Last photos from our holiday

Linda, Saff and Philip - by India

India - looking pensive

Javea and the Montgo from the aircraft

Bears obviously attacked my chocolate cake. One minute it was there.. the next... just crumbs

Saffy - airborne - and watch out - India does the same thing!

The Photos!

Oh Well...

Well blimey. Here we are at home again - and it's twelve days - n0 - fourteen days - later. How on earth did that happen? We left you on Monday / Tuesday - Horsing around up in Jalon - and that was the best place to be as it turned out as both days - AND Wednesday - were cool, overcast and rainy. Infact Weds morning was stair-rods - and dead gloomy it was too being our last day. We celebrated by making a Spanish potato Omelette - the famed Tortilla Espanola - thanks to Sarah Robinson for the recipe, and here it is. Slice 4 large spuds thinly - 5mm slices - deep fry them. Don't fanny about here - use a pint of oil and just get on with it :-) fry them until NOT golden but cooked through (knife test) - remove them into a bowl into which 6 eggs have been cracked, and roughly whisked. Season with a good pinch of salt. Now - pour the lot into an oiled pan and leave to cook for 5 mins over a medium heat. Then - take a second oiled frying pan and invert it over the top of the first pan - and flip the whole lot over. The cooked omelette should drop into the second pan and you then cook that side of the omelette fro a further 4-5 mins, again over a medium heat. Voila. Leave to cool (a bit) and then cut into slices or squares and watch it vanish.
Anyway - we took our tortilla over to see Pauline and Fraser, newly back from seeing their grandchildren in Colorado - and we demolished a bottle of wine (a first for me this holiday) and two thirds of the Tortilla. Fraser came back for seconds! And as luck would have it - the sun came out in the afternoon - and a riotous time was had by all in the pool again.
I was busy pretty much all tues afternoon and all weds afternoon and evening clearing, cleaning, and packing. Tough gig, but got it done.
Thursday - the dreaded travel day - but as I'd been clever and got most stuff done the days before, we were able to go swimming and enjoy the sunny morning.

So there you have it - we left at 11h30 for the 13h30 checkin for the 15h30 flight and were home by 7pm local time - Graeme and Di met us at the airport (huge thanks to them) and all I had to do was crowbar two very excited girls into bed - to which they both reluctantly went.

I have left all the boring stuff out - hammeriting one of the grills - entirely rebuilding the upstairs persiana (blind) in the double room) and dismantling , repairing and re-mounting the rear spoiler assembly of the hire car (to avoid being charged for it) (god bless super glue).

We had an awesome time. I am so jealous that they get to go again in a weeks time. But thats life eh? Gotta pay those bills now. xx Thanks for following!

Sarah on Rubio

The fabulous Caserio Del Mirador in the Background

Wow. She'll have this one in a frame!

Monday and Tuesday - Jalon

OK - its late and I'm tired - so this is going to be brief.
Monday was overcast and although we went out to the Old town - we really only achieved two things. I managed to get two stoppers for the upstairs blinds in the girls room - and Saffy bought a giant stuffed Rabbit, and India a new cash till at what I think was a charity shop. Total spend - 8 euros - a result!
Main event of the day was going up to Jalon to see Sarah Jonny Poppy Florence and Charlie again - for a sleepover, kittens, rabbits, goats and ponies.
We had a wonderful time - it was great to catch up - and we were treated like family. Check out the photos of Saffron riding a part arab 15 hands gelding called Rubia (blondie) known as Ruby - and India rode her first Black Stallion. A Shetland black stallion - but as anyone who knows anything about horses will tell you - Shetlands are spicy. Furia (fury) was certainly that.
They were both absolute stars - and thanks to Sarah and Flossie for being so brilliant with all of us. xxx

The Girls at Aqualandia

Aqualandias slides.

Saffy did the one on the right. To remind everyone, she's seven. I am in awe!

This Olive tree predates Christianity.

Well - nearly - she's a thousand years old if she's a day old. Her trunk is six feet across.

The astonishing view from Caserio Del Mirador, Jalon..

Bugger me. All the way down to the Montgo. Quite unique - and utterly breathtaking.

IMPORTANT

There now follow a load of pics that I am adding from various sources from my mobile phone to0 my blackberry to the baby digital video cam. I'll label them as best I can.

