The wanderer returns
My better half has been away in the UK for five days, which is a long time for us to be apart. The first couple of days I found myself lovingly sniffing his clothes in his wardrobe and had to remind myself that he wasn’t dead. I then had to battle the demons as a voice whispered to me ” but what if he was….” Well I’d have a lot more closet space for a start…..
Night times have been the worse. Much as it is pain at times to hear the little snores ( I am being kind…), to find myself pinging upwards towards the ceiling when he gets into bed ( he’s heavier and taller than me …by some measure) it is also re-assuring and comforting to have your BFF lying next to you. I won’t complain quite so hard next time I wake up at 3am due to him fidgeting in his sleep. Little noises became big noises and I began to wonder about the legality of going to bed with a pair of knitting needles tucked under the pillow. I also wondered what I was supposed to do with them should a robber decide to appear in the night through the shutters. Knit him a jumper? Poke out his eyes? Quite frankly I’d probably not even see him as I struggle enough to see people’s faces during the day time. Having a weapon of mass destruction under my pillow didn’t give me comfort as I then spent night three worrying that I might sleepwalk and hurt my own children with them. Or stab myself. On night four I put them back in the sewing box, looked down at my uncut toenails and decided that they would suffice in an emergency.
I’ve enjoyed the usual things that women do when their better halfs are not around.
The loo seat is down, one bathroom is always clean, the bed is really easy to make in the morning, the ironing pile is much reduced, dinner times have consisted of toast and cereal and I’ve caught up on all the SKY tv that I wanted and deleted a few Top Gears….
I’ve also got two dead birds on the terrace that nobody will deal with ( thanks Garfield…) I’m a bit fed up of toast and cereal, the clothes in my hubby’s wardrobe are losing the sniff factor, now I want the real thing, I haven’t slept properly for five nights and being the only parent in the house is really hard work. Hats off to all you single mums and dads. Being a mum and dad all rolled into one is not easy and I only did it for five days. I’ve given myself a C minus.
Hubby is due back in 2 hours and 30 minutes and I’m a very happy girl…..:)
Babysitter needed
Well actually a kitten sitter.
Good way to find out that secretly you are an avid cat lover and that actually your prescence on the earth was utterly meaningless until you found a kitten to love. ( See next post)….to solve all your lifes loneliness, problems, yes even financial problems as stroking a kitten three times a day is considered extremely lucky on an island off Hawaii. I forget its name.
Kitten-sitter needed for Friday and Saturday nights – the lady that is looking after the kittens is off to see Seal and then Stephen Lloyd Morgan Concert in Duquesa! She deserves a break….can you help? Your children would love you forever and ever…..
Glory of Grandparents
I’ve just found out today that my son along with five other students from the forty in his year group, has been chosen to study Latin next year and take his English language exam a year early. The Director said that he was looking at the students that a few years from now, should be applying for Oxford and Cambridge University.
My son recently took a maths challenge and out of the 200,000 children that took part, we was in the top 40% and of that the top 21%, and was given an award. He received that award today.
Lastly he won an IT star today, the only one in his year group.
If I tell anyone else this and yes this blog including I know it sounds like a braggy mum. I’ve come home bursting to tell someone as I’m so proud of him. He’s a quiet lad, he’s not competitive, he just gets on with things quietly and often without any recognition so hey, I want to shout out how proud I am today from the highest roof tops.
But I can’t because it sounds like an overbearing boastful mum. However there is someone I can tell who won’t think any less of me and will just enjoy the story of his success at its face value and not read anything else into it…..my mum and dad. Only grandparents can take the highs and lows of their granchildren and enjoy those highs just as much as the parents of those grandchildren. Only grandparents can hear the stories of how clever their grandchildren are without envy, without prejudice and with pure joy. And that is the glory of grandparents….
I have gone native
I often see Spanish women with their carpets in the Springtime hanging over their balconies. I think they beat the dust out of them and let them air before putting them back in their houses.
Well it is a beautiful sunny day and I have woken up with tons of energy so I’ve decided to go native with my own little twist.
I’ve got out my huge lounge shaggy white rug and hung it over my balcony. The rug was white, now it is more of a grey and I haven’t beaten it, I’ve doused it with bucket upon bucket of water. I added to the bucket lots and lots of washing machine detergent. Then I scrubbed it really hard with one of those brushes that you can use on your kitchen floor or a horse if you have one.
I then decided the results weren’t happening fast enough, the rug still looked grey. So I’ve added to the bucket some bubble bath. It will at least smell of green tea rather than…..well that which will not be mentioned.
I have now got bored of bubble bath and have added some domestos bleach. I am also looking at my daughter’s school tippex bottle and wondering if it may have another use. The tips of the shaggy rug and a bit of tippex? Or how about a French manicure?
I still have a rug, and am just about to check it hasn’t gone yellow or done a runner with Aladdin. I also need to check my roof tiles as I’ve dislodged a few when I threw it over the balcony.
I’ll let you know how the rug gets on. If it turns whiter and also if it ever dries out!
Ferrari playdate
The ferrari club of Marbella meet up regularly and this morning they were outside James Hewitt’s Polo House in Marbella.
Just had to stop to take a few snaps……
I love the yellow one that dares to be different……
Hot and humid
There is only one place to be this week-end……in the swimming pool!
Another rude estate agent
This one was replying to a perfectly reasonable holiday rental request. She left a number with a series of one digits because she didn’t want to be contacted via telephone. Again, perfectly reasonable. The reply is not. I am so annoyed. This agency will be the first to complain that they don’t turn rental and sales enquiries into leads. I believe this was also the owner of the agency that replied.
Dear Debbie,
No it’s not and a very interesting telephone number you provided!
Regards
XXXXXXXX removed the name of the estate agent…..
Paddle in the Mediterranean Sea
There is only one thing to do on a late May Sunday morning and that is to paddle in the Mediterranean sea. Gin Gin needed to collect some shells for an art project so we went for a walk and a paddle until we became so hot that we all agreed it was time to head home.
Very few people about on the beach but busier than it has been all year. Some photos to show you the beach in-between Marbella and Puerto Banus, by the Puente Romano hotel.
At lunch time bbqs are sizzling on the washed up fishing boats.
The busiest the beach has been all year....
The paseo is bordered with tropical plants and flowers
Hot pink bourgainvillea tumbling from white washed houses near the beach.
The paseo runs all the way from Marbella to Puerto Banus. Popular with cyclists, walkers and those that just want to sit quietly on one of the many benches and just sit and look out to sea.
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.....
The Butterfly Ball
The Butterfly Ball to raise money for charity is being held at the Puento Romano hotel in Marbella on June 5th. Tickets are £150 each. More information from info@rhysdanielstrust.org
There is also a corportate golf event taking place shortly, with Max Clifford and other “celebs”. You can sponsor your team of 3 golf players plus a celeb for £3,000. The tournament starts on June 3rd and the charity can also provide you with accomodation if required.
Again more information on the RhysDaniels website or on the email above.