Well, who would have believed this six months ago? The blooming Corona Virus (or as Donald Trump calls it in his unerring style "the Chinese Virus") has landed on our planet and looks like changing the world and our lives for good. I know that I was wishing for an Alien Invasion when we were in the throes of Brexit, in the vain hope that it might bring us all to our senses, but I truly didn't think it might come in the guise of this nasty virus! The moral is, I suppose, be careful what you wish for! Being well over 70, I'm in the group of people most at risk of catching the damned thing, but I remain resolutely cheerful and positive. Might as well for there's nothing to be gained by being defeatist and I'm pretty healthy anyway.
My Hove family, Daughter and Co, are fine so far. Of course schools have not yet closed and so there is a certain amount of risk there, but I'm apparently not allowed to see them from this weekend onward. Not having Big Grandson once a week will be the worst bit, and if it goes on for months I shall be miserable not seeing him. And in Spain, Son and family are in complete lockdown since yesterday, as all the schools are closed (and all the bars, restaurants etc). They are allowed to go out only for food shopping or pharmacy shopping or to go to work I think - though Son can work from home on his computer, which is fortunate. At least we can keep in touch via Skype and Face-time, both of which are blessings we didn't have a while ago.
As this whole event may well be earth-shattering I felt it was worth recording at the beginning. Who knows how things will change, but change is certain. I'll try and keep up, so watch this space.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Monday, February 17, 2020
Help!
It's Sunday and storm Dennis (the Menace) is doing his worst to upset the whole country, though in all honesty, it's not as bad here as last weekend's storm Ciara. However,I am housebound with big Grandson because it's the start of his Half Term and he doesn't want to do anything except "chill"
which means staring at his phone and playing on his X Box..How he does these both at the same time, I'm not entirely sure, but it does get a bit boring after a while (for me anyway). It is cold, rainy and miserable outside, so it could be worse; I'm taking him home soon.
My eye injections have been my most pressing concern for the last three months. I think I mentioned them before: I have been to the Brighton Eye Hospital for a course of three injections which will hopefully stop the Age-Related Macular Degeneration getting any worse. (And I must say that anything that is called "Age Related" pisses me off). I will find out in a month, when I go back to the clinic for a re-assessment, whether I need any more treatment. It's not much fun having injections into your eye, but the doctors and nurses at the Eye Hospital are wonderful and very efficient.
Well I have brought you up to date with that, and since then I have managed to lose one of my shiny new hearing aids. I had a hearing check last week at which I was complaining about the right ear aid which was uncomfortable and had a habit of whistling at me. I didn't get much sympathy from the lady doing the check - her advice was to stick with it. Anyway, the same day I was sitting in |MnS with a cup of tea when it started whistling and itching.. so I pulled it out and shoved it into my coat pocket! And that was the last I saw of it. I went to Daughter's house later on, threw down my coat on the sofa and completely forgot about it. I feel a bit if a fool, but will probably tell the lady that the dog ate my hearing aid! Daughter's dog that is - she eats absolutely anything - and it seems the most plausible explanation for the disappearance. I looked everywhere, even went back to MnS and checked my pockets over and over.
I took Grandson back to his house - just for an outing really - and drove straight back. The weather wasn't nearly as frightening here as it was last week, though I know it has been dreadful for many people. We have no floods, though there are plenty of big puddles on the roads.
Looking on my Instagram, I saw that Son and family in Sitges were having a wonderful weekend enjoying a local market which sells lots of vintage stuff and also has live music and yummy food: altogether a lovely thing to do on a sunny day in Spain. Oh how I wish I was there too!
If wishes were horses etc.... it's no good just wishing, it's action that's needed.
