Was going to Spain from start to finish but now I, Luca have taken over

Right, we need to get the schengen visa for  Phet with the appointed time being Wednesday at midday. We  arrived at 11.30 having travelled 139 miles (about 220 kilometres). Phet managed to miss the call for her (only applicants are allowed into the building),so went to the back of the queue.

Then when she came out at 3.00pm guess what?  They have changed the rules, they now want spouses bank statements & proofs of addresses which are 3 hours away up in the midlands. We arranged to return at 8.30 the following morning, that's another almost 300 miles to travel, how annoying, still it had to be done. 

We now await the return of the passport duly stamped with the visa,have had an email from the Spanish Embassy saying all now is correct. We wait with baited breathe......

So, its off to get a Schengen visa (don't ask!) stamped into Phet's passport tomorrow with the appointment set in south east London for midday. The usual load of paperwork with copies for everything completed, get it wrong & they are very unforgiving. Still I don't anticipate a problem, this must be almost ten schengen visa's we've applied for & never failed yet. They tried to baffle me by changing the rules by deciding that a double barrelled name should not have a hyphen or gap. And of course different countries ask for different things which always mystifies me.

Next it's the end of the world on Friday, dunno what time but I hope I miss it, if not well my worries are over!!!!

Then Christmas and is usual with most blokes I'm nowhere near ready & to cap it all, the  stuff I ordered om the internet on the 4th December has not yet arrived, so I'll cross that bridge on Thursday .....

Next, I need to get Phet's accounts on line & away before the end of the year hope I'm in time but they are 90% done, don't want a £100 fine!

But then, but then, we are back to Spain on the 10th flying with Ryanair, must remember to print the tickets soon.

We already have have few things planned & I'm more optimistic than ever.

I hope to write again before the 25th but if not Happy Christmas to everyone see some of you next year.

I think it was about a month that I wrote my last blog or written on the forum at all but after several private messages and a couple of emails thought I should explain my sabbatical. But first I should thank the "supporters" for their very kind thoughts & concerns.

You may recall an attack on my last blog not just about me but my friends on the blog, which whilst quite unexpected was annoying & a little worrying as I really thought attacks were kept to that other area, but not apparently so! This made me consider whether I wanted all this.

Then that bloomimg bug I picked up in Spain returned with a vengeance & boy was I poorly. The cold then cough turned into full blown flu, hot cold, sweaty, shaky with a banging head. I have to say I hate bed & fortunately only spend four hours per day in it, but I went to bed & didn't get up for two & a half days & then spent most of it covered in a duvet on the settee. My wife smiled, saying she couldn't understand it as she has NEVER had a bad cold or cough, I warned her to keep away, but she didn't listen! Guess what? her first cold was upon her & she now understood, she even lost her voice (I'm saying nothing!).

The lethargy lasted for about 3 weeks where I wasn't interested in anything, never mind turning on the laptop.

Then I remembered something said by Tamara (I think) but it could have been Eggie, Patricia or any clever lady, (it was a lady) that a message should raise that blog to the top of the pile. Such a good idea I thought, as I do get really fed up having to wade through advertising blogs, the news blogs I'd rather receive from the professional news bodies elsewhere & other blogs I just don't need.

So I wrote to Justin suggesting the idea but he has decided not only to do nothing about but has not even had the decency to reply. Very ignorant I thought from someone who is probably earning a fortune from bloggers as us & all the advetising receipts he banks. At the very worst I would have expected at least an acknowledgement. If anyone emails I ALWAYS reply (I will reply soon Tamara - honest), even if it is just a "thanks" or "I'll think about it" or "no chance" but to just to be ignored is very annoying making one form perhaps correct (or not) opinions. The conclusions are to me obvious!

Right to get get back to the real purpose of  the overall blog, I've nothing really to report (all this ranting you may now be thinking, for a lousy "no report" but I had to clear my air. It is 29 days before we return to Spain to continue our search and am at the moment trawling through Google Earth looking at the villages & lakes to which I may have an interest.

My immediate problem is however trying to get a visa for my wife & speaking to the Spanish embassy in London...............