1. The special offer to Lanzarote.Armas run the slower vessel on the short crossing to Playa Blanca at the south of Lanzarote. There was not much publicity but we heard of this wonderful offer between Christmas and New Year. It meant 2 Euros return each as long as we produced the documentation. We booked for Tuesday, but when we got up it was throwing it down! There was no prospect of improvement so we abandonned and lurked in Blue Rock when we had done useful domestic tasks.
Next day (the last day of the offer) we got up early and went down to re-book for the day. We had an altercation about photocopies of passports, but got tickets just in time. Playa Blanca is not very different from Corralejo, but we had a pleasant walk along the newish path to the marina, a cheap lunch and enjoyed some sun.
2. The Sewing Machine
We needed a machine for home repairs and making big girls' shorts.We placed ads in a few places but no go!
Then just before Christmas Bob went for a haircut at Elaine's ("Hairbrain") house. We mentioned this. She picked up the phone, and two minutes later we had done a deal to buy one from one of her clients for 25 Euros. A jolly good one - a Singer!
3. The UK TV trick
After 5 years we have parted company with Canal Digital! The monthly cost has been steadily rising whilst the number of available channels - particularly films - has reduced. They have also several times taken money without delivering, and as we stay here longer the number of repeats has become tedious, so :- New Year - new package! To see any UK television here you have had to subscribe to Sky (and we are as far as possible a Murdoch-free zone) or buy your own dish to pick up the free-to-air channels. We have now discovered the broadband solution - a clever way round the UK TV companies' block on streaming or downloading to non-UK locations. As the straightest website is a commercial one we only publish their address - we will be using their Option 2 when we are here or in Crete. Only trouble is our under-powered laptop which means jerky payback. Watch this space!