Well I have brought you up to date with that, and since then I have managed to lose one of my shiny new hearing aids. I had a hearing check last week at which I was complaining about the right ear aid which was uncomfortable and had a habit of whistling at me. I didn't get much sympathy from the lady doing the check - her advice was to stick with it. Anyway, the same day I was sitting in |MnS with a cup of tea when it started whistling and itching.. so I pulled it out and shoved it into my coat pocket! And that was the last I saw of it. I went to Daughter's house later on, threw down my coat on the sofa and completely forgot about it. I feel a bit if a fool, but will probably tell the lady that the dog ate my hearing aid! Daughter's dog that is - she eats absolutely anything - and it seems the most plausible explanation for the disappearance. I looked everywhere, even went back to MnS and checked my pockets over and over.
I took Grandson back to his house - just for an outing really - and drove straight back. The weather wasn't nearly as frightening here as it was last week, though I know it has been dreadful for many people. We have no floods, though there are plenty of big puddles on the roads.
Looking on my Instagram, I saw that Son and family in Sitges were having a wonderful weekend enjoying a local market which sells lots of vintage stuff and also has live music and yummy food: altogether a lovely thing to do on a sunny day in Spain. Oh how I wish I was there too!
If wishes were horses etc.... it's no good just wishing, it's action that's needed.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
2020
I catch my breath when I think of my life. How can I still be here? And yet I am, not as lively it's true, but still going fairly strong. I have just been watching a programme about Clive James, who died last week, and who I remember as such a witty, funny and learned man, an Australian who came to this country and made it his own. And he lived in Cambridge, among the magical and erudite and strange academics, at the same time as we lived there. I remember seeing his house, a lovely typically Cambridge house, overlooking one of the greens, and thinking how lucky he was to have settled there. But of course we were equally lucky, living as we did in a modern house overlooking the Botanical Gardens, and only a bike ride away from the enchanting old colleges and their ancient gardens beside the River Cam. It was a truly magical place and time.15 years of privilege.
Now I live in a place of little charm, in a small seaside town near Brighton, and in a 70s house of absolutely zero architectural merit. It's quite a come-down, and one I can only blame myself for. Still, my plans to move, though on hold, are still foremost in my mind, but have had to take a back seat for now. There are three reasons: first was the fact that I have AMD (age-related Macular Degeneration)
in my right eye, and that needs treatment, which I have started. Next, the Hearing Aids became an urgent necessity, mainly because my children grew tired of repeating themselves and started saying "Oh for god's sake Mum", and third, my teeth also need urgent attention if I am not to lose any more of them. Taken altogether these are not a happy prospect, but I can't ignore the implications. Getting
older requires quite a lot off maintenance it seems, and I have to grit my (remaining) teeth and bear it.
I was quite upbeat about getting these things sorted until I had a long talk with Son, who can always be relied on to be straight! Apparently it is naive of me to imagine that after sorting these ailments, there won't be more following on "at your age". Ah well, he's probably right but I live in hope.
I spent Christmas in Sitges with Son and family in their new apartment (and with my new Hearing Aids). It was a lovely break, and gloriously sunny most of the time - tho' getting chilly in the evenings. They have settled in to the new place pretty well, and little Grandson has now started at his
new school, which is about 5 minutes walk from the apartment.
Daughter and Co had a nice Christmas (we skyped on Christmas Day) and then, when I was back home, I invited them all over here on New Year's Day for a festive lunch/get together. It was just lovely but already seems such a long time ago - we are already half way through January.
Time to go, but wishing you all a belated Happy New Year.
Now I live in a place of little charm, in a small seaside town near Brighton, and in a 70s house of absolutely zero architectural merit. It's quite a come-down, and one I can only blame myself for. Still, my plans to move, though on hold, are still foremost in my mind, but have had to take a back seat for now. There are three reasons: first was the fact that I have AMD (age-related Macular Degeneration)
in my right eye, and that needs treatment, which I have started. Next, the Hearing Aids became an urgent necessity, mainly because my children grew tired of repeating themselves and started saying "Oh for god's sake Mum", and third, my teeth also need urgent attention if I am not to lose any more of them. Taken altogether these are not a happy prospect, but I can't ignore the implications. Getting
older requires quite a lot off maintenance it seems, and I have to grit my (remaining) teeth and bear it.