La senorita no podia mas....

No words necessary

SpagFest 2009 - it all went!

There are no more shells on the beach in Javea - Official

Saturday and Sunday

Bargain two days at once this time as it's been so busy it's been a blur. Saturday, I woke with a start at 8am wondering where my morning call was - only to find Saff reading to India, as she had promised to the evening before. Beautiful - and a welcome extra half hour. Morning swim - of course - and then off to Benidorm with Richard, Sandra Linda and Philip. Aqualandia was an absolute blast. I only wish I'd had my waterproof camera with me - but it died in the sand back in March. The Wests took off with Saff and went on all the big rides - India and I did every single play pool in the place - plus then at various moments Linda and Sandra babysat her to allow me to go off with Saff and the gang. Highlight for me was Saff jumping off the three metre rock into the three metre deep plunge pool. She hsitated only until she say Linda do it and then off she went. Unreal. Even I had a knot in my stomach as I jumped. We came back at about 6 and went straight to one of the "Chiringuitos" on the rock beack between Arenal and the port. Third one along if anyones interested. Fantastic place to chill with a drink at the end of a day. Girls charged off down onto the rocky beach (the square formations are where rock was cut out to build the original houses. Vey cool - check the photos of how many shells they collected in an hour. Back to base - beans on toast - and bed - late - but very happy.
Sunday - today - up around 7h30 - and we have had a gentle day around the pool. Very hot - very sunny. bed on time - ish - tonight - off to Javea old town tomorrow - then Jalon for a sleepover to catch up properly with the Robinsons. x

The Blurb - Friday

Hello from us on Friday! Wow - I cannot believe that we've been here a week now. Windy as can be last night - and clodyt and overcast this morning. So we headed off to Moraira to "do" the market - have some lunch - go to the Cow shop and pop into the supermarket as Saff wants a Dorada for her tea. India of course says quick as a flash "I don't like fish" and thats that.
So - the Market was great - really! everything from jewelery to cheap costume watches to fresh hot sugary Churros (the girls are converted and addicted) and a weeny fairground at the bottom of it all with coin-op boats bikes and karts. 2 euros a go - brilliant value - cannot recommend it enough. From the market on to town centre to eat tapas at las Gaviotas (near the gallery under the amazing shady trees) and from there into the Cow shop. India has been singing "I'm going to buy a booby" for 24 hours and sure enough, headed straight for the joke breasts. She is an absolute riot that one - and I only count my lucky stars that we exited the shop with a colour-yourself stuffed elephant and not a pair of fake tits and a grinning wicked willy.
From the town to Mercadona (it was SO hot at 3pm I can't tell you - we all practically ran into the supermarket as we knew the aircon would be fabulous!) and from there back to the house. For house read pool. There was a delay of about a picosecond, followed by two small sonic booms - and the girls were a) changed into their cossies and b) in the pool.
Bath before supper - supper at about 630 - and Saffy, having helped to prepare her fish, then demolishes the whole damn thing, picking out the odd baby bones which escaped my meticulous de-boning without the blink of an eyelid. Remarkable. She adores a Dorado - cooked simply in a hot oven in a foil parcel with lemon, a little salt and some olive oil. I had one too - and can vouch for the fact that it was delicious. Indy knows what she likes and did justice to my Tuna and Sweetcorn pasta.
We are off to Aqualandia tomorrow ( another first) with the Wests - they have been adorable and the girls cannot wait. Philip will just have to decide which one he wants to marry - and yes - there will be tears.

Night Night!

Saffron 1, Dorada nil

It could have been SO much worse

India, as usual, milks it for all it's worth

Saffy in her swan

The perfect car for India

Officially - their first go in a motor boat - on their own - and yes - they want one too now!

Our Beautiful Visitor

Daddy - by India - age 4 - using my Nikon D80

The Barbecue of Doom... BEFORE I Cillit Banged it... Thanks renters!

I was speechless. God love them.

Praying Mantis on the Sunlounger

No Fear - Whatsoever!

