Denia 2009 Day #4 – Alicante & Carolyn’s Arrival

Carolyn was arriving at the Airport tonight at about 9:30.  Mum & Dad had said that they would come up and watch the kids and let us go and do some sight seeing.  Mo and I left about 12:30 and we headed inland.  We stopped at Gata de Gorgos for a walk around.  This place is famous for wicker furniture – my favourite!! Unfortunately, all the shops were closed for siesta, so we found a bar and had a “menú del día”. After lunch we got back into the car and headed towards Alicante.  We got there at about 5ish, we parked and started having a walk around the city.  Alicante is a lovely place.  Right on the coast, with a nice looking beach and lots of old fashioned narrow streets with flats on either side.  We stopped and had a few coffees, to break up the window shopping. 

I really enjoyed my walk around the city and before we knew it was time to go and pick Carolyn up at the airport.  Her flight was on time and we were back at the house for about 11 – time for a wee glass of wine before bed.

Denia 2009 Day #3 – Jog, Tapas & Lazing About

We arranged to meet Mum & Dad down at the Marina.  The boys were going for a run along the prom, and the girls were going into Denia for a saunter.

We ran out towards Las Rotas until the prom finished (which wasn’t very far) and on the way back Michael suggested doing sprints – I nearly beat him in the first one, but it completely gubbed me and I had to walk most of the way back!

We walked into Denia and sat down at a cafe on the main street.  I gave Mo a call to let them know we where we were and we ordered a coffee.  I had a cortado  to start and then had a bombon for afters – magic.

We had another wander round the town and ended up at a bar for some lunch.  We had some tapas – Calamares, Patatas Bravas, Fried Fish, and Mussels.

Mum and Dad were meeting Canadian’s later so we headed back to the house for a laze about the pool.

Michael ended up playing a card game with the kids.  The game was basically guess the next card.  They were playing with Ella’s Tweenie cards, so there was only a choice of about 5 or 6.  The game soon evolved into stupidity (the way these games tend to go with Michael around).  They had to do a daft dance and say the characters name in a funny voice – sounds rubbish, but the kids had a great time playing it.

The first picture was my view from the sun lounger (when I wasn’t reading my book)

Denia 2009 Day #2 – First Coffee, Toya & Juan’s

Ella was up at 7 o’clock, I had promised her, when she got up she could go swimming.  I was quite happy – it is easy to get up early on your holidays!!  It wasn’t long before everyone was up and having a swim.  At about 11 we went down to Denia to pick up some inflatable toys, masks and snorkels for the pool.  We had a wee walk round Denia before going in for our first Spanish Coffee – I love the coffee.

After the coffee, we went back up to the house and we had a mess about in the pool.  Mum and Dad popped up for a while.

Toya & Juan had invited us all up to their house for a beer before going down to the Marina for a pizza.  It was great to see everyone – the Urquhart's, and all the Spanish Brawleys, and Toya & Juan’s house is amazing.

  

Denia 2009 Day #1 – Arrival Day

Jean and Eddie were feeding us on Friday night and Michael came over because Eddie and Gordon were getting picked up in the morning at about 7.  We are sitting having dinner and Michael realises he has forgotten his shirt, cuff links and tie for the wedding!!  He has to phone Fiona to go up and get them from his house.  (She also threw out the half carton of milk from the fridge!!)

After dinner we head home and get the kids to bed and the last of the stuff packed and get to bed.  The alarm goes off at 6 and we get up and get showered and we are all ready and rearing when Eddie and Gordon come round.

We get checked in and through security before we got breakfast – Glasgow airport departures has a Greggs! Magic.

Flight over was trouble free and we were one of the first to get our cases.  We went into the car hire place and we got given the keys and where the cars were in the car park.  We started filling the boots with cases and were about to head off.  Michael, couldn’t start the car.  He had filled the boot of the wrong car! It was only when he had tried to use the key that he realised!

We got to Denia about 4ish and we had a bit of trouble finding the place, lucky Michael was there to ask the locals.  The villa looked great – lovely big garden with 3 outside sitting areas and good sized pool.  The view was amazing and there were big palm trees (good shade), a lemon tree and a pear tree.  We quickly dumped the cases and headed to the supermarket for some provisions and headed back up for something to eat.

Mum and dad came up later on in the evening.  They had gone down to Alicante to meet Johanna, Steve and the kids.  We had a few drinks and headed to bed – knackered, but feeling good!

Ella’s Graduation

Ella “Graduated” from nursery yesterday.  They were up on the wee stage, singing songs and got presented with a certificate at the end.  It was great.

España en la mañana - ¡fantástico!

Hospice Photocall

I was asked last week if I would mind coming down to the hospice to get my photo taken with the other 10k runners who were raising money for them.  I wasn’t too sure about it, but when I told Mo about it she said that I should go and that it would be nice if we all went along, so we could see the place.

We are just back, and I am so glad we went.  The place is lovely – a real nice atmosphere.  We were met at the reception by the PR/Marketing person, Michelle, who took us round the place, showing us the art room, hair dressers and the day room.  We had a coffee and home made banana cake (Meg didn’t like hers, so I had to eat it!! – I am not in training any more so it is ok) before going out onto the bridge over the clyde for our pictures.

After the pictures we went back inside for another look around.  At one point we went into the prayer room.  It had a “book of condolence type” of thing.  I started to read the entry on the open page and thought I need to stop or I am going to start greetin’.  I turned away to see Mo in floods!!  Brave as a lion!!  She had another wee episode in McDonalds after we left!  Megan and Patrick asked her what was the matter and Ella told them that she was just thinking of Granny Meg.

I was so glad we went – I feel really proud that I ran for them and thank everyone again who gave me money.  The people who work in the hospice have a very difficult job, but from what I experienced tonight, they do it extremely well.  “Gon the hospice!!”

Ella on her bike

As most of us know Ella can be a bit stubborn when it comes to trying new things!  She got a new bike for her 4th birthday, and apart from the odd up and down in the back garden, she hadn’t really taken to it.  This was not entirely her own fault – I hadn’t made much of an effort to get her to try.

For her 5th birthday we got her a basket and a stand for the bike in the hope that it would spark some enthusiasm.  We took the stabilisers off and she had a go, fell off and decided she wasn’t going to learn to go a big bike!

She decided last night she was going to have a go – so Mo and I took her down to the back field and here is the result …

10k – easy

Just back from completing the 10k.  Managed it in 55:44 (unofficially – I get sent my official time later).  I am happy with my time – I broke the hour mark, which 3 months ago I would never have believed.  At the 6k point my feet began to blister, and by the end I thought I was going to need skin graffs!!  Anyway – managed to raise £620 (plus the government gift aid amount of £121) for the hospice (there are still a few people who have promised a donation too). 

The hospice have invited me down for a photocall on Wednesday with the other runners collecting for the hospice so we are all going down far a wee look round.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored me.  

Here are the photos from the day so far – Dad has some, I will put them up when he emails them.  Dads photos are at the bottom. 

I am away to put my feet up with an ice pack on my knee.  See all the Brawley’s in Spain next week – canny wait.

 

Where’s Wally….

Here are Dads pictures.