No alarm clocks needed
In the campo you have the roosters to wake you up at first light. Here on the coast you have the dogs……
Helpful Ideas for tourists
If you are a tourist about to drive in Spain or just walk about, here are some helpful ideas.
1. Do not cross a zebra crossing without looking. Zebra crossings in the Marbella area are there to make the road look pretty and to match the Mayor’s latest suit. They are not there for pedestrians – silly. Cross a zebra crossing without looking and you will die.
2. In Puerto Banus the road by V.I.Ps is a one way road. Meet me coming the other way and one of us will have to stop and it won’t be me because I usually go to Puerto Banus in the morning and I’ve not very cheerful or nice in the morning.
3. On the A7, otherwise known as the coastal road do not drive at 60km per hour. Do not drive 60km in the fast lane. My choice is to either tailgate you or overtake on the middle lane, neither of which I find particularly pleasant. Both of which could result in your death and possibly mine. Would prefer yours….
4. At roundabouts I’m jolly glad that you take a few hours to decide which way to go. But the decision to turn left at that roundabout was a mistake….
5. At petrol stations do not put leaded petrol into the car if it is diesel. On the other hand, if you drive like any of the above go right ahead as at least you will be off the road for a couple of days.
6. England lost the World Cup so you can take down your tatty English flag now from your car aerial, unless you want your car keyed at La Canada shopping centre.
7. When I let you in and you wave thank you, all of the above are forgiven as that doesn’t happen very often here in Spain!
Happy driving….and I don’t really mean any of the above!!
Google street maps
Has anyone else found they are getting a little to carried away with Google street maps? I’ve been looking up all the old houses that I’ve ever lived in, having a trip down memory lane.
I’ve resisted looking up old boyfriends houses and school friends from long ago, but only because I can’t remember their addresses.
Stopping distances, what are they again?
Stopping distances. We have them to stop you smashing into the car in front should there be a sudden issue on the road when all the cars need to break. Pretty common on the A7. Rubber marks, singed hedges, flowers tied to the roadside and a big sign saying how many people have died in 2010 are all there to remind us that the A7 is the nearest thing you are going to get to Russian roulette unless you have mafia links. If you are reading this, then there is a good chance you do and may I say how lovely you look today and I wish your family well…..Вы прекрасны
Cars here though seem to see the stopping distance that I leave as an excuse to nip in. When I say nip in, I mean veer dangerously at high speed without indicating leaving me with cm before I collide with their rear end. Much as I’m sure their rear end is delightful I would rather choose life. Dying with an Audi black bumber impaled around my neck is not the way I would choose to go. I don’t collect trophies unless it is in the form of shrunken heads of these crazy drivers. Most of which look pretty shrunken in the first place and in most cases I’ve noticed the heads of Audi and BMW drivers rarely touch the bottom of the steering wheel. I have no idea how their legs reach the pedals and suspect they have cut a hole in the bottom of the car and have got an underpaid African to run very fast indeed. Or perhaps they have the North Korean football team in there with them.
Meanwhile I’ve observed more police here in Marbella than any other town that I have lived. Most of them are on the road and whilst I’m not sure exactly what they are doing, their sirens add a lovely touch of sea blue to the monotony of silver cars that we all seem to buy. I just wish they would turn them on more than they do. I love a little touch of disco whilst driving.
In Puerto Banus if you want a policeman just wave a carrot. The horse will come first followed by his rider. Again, I’m not sure what these mounted policemen really do. Perhaps they gaze at the sky high up on horseback and predict the weather for us mere mortals. They say “sunshine”, I say ” rain.”
Anyway, if you ever really need a policeman here in Marbella. Just get into a car, drive and then make a phone call on your mobile.
You will have the whole of the Marbella constabulary at your disposal within seconds.
Van Removals Marbella
If you are looking for a van to help you with removals in the Marbella area then I can recommend Paul. He can help with all types of removals, just something small like a sofa to be collected from a shop ( cheaper to hire Paul to collect a sofa from Habitat than for Habitat to do it themselves) or he can do larger removals as he has another man and a van that he can use.
His wife is a teacher here on the coast so totally decent family…..
Paul charges from 20 euros per hour. You can contact him at Vanmoves on 622793989.
Marbella Beggars
At the time of year the Marbella Beggars appear. They will ask for the euro from your supermarket trolley, they will ask if they can jet wash your car for you, or they will just hold up a card saying they are hungry.
They may be hard up, they may be down on their luck, but they are never thin…….
It makes me happy
Little things….like driving behind a policecar in the slow lane and watching through the rear view mirror cars hurtling along on the fast line suddenly slamming on their brakes as they catch sight of the policecar. When the cars in question are black Audis or BMW’s I find it a bit like Thornton truffles that melt oh so slowly in the mouth…quite delicious.
Do you want to be on tv,Place in the Sun?
We are in contact with the production company that makes Place in the Sun. They are looking for people who are moving to Spain and want to buy an already established business rather than starting up from scratch. You will be filmed whilst the presenter Jonnie Irwin shows you five businesses and it will show you living and working the dream….
If you are looking to move within the next 6 months can you contact me.
Anna@helpful-ideas.com
Will it or won’t it…
Anyone on tender hooks for Friday to arrive to find out if Sex and the City is on at Puerto Banus cinema…..??!!
Here come the girls……
Terra Sana more than just a restaurant
George loves his chocolate cakes
Here is a picture of my very lucky teddy. He has picked up a few books from Terra Sana, 2 euros each. He also is having a sniff of the chocolate cakes that my daughter made today in her cookery class there, along with other children and the chef. Terra Sana has a market, cookery classes for children, sells handmade soaps, organic food in its deli, second hand books……Terra Sana on the Golen Mile in Marbella, is more than just a restaurant.
A week-end of reading lies ahead.....