I was quite upbeat about getting these things sorted until I had a long talk with Son, who can always be relied on to be straight! Apparently it is naive of me to imagine that after sorting these ailments, there won't be more following on "at your age". Ah well, he's probably right but I live in hope.
I spent Christmas in Sitges with Son and family in their new apartment (and with my new Hearing Aids). It was a lovely break, and gloriously sunny most of the time - tho' getting chilly in the evenings. They have settled in to the new place pretty well, and little Grandson has now started at his
new school, which is about 5 minutes walk from the apartment.
Daughter and Co had a nice Christmas (we skyped on Christmas Day) and then, when I was back home, I invited them all over here on New Year's Day for a festive lunch/get together. It was just lovely but already seems such a long time ago - we are already half way through January.
Time to go, but wishing you all a belated Happy New Year.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Nearly all over...
Well, my absence this time was not really my fault. I have tried several times to start a new post and the blooming computer wouldn't let me! I have no idea why, but I was barred from my own Blog and as I'm not the sharpest on tech stuff, I just didn't know what to do. Anyway, I'm back now and just hope it will be ok.
I have had a pretty horrible time, healthwise, to be honest, with an abcess or two (one on my chest and one on a tooth) a chest infection and a continuing snuffly cold, so it's no wonder I'm a bit fed up with it. I have also decided to deal with my dodgy ears, eyes and teeth before I disappear off to Spain, and while I'm at it, I'm going to ask for an MOT at my GP so that I can feel better about everything. It all sounds a bit depressing, all part of growing older I know, but a good plan to deal with it I think.
On a more cheerful note, things are going pretty well in Barcelona, as they have finally found an apartment in Sitges, which looks really lovely: it's in a modern development, with amazing views to the sea, three bedrooms, and a communal pool. It's also very near the school for Jasper. Let's hope it works out for them - and they have invited me over for Christmas, what larks!
I don't think I told you about my visit to Sitges in October: it was lovely weather and I stayed the first 6 days in a hotel on the seafront, the Platjador. I had an ensuite room on the third floor, with a balcony overlooking the pool at the back. I can't praise the hotel enough; I had the biggest bed I have ever seen, very comfortable, a super shower room and it was immaculate. The staff were lovely too, and couldn't have been more helpful. A fabulous breakfast was included in the price, as was tea with pastries, served at 5 o'clock in the roof terrace bar. Altogether it was perfect and I also looked at four rental flats while I was there. I met some lovely people too; the owner of one of the flats, and her Mother, and a really nice young woman Estate Agent (I know that's normally a contradiction in terms, but she was extremely nice). Anyway, it was altogether a really good experience and a chance to see what might be available in Sitges for a long-term rental.
The family turned up to collect me in Sitges on Saturday, and combined this with looking at flats that might suit them. We had delayed this for a day as the Catalan demonstrations were in full swing in Barcelona that week - In fact I had been very lucky not to be affected by them. I had watched the news avidly in my room as it had been full on all week - though not in Sitges! I must say that it did help my understanding of Spanish, though not my ability to speak it. And I can sympathize with the Catalan cause, though not the violence involved - I hated seeing cars on fire in the streets.
Amazingly there was no sign of protesters, marches or demonstrations when we drove back to Barcelona.They had all melted away and Barcelona was back to its elegant self. Rather strange.
Anyway, I then had five days with my lovely Son and his family before coming back, and though they hadn't then found an apartment, I'm happy to say that they have now, so it's all change again.
More updates to follow - it really feels much colder now, so I guess it's "Winter drawers on"!!
;
I have had a pretty horrible time, healthwise, to be honest, with an abcess or two (one on my chest and one on a tooth) a chest infection and a continuing snuffly cold, so it's no wonder I'm a bit fed up with it. I have also decided to deal with my dodgy ears, eyes and teeth before I disappear off to Spain, and while I'm at it, I'm going to ask for an MOT at my GP so that I can feel better about everything. It all sounds a bit depressing, all part of growing older I know, but a good plan to deal with it I think.
