living a great life in Spain

It is hard to beleive that winter is still with us when the sun is in the clear blue sky day after day but if my guest bookings are any indication summer is well on the way. I have been liasing with prospective guests all weekend and it is clear that crisis or no crisis, holidays are on their minds.

Just as well as it is said that holidays are one of the most valuable tools we have for our wellbeing. A time to relax and explore both the shoreline and our inner selves since we mostly do not have time in our every day lives for this luxury.

Just imagine if there were a government benefit for holidays how many people might not need to take time off sick !

The build up  and expectation alone can spark us into a happier frame of mind so all in all I beleive the happiness a holiday can bring starts with looking at all the glossy photos, choosing a destination to on through the holiday itself and beyond to the memories and sense of wellbeing a good holiday can bring. 

In the holiday frame of mind even a delay at the airport can fail to ignite us to anger, I hear the Iris recognition machines are to be phased out as a failure so will be unlikely to hold us up anymore meaning we will need to turn to lost baggage and bad weather before we end up reading enless magazines over bad cups of tea awaiting the announcement of our delayed flight! 

Did you know that a London float is taking part in this years Carnaval in Rio?Complete with a black cab and Big Ben !

 Our own version at school yesterday featured diverse costumes on children aged from 3 to 11 and games held in the playground.

According to the teachers local cuts have caused the changes, usually a policeman accompanies the children around town together with a local band and the traffic is stopped for the spectacle

Many of my Spanish friends seem to believe that the cuts should be stopped, but none of them have offered any solution to where they think the money should come from since there isnt any in the coffers.....

Personaly I think if what you are doing isnt making a living, then change what you are doing. Bit pointless going on marches demanding the cuts be... well... cut

Did you know that the crystalised sugar in alcoholic drinks are all different to each other when magnified ?  Just like snowflakes, honest, must be true because its in the Telegraph 

Did you know..... we are amongst the luckiest of folk here on the Costa Blanca, just today I was walking along the beach in bright sunshine in February, stopped for a coffee (still think the coffee in Spain is the best in the world) and croissant which came to 3 €uros  HUH tell that to Starbucks !

 I have two delinquent dogs

I know my local dog listener does not agree. She visited last week, left me with a book of tricks and tips and told me to relax and take control of Princess Lilly (easier said than done since PL does just as she pleases, sometimes wherever she pleases if you know what I mean...)

It seems that constantly walking in circles around her sister Florence and insisting on being in exactly the same spot as she is may be the effects of doggie dementia. Poor Florence reacts by snapping and snarling which does not make for a relaxing holiday.

They are like an old married couple, one of whom wishes to be left alone for Gods sake. I have spoken to various people out on our walks and all seem to agree it is not unusual for old dogs. All I can say is thank goodness I got divorced before theis stage set in.

Leaving UK for home will be interesting. I already seperate them in the car (no mean feat with luggage and two passengers in an Audi TT) I have organised three stops en route at nice hotels, so once doggies have been fed and watered I will be downing a very large glass of wine to better fortify my drive the next day.

Lets hope no customs officials decide to put their heads in the car or they are likely to get them bitten off by Florence.

Now that would be an interesting post......

So I got up at 04.30 to answer an enquiry (I am sad, yes) and got another whilst on the laptop in bed. All after a day of non stop tapping away in answer to various prospective guests, what is wrong with people, cant they sleep?¿ Still, can only be a good thing.     Holiday??

Still, holidays take many forms, I could be on a cruise YUK so I should just be grateful really

anyway I had lunch with my lovely cousin today in spitting distance of Bicester Village, DANGEROUS

Looking forward to going home to Spain next month where my mad crazy daughter is making all sort of changes to our house

I have been wondering what else I could do if I wasnt involved in holidays, who knows, I may have missed my one and only cahnce of fame, maybe better go to bed before I get any sillier......

