Paparazzi!

The other day traveling back from Alicante airport, we passed the salt lakes with its wealth of wildlife. Thing 2 was in the car and said 'Look at the paparazzi!' Thinking we had unknowingly become famous and had been chased away from the airport by paps on motorbikes I looked in the rear view mirror. No paps and no bikes. However, by the side of the road two people were taking photos of a huge number of wading flamingos.Well she is only 10.

Back blogging

I'm back to blogging, but don't know what to blog about. So much has happened in the last 4 months. General life is much the same. Thing 1 and 2 are much the same. Thing 1, my son has changed for the better and is now reading novels of his own choice in his own time. Fantastic! Thing 2 is playing up at school. I don't know why and after a trip to speak to her teacher and many sessions of explaining the do's and don'ts of good behaviour in class, she doesn't seem any better. Her main problem is that she giggles. So another child will say something in the class and she will start giggling which draws attention to herself and she gets in trouble. I have now told her that she will get held back this year and will have to repeat unless she pulls her socks up, PRONTO!
It was my birthday last week. Hubby was away working so I had the day to myself. The girls had arranged a lunch out at a lovely restaurant but had cancelled the arrangement informing me that some of them couldn't make it and planned a breakfast out instead. I was determined not return home after the breakfast as I would have just spent the day on my own at home, so I decided to check out a Thallaso therapy spa nearby. One of my friends joined me for a delightful tour of said establishment and I plan to go and treat myself this week for a pure indulgent spa treatment.
A very practical hubby bought me a pedometer for my birthday. My fault I had actually inadvertently asked for one. Mental note: Be careful what you wish for [out loud]prior to a Birthday. Anyway I have done 18,000 steps today. So I have eaten a Turkish delight to celebrate!

Pillow Talk

The scene:
Late at night having just gone to bed.
I say "I haven't a clue what I'm going to wear to the do on Saturday. Any ideas?"
Hubby responds "I don't know."
I say "You've seen everything in my wardrobe, what looks nicest?"
Hubby - "I don't know, try on three outfits and I'll choose."
Me -"No, you must have some idea. What looks OK?"
Hubby - "I know wear your brown ribbed top."
I think for a moment. "No, I don't have a brown ribbed top."
Hubby [said with conviction] -" Yes you do, the v necked one."
Me - "No, I definitely do not have a brown ribbed v necked top."
Hubby is now hysterical with laughter and I mean completely hysterical, unable to speak, curled up in a ball.
I say - "You must be thinking of someone else."

Running in circles

Thing 1 has been chosen for the regional cross country race representing his school. He was given this news at school today. He is very excited and feel he needs to waste no time and train for this event. So he is currently running round in circles around the house in the garden in his school uniform. [No time to change]. Navigating around all the shrubs and plants and pathways, over and over. He looks so funny.

My new laptop

My new lap top has arrived. I'm on my third laptop in the last 2 years. My upmarket Compaq [4 months old died for good a few weeks ago. During it's life it had been repaired twice. Currys were very good and offered a replacement. However, all my research work was lost. I am now using a new Samsung. It is quite robust. I am being really careful not to put it directly on my lap. You're not meant to, you know? The fan cannot cool the internal workings and the machine dies an early death. I know through experience now to back up everything important, but what do you do with websites that you come across that you think I'll save that - I may want to look at that another day? I'm not aware of a quick and easy way to back them up. If you have any ideas let me know.

Tidy your room! 12 Things

How do you get a nine year old -Thing 2 to tidy her bedroom?
After many many different ways ranging from the very simple of requests to bribery I found a new method.
Yesterday, her room was once again ridiculously untidy. Trying to get her to tidy up as she went along obviously hadn't worked so I decided to make a game out of it.
First, I asked her to pick up all of the toys and junk that had accumulated on her bed so I could change it. Then I asked her to pick up 12 things off of the floor which should really be in the bin. She thought this was good fun. Once she had counted out 12 pieces of rubbish and put them in the waste basket, I then told her to pick up everything off of the floor that needed to be put away - at least 12 things. Next, I asked her to pick up 12 things off of the desk, which had also become a dumping ground. Another 12 things off of the bookcase which shouldn't be there. Now it is possible to see how pretty the room could look she has promised to finish off her desk and bookcase tomorrow.
Tomorrow is here and -I'm still waiting.

Tranquila

Life has returned back to normal. This means Thing 1 and 2 have gone back to school. The house is tranquila - 'calm' to the non Spanish readers between the hours of 8 am and 1pm weekdays. Yippee! The weather has calmed down a bit too. We no longer get temps of 35 degs+. They are now about 30 degs. The mozzies are still biting egged on by the high humidity and occasional thunderstorm.
I am going to embark on a new exercise regime. But I've got to make it fun otherwise it won't last. The one thing I have been promising myself to do is to learn to roller blade. There are lots of coastal promenades on which to scoot along. Every day I witness an elderly gentleman with roller blades and walking poles bomb down my road passing my villa, looking very toned and fit.
However,also I'm yet to master the technique. I have watched both Thing 1 and 2 whizz up and down the outside patio and I thought I could join them. My theory went thus: I figured that in my youth I ice skated around at Richmond ice rink every week at the ice skating disco night, [oops I'm showing my age], so therefore roller blading wouldn't be that difficult. How wrong I was! My one attempt didn't even get me out of the house: holding onto hubbies shoulders, door frames, furniture and anything that could keep me upright proved that this was no easy task. I gave up and my roller blades have been redundant ever since.
However, I am not the sort of person who gives up on anything, so I will let you know of my progress. I'm going to ask Thing 2 for a lesson. Watch this space!