Oldies On Tour

Sunday 20th April 2025

Up fairly early as we are moving out for three nights today and have a few “timed” appointments including a music event in Campoverde.  A quick breakfast, pack the car and headed off dressed in shorts and summer tops.   Though this morning was a little chilly we took the decision it would soon warm up.

Our first stop was near Crevillent, Jim and Hazel have sold their Campoverde home were due to move into a “Finca” nearby but at the eleventh hour, the owners, ie a “Bank”, couldn’t sell as it turned out they hadn’t got the property properly registered to sell!!!  They are now renting part of a big house of multiple occupants.

We arrived as agreed for a coffee break en-route, it also gave us time on our own to catch up.   Thursday was great but there were many people around all wanting a part of “Birthday-girl”.   When we arrived we were greeted with 7-dogs, oh well, two more won’t matter but they all got on extremely well, no fighting or squabbling, even over the ball!,

Time to leave so headed to our next time slot, 2-pm at Mil Palmera Beach Apartamentos, our home for the next three nights.    En route we received a message to say this afternoons music event which is outside in Campoverde had been cancelled due to the inclement weather, they obviously know more than us, as it was still sunny!!

Arriving at the appointed hour ie 2-pm, we were told our apartment wasn’t ready, in fact it took ‘till well after 3-pm before it was; good job the music event had been cancelled!!!  Collected the key and headed to the 2nd floor, opened the door and wow, what a sea view🤠🤠.  Back down to the car for the rest of our stuff plus the dogs and headed back inside but we’re pulled up by reception queering the dogs.   Christine got her booking out to show we had booked in the dogs, anyway after a bit of argy-bargy, we were allowed in but not in the room on the second floor, no: they  are only allowed on the ground floor apartments; no problem so changed rooms but still had to wait for the new room to be prepped!!!   We then had to transfer all our stuff including all the food Christine had un-packed and placed in the fridge.

With all the “faffing-about”, the afternoon had gone and we had to get ready to meet Sue and Frank for dinner.   The sky had now clouded over so it was back into long trousers and fleeces before we headed to Campoverde.

As we left Pilar de La Horadada and headed towards Campoverde, the sky was very, very black, just where we are going👹👹.   A quick stop at the dog park before heading to Juanita’s to meet up.  Soon after we had sorted ourselves out the heavens opened, thank goodness we got in just before or we would have been soaked!!!

We had a super evening, enjoyed our meals and caught up with everything before heading back to Mil Parmera, fortunately the rain had stopped and the sun came out and there was a lovely rainbow as well.

Back at the apartment, bed called however I waited until 1130-pm to watch the Saudi Grand Prix highlights; by the end I really wondered why, it wasn’t that exciting after the first lap!!

Saturday 19th April 2025

Nothing on today so after our usual leisurely breakfast we headed to the Eco walk, though Christine was on her own so I dropped her one end and headed off to the other and waited; I had some “logs” to catch up with.

Once back at the car we went to the bike cafe; I do like their unusual and very”moorish” carrot cakes, though I have to discipline myself and “only” have one each time.   Today Christine tried the Vegan Fudge Cake, yuk, but she said it was lovely.

We enjoyed our drink and cakes but my goodness it was windy up here today and a very cold wind as well, so being outside didn’t hang about and headed to Benissa.   There is a Mercadona in Benissa and being Easter probably won’t be open Sunday and Monday so took the opportunity to get a few provisions before returning to the ranch.

After a “light” lunch Christine decided that having had a big chocolate brownie she needed another walk so dragged the poor dogs out and we headed to the eco-park; I waited in the car!! Back home, then we sat out in the sun, fortunately the direction of the wind didn’t trouble us too much and as soon as the sun went over the “yardarm” we broke out the wine and enjoyed it with nuts and olives.   Neither dog fancied a swim today, that was good!!!

Dinner, followed by tv which included the Saudi Grand Prix qualifying, before heading to bed, much later than usual.

Friday 18th April 2025

We awoke to brilliant sunshine, blue skies and hardly any wind; we will break-out the shorts today, at last.

