Taking a break

We've had a bit of a break.  To begin with, a lovely few days with the Newly-Weds (and the wedding photos; lots of oohs and aahs, and quite a few laughs too).  It was great to spend some time with them and show them our new home; a bit of gentle encouragement re DIY (it's really not that difficult, and there's such a sense of satisfaction being able to say 'I did that myself'), and, goodness, another set of curtains to alter!  I'm glad I can be of some help even if we don't live close by, and altering curtains I can certainly do.

Then a little bit of time away on our own, to the good old Spanish Costa del Sol, which is becoming a bit of a bolt-hole for us.  It is somewhere we can relax and chill out completely, making the most of the very good weather (high 20s and low 30s), flat promenades for strolling, lovely food and very welcoming people. 

Flat promenades ideal for strolling, cycling, roller-blading and jogging

It's not just the youngsters who stay fit on roller-blades!  This lady caught our attention - maybe we should try this out next time!

it didn't take long for us to realise just how tired we were after the summer spent working on the house (or is it that we are older than we are prepared to admit?!)  Admittedly we were both recovering from a pretty rotten head-cold (yes, DH very kindly passed it along to me so I wouldn't feel left out) but for a couple of days we took things very easy indeed.  We soon slipped back into the Spanish way of life which we find so pleasant.  We walked everyday, just ambling along, stopping every now and then to do a crossword, or take in the sights, or simply watch the world go by.  Sometimes we even had a drink!

One of our favourite stops for a glass of red wine, and some authentic tapas

We travel lightly, having long-since learned what can be left at home.  Do I need my own hair-dryer?  Or five pairs of shoes?  Three outfits for 'just in case' occasions?  Toiletries are provided at the hotel and are perfectly OK for a week so we don't bother with shampoo, shower gel etc.  I bought one item of clothing before I went - a long-sleeved t-shirt for £1 at a charity shop in town - but everything else was already in my wardrobe (and probably had been for, on average, at least five years!!)  By the end of the week, we both reassessed our baggage and decided we could probably pare things down even further, if we wanted to.  We don't, as a rule, 'do' souvenirs, nor do we buy gifts for friends back home, and we didn't do either on this trip.  It was, as usual, a very simple holiday, and I suspect some people may have found it boring.  Not us.  We had a really good time, making the most of simple pleasures and each others' company in a lovely location where the pace of life allows you to slow down and appreciate the little details.  It suits us just fine.

And the sun-rises are pretty spectacular, too.


Back home it's all a bit grey, cold and damp, not great weather for drying a load of washing.  So this morning I made laundry liquid instead.