Oldies On Tour

Sunday 8th October 2023

This morning Lee and Sarah had to head to the lemon tree market and we took the opportunity to do a few jobs in and around Rosie; all go!!!  

Today we are going to “Oasis” a restaurant we regularly frequent when we lived here, and were always joined by Lee and Sarah when they were over.  The excuse this time was Lee’s birthday, well in a few days time!!   First a quick ‘phone call to check if we can bring the dogs, yes we can.

Arriving at the appointed hour we took our seats and the dogs settled down, no doubt thinking for about an hour or so.   When we get here we have a habit of just having starters, a lot of them but we only order one at a time, and we each chose one or two; we like “to linger” and we always have a conversation about how many bottles of wine we’ve consumed, we never remember!!!  After about 4-hours the two dogs became fidgety, so needed a short natural break!!  We then carried on for another hour.   We are usually the first to arrive, and we are “always” the last to leave, and today was no exception; another super lunch😀😀

Back to Calle Acebo  but arrived “toooooo late” for the Japan V Argentina match, but this result had no bearing on anyone, but now it was decision time.   We could either watch the Qatar Grand Prix or the Tonga Rumania game; we elected to watch the Grand Prix.  We decided if this was an exciting game we would watch it on “catch-up” but looking at the result, we made the right choice.

Lee had set the tv up on the bar down by the pool to watch Fiji V Portugal, the last, but a  very important game, well for Eddy Jones’ Australia, they needed Fiji to lose by more than 7-points to replace them in the quarters.  What a match, The “Flying Fijians” weren’t flying tonight and Portugal played jolly well and managed the unthinkable, they beat Fiji but not enough, Australia are on their way home😁.  Result: Fiji 23 : 24 Portugal and after the final whistle you would have thought Portugal had won the World Cup, they were so happy and quite rightly so, they played well, and deserved the win.

During all this time Sarah was playing with Tom-Tom and Rosie, throwing the ball everywhere and completely knackering them out, another good nights sleep🤞🤞, tomorrow we head off, our visit to Campoverde is coming to an end. 

Thank you Lee and Sarah for your hospitality and we thoroughly enjoyed re-visiting Calle Acebo; the house is in very good hands.

Saturday 7th October.

No rush this morning so for a change we made ourselves a cooked breakfast before heading to “George’s” the vet in the village.   We had arranged this appointment to get all the necessary paperwork, worming tablets etc., etc., to get them back into the U.K.   transporting dogs was a fairly simple procedure but now it is far more complicated and very expensive so in passing asked if they could have Spanish passports, and if so would that improve the coming and going’s of our dogs, to which he answered ‘yes”.   The next questions were, could he do it how long to do and when.  We knew he was off on his annual holiday later today so we would think about this for next time, but to our surprise he said comeback in a hour or so and he would do it, it was that simple!!!

At 1100hrs we had arranged to meet Keith and Penny for coffee so this all dovetailed nicely.   We were also joined by Keith’s brother Boyd and his wife Jennifer so had a jolly hour or so before heading back to George’s.    

An hour or so later we walked out of George’s with Spanish passports for Tom-Tom and Rosie: job done😁

Now it was back to our old house in Calle Acebo, we are staying with our friends, Lee and Sarah for a couple of nights and the bonus is: six rugby matches, 3 on Saturday, 3 on Sunday and if the timings allow, the Qatar Grand Prix!!!    These matches complete the RWC pool stages and a couple of teams are “sweating” on some results, Australia to name just one!!!

But first a few drinks around the pool.   It was quite strange returning after 6-years but it was rather nice especially the garden, to see all the shrubs Christine planted all those years ago grow profusely and make the pool area very private.   Next we headed back to the top terrace; this reminded us why we sold, all those steps!!!  We enjoyed lunch before settling down to watch the first game, Wales V Georgia, nothing riding on the result of this game but still worth watching, especially how far Georgia have come and should probably be considered as a replacement team in the 6-Nations; but politics will get in the way and it won’t happen😡😡. Result: Wales 43 : 19 Georgia

Now we had the game we were waiting for England V Samoa; England were already through to the quarters but having had such a poor run-up to the RWC, they had a point to prove.   This was a tight match, not so much for a good game, more because England made so many unforced errors and were at “six’s and seven’s” at times and Samoa just capitalised on them and ran us ragged, even Mr Farrell took to long to take a conversion further aggravating the situation.  The final score tells it all: England 18 : 17 Samoa.