Day four of "Three go bonkers on the Costa Blanca"

I spent an hour doing my inbox at around 3am this morning. Sad but true - at least I got it done.
Funny how everyone swallowed the Blackberry thing so utterly seamlessly - we were all goven them - we now spend @ 2hrs every single day - even holidays where you are a sole parent (thats a_sole parent thanks very much) looking after two gorgeous little girls in close proximity a hundred thousand other people on the beach and in the street - not to mention a swimming pool... in Belgium, you have to hand your Blackberry in when you take off for two weeks summer break. It's actually against the law to be in touch. Something wonderful about that, I think.
India (no prizes here) woke me at 0720. Saff followed not 10 mins later and it was all go from thereon in. They are SO crap at eating breakfast. They are both getting bacon tomorrow and I have cereals as well as two flavours of yoghurt to throw at them - as well as of course bread, jam, fruit... all they were intersted in - and who can blame them - was getting in the pool. For "getting in the pool" read "throwing Daddy into the pool" - which suits me just fine. The plan was going to Moraira - and then Philip and Linda showed up - the girls were happy as can be - so plan B was lunch down at the beach. Acqua got the call - chicken nuggets for Saff and a spag bol for Indy. Quick shop at MasyMas on the way home - more pool, bath and a barbie supper. Indy in Bed by 8 - Moonchild finally by 10pm. (PS - it's a full moon tonight - which is amazing - last night was still and silent - but tonight? Dogs barking, people shouting and partying, car stereos cranked etc. We are all werewolves at heart ;-) )
I am totally knackered and heading to bed. Night all xx

Lord knows I love her but how I growled when India practically broke my bedroom door down at 0720 this morning - having gone to bed at 10 after the lovely impromptu Barbie over at Richard, Sandra, Linda and Philips. Thank the Lord that Saff left it an hour (ish) before showing her face. Suffice to say it was a slow start. We dived into the pool at about 0930 and Philip came over (my new best friend - a 9 year old Babysitter! If he only knew how much Indy has taken a shine to him...) So an hour of pool carnage ensued during which time I alternately kept a very close eye, and got a picnic together.
We got down to the Arenal at about 12h30 - and heaving crowded do not even come close to describing the conditions. However found a spot 10 feet from the water and took the girls Wave-jumping for an hour. Indy absolutely loved it. We picnicked as the Spanish headed for the restaurants (plebs - aren't we just!)
More wave jumping after lunch and then I got all our kit together and herded the cats back to the car at about 3.30pm - back at the villa before 4pm.... just in time for the girls to go nuts in the pool again for another hour and a bit. Bath hairwash condition and after-sunned them up at 5h30 and fed them big bowls of Chook Korma at 6.
They both chowed down in fine style - and by 7 India was asleep - I carried her upstairs and popped her into bed, totally spent for the day.
Saff played on the Cbeebies website and I put her down at 8h30 - she of course re-appeared at 9 and said she couldn't sleep - so we went outside and snuggled on a lounger and counted the stars starting to show - it was a full moon tonight - and Saff seems very interested in all things planetary so we chatted for a while about the planets shooting stars etc - and she was back in bed by 9h30... and here I am - about to go to bed myself - secure in the knowledge that Indy will be in shortly after 7 to demand juice and Beebies downstairs.
I wouldn't change a thing. Night night all. xx

Pool Babes on the launch slide...

You simply HAVE to double click on this one for all the facial expressions alone!

Saff soaks Linda.. for the Nth time!

Fantastic Day - Linda and Philip came over to swim this afternoon - which is morphing now into drinks and a Baby barbie with Richard and Sandra and all the children

Moonchild

About 09h00 - day 1!

Day One - Pool Day

We spent the whole day in the pool. In fact I don't think my fingers have lost their wrinkles yet. India has worked out what a snorkel does (you have to keep it in your mouth Indy - and no, it doesn't work underwater) and then set off swimming lengths. Without fins in case anyone was wondering. She must have swum 20 lengths. Absolutely amazing. Saffron swam a length underwater. When are those Olympics again? We all had our suncream on - and the only person who went a bit red was - Daddy. So that is of course all right then. INdy of course didn't get a nap - and was practically BEGGING to be put to bed at 7pm.. but I was a meanie and only took her upstairs at 7.30pm - she went out like the proverbial. Saff went up at 20h30 but couldn't sleep so we had a bit more time together later - hence the nighttime pics... Beach today - Can't wait!