Greyrocks has never been very fond of January, but this one takes the biscuit! No smug travellers' tales this time and just a brief rundown on why we are somewhat hors de combat!
It started well enough with our New Years Eve meal at Caracoles. A description of the surprise menu was promised, so here it is:
Unusually Chloe was with us - see last post - and she enjoyed it though may have over-indulged. Fireworks from several hotels were very good this year - although our nearest one had a mishap which resulted in the calling-out of the bomberos and police! New Years Day was gentle and involved the Blue Rock and a festive meal chez nous, and then we got on with business, sorting out C's documentation issues and preparing for Goa, but in parallel there was worrying news from Hampshire, UK about Ruth's mother's health. This isn't the place for a medical bulletin:- suffice to say she was advised to go to hospital and refused, so was needing a lot of support, as was Ruth's 90 year-old Dad.
The eve of Kings (5th) was a bright day so we all went down to the ferry port to see the arrival of Their Majesties. This was - as they say - the same as every year and we sat in the cafeteria and watched it all transpire, then rode up to Mas Que Nada for tapas lunch. We were out again in the evening to see the procession (camels and all) from our traditional vantage point of the American Burger joint (Chicken George). It was traditionally very late arriving, but went down well with all, as did the fillet steak kebabs to which we introduced Chloe! Next day being a Bank Holiday in Spain, and her last day we had some plans, but everything changed when we heard that Ruth's Mum had had a bad fall and was now in hospital in Portsmouth.
So... All Change! C left as planned ready to move to Bristol and then start her new job in Bath on the Monday. Greyrocks started a week-long process of weighing up flights, needs explained by sisters and changing prognoses before deciding that Goa would not be a goer in the first instance for Ruth. We got a partial refund on the ticket and left together on Friday 16th:- Ruth for Gatwick and Bob for Barcelona and Goa via Doha (Qatar). (This latter route had been chosen to avoid both UK and inter-terminal indignities at Mumbai.)
And that is how the rest of the month has been. Bob (nursing a cough and cold) had an experimental week in Benaulim before moving down to good old Palolem, where we had booked into the slightly up-market Guest House. He is enjoying time around The Office with most of the "staff" present - except John and Tracey who are in Greyrocks' Fuerteventura home! He reports that all is much the same, but tourism is as much as 40pc down. (If that's the rude Russians that are missing it's spacibo to Mr Putin!)
Meanwhile Ruth is living in the family home and cooking and housekeeping for her father, with daily visits to her mother in hospital. She has borrowed warm clothes, which are distinctly necessary with some remarkably cold weather, and this morning: SNOW! Goa garments are in the wheelie bag and if things stabilise Ruth will be off like a shot for some curtailed Goan delights!
And thus we finish January. Things can only get better!
It started well enough with our New Years Eve meal at Caracoles. A description of the surprise menu was promised, so here it is:
A starter plate of fish terrine, mushroom feuillete and a shot of soup
Half a bogavente (large crayfish) with chanpagne sauce and wild rice
Fillet steak with tomato provencale and rosti
Crepe Suzette with two ice creams
Unusually Chloe was with us - see last post - and she enjoyed it though may have over-indulged. Fireworks from several hotels were very good this year - although our nearest one had a mishap which resulted in the calling-out of the bomberos and police! New Years Day was gentle and involved the Blue Rock and a festive meal chez nous, and then we got on with business, sorting out C's documentation issues and preparing for Goa, but in parallel there was worrying news from Hampshire, UK about Ruth's mother's health. This isn't the place for a medical bulletin:- suffice to say she was advised to go to hospital and refused, so was needing a lot of support, as was Ruth's 90 year-old Dad.
The eve of Kings (5th) was a bright day so we all went down to the ferry port to see the arrival of Their Majesties. This was - as they say - the same as every year and we sat in the cafeteria and watched it all transpire, then rode up to Mas Que Nada for tapas lunch. We were out again in the evening to see the procession (camels and all) from our traditional vantage point of the American Burger joint (Chicken George). It was traditionally very late arriving, but went down well with all, as did the fillet steak kebabs to which we introduced Chloe! Next day being a Bank Holiday in Spain, and her last day we had some plans, but everything changed when we heard that Ruth's Mum had had a bad fall and was now in hospital in Portsmouth.
So... All Change! C left as planned ready to move to Bristol and then start her new job in Bath on the Monday. Greyrocks started a week-long process of weighing up flights, needs explained by sisters and changing prognoses before deciding that Goa would not be a goer in the first instance for Ruth. We got a partial refund on the ticket and left together on Friday 16th:- Ruth for Gatwick and Bob for Barcelona and Goa via Doha (Qatar). (This latter route had been chosen to avoid both UK and inter-terminal indignities at Mumbai.)
And that is how the rest of the month has been. Bob (nursing a cough and cold) had an experimental week in Benaulim before moving down to good old Palolem, where we had booked into the slightly up-market Guest House. He is enjoying time around The Office with most of the "staff" present - except John and Tracey who are in Greyrocks' Fuerteventura home! He reports that all is much the same, but tourism is as much as 40pc down. (If that's the rude Russians that are missing it's spacibo to Mr Putin!)
Meanwhile Ruth is living in the family home and cooking and housekeeping for her father, with daily visits to her mother in hospital. She has borrowed warm clothes, which are distinctly necessary with some remarkably cold weather, and this morning: SNOW! Goa garments are in the wheelie bag and if things stabilise Ruth will be off like a shot for some curtailed Goan delights!
And thus we finish January. Things can only get better!