It has been an emotional month, to be sure.  It has been a slightly surreal month as well and it is difficult to know how to get that across in mere words. I’ll start with my mum.  My mum decided that the time was right for her to have a Stroke.  Possibly even two.  This…

It has been an oddly boring month or so since I last wrote.  It’s difficult to point out any really significant happenings or visitations.  This is reflected in the somewhat staid photos. I did reach the age of 55, which makes me wonder just how.  We had curry for dinner as a celebration.  We love…

It’s always the hardest month, isn’t it?  Darkness and greyness and lots of rain.  Except this year, we had a heatwave.  It was 25 degrees here last week, which is ridiculous.  We haven’t had rain for weeks and weeks.   It’s getting worse.   This whole area needs rain, badly. Anyway, so we’re trying to get a…

I have been a foreigner for 14 years now.  In four different countries and on three different continents but no matter where I have been, it takes some getting used to. In Sri Lanka, it was a bit odd since I was regarded as someone to be in awe of by some and as a…

So, I am attempting to get fit and have started jogging again.  When I do, I like to take the dogs with me on paths that have no traffic.  All well and good.  I over did it last week with one particularly hellish hill climb.  It hurt.  Legs and hips screaming with complaints. It wasn’t…

Finally!  I built a wall.  A supporting wall for our garden no less.  Is it a great wall?  No.  Is it a fantastico wall?  No.  Will it stay up for many years?  I bloody hope so.  Was it hard work?  Yep.  It’s something I have never done before and I thank various builders who made…

So, you know that thing that I said that Sonalee and I would never do – twice – ever again?  Well, we’re doing it. Yep, Sonalee and I are living apart again.  It’s a bit shit, if we’re honest.  But it has to be.  Sonalee has found her dream job of DP Co-ordinator at a…

So, I now have another new name to go along with the various ones that I have attracted in my life, including many that I am sure I am not exactly aware of but can guess from annoyed students, annoyed parents, my sisters, my wife, my mum, frustrated teammates and Spaniards who cannot believe just…

It has been an exciting and difficult month or so for the denizens of that ‘house with all the dogs’ in Fuente Tojar.  Other people keep tiny dogs in their houses but normally just the one.  You know the type, yappy rat-like things that you worry about stepping on.  Ours are somewhat unique in the…

Well, it has been a very exciting few weeks here in Fuente Tojar and no mistake.  Firstly, we have had lots of blessed rain.  Not the downpours of a Sri Lankan monsoon, which are always spectacular and not the cold rain of the UK that makes everything a bit depressing but much, much needed rain…