After a spot of breakfast we headed out, and like most U.K. visitors at this time of the year, appropriately dressed, ie., shorts, short sleeves and summer footwear, naturally we didn’t expect to see the locals dressed in this way of course.   We remember when we lived here that this sort of weather, at this time of the year wasn’t time for us to discard warm clothes, no, we left that for the “Grockles”.

We both did the dog walk and as the weather was so nice we headed to Lliber, a small village the other side of  Xaló  (Jalónin Spanish), where there is a small but very pleasant square with a small bar called “Varetes” tucked into one corner with, tables and chairs outside, but being on a hill, two of the four table legs had a block of wood underneath to level it up, but not the chairs, they are askew!!   Here they have a reasonable assortment of Tapas, all excellent and a wine list, mainly local products, but generally first class  especially one of their local house wines, “Luna Blanca”.   We had a glass each to test then followed up with a bottle, it certainly went well with our tapas.   It was just like old times having been here several times before and what a perfect day to come, warm sunshine, lots of atmosphere with the place buzzing, we’re in no rush to leave.

Part of the pleasure of coming to this village is the walk from the car park, through the marrow streets lined with window boxes and tubs with various flowers, very pretty.

Back at Martins after the wine etc, the steps seemed more formidable than usual, still we made it to the top at which point we had some lunch: I know unnecessary but the couple of tapas we had were only an appetiser!!!!

Back outside after lunch having thoroughly overindulged and enjoying more sunshine, in fact the next thing we noticed was Tom-Tom coming back upstairs wet, he had been for a swim in the pool!!   We enjoyed what was left of the afternoon when our thoughts turned to dinner.   Christine being quite methodical and bearing in mind the limited time we’re hear, has all the meals mapped out so tonight’s meal was no exception; that will teach us to eat a couple of tapas “and” a lunch.    After another hour or so we had our meal, fortunately no potatoes!!!!!

Nothing much on tv so played a few hands of crib before heading to bed

Thursday 17th April 2025

Today will be like old times, every Thursday at 1000hrs, crib in Campoverde, so up early, breakfasted and on the road by 0800hrs.   Two hours should be plenty of time though one never knows about hold-ups passing Alicanté that time of the morning.   We are also due to join Hazel & Jim for lunch.   Also it is a nice sunny day, probably not quite shorts weather, but getting there😎😎.

Oh it’s so nice to jump on a motorway, set the speed and know there shouldn’t be many times where one has to slow down; light traffic and everybody gets on with it, unlike the U.K., where the cruise control system would be worn out if you used it there; on-off, on-off!!!    Even going through the “possible” congestion spot around Alicanté, we hardly slowed down, apart from passing an accident where we were down to one lane.   A vehicle had managed to get on top of the central barrier, how on earth???

We arrived in Campoverde with sufficient time to give the dogs a serious run-round chasing a ball in the doggy park; a bonus as they will be sitting under a table for a few hours

It was good to be back playing crib again with the “old” gang but as usual not everybody was about, still we had two good tables and enjoyed the morning.  Crib is now being played at the Ameli Bar, what used to be the old German Restaurant,   When I joined the Campoverde Cribbage School nearly 20-years ago, I started when they played at Don Pepe’s and in those days the bar looked over a swimming pool before they council removed it and built the square that is there today. During this time period Crib has been played in most venues, both in the new part by the main road and in the old part, not to mention several peoples homes; as I said it was good to join in again.

After Crib and a couple of drinks, we moved inside to, Hazel had booked a table for 14 to celebrate her birthday, where we all had a very convivial lunch that went well into the late afternoon by which point Christine had to shoot off to see George, the Campoverde Vet, Tom is having “equipment” removed but needed a medical check-up first.  He flew through that with flying colours which had he known what was coming, he wouldn’t have been so accommodating!!! 

Whilst Christine and Pat went to the vet, I retired with Vince to his garden bar to wait.  We rounded off the day in their beautiful garden, sitting in the warm sunshine, wishing I had worn shorts.