Immediately after this match we switched over to watch the Sprint Race in Qatar and as the checkered flag came down switched over in time to see the Anthems of Ireland and Scotland.   Scotland “had” to win and by a margin to get into the quarters, Ireland were already there but South Africa was vulnerable.   This should have been exciting but it was a non event, Ireland just “squashed” Scotland.  Result: Ireland 36 : 14 Scotland

Having enjoyed copious amounts of alcohol during the day we enjoyed some good old fashioned sausage sandwiches, ideal food after many pints of beer/cider!!!

With not much evening left we headed off to bed, tonight we are in the guest suite, a room we never actually slept in before; a novel experience

Friday 6th October

Market day in Pilar de La Horadada so after breakfast that’s were we headed for.   Parking here is ok as there is a lot of waste ground though one has to bump over the kerbs to get there!!

Two main reasons for visiting and the most important was to get our kitchen knives sharpened; there is a stall that sells all sorts of kitchen wares but for us, he sharpens knives.   To date he is the best “knife sharpener” in the business that we have found.   The least important reason, well for Christine anyway, was to get “Churros con Chocolate”; can’t come to Spain and not indulge.

We only have three things on the agenda today, market in the morning, haircuts at midday and dinner with Roger and Helena this evening, and in between we headed to visit Mary, always good to see her and give her a “hard time”, she loves it really😂😂😂, and whilst there we will take the opportunity to top our water tank up.   .   

We got our knives sharpened as planned and enjoyed our churros before heading to “Paula’s” salon.  Paula has cut our hair for a number of years at several salons and used to manage the hairdressers by Spar, but late last year went on her own so decided to support her in her new posh salon just up from Iceland and as usual did a good job.

Mary was our next port of call, this would be our last chance to catch up as we leave Monday morning so had a good “chin-wag” before saying our goodbyes ‘till our next visit to Campoverde. Leaving Mary’s also we went back to the Spar shop to add more bottles to our “Tio Pepi” stock 

It was now time to return to the doggy park, time to “knacker” the dogs out before dinner.   This doesn’t take very long as we have the “technology”; 3-tennis balls and a ball thrower, we keep throwing the balls and not giving them time to sit and relax until they’ve had enough.  We always know when that happens, they take the ball off to another part of the area and sit on it!!!   We will be staying here again tonight but as we’re dining at “San Marino’s”, the other end of the village we will drive down there first.

Parked near the restaurant and enjoying a pre-dinner G & T we waited for the arrival of Helena and Roger.   Though it was a Friday evening the restaurant was surprisingly empty, there was one other table apart from ours; historically unheard of, still we had a good evening and as usual the food was excellent.   It was very good to catch-up with them but poor Roger was struggling as he had only just left hospital following serious surgery, but hopefully getting out tonight and having a laugh will do him the world of good; we hope you get over the nasty experience very soon and thank you for making the effort to “come out to play”, very much appreciated.

Back outside the dog park we settled down for the night, this will be our last one here.

Thursday 5th October

Another good night and being Thursday, it’s Crib day at Jim and Hazel’s, we always enjoy these days, but not ‘till 1000hrs so time for, yes you’ve guessed it, “wear the buggers out,” though no doubt they will find their way into the swimming pool, again!!!

Along with our fellow players, we all arrived and started playing and it wasn’t long before there was a “splosh” as two dogs were swimming after a ball!!!   There were 6-dogs here today but only our two were water dogs, the others looked-on in amazement.

After crib Christine and I had been invited to stop-on for a swim and lunch; my the swim was most welcome, far nicer than the sea as far as I’m concerned, though Christine prefers the sea!!!   Naturally it wasn’t just the four of us enjoying the pool, no, there were three dogs in with us; Roxy is not into water so hides away from the pool.   Our swim was followed by a nice lunch, probably ate too much as we are out to dinner tonight as well!!!! Tomorrow is weigh-day and the weight read-out won’t be a “pretty sight”, of that we have no doubt 😡😡😡

Refreshed and with full stomachs left to get ready to visit Sue and Frank for “cocktails” before heading to a new restaurant in Campoverde.

The one thing I “do” miss about living here are the evenings, the ability to sit out whilst the sun goes down and stay out without having to “fetch” a coat.   Tonight is one of those evenings; cocktails by the pool in the late afternoon sun followed by an excellent dinner at the new, well new to us, place called “Ameli bar and restaurant”; we had heard good reports but until “you” try it, you don’t really know: All I can say is “they were right”, 3 of us enjoyed fillet steaks and they were cooked to perfection and melted in the mouth.

We started early as Frank now likes to be tucked up in bed around 2100hrs but not tonight; tonight we were having fun and his bed-time came and went without notice!!!!   Whilst there we also bumped into Penny and Keith so agreed to meet for coffee on Saturday.  