On a more cheerful note, things are going pretty well in Barcelona, as they have finally found an apartment in Sitges, which looks really lovely: it's in a modern development, with amazing views to the sea, three bedrooms, and a communal pool. It's also very near the school for Jasper. Let's hope it works out for them - and they have invited me over for Christmas, what larks!
I don't think I told you about my visit to Sitges in October: it was lovely weather and I stayed the first 6 days in a hotel on the seafront, the Platjador. I had an ensuite room on the third floor, with a balcony overlooking the pool at the back. I can't praise the hotel enough; I had the biggest bed I have ever seen, very comfortable, a super shower room and it was immaculate. The staff were lovely too, and couldn't have been more helpful. A fabulous breakfast was included in the price, as was tea with pastries, served at 5 o'clock in the roof terrace bar. Altogether it was perfect and I also looked at four rental flats while I was there. I met some lovely people too; the owner of one of the flats, and her Mother, and a really nice young woman Estate Agent (I know that's normally a contradiction in terms, but she was extremely nice). Anyway, it was altogether a really good experience and a chance to see what might be available in Sitges for a long-term rental.
The family turned up to collect me in Sitges on Saturday, and combined this with looking at flats that might suit them. We had delayed this for a day as the Catalan demonstrations were in full swing in Barcelona that week - In fact I had been very lucky not to be affected by them. I had watched the news avidly in my room as it had been full on all week - though not in Sitges! I must say that it did help my understanding of Spanish, though not my ability to speak it. And I can sympathize with the Catalan cause, though not the violence involved - I hated seeing cars on fire in the streets.
Amazingly there was no sign of protesters, marches or demonstrations when we drove back to Barcelona.They had all melted away and Barcelona was back to its elegant self. Rather strange.
Anyway, I then had five days with my lovely Son and his family before coming back, and though they hadn't then found an apartment, I'm happy to say that they have now, so it's all change again.
More updates to follow - it really feels much colder now, so I guess it's "Winter drawers on"!!
;
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Big School
I forgot to mention in my last post that my little Granddaughter has just started Big School and is perfectly happy with it. She is Daughter's youngest and a very easy child, she doesn't make demands, or not unreasonable ones. She is currently spending half the week with her Father, so he is taking her to school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As I said before, it wouldn't be my cup of tea, but she seems happy enough with it. So that's my third grandchild off to school, with little Grandson now at school in Barcelona. The Barcelona crew were here for a week at the end of August, and we were lucky enough to have glorious weather while they were here. Somehow we all fitted in comfortably, with Grandson sleeping on a very comfy blow-up bed in with his Mum and Dad, but it emphasised to me that I have actually down-sized and I don't much like it! I really want another bedroom so that I can earn a bit of money and have more people to stay and something more to do with my time! Let me tell you (if you don't already know) retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Anyway, I'd better stop moaning and do something about it.
I went to the movies this week, to see Downton Abbey, and of course I loved it. I could quite happily watch episodes of it every day, I suppose because it transports me into a world that is quite out of my comprehension. And it is so far removed from my life that I can slide gently into period bliss for an hour or so :))
It's Autumn, officially, so we can expect "mists and mellow fruitfulness". I've started well by making some crab apple jelly (with rose hips and rose petals thrown in), which is a glorious colour and tastes divine, and I've optimistically taken pounds of pears from Daughter's garden and am planning to make pear and apple chutney too. I'm a bit short of jars to put it in, so will have to beg the neighbours for jars in return for some chutney.
Before I forget, Son was 40 on 16th of this month. They had a wonderful celebration, at their apartment, with a Hawaian Barbeque in the garden, forty-odd guests and three cakes!! Sad that I couldn't be there, but they had squeezed in as many friends as they could to stay for the occasion, and anyway I'm planning to go for a visit next month.
What a thought though, I have a Son who is 40! I had sent a little package for his Birthday, but although I sent it tracked and carefully wrapped, it was over a week late and had been opened. By whom I don't know, but half the contents were missing and presumably stolen by whoever opened it. Why? I didn't send anything valuable, just nice little stuff for his Birthday: a little book about the Spurs, some candles for his cake and a bar of chocolate. Two birthday cards, two bookmarks and two tiny little unbirthday presents...how mean that anyone would think it worth stealing..They could at least have put everything back and delivered it! Boo, shame on you.
