T is for Celebration

 Hello Ladies, Happy T Day.

I mentioned my Mothers  Day card last week and totally forgot to post the picture!

It folds flat to post, my son said he read an article about how they are all cut on machines, that’s how they make them so precise!

Yesterday was our Wedding Anniversary, 52 years! Hard to believe it’s been so long although of course my husband likes to make all the jokes about it being far too long!

 We actually met when I was 14 and he was 16 at the local youth club so it really has been a long time, haha, we lived within ten minutes walk from each other from being born and our parents both moved and we still lived fifteen minutes walk away,  We actually went to the same school from the age of 5 until 11, even had the same teachers but never knew each other!

We decided to go to a restaurant at Bolnuevo, we used to go there occasionally for breakfast but they never seen to open early enough for us, well we had a drink there but when we saw the menu we didn’t see anything that took our fancy so we paid for the drinks and drove to another restaurant!

We’ve very often thought of eating here as they are really friendly, not the best photo but my husband had to take in from our table under the shaded patio. It's quite big inside but it's lovely to sit outside in the shade.

We had a salad to start, a menu del Dia always starts with salad and bread, forgot the photo!!

Our starter, Guiso de Cerdo, stew with Pork. very tasty as it had a small amount of chilli in the sauce.

Our main course, I had Pork chop with fries and the obligatory egg, for some reason they always seem to put a egg with chops.

My husband had Cerdo de Mano, Pigs Trotters, I know, awful, but he loves them, they are very popular in Spain.

The waiter laughed when I ordered mine, I think he saw my face when my husband ordered the trotters.

I also had a glass of white wine and my husband a glass of non alcoholic beer, we decided against afters so my drink for today is my cup of coffee.

I only remembered the photo when I was halfway through it but it shows the name, our favourite coffee, flower of Jamaica 

We've still been having a lot of rain, sometimes torrential, yesterday was the first dry day for over a week, it was quite hot walking as we were later than usual, the car thermometer showed 27c as we were driving home, we heard someone say it was 30c in Murcia city.

Lastly, I join the card making challenges on Splitcoast Stampers, recently I've been joining a few other challenges, this was my monochrome card, this paper must be over twelve years old, some of the colours in the set I didnt like but I love the black and white ones.

Enjoy the rest of your week ladies, hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend and Whitsun Bank Holiday for those of you in England, we actually got married on Whit Saturday, it was also our sons 8th Wedding Anniversary too so at least he had a long weekend to celebrate, apparently they went to the movies with our Grandson!!

Jan x

 Another Tuesday, another T Party thanks to Elizabeth and Bleubeard, thank you ladies  for your visits  kind comments last week.

I had two lovely Mothers Day cards, my son who lives in SF always sends cards on American MD , this year I had two cards, one from my son and one from my GSs, who knew they had cards for Grandma on Mothers Day, I’ve seen these cards on Pinterest and wondered how they are made so I was really pleased to receive one, I now know it’s beyond my capabilities to make them

This week I have photos of our Monday morning walk last week, it's Bolnuevo, the same beach I posted a photo of last week.

The start of our walk, this used to be a dry river bed that only had water in it in when we have loads of rain but it seems to be holding the water this winter.

You can just see the Flamingo, never seen one here before,  they are found on the coast road near Alicante on the salt flats, pink of course through eating the crustaceans .

My coffee, sitting looking out over the beach, the Restaurant is called The Oasis, in the summer they have live music apparently, we've never been as it doesn't start until 10pm! If we lived closer we might have given it a try but we have to drive there so too late for us.

It's a big restaurant and even have seating across the road on the beach in the summer.

This is looking through to the back of the cafe part, it also leads to a lovely patio area on the other side.

Another part of the restaurant, seating made from palletts, a novel idea, these are the seats that they take onto the beach.

The other side is the restaurant where they have an outside grill and BBQ.

They do amazing tapas and in the summer we sometimes come here for dinner and share a few dishes, lovely when it's too hot to eat a big meal.

On the way home we called at Mercadona to buy some fish.

