was I fiddling around with four needles, I was having to learn to knit in a very different way.

I struggled to start then seemed to find my own way, got through the rib and onto the leg.

Feeling quite chuffed at this point, I tackled the heel flap.

Well the knitting was ok, but I was only using two needles, the flap was coming along

then the gussett

now I was completely in a pickle, I read and re-read the instructions then gave up as I was tired.

I tried again the next day, nope! no good, so it all came out, back to the start of the heel flap.

Now it is waiting for another day when I am fresher and I think I will have to sit in front of the computer and do it photo by photo.

I really don´t want to give in, but its a bit frustrating, perhaps this is why I never tried before.

Felix was trying to help by jumping for the yarn, then just getting in the way

I think the shape is right, shame about the rest lol

The pattern said to knit after the rib, but it came out inside out, don´t know if that´s right either

Take care

xcx

All go

Another busy day

We had to go to the cattery to collect Rebecca´s two furries and take them to the vets for their final good health check. All last minute.com, but it had to be within 5 days of departure and Monday and Tuesday were bank holidays here, so with them being collected for transportation at 3pm we had no choice.

They were so pleased to see us and have a cuddle, full clean bill of health, the check lasted no more than 5 minutes for both and cost a total of 68 euros.

Still better safe than sorry and some one somewhere carting them off for quarantine. 

We then had to return them to the cattery and travel onto Ondara to collect more prints for the clocks.

After that it was to Javea

Rebecca had left several posh frocks in a dress agency, but unfortunately nothing has sold yet, but at least I gave my details as well as hers.

Rebecca has been soaked to the skin in down pours

Feels really cold

and is missing the blue skies already.

However she has been job hunting and has sent off her CV to several places, so fingers crossed.

Opps, just noticed the time, better collect my things ready for weekly Spanish lesson down in our school house

Adios

xcx

Busy busy

I haven´t posted for eleven days, but my goodness how busy we have been.

We have basically been with Rebecca and Antoni most of the time helping to sort, pack, trips to the storage unit and the dump.

Just when you think a hole has been made, bosh another pile turns up for bubble wrapping and boxing. Thank goodness Rebecca and I had started back in January otherwise it wouldn´t have happened. The house was 4 bedroomed, although one of the bedrooms Antoni used for his business so it was jammed packed. They are moving into Antoni´s one bedroom flat so most of the stuff had to be sent to storage. They will certainly feel the difference. They have given us all sorts of bits and bobs, including contents of the larder and all house cleaning products, some items to borrow others to have, some just returned home here, bags and bags, so our home looks like a bomb has gone off with stuff everywhere until we can straighten things out. Its a good job we have the casita which has become a dumping ground.

Their furries went to the cattery on Wednesday which did make life a little easier without them. They will go over next Wednesday.

They were due to leave on Thursday, but what with some legalities to be dealt with, never a quick option over here, and a huge pile still to pack and sort they reviewed their departure to today.

Yesterday saw us still packing etc but included a complete clean ready for the landlords inspection. 

The spanish are usually late, but murphy´s law, they arrived bang on time and we still had two floors to mop.

They were extremely pleased with the clean up etc and agreed they could have their deposit back, every one warned us that that doesnt happen very often here. But... then they dropped a bombshell that because of their poor management they hadn´t sent bills for the water and refuge for 6 years and wanted 1051 euros. What!!!!!!

Rebecca, quite rightly got a little cross and there were further discussions, how it gets sorted I don´t know. More stress and we are worn out.

However on the bright side after selling their car, we picked them up and they stayed the night, bonus..

Last Sunday was my birthday and we all joined in for a meal at Maria´s, making a party of 10 which was quite jolly and they stayed the night again.

I was spoilt with lots of lovely pressies including a 10 visit pass for the spa in Calpe, something lovely to look forward to, a set of 100 dragonfly solar lights, a beautiful standard rose and a lovely bouquet and more......

I also wanted to make an elephant for Rebecca to take, filled with lots of love and hugs, so this is Elle

As Elle was travelling she needed a passport, so Chris took her photo and made her one.

Rebecca loved her,  so if she feels a little down she can have a hug with Elle

After an early start for the airport run, feeling more than a little jaded, but I shall leave you with Felix

Enjoy the rest of the weekend

take care

xcx

Second opinions

Friday saw us at our friends 70th birthday party at Marias restaurant. Brilliant afternoon, lovely food and they had asked Chris to  play, which he did for about three hours. Didn´t think he would be able to as on Wednesday he tripped and stumbled up the step in the hallway, smacking his right elbow on the edge of the stone pillar. A quick rub and all was fine, until later in the evening when he noticed a huge tennis ball size swelling.

It started to bruise as you would expect, but he refused to seek any advice or treatment and gaily carried on, he really didn´t want to let Roger down for the party, however Friday evening he saw the error of his ways and off we went. By this time the bruising was spreading both up and down the arm, we were not very satisfied with the diagnosis and we were told to return on Monday for trauma clinic. Antibiotics, elbow sling and blood thinners, (not a good idea when you are on asprin!)

Sunday was Rogers actual birthday so it was a lovely bbq with everyone joining in with a few games of boule, beautiful sunny day.

Monday the clinic told us a different story, a little better, but still not particularly satisfactory, no sling, use at will, strong painkillers and use a compression bandage for a month. Now totally confused with the bruising and swelling down into his hand, he went off to see the GP today.

His opinion finish the antibiotics, do not take any of the other meds as they haven´t been proven to help, take the bandage off, it causing the swelling, use it and elevate when resting.

He basically confirmed our Google search, he is also very good at not pumping you full of meds that you don´t need and listens to the holistic approach. His final thought was the hospital wanted to just give him something to look as though they were doing their job!! Scary or what! 

The body will heal and take care of it, might take a little time.

If in doubt ask for a second (or third) opinion and trust your instincts.

take care

xcx

Going potty

Been over doing things, there´s a surprise! Paying for it now with a huge flare up, so beastly

However yesterday I managed to repot some of the beautiful flowers I had bought before Easter. The chinese bazaars sell some lovely plants at a very reasonable prices, most of these I bought for 1.80 euros.

I wanted a splash of colour in the courtyard 

by the time I had potted them up I had no energy left to arrange them how I wanted, but it certainly did the trick.

You can just make out Puff in the front

 and this is Merlin

Rebecca has given me all her pretty purple pots adding more colour, she even gave me a hanging basket and one of the petunias turned out to be a trailing one so I popped that in too.

Every thing dries out so quickly so it has to be a daily task to water but that is a small price to pay for such a lovely show.

Just need to start sowing seeds now, but I think that will be for another day soon

take care

xcx