Only four more weeks

The anticipation of coming home in the next few weeks is here, and we are looking forward to meeting up with our families and friends, and going to family parties and weddings and swimming lessons , and just being home.

We are leaving in a flurry of activity, which has included buying a runabout 4 seater car, and selling Mike’s scooter, marking the end to his lifelong love of bikes, and the start of being able to give friends and family a lift. Mike will miss not being able to park anywhere, and nip in and out of traffic.His mate Bob was blown off his bike in the high winds in January, and can’t yet bear to part with his bike, although he is sort of banned from riding it

We went to Alicante last Tuesday. The main reason was to have a routine mammogram and smear at the AECC clinic. The expats on the Costa Blanca have been involved in massive fundraising for the Spanish Association against cancer, and have purchased a state of the art screening machine, which expats are encouraged to use free of charge.We travelled by tram, and apart from going on the wrong tram initially, we enjoyed the trip along the coast, and a day out sightseeing in the City.We must have walked for 4 hours, apart from a break to eat a picnic, and walked the length of the port area before attempting to walk up to the castle, set apart from the city on a huge -to us hill We walked up through the old part of Alicante which still carries plaques to the sailors of the area who took part in the famous sea battles

Last Thursday I ran an exercise group for the U3Aat the Forum Mare Nostra in Alfaz. This is a retirement complex for over 50′s, not exactly my cup of tea, but it provides great facilities, including a beautiful gym, complete with mats and sprung wooden floor, so am paving the way to return in the autumn. The U3A offers philosophy, spanish culture,( next one is on Pablo Casals, conductor,) book club, various outings and social events.I am also offering a class to the HELP group. We are off to Valencia with HELP on Tuesday, they work with an orphanage there, and the members will combine sightseeing with visiting the children there.Tomorrow we are going to the medieval market in Finestrat which apparantly attracts thousands of visitors, more of that later.

We are going to a 5oth wedding anniversry party after Easter, which is not uncommon among expats out here – there have been 4 during the last 6 months among our friends. Could moving abroad be a recipe for a long and happy marriage – well a long one anyway!

The walks continue, I have just bought the DVD of John and Julie walks 2008 to 2009. This has been professionally produced by Ray and put to music. I like it a lot, especially as it features photos of Judy, Marie, Ann who all came on the walks with me, Chris must have been out of camera range!This week we had some near misses as the rain had made the streams roaring torrrents – well nearly, here is an intrepid hiker being guided to safety…. to be continued