Our GS loves to come and look at the Squid and Cuttlefish.

We bought Trout and a Plaice, you can see the young lady filleting our fish, My husband usually does it but it's the first time we'd tried the plaice so he thought he'd let the expert do it.

The girls are amazing , not a job I would like to do.

These are the rock formations opposite the beach, they now have a fence around the bottom to keep people from climbing them to take photos..

We saw this strange insect on the villa wall, we take photos for our youngest GS who loves to see them, he always asks us to save them until he comes over.

He tells us it's a stick insect although I thought they didn't have such long legs.

We had torrential ran and thunder and lightning last night just after we went to bed, rained off and on all night too, we’ve had to miss out morning walk but hopefully we will manage to get out later, I hope it’s sunnier wherever you ladies are!

Happy T day

Jan x

T is for Too Many meals

 

Tuesday again, how the week flies, yesterday our car had to have its first ITV as the car is four years old, can’t believe we’ve had it so long already, its a test for smog and road worthiness, i know it’s not something that is done in the States, well definitely not done in CA, it is in England, it’s called the  MOT, 

I thought I’d show some of the meals we had in San Francisco, we flew out on January 8th until February 24th, we actually got to celebrate our sons Birthday just before we came home!

My husband is a big basketball fan and our son works just around the corner from the Chase Centre quite handy for parking when we go into the city.  That's his Office building in the background.

Steve was really pleased to see it in person and have his photo taken although sadly he didn’t get to see a game this time.

Our son took us to S F Kebabs, not being a huge fan of Kebabs, i haven’t eaten one for over thirty years, I was a bit wary. 

                                

I hope the bottles on the counter can be my ticket to the T Party for this week, I forgot to take a photo of our sodas.

As you can see an extensive menu so we let our son choose the food.

we had the platter of dips, stuffed vine leaves, (not to my taste), the vine leaves I mean, falafel and pitta bread which was lovely but far too much even for three of us, in fact if we go again I would just have that.

I had already eaten some of my wrap with Lamb meat before I remembered to take a photo, I didn't managed much more than that so I took the rest home.

Now we know why our son is always telling us he’s put on weight as he sometimes comes here for lunch!!!

Our walk last Sunday along the seafront at Bolnuevo, we like it here when it's busy in the puerto, it's always much quieter although sadly they've demolished our favourite breakfast place, apparently all these years it's been illegal, it's a tiny bar area so they added a huge conservatory on the side without planning permission so now it's gone.They have opened up around the corner with new owners and the Tostada con Tomate is lovely!

Weather is hot here but seeing as we usually leave home at 8.30am and do our circular walk, breakfast, shopping and collect the post we are home before it gets too hot, hope you are seeing some sun wherever you are.

Happy T day

Jan x

T is for Totally Forgot!!

 Thank you for your visits and kind comments last week, it was good to be back and catching up with everyone.

I've only just realised it's Tuesday, yesterday was a Red Day as it's called in Spain so a holiday, all shops apart from at the beach are closed, totally put me off as I thought yesterday was Sunday as it was so quiet.

This is the Harbour in Whitstable where our son lives, I took this on Christmas Eve from a restaurant, we met up with DIL's sister, Nephew and Mum who was over from Poland.

The beach here is pebbles but it has a quaint high Street and is know for it's Oysters, they have Oyster beds that are visable at low tide.

This is Herne Bay, a few miles from where our son lives, we come here to walk as it's flat so an easier walk than where our son lives.

This is a view of the Band Stand, I think they have concerts in the summer but to the left there's a lovely Italian owned cafe, we take our GSs there for ice cream when it's warm weather.

The Pier is still here although it was much longer but a storm blew part of it away so this is all that's left, it has a small funfare at the end of it.

We saw this last October, I was quite fascinated by them, One man asked if I wanted to try it!!

No way, the sea is too cold for me in England.

I made this card for our GS who had his 7th Birthday last Saturday, they were late deciding what to do for his Birthday so two of his friends already had parties booked so although he didn't have his own party he spent the weekend at his school friends houses, he did have a Birthday cake, he was eating some at 7.30am when we rang to wish him a Happy Birthday!

