Gongoozling and gone guzzling:- a drop of Burgundy!

From the Med. Greyrocks headed North for more French leave. May this year has the maximum possible bank holidays, but two are on Sundays so plenty of scope for confusion over opening times and traffic conditions!

A great restaurant in Lesterps

First we spent two days getting to St Germain de Confolens for a short stay at La Grange Terrou uphill from where George is renting pending completion of his new house and with whom we spent a lot of time. It was - unusually - sunny and dry, and we - once again - were made very welcome by the owners on the upmarket BandB, where the other guest was a French racing driver. With George and Gee we spent a pleasant Saturday taking lunch in Lesterps, viewing the emergent new home (not a pavillon!) and visiting the charity shop run by some of his friends. This last was a bizarre experience - rather like stepping into the same in Middle England! It was a special day with stalls being erected for a May Day fete next day. Bob and Jenny have transformed the premises into a warren of well organised rooms with vast quantities of donated books, clothes and bric-a-brac, and space for taking (English-style) tea and coffee. Ex-pats came and went, there were tales of ex-pat exploits and all the chat was in English. French customers came and went buying lampshades and unmatched golf clubs, and we had a chance to talk about where the money goes:- humanitarian truck runs from UK to crisis hotspots, the next being a second visit to Lesbos. Greyrocks having a clutter-free lifestyle left without purchasing anything, but having willing made a donation!

There is now a link between this short stay and our next one, which was in Cravant. The link is the current ubiquitous French phenomenon of the vide-grenier:- best translation "boot fair" but with more to it! Maybe it is the time year ("or maybe it's the time of Man") but villages all over were having one. The local press is full of schedules for them and great is the chaos caused in a location on their day! We had an easy drive to the old town (village) where we had booked a chalet on a small riverside site. We had a good map and it is not a large place, but it was mid-afternoon on vide-grenier day and half the roads were closed, so once again Greyrocks spent ages seeking its temporary home. Even asking folk on the street didn't help much:- half of them were only in the village for the said v-g!

For half the week we were the only residents but as Ascension and VE-day weekend loomed it filled - largely with two huge multi-national extended family groups. It also became clear that eating-out was going to be an issue! One place disappeared, one allegedly opening occasionally but not so in reality, and one requiring an advance reservation for a set meal. This was going to be a challenge - not helped by the bank holidays! On the first night we set off in hope and started to realise the situation, and as a result ended up in Vincelottes outside a restaurant about which we had read and were interested in visiting at some later stage. As we stood dithering and wondering about it the chef came out and engaged in conversation. He offered us his last table for the evening. and thus started one of the most lavish dinners ever experienced by Greyrocks. The basic price for the cheapest menu was OK, but we were lured into wine choices - including Cremant de Bourgogne - then there were the freebies! A three-part amuse-bouche plate, a three-part pre-dessert and a silver stand full of macaroons and home-made confectionery. This last came with a box for taking things home (which we forgot in our parting chat with le patron about the celebs he had cooked for, including HMQ and Paddy Ashdown)! We vowed to be more measured in our dinners thereafter and largely managed to do so! We did, however, drive to Chablis! Unfortunately it was on a holiday afternoon and parking was impossible. A box was ticked!






But the reason for staying in Cravant was neither food nor wine, but the Canal du Nivernais, and we had ample opportunity for gongoozling! There was a nasty cold wind for most of the week, but we managed a series of rides up and down the tow-paths nearby, and a day in glorious Auxerre (including a laundrette visit and carting biles up street stairs!) Greyrocks had been inspired to explore this canal when watching actors-cum-canal-nuts Sir Timothy West and Prunella Scales navigate a section as part of a TV series


Some aspects of the rides were problematic in that canal and river meet and part in a complicated way necessitating changes of side for the path, in places the road is used, and the general pattern of closing rural watering holes cuts back options, but all is meticulously maintained and the locks provide a charming break. These are all staffed often by women - and they jump on mopeds to beat the boats to the next lock. Greyrocks gongoozled at numerous locks, and at the marina at Chateau-Censoir, and also watched in amazement at the rock climbing alongside the canal. Bob did longer rides and managed to cover quite a length of this section.

