Ramblings in Retirement
June 2007

Work has commenced on the construction of the lift tower, and we have become the proud suppliers of noise and dust to our neighbours (there is a certain satisfaction in this as we have had to suffer much more from them during the construction of their houses). I would appear that our garage was constructed with such high quality it is suspected that the original vision was to change it into accommodation at some stage. The walls are cavity and the roof is insulated with bitumen. This is interesting, as the blooming garage does not even appear on my title deeds!! We asked that construction cease when Edith and Calum came over for their holiday and so work came to a stop on the 23rd June but the two builders had got the structure up, the roof on and the exit ramp fixed and tiled. When work recommences it will be to roof tile, render, add doors and then paint the tower before the engineer can start to put in the actual lift.

Edith and Calum had a nice holiday and the weather was very hot (29-30 degrees). We treated them to a meal and show at Benidorm Palace, which turned out to be a very good night of entertainment. (I was a bit sceptical of going to Benidorm, as I have never visited the town in the past 15 years. Benidorm to me is full of Brits generally displaying the type of behaviour which gives the UK a bad name. Cheap booze cannot be an excuse for loutish behaviour). Anyway, that said and done, it was a great night of entertainment, reasonably good meal of soup! Smoked salmon with large prawns (head and shell on) then fillet steak followed by a gateau of some kind, ½ bottle of wine and ½ bottle cava completed the meal. The show was a mixture of acts:Latin band, Comedian, Jugglers, Strongmen balancing, Irish River dance! Ballet and Flamenco. All in all, very good value for £29.

It was unfortunate that Edie tripped up over a kerbstone and hurt her wrist (pissed) at the end of the evening and, the next day, it had swollen considerably. Painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, soothing creams and a sling were applied to the patient at regular intervals together with the odd gin and tonic. This confined the patient and hubby to the villa as it was impossible for Edie to drive the hire car but, rest, relaxation and the above treatment, did improve the wrist (Edie has subsequently had the wrist x-rayed on return to Scotland and it was found to be fractured in 2 places)!! Despite this setback I’m sure Edie and Calum enjoyed their holiday, I know they were not keen to return to the wet Scotland, Edie kept saying that she was worried about Glasgow Airport being closed, her difficulty in driving with a sore wrist and, that they may have to stay here until her tan wore off in case she was mistaken for a middle eastern person, but we got them off eventually.

In the garden we have had a wonderful display from one of our Jacaranda trees which displayed a fantastic show of blue blossom, the best we have seen from this tree. Unfortunately this snapshot does not do justice but it is the best I have.

Another success has been the “Morning Glory” plant, which I managed to get established (I tried several times over the last couple of years to get this “weed” rooted in my garden). In the right place (growing up my rear fencing) it provides a colourful display against the backdrop of green Ivy and screens the horrid looking wall terracing which my German neighbour has constructed. (I am pleased that he has terraced his plot as there will no longer be a wash-down of soil when it rains but the style of the walls make them look like WW11 bunkers when I look up at them, well after all he is German!!!!

Time for my monthly moan,
Is it my imagination, but the people who are most vocal about Global Warming are those who apply “pampers” to their babies, drive their kids to school and have barbeques with Patio Heaters. I am not against any of these things but sometimes you cannot have your cake and eat it.

July looks set to be as per usual with great weather and high temperatures, hopefully the Tower for the lift will be completed, and we expect to have a visit from Stuart, Mandy and Jessica who will be in Alicante for a holiday. The annual fiesta in Denia has started so there will be the usual “Bouy al Mar”, Paella competitions, various parades, dances, rock groups and Fireworks so with all that, I hope to give you a good account next month

I apologise for the delay in sending out this months issue but my desktop computer has been giving me some serious problems, which I have been unable to resolve to date. meanwhile here are some shady characters who may not remember these photos owing to being "overserved"

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