David & Paul came a visiting! Birthday celebrations too!

When Stuart was visiting the UK over Christmas and New Year 2011/12 we went to stay with friends of mine in North Wales. A wonderful Anglo/American couple of David (from Colwyn Bay, North Wales) and Paul (from Pittsburgh , USA) who showed us a wonderful time and helped us see in the New Year in a wonderful homely environment. While there Stuart got word that he had a buyer on his house so they got to share our excitement that our journey to Spain had begun!

We were really pleased that David was able to arrange to have some time away to come and visit us early in September and they were here to celebrate Stuart's 70th birthday with us too!

David & Paul arriving at Murcia airport

Celebrating Stuart's birthday at Tio Tomas, Turre.

David enjoying the coastline on the way to Aguilas

David & Paul proving they are water bears!

To say they liked the pool is an understatement!

David and Paul on the patio.

David getting Paul to "smile" while on the computer!

David enjoys his pipe on Aguilas promenade

Paul waits while Stuart takes pictures at Aguilas.

Taking in the amazing views from the Bedar miners memorial.

Picking fresh figs from the garden.

A summer of visitors! The Dons.....

Stuart had long talked about his friends from back in America and this summer we were lucky to be able to host two lots for visits. The first ones to come to see us flew down from Barcelona after having cruised around the Med and it was an all to short visit as they were delightful lovely people. Don J & Don W (hence The Dons) live in North Carolina and are two of the sweetest lovely guys! Don W loved the pool and was like a water baby! We sincerely hope they will come back and visit us again soon, and for a longer visit!

Don W, Cliff, & Don J in El Almejero Garrucha

 Don J and Stuart in El Almejero fish restaurant, Garrucha

Stuart & Don W ponder what to order at El Almejero

 Don J and Stuart in El Almejero fish restaurant, Garrucha

Stuart and Don W are happy now as they had made their choices!

Excuse the blurry pic, Don W & Don J checking in at Almeria airport for the flight back to Barcelona and then home.

Bedar on Fire and our house warming - August 25th & 26th!

Our first summer in the house saw a number of milestones some wonderful some not so. This was one of those not so nice experiences. As a townie I had never experienced anything like this so I was quite scared and nervous about the possibilities of our hill being overcome with flames! Ironically we had scheduled our house warming party for the Sunday afternoon. Little did we know that it would literally involve so much heat!

Here is another video uploaded to YouTube that shows the fires from a much more intimate perspective! These shots were taken across the Bedar road on the hills around there.

Amazingly the combined efforts of the army, local fire fighters, the helicopters and planes managed to get the fire under control and it was largely out within 24 hours. They had to keep damping down as the ground could have smouldering under the surface but thankfully we got away far easier than the Marbella area a few days later!

We were able to still have our house warming party once they reopened the road up to Bedar later in the afternoon and we were happy to be able to relax and feel safe!

Chris & Jean (our closest neighbours) talking with Peter and his partner David (from near Valencia)

 in the foreground.

Annie (one of the previous owners) talking with James & Alan.

David (from near Valencia), Stephen, Alan & James enjoying food, drink and conversation on the patio.