Not creative but cheap!
Monica and Fabi after a visit to the Hairdressser went a bit wrong.
A few beers and all is well.
Brother and sister?
Mari Carmen shows us how it is done.
Carnaval de Nerja 2011
Party time in Nerja. Time to get creative. Come up with a great idea and dress up. Unless you are like me. Then its spending a couple of Euro at the nearest Chinese bazar and buying a wig and make-up.
Not creative but cheap!
Monica and Fabi after a visit to the Hairdressser went a bit wrong.
A few beers and all is well.
Brother and sister?
Mari Carmen shows us how it is done.
Not creative but cheap!
Monica and Fabi after a visit to the Hairdressser went a bit wrong.
A few beers and all is well.
Brother and sister?
Mari Carmen shows us how it is done.
Tapas Italiano!
Another tapas night in Nerja. This time with a chance to practice my Italian. Come stai! bene. Manga Manga. Enough of that lets eat and drink!
At Meson de Pepe Moles.
Tapas and Football. Que mas quiere!
Los Barriles.
At Meson de Pepe Moles.
Tapas and Football. Que mas quiere!
Los Barriles.
March Madness! The weather in Nerja
It has turned out to be quite a mild winter in Nerja. Certainly less rain than last winter, and plenty of warm sunny days. However, a thunderstorm and things change quickly.
A Beautiful summer's day in Nerja?
Enjoying the sunset on El Playazo.
Beautiful calm Med waters.
And Snow!
Que frio!
A Beautiful summer's day in Nerja?
Enjoying the sunset on El Playazo.
Beautiful calm Med waters.
And Snow!
Que frio!
Nurse Angie!
February was a month of firsts for me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be my first skiing trip. That went by the wayside due to the other upcoming firsts. My first operation!
I’ve managed to keep myself away from hospitals for nearly 40 years (note the nearly Angela, just saying!). To say I was a little nervous was an understatement. It was only a “hernia operation”. A simple surgery to break your duck I suppose. But it still meant a General Anaesthetic. Still uncharted waters.
A big thanks to all my friends who helped me through the traumatic experience. All the staff at the Alexandra in Cheadle were superb at making me feel relaxed and they took away any fears I had about the operation. A very big special thank you to my private nurse, Angela. You were a rock! Still, it wouldn’t have been so special without a trademark “Angelism”. You didn’t disappoint!
Private Nurse Angie!
With the operation over and the effects of the anaesthetic wearing off, it was time to think about checking out. The nurse came in to check on my blood pressure. It was on the low side, but nothing to worry about. So I could go home then?
“You’re listed as an Inpatient. You won’t be going anywhere tonight.” was the reply. Panic began to set in. I’d never been in hospital overnight in my life. Surely my private nurse could save the day?
She sprang in to action. “She’s pulling your leg”. The nurse insisted she wasn’t. Angela went to the end of the bed and checked my chart. “Oh yes. You’re down as staying overnight”. The nurse then began to re-assure me. It’s standard procedure. The insurance is paying for it. The meals are excellent. You will be better cared for overnight.
At least the grub is good.
The conversation then turned to the weekend. I was shocked to find out that Saturday was going to be a busy day. Surely any self respecting surgeon would be on the golf course on a Saturday? Apparently they prefer to earn the cash with private work. They even schedule surgery on Friday evenings. Cue Angela.
“Yes but they can’t do surgery after 10pm”. Angela explained it was all to do with your natural biorhythms. I felt an Ange moment coming.
“That’s why most people die in hospital around 4am!”. Thanks, Ange. Very comforting to know that seeing that I’ve just been told I will be kept in overnight.
I’ve managed to keep myself away from hospitals for nearly 40 years (note the nearly Angela, just saying!). To say I was a little nervous was an understatement. It was only a “hernia operation”. A simple surgery to break your duck I suppose. But it still meant a General Anaesthetic. Still uncharted waters.
A big thanks to all my friends who helped me through the traumatic experience. All the staff at the Alexandra in Cheadle were superb at making me feel relaxed and they took away any fears I had about the operation. A very big special thank you to my private nurse, Angela. You were a rock! Still, it wouldn’t have been so special without a trademark “Angelism”. You didn’t disappoint!
Private Nurse Angie!
With the operation over and the effects of the anaesthetic wearing off, it was time to think about checking out. The nurse came in to check on my blood pressure. It was on the low side, but nothing to worry about. So I could go home then?
“You’re listed as an Inpatient. You won’t be going anywhere tonight.” was the reply. Panic began to set in. I’d never been in hospital overnight in my life. Surely my private nurse could save the day?
