We had a lovely week in Norn Iron with Laurie and the children at the beginning of December. She was off work so really all our time was spent with her, and of course when the children finished school every day we wanted to have as much time with them as possible. As usual, this meant that we didn’t see nearly enough friends at home, there simply wasn’t enough hours in the day to get round everybody. So, for those we missed this time, we are very sorry and hope to see you next time!
This is who my heart beats for…
Lucy has done the 11 plus and will get the results in January. Marshall and Scott are also growing up so fast, I can’t believe just how quickly time passes, and it seems to get faster and faster the older we get.
When coming back to Spain we have usually stayed the night before in the Maldron Hotel at Belfast International airport, as we always have an early flight and it’s not possible for Laurie to drag the children out of bed at 4am to take us to the airport! This time, however, we booked a B&B near Antrim, called Antrim Heights, owned by Alan and Charlotte. It was a great place to stay, very warm and comfortable, and our hosts were amazing. They wouldn’t hear of us getting a taxi to the airport and Alan insisted on driving us there at 5am…over and above the call of duty! Lovely people, lovely accommodation. and a quarter of the cost of the Maldron!
I’ve booked flights to go back over again in about 11 weeks, just for a few days, as I’m finding it more and more difficult to be without my wee dotes. We are now seriously talking about selling this big house and buying somewhere smaller in both Spain and Northern Ireland, so I can pop over any time. Bring it on!
We had another little pre-Christmas break, in Altea, about an hour and a half up the coast from us. We’d booked a full board, 3 night stay in the Hotel Cap Negret, and it was just fabulous. We have never booked full board before, but this was a special offer and meant we could keep our options open. As it turned out, the buffet food for breakfast, lunch and dinner (including wine!) was so good we didn’t need to eat anywhere else! The hotel was wonderful, the room was gorgeous, and the bed was huge! Peter is 6’3″ and we reckoned the bed was at least 7′ wide – and extremely comfortable!
We had a lovely view of the pool area and the beach from our balcony, it was just a great wee break and we would recommend the hotel to everyone!
When we were in the square by the church in Altea we stopped for a drink, and met some lovely people at the next table, Kat, Bruno and Gabriel.
Kat is from Ohio, the boys are both Spanish but one studying in Ohio, and the other in England. It was lovely to chat and hear their views about Spain, England/UK and US. We always seem to manage to find someone to talk to when we’re out and about, usually Peter starts the conversation, and I think it’s great to be able to share experiences with a wide range of people. So cheers to Bruno, Kat and Gabriel, we very much enjoyed meeting you and we wish you a very happy and healthy new year!
We went into Murcia city before Christmas, just for lunch, to one of our favourite places, the Mercado de Correos.
We were a bit early in the day to see the Christmas lights in all their glory so will be going back in on the tram in a day or two to view! Most of the little shops in the city have done some decorating in honour of Christmas, and it all looks very festive, but I can’t wait to see all the lights, trees and artisan market stalls after dark.
And yes, that really IS a red carpet running the length of the street! They are everywhere in the little streets round the city centre, very festive.
One of the things I love about city culture is the street performance artists, and the day we were there recently there were two who were just so wonderful! We really did think initially that they were statues before we realised they were live performers who managed to hold their poses for a very long time! They were brilliant and we happily donated as they earned it. And yes, that really IS Peter’s hat, he always gets a friendly and smiley reception when he wears it!
Spain has had yet another spell of really bad weather,with furious storms, leaving a lot of areas with much damage – no wonder the Spanish word for “storm” is “tormenta”. This was why we weren’t able to get into the city to see the lights before Christmas, but happily we’ll be on the tram in a couple of days for a good look around. We were very, very lucky to not have been adversely affected by the shocking weather, it seemed like incessant thunder, lightning and torrential rain. All calm again now, but still cold! In fact, this is the coldest recorded winter in Spain for the last 15 years. Roll on summer when we can all moan and complain about the 44 degree heat again!
In the meantime I am very glad that our main fireplace in the sitting room is almost finished, thanks to both Peter’s cousin Tom and to our builder friend Jake – Peter just wants to build up and finish off the sides, then we can paint the wall to the right of it , and the sitting room will be complete. The before and after photos remind me how good it is to have a proper fireplace at last.
That’s before – obviously, with the last bit of the hearth tile ready to be laid.
…and after, looking better now!
After all our gallivanting, to Norn Iron, Altea and in and out of the city, it has been rather peaceful to have Christmas at home. We cooked for ourselves and could eat what we wanted and when we wanted and for once I could have a glass of cava! That’s about my one glass a year! Peter did all the decorating of the tree and the house, I’m happy to let him get on with it as he does such a good job, especially the tree.
It might be that tree’s last Christmas, I bought it about 30 years ago and we have to keep putting more decorations on it to hide the gaps! I do love it though, it’s gorgeus once Peter has put all our special wee bits and pieces on. (I also love my new velvet frock and long jacket, in fact I love that blue velvet frock so much I’ve ordered one in green and one in purple as well!)
Oh, here’s another bit of colour and brightness at this time of year, which I thought the EU had done away with? Painted pigeons are what I’m talking about – the people who race pigeons paint their feathers so they’re easier to identify. As far as I know it doesn’t harm them at all, and I think they look fabulous!
This is definitely a colourful time of year, it needs to be in the dark of winter while we ait for the return of the light! So here is Señor Kopczynski’s contribution to the parties we’re invited to – he makes little layered, bite-sizes vodka jellies, and they seem to go down a treat. Very easy to make, look them up on Pinterest. And yes, he even decorates a board for them to sit on!
On the subject of little treats to eat, I’ve made my usual big batch of “Auntie Stella’s fudge”, mainly to put in jars and give as little gifts. I only ever make it at Christmas, it’s very sweet, none of your salted caramel stuff here! Probably best to make a dental appointment and sign up for Weight Watchers before indulging, but as it really IS only once a year here’s the recipe if you want to make some…it’s too delicious for words!
Ingredients:
900g sugar (told you!)
500 ml whole milk
115g butter
pinch of cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
150 ml evaproated milk, (like Ideal Milk).
Method:
- Put sugar, butter and milk into a large pan and boil for 10 minutes.
- Add the evaporated milk, boil gently – maybe between a simmer and a boil – for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring all the time. (That’s the boring bit!)
- When it starts to “fudge” round the sides of the pan drop a spoonful into a saucer of cold water.
- If it rolls into a ball, take it off the heat. If not, continue on the heat till you can get it to roll into a ball and hold its shape in the cold water.
- Add a good pinch of cream of tartar, and the vanilla extract, and beat with a wooden spoon for a few minutes.
- Pour into a buttered tin and when almost cool cut into small pieces, then pop into jars to give as wee gifts.
- Enjoy!
That’s it for now, we’re off to get ready as we’re going out for dinner to celebrate a friend’s birthday, then out again tomorrow night to other friends for feasting and fireworks to bring in the new year.
To finish, I just want to say that 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 you all love, joy, light and laughter for the new year, and for all the years to come. 
My life in Spain 