I went to the movies this week, to see Downton Abbey, and of course I loved it. I could quite happily watch episodes of it every day, I suppose because it transports me into a world that is quite out of my comprehension. And it is so far removed from my life that I can slide gently into period bliss for an hour or so :))
It's Autumn, officially, so we can expect "mists and mellow fruitfulness". I've started well by making some crab apple jelly (with rose hips and rose petals thrown in), which is a glorious colour and tastes divine, and I've optimistically taken pounds of pears from Daughter's garden and am planning to make pear and apple chutney too. I'm a bit short of jars to put it in, so will have to beg the neighbours for jars in return for some chutney.
Before I forget, Son was 40 on 16th of this month. They had a wonderful celebration, at their apartment, with a Hawaian Barbeque in the garden, forty-odd guests and three cakes!! Sad that I couldn't be there, but they had squeezed in as many friends as they could to stay for the occasion, and anyway I'm planning to go for a visit next month.
What a thought though, I have a Son who is 40! I had sent a little package for his Birthday, but although I sent it tracked and carefully wrapped, it was over a week late and had been opened. By whom I don't know, but half the contents were missing and presumably stolen by whoever opened it. Why? I didn't send anything valuable, just nice little stuff for his Birthday: a little book about the Spurs, some candles for his cake and a bar of chocolate. Two birthday cards, two bookmarks and two tiny little unbirthday presents...how mean that anyone would think it worth stealing..They could at least have put everything back and delivered it! Boo, shame on you.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Any way the wind blows..doesn't really matter.. to me.
Oh dear! I'm totally bewildered..where am I going? , I can't believe I'm still in Shoreham, but I am and I think that most of my friends and family are both fed up and frustrated that I seem unable to make a move, or even a decision.
On the face of it, it shouldn't be difficult: I don't want to stay here, I want to live somewhere warm and I would like a house near the sea, with a garden, a pool and enough room to do bed and breakfast so that I can keep my head above water, financially. Surely that's not a huge ask, and I should have enough money to do that either in Spain, near Barcelona or in France, near the border.
It sounds very simple doesn't it, so why am I making such a meal of it?
When I said to Son that I needed a plan, he said "Well make a plan Mum" and of course that's where I fall down, because I would really like some help with making the plan, and they are all too busy with their own lives to sort me out! Naturally enough. Daughter would help if she had the time too, but she doesn't really want me to move to warmer climes, so that is not really helpful.
Yesterday I had what I thought was a brilliant idea, which was to put a message out into the Universe to see if anyone would care to "Share a Chateau"... sounds like a brilliant idea to me, if I could only think how to do it. I would love a small Chateau where I could live and do my B and B, but I would need a partner who could do the DIY or whatever was needed. We could share the costs and the living accommodation, and divide the labour according to our skills. I'm really good at the design bits and making it look lovely, And I'm not bad at the cooking and welcoming guests (I've done a bit of that in the past), My partner would have to be up for the practical stuff like cutting logs and grass and taking care of general repairs. I think it could work. What do you think?
Of course, there would have to be a 50/50 investment and all the legalities would have to be sewn up tight. Perhaps it's too much to hope for a like-minded soul, but just maybe there is someone out there. I need to give it some more thought, so I'm airing it here as a possibility. Who knows, it might work.
On a different note, Big Grandson went on a school trip this week to the Large Hadron Collider at Cern in Switzerland. It was a (very long) day trip. They left at 4 am for Gatwick, flew to Geneva and then went on to Cern in a coach. It was apparently the most wonderful experience, and Grandson was hugely impressed by both its vast size and the complex physics of the thing. It is apparently the biggest machine in the World!! They went underground to see where the particles are whizzed around in a 17 mile circular tunnel at great speeds until they collide and produce yet more particles or atoms. I don't pretend to comprehend it, but it is rather wonderful and is helping us (or rather them) to understand our Universe better. Anyway Grandson loved it and came home with a Large Hadron Collider orange hardhat (cost 8 Swiss Francs) and some postcards to remember it by. They arrived safely back at midnight, absolutely shattered.
