A perfectly lovely week

On a beautiful evening last Tuesday, I drove down to Malaga airport to collect my mum. Having been looking forward to her coming all summer and hot on the heels of Janice and Mark's visit, when she came through the gates at Arrivals, it suddenly didn't seem two minutes since she was here last time, in May. We had a lovely time then and had no intention of doing anything else this time either.

The weather, which had been miserable just a few days before, perked up beautifully. Mum enjoys gardening - she didn't always and never needed to garden when I lived at home (not because I did it!) because my grandparents lived next door and my grandpa was an avid gardener. She now does most of her own garden and it's a credit to her.

She started on mine and has done a bit almost every day, clearing weeds, pruning roses and clipping the juniper bush.


It all looks much better now and I shall have to make a concerted effort to keep up to it...

We had a little adventure on Friday, when we went to a nearby village up in the mountains - it was market day there but when we got there, the town was preparing for their fiesta and there was no market... It's an impressive village up a steep mountainside but guess who had forgotten her camera.

In lieu of my own photos, I will share this image from todopueblos.com which shows the dramatic position of the place which we drive past on our way home from Granada.








On our way back home, we stopped off for a drink and tapas. (I'm glad to say we did rather a lot of this during the week.) The intention was then to do some shopping and come home. But when we emerged from the bar, the car wouldn't start. No way, no how. I had to call FR. Who didn't believe it wasn't something I had done wrong. But who eventually had to call the insurance company, who eventually came and, finding the car wouldn't start, (see, not my fault) loaded it onto the truck and brought it and us back to Alcala to one of the mechanics there - but one that was away at lunch. Fortunately for us, we have Sergio - our magical neighbour - who solves all our problems and makes us laugh too. When the mechanic eventually had a look at the car, turns out it was the distributor belt or something like that. Something Rather Expensive. Not me. Phew!

We seem to have spent the week eating, chatting and going for little walks - often to take a coffee and a little something at a cafe - and time has flown past. We have, however, played lots of Charades...Mum does Charades!

On her last full day here, Mum said she'd like to see the sea. What a good idea, I thought! So today, we went to Salobreña and had a really glorious day out. But I forgot my camera again...these are the best my phone could do.

A sand scuplture we found along the promenade - I think from a fiesta from earlier in the month...

Enjoying a delicious lunch at a chiringuito on the beach..

My plate of incredibly fresh fish.

And today, the pleasure doesn't end when the taxi comes - with my neighbour, Bev's mum and sister, who have conveniently been visiting at the same time and have a flight just before ours from Malaga - because I am returning to Manchester with Mum! That was the big surprise and it was a question of how long I could keep it secret - would I actually get on the plane with her before she realised??? It was a possibility but in the end, because of the broken car and arrangements that had to be made, I told her - and it was a good thing to do as it delighted her and added an even better end to her holiday.

It has been a really lovely week. I shall endeavour to pack my camera when I set off. It's good timing...possibly...as my sister moves house next week so I'll get to see her old house, where we've had some great time and also to see her new place!

Oooh, can't wait!!