Not the vigorous, and for me dangerous, activity of sliding down a mountain on two slender "planks" over frozen snow. No, dear readers, I am talking about SPENDING THE KIDS' INHERITANCE.
[Image courtesy of eBay]
My plan
In my case, I'm doing it with the full knowledge and support of my two children. As my daughter said: "What do Tom and I want with a stunning villa with pool and land in Andalucia?" Doh!
BTW, they will also inherit a charming rental house in the exquisite pueblo blanco of Montejaque (Malaga); a half decent car; thousands of books, pictures and artefacts; my computer; my website; and my online legacy.
Villa Indiana, my home near Ronda View from roof terrace of Casa Real, Montejaque
[Both photos courtesy of Karl Smallman]
Well, whether they like it or not, they'll get all that anyway, because my last Will and Testament says so, but there won't be much cash left in my bank accounts as I'm going to spend as much as I can in the years I hope I have left. I'm going SKI-ing!
Deaths of contemporaries
By the way, you never know how long you've got. My contemporaries, some younger, are dropping dead like flies. Classmates and friends, as well as famous people.
This year alone, in my age bracket, we've lost:
Clodagh Rodgers (78), Northern Irish singer and "Bisto" girl.
David Lynch (78): American filmmaker and screenwriter. Films and TV series include "The Elephant Man" (1980), "Blue Velvet" (1986), "Twin Peaks" (from 1990), and "Mulholland Drive" (2001).
George Foreman (76): American boxer who was twice world heavyweight champion (1973–74, 1994–95).
[Photos - Clodagh Rodgers (Wikipedia); David Lynch (The Guardian); George Foreman (Mundo Deportivo)]
Marianne Faithfull (78): British singer and actress; ex-muse of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger.
Val Kilmer (65): American actor who starred in such movies as "Top Gun" (1986), "Tombstone" (1993), "Heat" (1995), "Batman Forever" (1995), and "The Doors" (1991).
Wayne Osmond (73): American singer with "The Osmonds". Brother of Donnie and Jimmy.
[Photos - Marianne Faithfull (Rock Meeting); Val Kilmer (Instagram); Wayne Osmond (YouTube)]
***
Of the class of 1961 at Barnstaple Boys' Grammar School, approximately 50 boys, only 28 of us are still around. That's a chilling statistic. [courtesy of Trevor Hill]
Barnstaple Boys' Grammar School - aerial view [The Park Community School]
Let the SKI-ing begin!
So, I'm SKI-ing. I've got a bucket list for 2025 which includes lots of travel and some interesting activities.
Travel "dreams" include Budapest (Hungary); Copenhagen (Denmark); Croatia; Cuba (alone); Finland; Galicia (Spain); Montreal and Vancouver (Canada); Morocco; New Zealand (maybe); Peru; Philippines; Prague (Czech Republic); Rome and Venice (both Italy); the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania); and Warsaw and Gdansk (Poland).
[Images - Budapest (El Mundo); Morocco map (World Atlas); Machu Pichu, Peru (Wikipedia)]
Activities include a balloon flight over Ronda; getting cycling again (eBike); to walk or drive part of the Camino de Santiago; and to buy a place on the coast to use in the winter, when it's bitter cold in the mountains, and for us to rent out for lots of money in spring, summer and autumn.
[Images - hot air ballon over Ronda (Karl Smallman); eBike-ing (Hike & Bike); Camino routes in Spain (andalucia.org)]
¡Ojala! to all that, eh?
Links:
A Year in the Life – 2020 - Secret Serrania de Ronda
bucket list - Buscar con Google
https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/the-spanish-fly/23693/2025---our-year-of-travel.aspx
[Image: Parade.com]
© Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)
Photos:
andalucia.org, El Mundo, Guardian, Hike and Bike, IMDb, Karl Smallman, Mundo Deportivo, Parade.com, Paul Whitelock, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia, World Atlas
Acknowledgements:
andalucia.org, Paul Whitelock, Trevor Hill, Wikipedia
Tags:
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