All in all this was a great week, and we are now Burgundy fans (the region as well as the wine!) and are planning the next canal-side stay. We made stop overnight in St Quentin (Picardy) on yet another bank holiday. It was a beautifully sunny day and the autoroutes were HGV-free but full of Brussels-bound cars. Some terrible administration by Premier Classe led to us sitting in the sun in the centre of town. Another place to visit again!

Next day it was "Au Revoir, La France!"

Greyrocks left Calais for a month of touring England. Read on!

More Ups and Downs, and A Bigger Splash!

Part 1 of the Spring Migration was two weeks in the Sud-Ouest - namely on the Languedoc-Roussillon coast. Rationally this would have been first Canet and then Lattes, but Camping Brasilia would not open until 23rd April, so we expended extra miles and diesel carrying on up the A9 and then coming back down for the final 5 days. As soon as we arrived at Camping Le Parc we realised there was something different about the prevailing conditions! It was busy.. very busy and we are used to real top-and-tail of the season desertion! Two thirds of France was having school holidays until at least the coming Monday, and half of them - including the local area, would have all of the following week as well! There was a bitter North wind, but the sun was shining, and indeed our campsite friends had filled the swimming pool, and hardy sorts were using it.
 A shopping trip to the huge Grand Sud Carrefour confirmed that this was not going to be a quiet week or so!

The original Alain Delon film

After the great car-clearance and associated tasks Bob took himself off for a bike ride and exploration of how the A9 improvements were affecting cycle routes into the city. Ruth promised to try her bike the next day. This proved to be deeply depressing! In spite of eventual success in Fuerte she just couldn´t get onto the saddle of this bike and then turn the pedals. We borrowed tools and tried all manner of saddle heights but it was in vain. In deep despair we went instead by car to Palavas by the sea in Yvette. The town was heaving with visitors - entirely French - and the wind was cold, but manged some moules frites and a short stroll.

Next day being Sunday Greyrocks went for their treat of a trip by tram to Montpellier, a late lunch near Comedie and a discounted entry to the cinema for a V.O. film. In contrast with seaside locations the city was almost empty! We had no trouble getting into the usual restaurant, enjoyed a good feed and the only "fly in the ointment" was that they had run out of discount cinema tickets so we had to pay the full EUR7 each! We saw "A Bigger Splash" in great comfort and enjoyed it!

On a different evening we followed up an advertising postcard we had acquired and took the tram for a couple of stops past the station in Montpellier in order to find a music venue. The are turned out to be predominantly Arab, with few likely bars or restaurants, but lighted upon a Moroccan place and had a wonderful meal. Afterwards we got a good seat at Plein Lune and eventually saw Lazy Sundaze, which was a ten-piece band playing "UK Funk" and was very, very good.

In terms of daytime activity luck was not with Greyrocks, and by the time Ruth was riding adequately the weather had turned. The big achievement was a ride into Lattes itself for a menu du jour lunch. That went very well, as did a ride round the marina, but we parted company for diffent routes back to the ranch (easy and harder) and the heavens opened. The next few days were dogged by such weather.

Then it was south again for the opening day at Le Brasilia. We had booked a cheap mobile home, but it had been renovated and was very comfortable. The site was very busy with Dutch families, so not exactly peaceful, and there were gale force winds, so again cycling was largely limited - until the last day - to solo excursions by Bob. There was a bizarre incident in a promenade restaurant which had run out of food, but we had two excellent meals on other occasions.

After being in France for two weeks we had not spoken English to a single Anglophone and we had seen fewer than ten GB cars  - including on a number of autoroute jorneys. This was to change as we headed for Charente at the end of the month!

Ups, Downs and a Big Splash!

Impressive waves off Bristol Playa

After the disappointing weather over the main Easter holidays there was a steady improvement, and during Greyrocks´ final week there were some beautiful days, but also impressive surf conditions and high winds. One evening we were eating at La Luna next to an Irish family of which part were regulars to Fuerte (in fact the parents of Ed Byrne) and part had come over from Lanzarote for the day and had been stranded by the Armas ferry being unable to dock.

Ruth contined to grow in confidence on the bike. We were keen to use as many spa sessions as possible before departure - having purchased season tickets that would expire soon after our planned return, so on a coupke of occasions she rode to the Bahia Real and back:- something that would have seemed unthinkable until late March!

