Well that’s Christmas over and done with for now, but wait! It will be Christmas again later this year, hooray! I do love it – not the religious side of it, or the commercial bit, but rather for us the real Yule meaning. This is when we gather ourselves in towards the worst of winter, feasting and sharing our time and our love with each other, preparing for Spring to burst in on us, bringing new life and hope everywhere.
Señor Kopczynski went out of his way this year with the tree and general decorations – in fact he was still finding more to do even after the big day itself! I have to concede he did a great job, mostly centred around the sitting room and the snug which leads down into the kitchen. Very festive! Yep, you’re seeing them again because I like them so much and now miss them as they’re all packed away.
I’ll tell you something now to maybe make you laugh – I was on BBC Radio Ulster early on Christmas morning, on John Bennett’s “Calling Home” programme. For those of you who don’t know, every Christmas John does a programme consisting of a series of interviews with people who are from Northern Ireland but who now live abroad. I was quite relaxed about it all until we dragged ourselves awake on Christmas morning – by this stage I was convinced I sounded like a rambling idiot and I was quietly hoping they’d edited me out altogether! Well, no. We listened, and laughed, and it sounded not nearly as frantic as I had feared! However, new career in radio? Don’t think so!
After the shock of hearing myself on the radio, the rest of our Christmas day was mostly spent in jammies with the two big log burners going a dinger and heating the whole house. We had a big rib roast of beef with all the trimmings for lunch, then just did what most other people do, vegged out in front of the fire with some music, good books to read, and a bit of telly. Video calling my daughter and grandchildren was the highlight of the day – even a rare roast rib of beef couldn’t compete with that!
Murcia city hasn’t put on much of a show with lights for the last couple of years due to covid but we wanted to see this year’s show, so we went into the city with friends of ours, Andy and Julie, from where we used to live in Arboleas, Well my goodness the city did well this year! We had lunch out then went into the city on the tram, just as it was starting to get dark, so we saw all the displays at their best. It was chilly enough being out at that time but the city was heaving with people just enjoying being out and about. All the little bars and restaurants were doing a roaring trade, and everyone was very good-natured, as they generally are in Spain. No pushing, no drunkenness, no aggression, just peace and laughter. Well, apart from the occasional teenagers on electric scooters…but with new laws limiting their use in public places that’s another story.
I have so many more photos to remind us of how lovely the lights were, and to remind us that even in darkness the light will always come back.
After we’d come back from Northern Ireland I was a bit low as I really miss my daughter, grandchildren and friends so much. As a wee pre-Christmas lift we had booked a few days away in Benidorm, and I have to say we had the most fabulous time. Our hotel was amazing, overlooking the beach and in the old town. The room was lovely, and we had a very big terrace with the most wonderful views. Apparently we had been given the best room in the hotel, and were told by the owner, Despina, to book directly with her next time and she would reserve the same room for us. The bed was huge and supremely comfortable, and the breakfast was excellent – Peter said it was the best coffee he’s ever had anywhere. The daytime and nightime views from our terrace were fabulous!
It always surprises me when people get a bit “iffy” about Benidorm, maybe they are over-influenced by the comedy TV programme? One person we know sniggers smugly at the very mention of it, yet he’s never actually been there? I think that says a lot more about him than about Benidorm – there’s something there for everyone. The youngsters love the newer part with all the noise, dancing and cheap drinks. However if you’re looking for something a little more “grown-up” then the old town has great architecture, fabulous restaurants, tapas bars to die for, and excellent shopping. We had a brilliant time and as it’s only about an hour and twenty minutes from us we’ll be back soon.
On the way home from Benidorm we stopped off at the MARQ museum in Alicante city to see the exhibition of the lifesize Chinese terracotta warriors. I have read a lot in the past about this discovery and was very keen to see them “in the flesh” so to speak. Well it left us speechless! Absolutely fabulous exhibition – if you ever get the chance to see this please do so!
As for New Year resolutions, I was trying to think of something useful to say while wishing everyone a happy new year, then I realised that instead of trying to be someone we’re not, maybe we should simply try to be better, kinder versions of who we already are. I also realised that what you give out, you get back in shedloads, so I genuinely wish all of you peace, love, joy and laughter. For those of you who tend to revel and delight in sending out negative thoughts to and about others, be careful, I hope you heal.
I’m very aware that this year some of us are having to live with the loss of the light of those they loved so much. I hope that those of you who have lost your light will remember that those of us who care about you will lend you some of our light until your own can rise and shine again.
We wish all of you nothing but peace, love, joy, light and laughter.
My life in Spain 