Well…it seems to have been awhile since I Iast posted – it feels like just last week! Colin had a couple of appointments that went well, also the usual blood test, etc.
We had another very nice meal at Le Cheval Blanc in Luxe, although we had a bit of unanticipated ‘entertainment’ throughout. To start we had a drink that was accompanied by a small plate of four different appetizers – each as delicious as the last. The main course was awesome – steak, done somewhat rare even though we asked for medium-well (we might have been asked to leave if we’d requested ‘well done’ – haha). Anyway all of the food was so good, except that at the table next to us was a couple that were doing a video – we figured out that the restaurant approved it as the wait-staff posed along with the food. The problem was that the woman taking the video kept getting up and backing up against our table to get a ‘better shot’ – at one point her backside was right over the edge of our table and when she bent over to get the proper vantage point her sweater rode up and we could see her butt-crack – as we were eating! I debated pouring a bit of our ice-water down her pants but decided to ‘take the high road’ and do nothing. At least it provided a bit of different conversation for us! We found out a few days later that the video was for a review of the restaurant for a local papier.
Max had a vet appointment, plus a teeth cleaning (which was badly needed – he really had bad ‘doggy breath’).
We also had a couple of nice meals at the Penalty Bar, but ended up staying home a lot most days in front of the fire.
In the middle of December we headed back down to Spain. As the farmers were protesting (yet again) we had to adjust our route continually to try to avoid them, although we did pass a few sights where they’d been.
We also did encounter a few dozen in one small town, although they only slowed us down a bit, rather than totally blocking the road.
Being back down at the house was great – I like it so much here. We had one small problem with the pellet burner, but were only without heat for a couple of days before we got it back running.
We had some more painting done by our neighbour Juani – the kitchen and foyer are now pristine again. She mentioned that the laundry room and attached bathroom could use a coat of paint, and she’s not wrong. Colin went to Ikea in Murcia and got some better shelving units for the laundry room so we’ve already booked Juani for sometime in March to give it a freshening up.
We had a delicious Christmas dinner – slow cooked boneless leg of lamb. We got it from a local farmer who also gave us the bone to flavour the gravy. I started it at six in the morning and it slow cooked for eight hours – it was so tender and delicious – complete with rosemary and thyme from the west garden. I thought we’d have left-overs for days but there was barely enough left for sandwiches the next day.
We’ve had a few very windy days as well as some torrential rains, but also some very nice sunny and warm days – I think it got up to 14 C a day or two ago.
We had a lovely day-trip yesterday to San Jose, which is on the coast just north of the tip of Capo de Gata.
Once again we managed to find the best restaurant, and our meals were excellent.
There were many little stray cats in the area and I wanted to catch and take every one home – especially a little black one with a gimpy back leg. He would have been relatively easy to catch but having a cat in a campervan is probably not the best idea.
We have met several folks over the years that have had travelling cats but it would add extra work for us.
Sally McKenzie's European Adventures 