Ready, Steady - GO!!!!

It is wonderful to see our Paralympians walking off with a variety of medals.   Inspirational is the only word I can think of here.   Sadly, we shall not see the whole Games because we are off to Spain on Tuesday.

I thought I had covered everything last year when I bought hi viz vests, a first aid kit for the car and a set of lamp bulbs.   I already had a warning triangle.   Britanny Ferries emailed me to say bonvoyage and included tips for the holiday.   It was then I read that in France you need one warning triangle but in Spain you need TWO!!!   Luckily Britanny Ferries sell these on board their ships so I can become legal once more.   At least I don't have to carry a breathalyser set for the French limit.

When we go we shall be taking some spices, cook books etc to compliment what is already provided in the house we rent.  This time we should keep our weight from increasing.   We have just bought the Hairy Dieters cook book and there are soem excellent recipes.   With this book and regular gym visits I may lose even more than the 2 stones I have already shed.   Watch this space  - but don't hold your breath!

This year we shall be spending two days in the beautiful city of Toledo that used to be the Spanish capital.   It is know for the peaceful co-existence of Muslims, Jews and Christians in mediaeval times.   The cathedral is the spiritual centre of the Spanish church.   It possesses some of the most wonderful and priceless paintings by artists renowned throughout the world.   But Toledo's claim to fame is that it was the home of the painter, El Greco.   Seeing some of his paintings, I can see why he is so venerated.   There is also a house where he is reputed to have lived and this contains some marvellous pictures, in particular the Tears of St Peter.

It is from the main square, Zocodover, that a tourist road train called the Zocotren leaves every half hour when you can enjoy a fun way of seeing Toledo.   The ride lasts 50 minutes and is well worth the ticket!

On arrival in Santander on the ferry we shall go to Hotel La Roca where we stayed twive last year.   When I booked our stay this year via Booking.com I got an email from the owner of the hotel asking which room we would like!   Safe to say that we are expected!

If you want updates on our visit to Spain visit my other blog, the Andalucia Report.   Just use this link:    http://keithalexanderinspain.blogspot.co.uk/

Olympics and Chickens

For the past 10 days I have been the temporary custodian of a rabbit, a guinea pig and three chickens.   Each day I have popped into the village to our friends' house to feed and water their livestock.   For the most part, my granddaughter, Ellie, dealt with the smaller creatures as she has experience in keeping rabbits.   My task was to see to the three chickens.

Now, when last entrusted with their care I copied the routine from August 2011.   I allowed the birds out.   Whilst I cleaned their containers and replenished them with food and water the birds would wander round the raspberry canes and jump up to grab occasional raspberries.   Getting them back to the coop was easy.   All I did was to bend down  and they crouched whilst I picked them up, one by one.

Back in February I was asked to look after them and so let them out as usual whilst I performed the tasks of topping up food and water.   But there was one awkward bird with a red ring who ran for it every time I approached.   I am not equipped to chase birds anymore!   Eventually I did, by stealth and guile, get her back to the coop.   All this activity and tension created asthma symptoms, so I was not best pleased at having so much trouble.   For the rest of the time I ensured they never left the coop!

For the past 9 days I have followed the same policy.   But today was so lovely and warm that I dropped my guard and, being the amiable fellow that I am, let the birds out for my final day in charge.   When it came time to get them back in the coop I approached them quietly and looked for the one with the red ring.   She was the troublesome one back in February.   There was a piece of body language that seemed to separate her from the others.   But I had been there before and grabbed her before she could dive behind nettles!   After this the other two were easy and soon there were 3 happy birds clucking away in the coop and sampling replenished food and drink.

So that was the excitement for the week?   Not a bit of it!   We were watching the Olympic Games and seeing our athletes doing incredibly well in their various sports.   Last Sunday was quite unbelievable.   After hoping against hope that Andy Murray would win Wimbledon each year we went crazy when he achieved a gold medal against Roger Federer.   Now there is proof he can win.   He even beat Novak Djokovic in the semi final!   Pity that he could not win a second gold medal in the mixed double with Laura Hobson.

Last night, Nicola Adams won a gold medal for boxing and here was another joyful occasion.   It all reminds me of the day we spent at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and saw Jonathan Edwards and Paula Radcliffe win gold for England.   It was lovely weather and there was a very friendly crowd there to see the athletics.   There were no traffic problems because Manchester had such good plans to accommodate spectators and their cars.   We went early but didn't need to because everything appeared to be organised as if they had been doing it for years!

So this week ends successfully and peacefully and I forgive the chickens for previous misdemeanours and their poor record for laying eggs this time!   Our grandchildren have been returned home and peace returns to the Alexander household.   What bliss!

Highs and Lows

Last week at Amlwch English Methodist Church saw our 32nd Flower Festival and it was a huge success.   More publicity was created and the weekend coincided with the Bi-annual Viking Festival.   On the first day we sold the food we had purchased for both days.   On the second day we sold as much again.   The event proved to be extremely popular.   The Sunday saw our usual Songs of Praise re-scheduled to be the morning service with a difference.   We had a large congregation with 30 members of the family of the late Barbara Tudor present to share the dedication of the new flower stand in church.   Barbara was the one who first suggested a Flower Festival in the church.   Our theme was "The Easter People" and each display told the story from Palm Sunday to Easter Day.   It was a truly inspiring experience this year.

A few days later on 1st August (today) I was due to appear as a witness at Caernarfon Crown Court in a fraud case.   That meant being very stressed.   We (the witnesses) we were advised that it would be a long day.   Then the news came in that the case that had run over from the previous day was delayed because members of the jury were delayed getting in.   An articulated lorry had overturned on the A55 near Abergwyngregyn and huge delays were happening.   The outcome was that our case was re-scheduled for 22nd November!   I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.   All the stress will now happen again in November.   I suppose the good side was that I had already seen the court arrangements and would be better prepared in November.   2/3 years ago I was on jury service at the previous location of Caernarfon Crown Court, so I am getting some experience there!

On Sunday, 29th July, our youngest granddaughter, Emelia (Meme, age 10) came to stay for a few days.   Then yesterday, 31st July, our oldest granddaughter, Eleanor (Ellie, age 15) came to stay.   Just now we have two grandchildren (cousins) staying with us.   They have spent most of today baking in the kitchen!   Emelia goes home tomorrow, so I have a 250 mile journey to do, there and back.   The good news is I can do it in the day instead of staying overnight with my son and returning on the second day.   Never a dull moment!!!