My ticket to the T Party this week, a set of stamps, these came free with a craft magazine my son bought me, hopefully they will come in useful!

Have a great week ladies.

Jan x

T is for Travelling again

 Hello Ladies,

It's been a long time since I joined the T Party but Elizabeth was kind enough to invite me to join the Ten Year Anniversary so I thought I would try and catch up with you all, I hope you are all well and enjoying life.

We finally travelled to San Francisco in January, it's been two years since we last went over due to Lockdown and worrying about catching covid whilst traveling, we didn't intend to go until this Autumn but our eldest son in England invited us to join them for Christmas so I suggested we book flights while we were half way there!!

As usual we drove up to the North of Spain to Santander stopping enroute. We left home at 8am and drove for two hours to Albacete where we stopped for breakfast at the Restaurant of the five brothers, Beicon Bocadillo and coffee, always a welcome break.

This was the Nativity Scene in the Restaurant window, these are typical in  most towns in Spain.

The second half of the Nativity Scene

Our journey through Spain took us around Madrid and on to Lerma where we stayed the night within walking distance of the town, the Plaza Mayor is up through the cobbled streets and quite a climb but it is well worth the walk as it has bars and restaurants and the Palacio Ducal De Lerma, it is a Parador nowadays and quite expensive!!

The Puerta de la Cárcel leading to the Plaza Mayor.

Lovely cobbled Streets, we didn't realise we could drive up there but I think we needed the exercise after six hours of driving.

The Palacio  Ducal de Lerma from our hotel

 After a quick breakfast we started on the final leg of our journey, we couldn't belive our car was covered in ice!

As always we had the spot the bull competition, I lost as usual!

We are heading to Burgos and on to Santander. As you can see there's hardly any traffic, most of the journey is like this apart from near and around Madrid.

Only a couple of hours to go and the temperature was still only -1, something we never see at home.

Our hotel, Hotel Bahia on the seafront and opposite the Ferry terminal

Beautiful Hotel, right on the edge of the town.

The parking is below ground and has lift for the car, quite terrifying for me as I hate lifts!!

View of the Cathedral from our hotel room, floor to ceiling window, scared me to even walk past it.

A beautiful room, it even had a hallway!

The bathroom was really big and luxurious too

This was the Cathedral from the other side.

Having a coffee and croissant in the hotel cafe the next morning we could see the ferry had docked.

Our cabin was on deck 8, one of the small windows at the top, below are the restaurants and the shop.

My ticket to the T party, Onboard we had meals included, three course which we good but the same on every sailing, this was our afters, very tasty.

Apparently there was too much wastage so theyve stopped providing inclusive breakfast and evening meals but I'm not sure they've reduced the prices!

This is the ferry arriving in Portsmouth which is a naval port hence the Spinnaker Tower, it's the first time we've seen it lit up, it changes colour as you pass.

You can actually go up the tower to see the views.

We still had two hours drive to our sons but luckily we were off the boat in record time on on our way.

Sorry for the long post and if it's something I've shared before, I've kind of lost track after all this time.

Jan x

T is for Tea, But not as I know it!

 Hello Ladies, I haven’t had time to join the T Party the last few weeks as we had our family over, just for five days, it seems to take me a while to get back into normal life after the family leave, I always feel a little downhearted.

We had fun, our GS and son swam although the pool although was only 21c, sounds warm but not when the water touches your body, too cold for me although I did end up getting drenched having a water fight with GS.

GS had his chopitos, even ordered them himself, he even asked for the bill and the waiter gave it too him, the waiter was laughing as GS said he didn’t have any money,  he’s having Spanish lessons after school now and can already count to ten and say hello how are you, of course the Spanish people we know are more than happy to chat to him, he’s only five so I think he’s doing really well.

Our meal out on the Sunday was a birthday celebration for me, Halloween!! we didn’t realise it would be so busy so we didn’t book a table! We had decided to go for a Moroccan meal only to be told they didn’t serve until 2pm, too late for us as they were leaving for the airport at 5 pm, back to our favourite restaurant on the marina.