So there was legitimacy to that theme of the party Greyrocks had arranged:-

 Forty or so people attended on a sunny day. In view of the restricted space the catering was limited to pizza and finger-food from Pronto round the corner plus empanadas from the bar itself and yummy muffins made, as ever, by Eileen. The best pictures are on the Blue Rock Facebook page (sorry about that.. no.. we don´t do it either!)
but here is one of Pete and Dave who also did us proud, playing all afternoon - with a few numbers generously also offered by Mel and Johnnie Dale.

Then it was the run-in to departure. Head colds and a range of other niggles, put paid to the plan for several spa sessions, but the sun did shine and we managed some lazy afternoons at the The Rock with friends, some modest bike rides, and some classy meals of the Canarian variety. The migration itinerary was also refined to a high level of precision. On the day itself such was the state of readiness that we went for a stroll, watching the dramatic swell off the promenade, and taking a swift half at La Lonja. We looked out at the blue sky and beautiful scenery and said it was good to be leaving whilst wishing we weren´t. It all seemed very relaxed!

We strolled back to the apartment and started to get things down the stairs. This included our new luggage carefully chosen at one of the Chinese shops in town and - admittedly - rather cheap. Windows Dave arrived and helped us finish off and we set off for the airport with oodles of time, but well after Parque Hollandaise Bob realised he had left all is worldly wealth on the dining table. We were on the bit of road with no possibilities of last-minute turning, but Dave managed to get us back home and then down to the airport with about five minutes until check-in would close.  We had had to negotiate school turn-out time and swarms of beach-bound hire cars so it was a tour de force!

Then it was Ruth´s first security check with the new knee setting off the metal detector! No real problem!

In Barcelona we had to stay at a different hotel, which was closer to the airport but came with mediocre reviews. Our key cards didn´t work and we were up and down in the lift numerous times to get that fixed. They also don´t offer reservation of the airport shuttle and the breakfast price was extortionate, so we had some more stress before arriving at vthe airport very early to start on our experiment with the Sagales coach. Once a day (at 10 am) it is possible to go all the way from Barca airport to Girona airport in one cheap journey, so we did. A neat move, and within two hours, with no Line of Fear and easy luggage handling both ends we were within eyeshot of Yvette! Ruth insisted on walking, rather than calling the minibus, and during this little stroll a wheel came off the case! This is addition to the faults developed the previous day on Bob´s version: lost stud meaning a protruding nail and a ripped security strap, and Ruth´s cracked plastic. As we limped into the office at the parking they knew what had happened and it was clear we were not the first clients who had fallen foul of a case of Chinese case failure! Yvette had been lovingly cared for, as ever, and we headed off France-bound, but at the toll-booth on the Spanish side of the border we sat for a long time frustrated that the credit card wasn´t being accepted by the machine. Understandable:- this was the bank-note hole!! Grr! Calm down! You´re on holiday! The rest of the journey was without event, and we began our French sojourn!

Golden Oldies chronicling a Bizarre March

It has been a bizarre month for Greyrocks. Here are five 60/70s numbers to illustrate the five themes (and George Martin, who sadly died this month, produced three of them):

Buses, Bono and Bounty

Greyrocks' Fellow Traveller Friends

After meeting John and Tracey on their arrival for The Sardine we saw them several times by chance or design and hatched a plan for a day trip exploiting their hire car. Greyrocks wanted to show them the delights of Puerto but we also integrated a stop on the outskirts so that Ruth could collect her replacement Bono from the bus company office. This is the rechargeable card which gives a sizeable discount on bus fares to residents of the island. Ruth had lost hers a month previously and emailed the company. Ironically the office is not accessible by bus! Mission accomplished we parked on the seafront and set J and T off for a stroll around whilst Ruth did her exercises on the pedals (see below) Then we met again and took a long delightful tapas lunch at the Greyrocks favourite of El Bounty and then went back to base.

On their penultimate night we went to Domingo's, and at the end of a very nice meal were saying Goodbye and Bon Voyage when a customer at the neighbouring table said "It's Ruth from Paleochora, isn't it? How is your wrist? We go home tomorrow and have been looking for you!" It took a while to establish that they were Anne and Tom from Ireland with whom Ruth had spent much of an afternoon outside Finikas during the September purdah! Much "small world" chat ensued and John and Tracey became further resolved to move into the centre of the Venn diagram this summer... 