 Been shopping with my friend today, coffee at the pub first thing this morning, big open  fire and squashy sofas, Costas eat your heart out...Found a lush lilac sofa and equally lush lilac bedspread, (is there a theme developing here?) weather this winter in UK has been so mild, bit different to last winter when I kept being snowed in. Lots of laughter and chatter, then home and off to lunch with another friend who I hadnt seen since summer.

Life is great and I will be heading home to Javea in a few weeks by which time I will be aching for sunshine and sea.

Need to download some more books to my Kindle as have run out of bedtime reading, I love biographies , psychology and personal development, anyone have any recommendations?¿ 

This Saturday I have a ''dog listener'' coming to sort out my naughty spaniel who is being aggressive to my other spaniel, lets hope she can help (the dog listener not the spaniel)

Off to Bicester Village tomorrow and visit to my cousin who lives nearby, last time I was there I got a great tea dress at Kath Kidson at a knock down price so am really hoping for an action  replay.

Thursday is theatre day, going to a matinee in good old London town

Friday I will be heading over to Hertford for lunch with a friend  and big walk in the woods after going for contact lens fitting so that should be a laugh as Im thinking they will take some getting used to.... anyone had any experience of this?

Bookings are coming in thick and fast which is encouraging so long may it last. Everyone loves a holiday and I do offer great value and service so lots of happy guests

Im off to count my blessings again then before cooking up a stir fry storm

So I am in Canada with my grandson having a whale of a time. Took him to the indoor pool yesterday where he spent ages on the slides, then onto ice skating, his first ever try. Hilarious, After a lot of falling down and getting really angry I CANT DO THIS!! he suddenly got back on the ice and made a pretty good job for a first attempt

Off to Laser Quest this arvo - sounds a bit scary to m

.

 So tomorrow morning early Jay and I are off to Canada. We are crossing our fingers for snow snow snow. I am going to take him up the CN Tower where you can stand on the glass floor God knows how far up !!!!

Busy editing ads today on various websites, bookings looking good for 2012

I wonder how many ex pats actually return to UK for Christmas? Funny how it is in the blood, I am in a small village and it is all decorated and a big tree stands outside the church, lovely

On my return from Canada I will be looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my family and hopefully helping at the drop in cafe for homeless kids nearbye 

New Year will mean seeing friends and soing some shopping  before returning to Spain

 Great drive through France arriving in UK yesterday for my winter break.  Took the route via Lyon this time, not so much scenery as going up the west coast though,does anyone have any ideas for my return trip in February?

Rose Cottage is my idea of heaven, small and pretty with everything I need for comfort, lovely walks close by and the train for London just 5 minutes drive.Best of all, my daughter is only a 20 minute drive away.

Some new bookings on line today so thats great. I love my work, I meet lots of interesting people, both owners and guests. Sometimes funny things happen and of course some guests are more demanding than others, I had guests a while back who complained the sand was the wrong colour for instance..........................another who waited all nighr outside the villa he had booked because lights were on and he thought there was someone there, didnt want to wake me so waited until morning to call. I had left lights on for his late arrival and luckily he saw the funny side of it.

Others who come every year become like friends through our email conversations despite never having met each other.

Off to Yoga tomorrow and then a big dog walk

 Schools in Javea are closed today and tomorrow expecting rain of Biblical proportions, great fun for the kids, God knows how much extra work they will bring home after its all over but I suppose every silver lining has to have a dark side.

Little Lilly has a new coat for her journey through France, wish I could say the same but the cost of the car service put that right out of the window !

 Thanks Sam, 

Yes, its fun driving back, so log as you dont have a man in the car as they usually want to be all macho and do it in one hit!!!!

Had a frustrating time trying to buy gifts on Amazon tonight, have been on the help line for ages, reset my password countless times to no avail  and then  Eureeka in the end made up another email altogether  and used that, wish I had thought of it before.,

For a horrible moment I thought no one was going to get any Christmas presents..............

Car not back from service, big bill coming I fear. Still, at least I will feelits safe and sound for the long drive.

Anyone else going back through France with any tips on new routes?