On the face of it, it shouldn't be difficult: I don't want to stay here, I want to live somewhere warm and I would like a house near the sea, with a garden, a pool and enough room to do bed and breakfast so that I can keep my head above water, financially. Surely that's not a huge ask, and I should have enough money to do that either in Spain, near Barcelona or in France, near the border.
It sounds very simple doesn't it, so why am I making such a meal of it?
When I said to Son that I needed a plan, he said "Well make a plan Mum" and of course that's where I fall down, because I would really like some help with making the plan, and they are all too busy with their own lives to sort me out! Naturally enough. Daughter would help if she had the time too, but she doesn't really want me to move to warmer climes, so that is not really helpful.
Yesterday I had what I thought was a brilliant idea, which was to put a message out into the Universe to see if anyone would care to "Share a Chateau"... sounds like a brilliant idea to me, if I could only think how to do it. I would love a small Chateau where I could live and do my B and B, but I would need a partner who could do the DIY or whatever was needed. We could share the costs and the living accommodation, and divide the labour according to our skills. I'm really good at the design bits and making it look lovely, And I'm not bad at the cooking and welcoming guests (I've done a bit of that in the past), My partner would have to be up for the practical stuff like cutting logs and grass and taking care of general repairs. I think it could work. What do you think?
Of course, there would have to be a 50/50 investment and all the legalities would have to be sewn up tight. Perhaps it's too much to hope for a like-minded soul, but just maybe there is someone out there. I need to give it some more thought, so I'm airing it here as a possibility. Who knows, it might work.
On a different note, Big Grandson went on a school trip this week to the Large Hadron Collider at Cern in Switzerland. It was a (very long) day trip. They left at 4 am for Gatwick, flew to Geneva and then went on to Cern in a coach. It was apparently the most wonderful experience, and Grandson was hugely impressed by both its vast size and the complex physics of the thing. It is apparently the biggest machine in the World!! They went underground to see where the particles are whizzed around in a 17 mile circular tunnel at great speeds until they collide and produce yet more particles or atoms. I don't pretend to comprehend it, but it is rather wonderful and is helping us (or rather them) to understand our Universe better. Anyway Grandson loved it and came home with a Large Hadron Collider orange hardhat (cost 8 Swiss Francs) and some postcards to remember it by. They arrived safely back at midnight, absolutely shattered.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Stronger Together
Another long gap in communication, and I'm all out of excuses. I'm not moving after all - at least not yet - and still searching around for some certainty! I had sold my house (to the busy woman and her husband), but after two whole months of looking far and near with nothing even remotely nice appearing, I had to change my mind and stop the sale. I could picture myself standing outside with a couple of suitcases, waving gooodbye to the furniture van and having nowhere to go. It was a very scary prospect. Having had a couple of weeks to think about it since, I believe it was because I have always had a clear vision of where I was moving to in the past, and I don't have that now.
So now I'm considering renting in Sitges (half an hour from Barcelona by car or train), possibly followed by buying in Sitges, and trying to decide what to do with this house in the meantime. There are many options: renting this house out furnished, or unfurnished, or not renting it! Or even doing an Air BnB with it..( Actually I'd happily do nothing with it until I'm sure what I want.) Ideally I will go out to Spain for a short recce first, in September, to see how I might feel about living there. And then I could get a Winter rental there so that I could keep warm and learn more about the place. Son and his family are also considering a move, either in Barcelona or possibly to Sitges, so we might even join together - or not! See what I mean? I must say that the prospect of packing up everything in this house and stashing it in the garage is extremely daunting. Sensible, but daunting. Anyway, because of various happenings, nothing is happening right now! Son and family have left Barcelona for the summer (much too hot to stay) and are in Warsaw (with her Mother and friends), followed by the Polish Lake District, followed by a few days together at a lovely Spa, followed by London, followed by here in sunny Shoreham for the last week in August. That leaves me in an uneasy situation where I feel rather isolated, as if I should be doing something positive, and yet I know there's nothing to be done until the beginning of September! Heigh Ho!