..which is where Ken and Kate now belong, having been in touch some time ago to say that this winter's sun-seeking trip would be to the south of our island. We agreed to meet in Puerto for a day together giving both couples a single bus trip, although theirs would be longer! It should have been easy, but a delay for them, a longer journey time than anticipated and a confusion about which road from Gran Tarajal is used by the numbers 1 and 10 buses led to a farcical half an hour of calls and waving! They were less than ecstatic about their hotel, resort and weather so far but we had a very pleasant sunny but windy few hours together largely replicating the activities of three days earlier, and they too raved about Bounty!

Thank you, driver for getting me here!

Bed Bugs

Following our visit to IKEA on Lanzarote last month we placed on order on-line for a lovely new bed with drawers plus a pretty good quality mattress and a topper. We picked a delivery date from what was on offer, and further paid for assembly. The deal is that stuff can either be left at a depot near the airport or, for 25 EUR, be delivered to home. A day or so later there is a failed phone call in very fast strongly accented Canarian Spanish further confused by Greyrocks forgetting that everywhere except in UK the company name is not pronounced "eye-kee-ya"
A second call tells us that the bed will be delivered on a Tuesday and assembled the next day. Fair enough - on the Sunday we move into the spare bedroom and Bob gets the legs off of the old bed base and removes the slats. We arrange for the council to collect the whole thing from our nearest skip point across the road which entails us putting it there on Monday evening. We look at the legless base and our convoluted staircase and realise we don't know how it went up there fourteen years ago when we moved in. There is no obvious way to de-construct it! Gary and Nicky from downstairs - not young but very fit - came round to help, but we strike a "Right Said Fred" impasse. It will not go down the stairs! It is resolved thus: We tie a sheet to the base, take it through the French windows  and balance it on the wall of our bedroom balcony, It is lowered as far as the kitchen balcony and held there while Gary runs down to his terrace to take it. He and Bob then pass it over the high wall. He jumps over and it is taken to his nearest collection point. The mattress is thrown the whole way down and then passed over Gary's wall. Neighbours have since told us it was a good spectacle. Gary takes ownership of the slats with some plan for a dog enclosure, and by morning everything has been taken away.

To shift this blighter shoudn´t take a mo!

On Tuesday the delivery happens efficiently and we unfurl the mattress as instructed to give it 24 hours to take shape. We leave the many boxes undisturbed and sleep in the spare bedroom for what we believe will be the last time. However on Wednesday there is no call about assembly and no-one has come by 6 pm. It is time for the ritual of "Getting cross in Spanish!" We should never, it seems, have been told assembly would be on a Wednesday and we would have to wait until next week! We threaten them with dire consequences and next get a call to say it would be done on Friday as a special case. It was, and it is very comfortable, although Greyrocks' hearts sank when the nice man called us upstairs to show us a blemish on the headboard. We swiftly decided to accept it!

Bicycle Busting

 The campaign to get Ruth back onto the push-bike has rumbled on through the month! Once there had been the first very painful rotation of pedals on the exercise bike at the clinic this activity became part of each physiotherapy visit, and of course it got easier. In addition to this - on days without physio - she used the kit supplied by the councils in the Parque de Mayores of both Corralejo and Puerto del Rosario. It took a while to get any success with this too - particularly as everything is fixed, but now it can be done fairly easily. Greyrocks kept thinking the full Monty would happen soon and would take the bike out to a quiet spot and try, but only beginners' waddling and wobbling followed by fearful and depressing failure happened! We saw the sainted surgeon on 15th. He was delighted with the knee job, told us we were "like boyfriend and girlfriend" in our lifestyle, made arrangements for probable Knee 2 in the autumn and advised us to pay for three more sessions of physio in order to get the knee bending backwards. He later briefed Rrro and she has been doing terrible things to advance this. She has very little English, but has learnt "No pain: no gain!". Greyrocks has continued to use its season ticket for the Spa at Bahia Real once per week and each of us has their own self-devised routine for swimming, stretching and water therapy, thus mixing pleasure with remedy.
Then yesterday - Maundy Thursday and a holiday in Spain - we raised the saddle and Ruth managed two controlled forward turns using both pedals. This was in our courtyard and great was the rejoicing:- to the extent that an alcohol-free day was abandonned and a bottle of cheap fizz was opened. It was 17 weeks since the operation and almost eight months since the wrist incident put paid to cycling.
Today we practised again in the courtyard and then went out to the promenade where an amzing near-normal ride happened. There were two points of pain the operated leg and Ruth is very nervous about the surface and surrounding behaviour, but this was a very significant development and made it  - ofr Greyrocks - a Very Good Friday because:

I want to ride my bicycle.

Bad Boy Behaviour

This is the less acceptable side of living in a growing community! One Sunday Greyrocks was walking back home to make a scheduled Skype call when coming the wrong way down the road were two youths on bicycles being only moderately stupid but as we crossed a minor road they together swerved dangerously and at the last minute to come down said street and make us move fast out of their way. We both yelled at them (in English) and they turned again to come back and one of them clipped Ruth across the head. There was then a protracted follow-up with Bob on his bike, assistance from an Argentinian witness and others joining in the interrogation of friends of the - now fled - perpetrators. Some time later Bob arrived back at the ranch with a slip of paper which said (in Spanish) "A dark-haired boy on a bicycle slapped an old lady!" and the word "Jerezano" which we took to be a name of some sort.

Archive photo

The incident festered overnight and we decided such lack of respect couldn´t go unchallenged so next day Greyrocks went to the only secondary school in town and asked to see the principal. La directora, Alicia, was very understanding and expressed amazement and sorrow,but said she could not, say, show us mugshots without the intervention of the police, but invited us to return the next day. She looked at Bob´s slip of paper and told us it was not a name, but a description of a person from Jerez, but this didn´t help. In passing Ruth admitted her profession. Alicia said she was also a mathematician and invited R to join in with a bi-lingual teaching projrct! Next day we had to wait a while to see her again, and in the mean time got a pretty good sense of what life is like there, and also thought we saw the little blighter involved looking distraught outside her office, but it wasn´t! When we got in she introduced us to another younger teacher, who also expressed regret about the incident, explained they had not identified the culprit amongst the 350 boys, and moved swiftly on to try and convince Ruth to volunteer! Watch this space!

A postscript is that some days later we were having lunch in Domingo´s and were convinced a lad sitting close to us with his mother was the one! His mother didn´t like the way we were looking (staring?) at him and involved Domingo, then confronted us in denial. It all left a nasty taste in the mouth, and we haven´t been back!

Hey, Junior, behave yourself!

Births and Beyond

Finally Greyrocks has found a new pastime to  stretch the little grey cells: Genealogy!

 Early in the month Bob was contacted by a circuitous route about a distant relative. Whilst waiting for firm information we started investigations using one of the dedicated internet sites and hours have spent developing a joint family tree which is now at around 450 people. If you think you are one of them then get in touch!

Talking ´bout my generation

"That´s the way to do it!"

"Throw the baby down the stairs"

Not for the first time those who plan these things for our municipio came up with a carnival theme that seemed good at first sight but proved to be a problem on the fancy dress front!

"World of Toys"! Claire at Blue Rock rose to the challenge and the bar was decorated with representations of Lego, Scalextric, Etch-a-Sketch etc:- all inanimate objects and it failed to inspire Greyrocks! And then, well into the week itself the muse arrived. Ruth would go as Judy - a puppet and thus qualifying. The traditional slapstick seaside show is not part of Spanish culture, but Hey!  As the costume came together we realised she would resemble the model outside an old town unremarkable restaurant, and indeed on the night the only recognitions outside the Brit-Irish community were a local addressing Ruth as "cocinera" - cook on account of the sausages and an Italian who said "Pulcinello"! We ate at Chicken George´s as usual for a (warm) view of the carnival procession, which was a pretty good one. The best costume on the streets was a pack of four beautiful chicas dressed in fluffy white net frocks with red or black symbols for each suit of cards! Ruth lost the "slapstick" and bits of the baby along the way. Later, at the Rock, we walked straight  past the Sandies who were in native American dress with black wigs.