She sprang in to action. “She’s pulling your leg”. The nurse insisted she wasn’t. Angela went to the end of the bed and checked my chart. “Oh yes. You’re down as staying overnight”. The nurse then began to re-assure me. It’s standard procedure. The insurance is paying for it. The meals are excellent. You will be better cared for overnight.
At least the grub is good.
The conversation then turned to the weekend. I was shocked to find out that Saturday was going to be a busy day. Surely any self respecting surgeon would be on the golf course on a Saturday? Apparently they prefer to earn the cash with private work. They even schedule surgery on Friday evenings. Cue Angela.
“Yes but they can’t do surgery after 10pm”. Angela explained it was all to do with your natural biorhythms. I felt an Ange moment coming.
“That’s why most people die in hospital around 4am!”. Thanks, Ange. Very comforting to know that seeing that I’ve just been told I will be kept in overnight.
Learn Spanish with Mourinho! Echar.
The Spanish media are obsessed with "Mou". Not a day goes by without two or three reports on Cuartro about “The Special One”. He seems all to willing to play the role of the pantomime villain. However, he has gone a step too far now.
Aprende español con Mou!
It all started with an amazing spat with a journalist in one of the many pre-match audiences with Mourinho. The journalist had the termity to ask Mou whether he would be “complaining” about the fixture pile up.
“No son quejas, son verdades. ¿Eres hipócrita? Entonces di la verdad. ¿Piensas que son quejas? Entonces eres hipócrita", an apoplectic Special One spewed. “They are not complaints, they are truths. Are you a hypocrite? Then tell the truth. You think they are complaints? Then you are a hypocrite.”
The Spanish media had a bite and were in no mood to let the moment pass. Another question, another dig at Mou. This time comparing his record to that of his predecessor, Malaga’s manager Pelligrini. Did the Special One think that he would suffer the same fate come the end of the season, given that his “La Liga” points haul is less than the previous season’s efforts. Touch paper lit. Stand well back!
“Lo mismo no puede pasar, ¿sabes por qué? Porque si el Madrid me echa no voy a entrenar al Málaga. Iré a un club grande en Inglaterra o en Italia, no al Málaga.”. This is the comment that transforms Mourinho into public enemy number one in my book. “The same cannot happen. Do you know why? Because if Madrid sack me I won’t go to manage Malaga. I will go to a big club in England or Italy, not to Malaga.”
"Echar" To sack, to fire (Colloquial)
To Throw. "lo eché a la basura" = "I threw it away".
To give off, mouth off. "Mou echaba espuma por la boca" = "Mou was foaming at the mouth".
So Sr Pelligrini. No need for a team talk this evening when the blue and whites take the pitch at the Bernabeu. Stick Mou’s words up on the dressing room wall. Then let the boys ram them down his throat on the pitch. Aupa Malaga!
Aprende español con Mou!
It all started with an amazing spat with a journalist in one of the many pre-match audiences with Mourinho. The journalist had the termity to ask Mou whether he would be “complaining” about the fixture pile up.
“No son quejas, son verdades. ¿Eres hipócrita? Entonces di la verdad. ¿Piensas que son quejas? Entonces eres hipócrita", an apoplectic Special One spewed. “They are not complaints, they are truths. Are you a hypocrite? Then tell the truth. You think they are complaints? Then you are a hypocrite.”
The Spanish media had a bite and were in no mood to let the moment pass. Another question, another dig at Mou. This time comparing his record to that of his predecessor, Malaga’s manager Pelligrini. Did the Special One think that he would suffer the same fate come the end of the season, given that his “La Liga” points haul is less than the previous season’s efforts. Touch paper lit. Stand well back!
“Lo mismo no puede pasar, ¿sabes por qué? Porque si el Madrid me echa no voy a entrenar al Málaga. Iré a un club grande en Inglaterra o en Italia, no al Málaga.”. This is the comment that transforms Mourinho into public enemy number one in my book. “The same cannot happen. Do you know why? Because if Madrid sack me I won’t go to manage Malaga. I will go to a big club in England or Italy, not to Malaga.”
"Echar" To sack, to fire (Colloquial)
To Throw. "lo eché a la basura" = "I threw it away".
To give off, mouth off. "Mou echaba espuma por la boca" = "Mou was foaming at the mouth".
So Sr Pelligrini. No need for a team talk this evening when the blue and whites take the pitch at the Bernabeu. Stick Mou’s words up on the dressing room wall. Then let the boys ram them down his throat on the pitch. Aupa Malaga!