My husband ordered this Pizza Calzone, he actually thought it was a meat Pasty until a friend told us it was a Pizza, since then he's been wanting to try it, he said it was delicious.

Tuna, hard boiled egg and cheese.

I had lamb cutlets , GS had chopitos as usual.

My ticket to the T party this week, as many of you will know I only drink black breakfast tea with milk but my GSs sent this so I gave it a go, I will let you know my verdict when I’ve tried it!

 They also sent me a book, a photo frame with the eldest GSs latest photos in it,  our eldest son bought me perfume and craft magazines that had free dies and craft papers.

I had so many birthday cards from my crafty friends, this gorgeous one was from Sharon, my favourite colour too, a beautiful background.

This one was from a friend in England who also is a crafter, very apt to show for the T party, a lovely  fancy fold too.

We haven’t been walking for the last couple of weeks as my husbands heel is painful, again, it’s given me time to go back to my craft room, to tidy up, my son bought over two die sets I had bought last year but they arrived after we had left, so I’ve been having a play with them.

 I was so impatient to use them,  they were fixed together and  I couldn’t get them apart and didn’t want to go back down the stairs to get my husband to break them apart so I cut them stuck together, I think they are quite good, this is together and apart, I’ve also been obsessed with the glittery foam! Not sure what I will do with all the die cuts though!

We also decided to try Amazon.es,  my husband wears sketchers and needed some new ones, they cushion his heel more than other makes, we were very very impressed as they arrived within three days, I think my husband is already regretting it though as I also ordered a 3D embossing folder,  two inks and a background die, ha,ha,

My husband had his booster vaccine and his flu vaccine at the same time last Wednesday, it was quite funny as we arrived there first as usual, his appointment was 9.30 but they didn’t start until 9.45, the Spanish people started arriving and crowded around the door, as usual, trying to push in, my husband was called first, he had to sit on a chair that was propping the door open, everyone was still crowded around the door watching ! He couldn’t even get out of the door when he had finished, quite bad seeing as they tell us to stand two metres apart! Anyway he had no after effects at all, he’s trying to book my appointment, they told me I was too young last week, first time I’ve been told that for a while!!

Happy T Day, I hope you are all keeping well and Safe

Jan x

T is for Tuesday, already!!

 Another week of going through our photos, I did get distracted as I found a CD with photos from our time living in Germany, my husband was in the Army, it was lovely to look back, then I found a disc with family photos so as you can imagine I didn’t get much done, ha,ha, I’m still plodding on !

This week we had an Indian meal but we decided to try a different one, highly recommended by quite a few people, well not impressed! Funnily enough as we came out we bumped into a friend who was collecting a take away and he was raving about it, good job we all have different tastes.

Inside the restaurant, very clean, we chose to go early to avoid being there when or if it gets busy.

As you can see a good price and a few choices

Poppadoms and dips were extra, normally free while you have a look at  the menu, not sure why this has gone sideways, not sure how to change it on here!!!

Well just awful, dry and no sign of any veg in there!! 

Just tasted like breadcrumbs.

Lamb Rogan Josh, this was delicious, spicy but really tender, it did arrive in dishes but I had put it on my plate before I remembered to take the photo.

My DH had Fish curry, he said it was delicious.

Our drinks, empty,  I realised I hadn't shown them in the other photos!!

I don't think I will ever be employed as an official photographer do you! ha,ha

This was on the wall, it's very glittery made with material and gold threads, I used to do a similar thing in my Art Class for my exams, not so intricate but made with materials.

I bought a pair of slippers and they gave me this bag, free of charge which surprised me as they charge for plastic bags nowadays, I thought it was cute, ha,ha

Unfortunately I can’t wear the slippers as they started the pain in the ball of my foot off again!

Not much to report here, I’m waiting for another memory stick so until it arrives I have gone back to making my photo album, for our youngest son this time, I wanted to get both albums to the same point just in case this is as far as I manage to finish!!

Happy T Day dear Ladies, Stay safe!

Jan x