And in the meantime, Daughter and family are still in Hove, with Big Grandson having celebrated his 15th Birthday (he's now 6ft. tall), and have settled in with New Bloke and two of his children and the dog. It's been two years now, so they are more settled. Big Grandson and Little Granddaughter are supposed to be dividing their time between Daughter and their Dad, who also lives in Hove. It's sort of working, but isn't exactly ideal. I know I couldn't have done that kind of time division with my children, but then it was a long time ago and I'm an old fashioned old fart.
Actually, the reason for naming this post "Stronger Together" was mainly to do with the political situation and the dreaded Brexit! I'm a strong Remainer, mainly because I'm old enough to remember what it was really like before we joined the EU. And I have no wish to go back there - what I'd like to see is a strong alliance of all the parties who are in favour of us being in the EU - and all pulling together. I just don't believe that anything other than disaster will come out of Brexit. I love being European, and separating ourselves on this little island, with the likes of Boris Johnson, Slimy Gove and Rees-Mogg to look after our welfare seems a really stupid thing to do. And as for the wavering, havering Jeremy (I'm not in opposition) Corbyn, well my patience has long been exhausted. I'd tie them all together and launch them off the white cliffs into the sea - and good riddance. I'm not alone when I say that this whole debacle has convinced me never to vote either Labour or Tory ever again. So there!
So now I'm considering renting in Sitges (half an hour from Barcelona by car or train), possibly followed by buying in Sitges, and trying to decide what to do with this house in the meantime. There are many options: renting this house out furnished, or unfurnished, or not renting it! Or even doing an Air BnB with it..( Actually I'd happily do nothing with it until I'm sure what I want.) Ideally I will go out to Spain for a short recce first, in September, to see how I might feel about living there. And then I could get a Winter rental there so that I could keep warm and learn more about the place. Son and his family are also considering a move, either in Barcelona or possibly to Sitges, so we might even join together - or not! See what I mean? I must say that the prospect of packing up everything in this house and stashing it in the garage is extremely daunting. Sensible, but daunting. Anyway, because of various happenings, nothing is happening right now! Son and family have left Barcelona for the summer (much too hot to stay) and are in Warsaw (with her Mother and friends), followed by the Polish Lake District, followed by a few days together at a lovely Spa, followed by London, followed by here in sunny Shoreham for the last week in August. That leaves me in an uneasy situation where I feel rather isolated, as if I should be doing something positive, and yet I know there's nothing to be done until the beginning of September! Heigh Ho!
And in the meantime, Daughter and family are still in Hove, with Big Grandson having celebrated his 15th Birthday (he's now 6ft. tall), and have settled in with New Bloke and two of his children and the dog. It's been two years now, so they are more settled. Big Grandson and Little Granddaughter are supposed to be dividing their time between Daughter and their Dad, who also lives in Hove. It's sort of working, but isn't exactly ideal. I know I couldn't have done that kind of time division with my children, but then it was a long time ago and I'm an old fashioned old fart.
Actually, the reason for naming this post "Stronger Together" was mainly to do with the political situation and the dreaded Brexit! I'm a strong Remainer, mainly because I'm old enough to remember what it was really like before we joined the EU. And I have no wish to go back there - what I'd like to see is a strong alliance of all the parties who are in favour of us being in the EU - and all pulling together. I just don't believe that anything other than disaster will come out of Brexit. I love being European, and separating ourselves on this little island, with the likes of Boris Johnson, Slimy Gove and Rees-Mogg to look after our welfare seems a really stupid thing to do. And as for the wavering, havering Jeremy (I'm not in opposition) Corbyn, well my patience has long been exhausted. I'd tie them all together and launch them off the white cliffs into the sea - and good riddance. I'm not alone when I say that this whole debacle has convinced me never to vote either Labour or Tory ever again. So there!
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