We eventually left with Christine at the helm.   After lunch Jim and I got stuck into a cocktail I hadn’t had the pleasure of tasting before, the “Asiatico 43 Cocktail”, a multi layered job and though sweetish, was rather nice.  Here is a link if anyone is interested https://youtu.be/L-FXJtUUkXw?si=g0W6z4Th0MUlIm5v.   Hence Christine drove!!!!

An easy run back, no traffic and zero hold-ups, just as a motorway should be!!

Back at Martin’s we arrived tired again!!!  No rush tomorrow🤠🤠

Tuesday 15th April 2025

Woke up to dry, but very a overcast sky, could rain at any time but “hey-Ho”, we’re only here to chill out, but we “will” take the pooches out for a nice walk this morning.  First thing is to ring Mark, it’s his birthday, so “must” do that!!!!

After breakfast we headed back to the eco walk, this time Christine decided to do it in in reverse so that I could do it as well, being much flatter this end.   My knee is fine and I can walk along the flat with no discomfort but add in a steepish hill and I struggle, not with the mechanics of my replacement knee, no it’s with my thigh muscles, they were out of action for so long, I am still building up the muscles then of course there is my lack of fitness; it all makes hills difficult at present, however we did a mile or so in the sunshine.

Back in the car and we undid all the good we had just done, we headed to the bike shop café and indulged ourselves in a couple of really naughty cakes, yum yum; still we are on holiday.   Lunch wasn’t much better either, we went through a very large fresh baguette with cheese, ham and the reminder of the prawns🤭🤭.

The sun shone this afternoon so enjoyed just sitting in it and amusing the dogs with the odd ball throwing down the steps.   So far so good, neither of the dogs have ventured into the pool.

After dinner we watched some tv but for unknown reasons we couldn’t keep our eyes open; nor sure why but we are knackered, again!!!!

Wednesday 16th April 2025

Today followed a similar pattern to yesterday, but we refrained from heading out to the bikers cafe as we also had to review, and revise as necessary, the first drought of our plans for our extension which arrived yesterday, this took up quite some time.   We also received a report with photos of the progress of our new roof, and I must say it is looking good, fortunately there has been very good weather in Winscombe, allowing the project to be completed in the dry.

Lunch was again a bit naughty, more bread with hams and cheese, still we are on holiday!!!!

We have an early start tomorrow as we are heading back to Campoverde for the day

Monday 14th April 2025

Just to make you laugh, thank you Jim Spittle

We awoke this morning and noted yesterday’s rain did arrive but in the night, best time really!!!

The usual relaxed morning before setting out for Moraira about 30-minutes away, down on the coast but firstly I dropped Christine and the dogs off at the walk mentioned yesterday, but unfortunately today, no cake and coffee.

Arriving in Moraira we headed down to the seafront where there is a reasonable car park and a large park to walk around.   We were aware we had to pay but surprised how empty the car park was bearing in mind the cost is only €2.   After spending a lot of time at the machine we couldn’t fathom it out, we failed miserably.  Oh well back in the car and head somewhere else.  As we were leaving we saw another pay machine with a few people queuing up to pay, so Christine jumped out and thought with a “local’s” help, she could pay.   Ha ha, the guy at the machine was German and he couldn’t sort it out so after some time gave up; jumped into his car and left!!  Next up was a fellow Brit and he fiddled for ages and gave up even though another person came to see if they could fathom the machine out.   By now Christine had also given up, and as we headed out we realised why there were so many empty spaces, no one could work the machines!!!   Oh well it looks as if it was going to rain, so just as well.

Heading back home we de-toured through Benissa to pop into Mercadona to buy a “pile” of fresh prawns, a tub of Allioli and a fresh loaf of crusty bread for lunch; recompense for failing in Moraira!!

Back at the ranch we sat down to a feast of the prawns we bought; just like old times, yeah😎😎, though after such a “blow-out” we instantly regretted it as we “did” have a big dinner organised!!!

This afternoon the heavens opened, thunder, lightning and torrential rain, glad we got home in time.

Today we received an update with pictures of our new roof going on; it’s looking good, just hope they secure the inside before the forecast rain arrives🤞🤞.

A quiet afternoon followed by a light snack; too much lunch!!!, tv and bed

Another laugh at my expense this time!