The Longest Weekend Of My Life

The most important thing to say firstly is "The Dogs Have Arrived"

They were picked up from Tina's (my sister) in Crowborough on Friday evening around 9 o'clock to start their journey to join us, we used a company from Eastbourne called Pet Chauffers, Graham had found them whilst searching on the internet, they were being driven here via the tunnel and left on the 430 train from Ashford.The next 48 hours were the longest of my life, although Tina had said what lovely chaps they were i could not help but worry and just wanted the time to pass quickly. We got a call from them Saturday evening to say they were running late due to the weather coming down through France ( bloody French typical !! ), there was alot of rain and high winds so they were having to take it easy. Did I sleep Saturday night NO is the answer.......up early Sunday when I thought I would relax a little knowing that they were arriving...not a chance I was even more stressed than Saturday. They called us Sunday morning to say they hoped to arrive around 10pm.....they called at 10pm to say they had one more dog to deliver and that unfortunately ours were the last drop off...12.30 they arrived. I met Keith and his helper on the main road into Camposol as it is a bit of a maze to find our house...wehn I pulled up they were stood by the side of the people carrier which they use with the back door open and there were Our Boys looking very relaxed laying in their pens, not a care in the world. I am very pleased to report when they realised it was me they got really excited, apart from Basil who was more interested in "weeing" up every twig, tree, bush or plant he could find...So into my car they jump and 5 minutes later we are home, with Graham waiting at the gate..again great excitment...
I never thought we would get a wink of sleep that night but they were so good and settled down and not a peep out of them all night. We got up early this morning and went for a walk with them, Graham said he could see how happy i looked, it really feels like home now, I cannot believe how much a part of our lives they are and 4 weeks withot them has seemed like a lifetime. A normal routine can now begin, as I sit here writing this they are all stretched out on the tile floor sleeping, i think the journey has really taken it out of them. I feel we definately made the right decision to have them driven here rather than flown and I would have no hesittation in reccomending Pet Chauffers.
I think we are in for a very quiet week this week as I dont want to go to far, rather be with the dogs and help them adjust.
Apart from all the dog news other things going on in our lives.....
Gareth and Mike came round for drinks last Friday afternoon, they moved out here about 20 months ago and are from Wales, although we had never met before Hilary our estate agent put us in touch as she thought we would get along and we must of because they have invited us round to theirs for drinks this coming Friday, so hopefully we are going to start to build up a circle of friends now.
Been busy baking this week with my new halogen oven...cannot believe move to a hot country and start baking...so far out the oven has appeared a minced beef and onion pie, chocolate brownie cake, cheese and potato pie, plus various meals chicken, chips (home made of course ) etc, I think I have waffled on so much to mum about it that she has been out and purchased one as well...apparantly it is the best Quiche she has ever made....I urge all readers of this nonsense to buy one...a fantastic gadget, easy to clean , cheap to run and cooks beautiful roast chicken !!!!!!
Graham is still apinting things and sewing, I have a feeling Basil will end up looking like a West Highland Terrier if he stands still long enough....
I hope you are all keeping well and would like to say missing you all, but missing England   "NO"...41 degrees yesterday......I need say no more
Until next time
lots of love
xxxx