Bob refused to do anything along the Punch line but did wear and use occasionally the very silly Papa Lazarou T-shirt donated by Chloë, thus making another reference that would mean nothing to most people in town, but caused hilarity amongst some! By the end of the evening he felt that one was enough on the wives front!

Greyrocks and their physio -RRRo

Other staff, and punters

Earlier in the week we went for Bob´s first sessions of physiotherapy for the frozen shoulder. He was getting 3 sessions a week for five weeks paid for by the Canarian Health Service. Ruth was coming to the end of her sessions at the same place very much paid for by Greyrocks! The first session was about Ruth translating what the staff wanted to say to him, the second involved taking in food! Ruth had been given notice that the morning would be "fiesta de carnaval", so arriving for 10.30 am we saw the venue had a table heaving with a bizarre range of goodies and a few tinnies in the ice-pack fridge. Furthermore there was a bag of masks, wigs and garlands.  All pretty silly - but Hey! that's Carnaval!

"Oh, yes we did!"

There is general agreement that this December and January were outstandingly warm and dry:- like winter used to be over here! On 30th Greyrocks set off on the first of two post-Christmas short breaks, hoping - but not expecting - February to continue the pattern. The focus was for Panto time! Goa prevented us from attending last year´s, so we were determined to make the most of this one and booked three nights in a hotel in Caleta de Fuste and bought tickets for Saturday night from Anne - the Corralejo wing of the delightfully named Caleta Repertory Amateur Productions. She lives near Greyrocks and when Ruth met her to collect she explained that she was the script writer of this epic: "Ali Babba and the Four Tea Thieves"!! The weather there was better than for the November trip and Ruth´s knee was very much improved, so we were able to walk around, and did so - visiting parts not seen by Ruth since the 90´s! We also made two visits to the Geranios spa, ate two good dinners (one at 15 and one at the highly rated and somewhat Portuguese Fado Rock), and had a couple of rides on the "wally trolley".

 The Glitter Boys

The pantomime itself was a romp:- not professional, of course, but witty, creatively set and very well-received. There was audience-participation, including references to the rivalry between Caleta and Corralejo, and plenty of money was raised for charity. (Read more on Page 45 of the February edition of "Fuerte extra"!) Next day  - which was delightfully sunny although windy - we spent the afternoon at what is now known as Luna Blue, but is part of one of the Elba hotels. This was on the recommendation of Anne after Ruth told her of our long acquaintance with Kennie (Sadie) Delaine, who is now settled with Mark and they perform as The Glitter Boys and have acquired a huge fan-base of mature ladies. Not all the repertoire was to Greyrocks´ taste but it was a great excuse for some wine in the sun and we had a brief conversation with Kennie and his Mum.

Pirate Territory!

2 Montmatre dinners: 2 Valentine Roses!

Our second trip took place ten days or so later and was by ferry to Lanzarote, where we spent four nights in Costa Teguise, staying in a good hotel with spa and gym facilities. On the way over there was an uncomfortable ten minutes of rough sea, but then all was well and we managed the two stage bus journey well passing through Uga - where the smoked salmon comes from, and Yaiza - where some good wine is made.  We almost got right where to get off the second bus, but not quite so that we came to appreciate that the location is rather remote, but on the walk we passed a restaurant which led to two real high spots in the stay, and a burst of Trip Advisor reviews. Overall the little break was worthwhile, but the North wind was appalling, and there was a permanent threat of rain. We used taxis a lot to get around, and found some of the really tatty bits of the resort, along with the Pueblo Marinero, which we discovered rather late in the stay. Back at the hotel we were delighted by the excellent buffet breakfast and were tempted to eat once in the evening, but we had not known about the dress code, so were unable to do so! The free spa is extensive and well-maintained, but the swimming pool was too deep for Bob, and the exercise bikes tied up in activities for the Triathlon/Iron Man participants that abounded, so we didn´t quite have the programme we had imagined! But we did get to IKEA:- a fascinating experience which has resulted in a bed due for delivery in a week or so! 

Arrecife! Not quite Croydon or Bristol!