Punta Lara Alta
The first walk of the New Year. The idea was to ease ourselves back into the swing of things. A gentle warm up before starting back at the Gym. It was also an opportunity for Monica to do a little site survey and look up some of the Villas she will be renting out for 2011.
The view to Torrox.
It was a short walk, lasting less than two hours. However there was one slight problem. The "Alta" in Punta Lara is no joke. It is seriously steep going up the track. It would be a struggle in a car never mind by foot.
Monica scouts a potential building plot.
Punta Lara has quite a few things going for it. The most obvious being the views. Spectacular mountain views and of course the coast.
Punta Lara Alta certainly has great views.
The further up the track you go, the more exclusive the villas. The road isn't the greatest in the world. However, its worth the effort for what you get.
Private Villas not too far out in the Campo.
Having a villa up here means that a car is a must. The trade-off for the peace and quiet of this location is that you are not within walking distance of the town centre. But then again, you are not in the middle of nowhere. It's only a 15 minutes drive away from Nerja.
View from Punta Lara Alta.
The view to Torrox.
It was a short walk, lasting less than two hours. However there was one slight problem. The "Alta" in Punta Lara is no joke. It is seriously steep going up the track. It would be a struggle in a car never mind by foot.
Monica scouts a potential building plot.
Punta Lara has quite a few things going for it. The most obvious being the views. Spectacular mountain views and of course the coast.
Punta Lara Alta certainly has great views.
The further up the track you go, the more exclusive the villas. The road isn't the greatest in the world. However, its worth the effort for what you get.
Private Villas not too far out in the Campo.
Having a villa up here means that a car is a must. The trade-off for the peace and quiet of this location is that you are not within walking distance of the town centre. But then again, you are not in the middle of nowhere. It's only a 15 minutes drive away from Nerja.
View from Punta Lara Alta.
P&H Christmas Party 2010
The office christmas party. The highlight of the working year? Well it would have been if I was sat on a beach in South East Asia like the previous year. Never mind, this year's party included a free bar. Just what the doctor ordered to soothe my toothache.
But it wasn't just the tooth that gave me pain. I was stung for the first round of drinks. Free bar? Yes, after 7:30pm. I was in the chair 10 minutes early. Oh well its Christmas. Bah humbug!
Nick and Karen.
The hot topic over the Christmas dinner was the arrangements for the wedding of the year. Well, not the actual wedding. The most important bit. The stag do. Magaluf here we come! Congratulations to Nick and Karen. Another romance that blossomed during an earlier Christmas Party.
Me and Leanne hit the dancefloor.
Alison and Angela show off their keep fit routine.
Gerry and Michelle strutting their stuff.
Teresa tells me that I will be stung twice, I think.
After several bottles of vino had been emptied, along with numerous pints of lager, there was still time for one more. But the free bar ended it midnight. Get your wallet out Dino lad!
But it wasn't just the tooth that gave me pain. I was stung for the first round of drinks. Free bar? Yes, after 7:30pm. I was in the chair 10 minutes early. Oh well its Christmas. Bah humbug!
Nick and Karen.
The hot topic over the Christmas dinner was the arrangements for the wedding of the year. Well, not the actual wedding. The most important bit. The stag do. Magaluf here we come! Congratulations to Nick and Karen. Another romance that blossomed during an earlier Christmas Party.
Me and Leanne hit the dancefloor.
Alison and Angela show off their keep fit routine.
Gerry and Michelle strutting their stuff.
Teresa tells me that I will be stung twice, I think.
After several bottles of vino had been emptied, along with numerous pints of lager, there was still time for one more. But the free bar ended it midnight. Get your wallet out Dino lad!
Happy Holidays!
Monica gets into the festive spirit.
Can't start the party without Dino's Spritz.
Christmas in Malaga with the sun!
New Years in Tutti Frutti.
Torre de Maro
A nice gentle stroll along the coast of Maro. Anything more might have been a strugle for the ancient 40, going on 50 year old soft lad from Preston.
View along the coast to Nerja.
The intrepid explorers.
Torre de Maro.
The descent.
The reward.
View along the coast to Nerja.
The intrepid explorers.
Torre de Maro.
The descent.
The reward.
Stevo's 40th Birthday
December was the month of birthdays. Steve and Anita flew over to Nerja to celebrate his 40th birthday. You don't look a day over 39 Stevo. Just 365 days over!
Anita and Steve.
Steve and Monica celebrate their birthdays.
A birthday kiss.
Steve and Anita before the king.
Anita and Steve.
Steve and Monica celebrate their birthdays.
A birthday kiss.
Steve and Anita before the king.