barry

Getting Settled

We are getting settled, especially since our dozen boxes arrived from the UK yesterday plus our pictures and the most treasured item "The Jukebox"..all in one piece.
Graham has still been busy with the paint brush and it is all taking shape now, i have to say that i think the best transformation is the conservatory which was a brownish colour and very boring...not any longer it is now gleaming white with beautiful drapes at the windows, newly painted furniture and the most amazing light which is made out of a wire frame and then covered in led lights, its very effective.
Tony the electrician came round in the week to fit this for us and also to fit ceiling fans in each of the rooms, and i have to say they look really good they are just plain white and look alot better than the wooden ones that were up there before.
Still havent managed to sort out the timing on the jacuzzi yet but tony is coming back this week to sort that out for us, at then it will filter for a set period of time each day.
We finally got the Freesat box sorted out and can now watch alot more programmes from the Uk and also get a good selection of radio channels.
Today Sunday we went down to Puerto De Mazarron to the local market which was so busy and they sell just about anything you can think of. Graham got the bedspread and the curtains that he was after to finish our bedroom off and is still busy on the sewing machine as we speak doing alterations etc.
we also got our fruit and veg for the week (including the peaches that look like someone has sat on them, but they are so sweet and juicy), plus a trip to the butchers for the meat. I have to say it is a nice way to shop rather than just pushing a trolley around Tesco, although a little warm !!! the temperature still hasnt altered since we arrived but we did have about 1 minute of rain yesterday but sadly the humidty then went sky high and it was a very sticky day.
It feels like home now that we have our pictures on the wall and a selection of my Scottie Dog ornaments around, I just wished we had packed and bought out more bits and pieces with us rather than sell it all, but hindsight is a wonderful thing, and when you sperak to the neighbours around here they all done exactly the same...sold eveything and then ended up having to buy it all again when they were here !!!! at least we are not the only ones.
One week today and if all goes to plan the dogs will be here, i am starting to panic, worrying about them on the journey and wishing i could explain to them what is going to happen..Graham keeps telling me they will be fine...i am sure they will....hope so
Meeting more of the neighbours as time goes on and i have to say they all seem so kind and friendly especially John and Jenny next door, never seems to mind when we ask "can we borrow your drill please " again something else we should have bought out with us...tools
I shall sign off now and carry on listening to Dolly Parton.....oh the joy of having the jukebox here
Love to you all
Barry

xx

A Day At The Beach

Well since our last post I have recovered from the adventure/drama of driving to Murcia...not sure how long the mental scars will last though..perhaps counciling/therapy will help !!!!

Graham has discovered the paint brush and is busy painting anything and everything, I dare not sit still for to long as fear of being daubed with his paint brush..
We have gone very neutral in the living room with all walls painted white and Graham informs me that the "wow" factor will come from our (his) chosen accesories...sure i have spelt that wrong...sorry.
The new white curtains are all hung, the fireplace has been blacked and pieces of furniture keep disapearing upstairs to be attacked by Grahams brush !!!! I am sure they will all return to the lounge looking beautiful..
We have purchased a new television..one that we can see rather than the 17" one that was here, and if Amazon do their job our Freesat Humax box should arrive on Tuesday, at least we will then have a programme guide so that we can see whats on....have to say though we did watch Miranda on BBC last night, it was one of the funniest episodes I have seen, she is genious, what timing and wit.

Had a lovely day away from the house yesterday as we went down to Puerto De Mazarron and spent the morning on the beach, the water was lovely and warm, quite busy there as the Spanish have broken up for holidays for the next 5 weeks. When we came off the beach we went to the restaurant "La Pena" for some lunch...I know it sounds very British but we had fish & chips...beautiful...the 2 guys that own the restaurant have been really helpful with tips and advice (thanks Chris & Steve ) and they make us feel really welcome. It was good to have a break from thinking about the house, this was our first "Day Off" as to speak

Saturday 2/7/11....took a trip to the shops and left Graham at home still with his paintbrush in hand, i returned with the food and a real bonus 5 ceiling fans, I have emailed the electrician so hopefully they will be fitted next week and all because I am to mean to put the air conditioning on....but I have relented and spent the afternoon filling up the jacuzzi...hope the electric bill does'nt go through the roof or it will be emptied pretty quickly.....
It is still really hot out here in the mid 30's every day, and with hot nights as well..
Met a lady this morning when I was getting in the car she was walking a lovely dog so we got chatting and I was telling her how much i was missing our dogs, she found her dog dumped as a puppy in the waste bins on the main road through Camposol..how could anybody do that !!! he is a beautiful dog but apparantly costing her a fortune as he is epileptic, he has also mangaed to swallow a piece of plastic and had to have an operation to remove that, and been bitten by something whilst running over the wasteland and ended up on a drip and antibiotics, so not sure as I will be letting ours run around there.
I think that keeps you all updated