As departure time loomed we started considering contingency plans in case of ferry stoppages - such was the strength of the wind, but all that happened was that after a particularly easy journey back down to Playa Blanca we decided to take the earlier crossing rather than lunch near the harbour, and it was a smoother trip than the outward one:- largely due to the wind direction. (As we passed the Armas larger ship going in the northward direction we were most relieved not to be on it!)

The change of plan gave more time for us to turn round before the annual meeting of our residence. This ritual is very boring, but Ruth did -  as instructed - "get cross in Spanish" about the intercom breakdown, resulting in the offer of the presidency! (An offer declined on ground of being only half-time residents!)

And also on the domestic front there was jubilation when Michele from FVC Global came and attacked the disgusting condition of Greyrocks´ oven, which had the traces of thirteen years of neglect and abuse. Worth every centimo and deserving a plug, so here it is!

When we had landed from Lanzarote on the Monday it was very windy and rather cold (as it had been over there!). As the week progressed we moved into some of the nastiest weather we have seen for a long time. By Wednesday it was extra duvet on the bed (down allegedly to 6 degrees occasionally when the usual minimum is 15), daytime TV and scratch suppers! On Thursday morning we had to brave the chill to go for GP appointments. Whilst we waited amidst the chaos caused by numerous staff absences there was a surge to the windows and the announcement that it was raining. It certainly was, and the island has not been developed with this inind! After seeing our (?new? stand-in??)  doctor we sheltered in the nearby supermarket, and then a cafeteria and then just had to "go for it". Dramatic stuff! Friday evening saw the opening parade to Carnival. It must have been a soggy occasion :- we stayed in and watched Lewis! But this disgusting spell came to an end by Saturday and reportage on said Carnival follows! (On Monday a temperature of 42 degrees was seen on a pharmacy display!)

What goes round comes round!

There was great jubilation in the Greyrocks household last week when Ruth was able to report that she had turned the pedal (albeit in the wrong direction!) of the exercise bicycle during Physiotherapy! There were only a few slow and painful rotations, but as it is almost six months since she was last able to ride a bike this was indeed cause for celebration and a real ride on a real bike remains a major goal!

Since the knee replacement wheels have meant the hired wheelchair, and this was returned on Tuesday. It had not been used much of late but we retained it until the departure of Chloë and Jack. Ruth's mobility is improving day-by-day, but confidence is the key. Watch this space for news (and photo?) of a February launch.

Essentially what we ate for NYE!

One essential use of the wheelchair was around New Year. We received a last-minute invitation for the evening from Jill and Dave, but had already booked and paid for a meal at Marquesina. Nonetheless we dropped in which meant climbing two steep staircases. It was worth it for the  company, and the spread, which we had to eschew - was impressive, but the effort and discomfort took its toll. By having our NYE dinner at Marquesina Greyrocks was resuming an abandoned practice. We had done so (we think) each year from 1992 to 2003. In 2004 and 2005 the Great Fire meant we missed out on being in town, but from then on we have been relishing in Caracoles' surprise menu. The desire for lobster took us back in time to the newly tarted-up Marquesina, and it was well worth it! Unfortunately having enjoyed a leisurely meal we faced a couple hours until midnight, a biting wind, a wheelchair and crowded bars so we trundled home and fell asleep barely registering the end of 2015!

Next day - after traditional "Round the Horne" we went trundling again - this time to Blue Rock which was serving Bloody Mary and various worthies had brought sausage rolls etc. The sun shone and it was packed. Ruth sat in the wheelchair and felt like the Queen Mother having moved on to the gin! Then we went home and had a repeat of Xmas dinner.

The weather through January has been what we hope for but have not been getting for several years. The sea is still too cold for bathing but we have had some beautifully sunny afternoons. One exception was the eve of Kings Day when Their Majesties arrive in the morning from Lanzarote and later process down the main drag. The weather was disgusting and for the first time Greyrocks did not bother with even a glimpse. The day itself was fine, the town heaving for the holiday and we took a stroll during the afternoon and had an early Indian! At last the festivities were over! Normality with its three physio sessions per week resumed.

Chloë and Jack spent nine days with us later in the month, and the weather was particularly good. They largely did their own thing but we took them to the Bahia Real spa for J's birthday  This included a long lunch at Coco Beach where they developed a taste for a Tenerife white wine! Expensive tastes, that girl!