Tonight we were parked back outside the dog park so Christine headed off with TT & R, their last walk of the day, whilst Sue went for the car then gave me a lift until we caught up with Christine.   Being late by now, I joined her for last part.

We had a very good night with Sue and Frank, thank you and until the next time, au revoir 

Wednesday 4th October

Had to be up early this morning as we have 2-Dental appointments, 0900 & 0930 hrs in the village; It’s a long way to come to visit the dentist, but first we needed to exhaust the dogs, again; they will be so fit when we get back!!!!

We moved Rosie into the centre of the village and strolled across the road into the dental clinic and punctual.   I went if first and emerged half an hour later with one new filling and an inspection; all good ‘till the next time.   Christine was hot on my heals and emerged half an hour later having had an inspection and clean, no filling!!!!

Next we visited the pharmacy to buy drugs that are unavailable without a prescription in the U.K.  followed by a visit to Tracy’s card shop and coffee with tostada and Soberano😁😁

Beach time now, but before heading back to the “salinas” carpark we stopped at the DIY car wash, Rosie was looking quite sad and dirty. Having fed the machine with lots of coins I covered her in their soap or more precisely “pink foam”, it’s supposed to sort out mosquitos; don’t know how!!! Anyway after I rinsed her down i wasn’t too impressed with the finished result, the dirt is too ingrained so it will be me up the steps with a bucket and sponge when we get back.

Back in the Salinas, we now headed off to the beach with two balls, a ball thrower and two chairs.   Tonight we are out again so the pooches need to be tired.

After about an hour or so sitting in the sun and cooling off in the sea, and two dogs looking like drowned rats, we headed back to the MH.   Today we are in a good position, we have time and plenty of water on board so took the opportunity to enjoy showers, though we’d been in the sea most days, “there is nothing like a shower”!!!   

It was now time to head to head back to Campoverde as we have been invited to Hazel and Jim’s for dinner and crib; really looking forward to that.

Tonight we had intended to stop at the bottom of their road with “seco” both sides of the road, but once we arrived we realised it wasn’t as flat as we originally thought; anyway that’s for later!!!

We had a really nice evening, good food, good wine, good company and some exciting games of cribbage; chaps against the girls, and the winners were . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !! All this time our two dogs, being totally worn out were no trouble and joined Roxy and Beth on their bed.

After saying our goodbyes we headed back to the street with the dog enclosure, quiet, comfortable and a good place to let the dogs exercise

Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Another good nights sleep in El Mahon and the scrub we parked alongside served it’s purpose well and exhausted the dogs, though soon after we started throwing the ball with our new ball thrower, they gave up and hibernated under the van “and” took the ball with them!!!   

Last night we got chatting to a chap in another motorhome who also parked in the same street, he was from Norway and apart from a planned trip to Thailand for dental work, he intended to stay for the winter!!

The order of the day was “Mercadona” for food shopping followed by “Mariana Damascan” for Christine’s nails and somewhere in-between, a visit to a small supermarket we call the “Co-op” for adequate stocks of Soberano and Salt and Pepper grinders.  Then we had arranged to visit Rita and Rodney for lunch.

Driving away from our comfortable spot waving to the Norwegian as we headed into Pilar, firstly parking outside Mercadona where we also took the opportunity to have a coffee before heading to the Co-op and back again for the nail bar.   Whilst Christine was having her nails done I took the opportunity to enjoy a “coffee and a Brandy” next door whilst the dogs enjoyed a fresh bowl of water!!!!

Arriving at Rita and Rodney’s and before we had settled in, the dogs were in their pool much to the astonishment of their two dogs, Lotte and Max.    Unlike our other visits, we had seen these two whilst they were visiting England in the summer, but still great to catch up and have a nice lunch and a few of drinks with Rodney.   He tells me he hadn’t enjoyed a Soberano since the last time we were together; hard to imagine that one!!!

At one stage Rita decided Max should join in with TT & R chasing the ball into the pool but he was having none of it so that was the challenge.   All the coaxing in the world wasn’t going to change his mind so Rita differed to the old, tried and tested methods, she picked him up and in he went.    I don’t think I have seen a dog move so fast, and he was out of the pool in a flash and didn’t go near it again!!!

After a really good social afternoon with entertainment provided by two dogs jumping in and out of the pool we filled up with water and said our goodbyes.

Tonight it is quiz night in the village and I was a guest on Jim and Hazel’s team; 6 of us and we all put our six-pennyworth in and low and behold, we won!!!    I am so annoyed with myself on one rugby question, should have known the answer but “screwed up”; unforgivable👹👹 then back to our”new” spot by the dog park.