May 4 - May 6

 

                                              May 4 

We had shocking weather last night; I wanted to put a few videos here but it is another skill I have to learn.

We had thunder lightening and hailstones. I was enjoying it though. Then I went for a wander round the house and discovered all the vulnerable spots where the rain can get it; Sofie's Terrace and the bathroom were the worst, The Terrace is not really a problem we can fix that easily enough ; but there might be a loose tile on the roof over the bathroom.

I don't have much time left to get someone to look at it. I have asked Pilar to come over if we get rain like that again; to mop it up for us. At least Maria is in monthly so thats the longest the water would lie there; I don't think if that happened it would do any real damage. But hopefully Pilar can help or alert someone to help.

"Whit a cairry oan"

I am so glad I have had more time here this year as I am catching things relatively early.DV

I have to start packing things away and closing down  Castlenel; I can feel my resistance.

I have to go to collect my kindle today;I am hoping when that is done and I go for  a coffee I will find a spark to help me get going.

Happily Teresa cheered me this morning asking if she can bring anything over from Taiwan  I gave here a list; trousers from the night market and some yummy foods! 

She will be here in nine weeks sadly she will just miss A&L; ships passing in the night. As we are all in almost the same time zone we can have at least one zoom drinks evening.

We need to plan an evening or a lunch with Pilar while A&L are here. I would like us all to be together when we give her her Dot-Art  picture and her card.

Matthew is coming tomorrow morning with a colour chart so that I can pick the blue for the LA back wall. I want it to be close to the shutters blue; Matthew has told me the same colour will look different of a wall than it does on wood...he said he will take down all the art but I am going to do it myself and store it in my Salle room.

I will ask him about the leak in the bathroom; he seems to know everyone in the building trade round here.

Alberto said as he looked round the house that the bathroom beams would be better filled in for warmth in winter and cool in summer; I know he is right; but I like it the way it is, yet I know in time it is the right thing.

We did it in El Garret and it look fine and we still have the lovely

 ceiling in the kitchen, which I love.

I have just counted up the days I have been here this year and it is 3 days over the allowed stay when I leave in August ; which means a fine; so I need to change my flight hone . I will ask Andrew to help me with this when I get back to Liverpool. 

I just asked google if I can stay on my chosen dates; I got this answer...I still need to be totally sure

Yes, you can likely stay in Spain from June 29th to August 3rd (36 days) because, when looking back 180 days from August 3rd, your total stay in the Schengen area will be well under the 90-day limit. Your January-May stay will mostly "roll out" of the 180-day window by mid-summer. Always verify using an official Schengen calculator. [1, 2, 3, 4]

I wish I understood all this ; my nerves about it make it hard to take it all in... 

All shall be well

and all shall be well

and all manner of things shall be well.....and so it is.

May 4 PM

We have torrential rain again.I got caught in it when I went out for my Kindle( which is not ready) 

Luckily I brought my Hunter Coat with me I had that on with the hood and it was very effective.

As I sit here the thunder is roaring away. Happily enough it is not affecting the bathroom ( yet)

I have now packed away all the kitchen things . Next I will pack away the angels and my various ornaments in LA. I want to put away as much as possible to leave it clear for Matthew.

I have had lovely messages from friends and family about my videos of Castlenel . P&K and Tony have never visited and have always been curious. Sue saw a huge difference as she visited a lot in our early days. here.

Susan said although we have done a fab job of upgrading; she still recognised the house ; she has such happy memories of her time here with Gavin the year he retired.

          10.00 PM all the ornaments are packed away; all the art is down from LA walls

 

It has rained on and off all day; in the last hour it has stopped; Carrer Mig looks very peaceful

                                                                           May 5

It is my penultimate day in Castlenel and it is a beautiful morning. I cherish my morning rituals over here; although when I am back in Liverpool I enjoy them there too it is just different.

I heard from Penny this morning; we are going to plan a zoom when I am back. Mike is coming to the end of his life and P&S are doing all the caring; his sons live in France . I feel a bit judgemental as one son has retired so surely he could come over to help. They do not seem to appreciate all that P&S do for their dad. Johnny visits too but not so much as Penny.

I was going to visit  them in August , but I realised they have so much on their plate with Mike ,Steve's mum's visit , and the children's study schedules. I said let's leave it till Autumn ; she was relieved, she did not say it but I know ,of course she was. She asked for  zoom when I get back and says she misses me :) She said maybe in autumn she will visit me in Liverpool ....wow I am so happy she is even considering this even if I end up going there. It means she is able to lift her head above the parapet. What a decade they have had.

I have just heard that my kindle is ready, and my glasses are ready to be collected today too.

I will go for my massage at 12.00 noon; Matthew will be here at 2.00. The Siesta time, then I will collect my things.

I am looking at LA with out art and ornaments; and think this is a good time to make some changes along with the painting.

              I think this table could go it was a gift from a neighbour when we had nothing.

This bookcase could go into the foyer with the matching one. I brought them from Spancilhill.

Maybe one day the chaise long could go too.This is an opportunity to plan the room instead of it having random things placed  in there. I am sure Ikea has a nicer unit for DVD and speaker and cables. And maybe a nice unit or shelves where the book shelves are.

PM

I had the most wonderful massage with Isha . She has a gift.

Matthew came and in the end guided by him I decided to have all the walls in LA  Quartz Grey the same as RoR and when we are all here we can decide on another colour. for the back wall  Perhaps when we put the art up that will be colour enough.

I had tea on the balcony and did the last small laundry.I then had a wonderful apres massage siesta. 

I then went to collect my Kindle and Sun Glasses. I am very happy with both. 

                                                     May 6 ,my last morning in Castlenel till Jun 29 

                                                          we have blue skies and white clouds  

I will go to La Bassetta for a coffee and toast later. So far I have emptied the kitchen fridge ( I did the Burter's pantry fridge yesterday)

I am listening to John Denver's Greatest Hits. I cannot remember the last time I listened to JD. I still enjoy his voice and his music. Pilar will be over for a last cuppa between 1-2. Sofia had to cancel she has to see her lawyer in Alicante.

I have a wee envelope for her and Frank with 60  euro to say thanks you for their help this trip. I can't imagine what having the taps fitted would have cost. He just comes right away if I need anything; he says I am like another mother for him. Blessings on his heart.

I have his 40 euro too for the petrol. 

Heaven knows what they save me. 

I had to deal with Asda this morning; they emailed to say there was a problem with my payment for my delivery tomorrow. I don't know what the problem is so I changed the card to Monzo and it has gone through. I have used the same card with them for years.

I had a message from Air BnB too to say my payment for last weekend will be through tomorrow,

I had a message from  a long time client too to ask for a session on Friday. Life is pulling me towards my other life in Liverpool .

Frank will pick me up at the Town Hall at 7.30. I have 99 percent closed down Castlenel and left packing my case till after La Bassetta and Pilar; then I will pack, try to have a siesta ( hard on travelling days) then watch a film. It is a long day I won't get back to Liverpool till around midnight. 

I am excited for Sandra and Jackie they are off to Croatia today.I hope their Hotel is beautiful and everything is wonderful.

I can always find my fare to travel but a hotel is a bridge too far.I am so lucky I have Castlenel and family in various parts  of Scotland, London ,Cambridge ,Taiwan and Australia. 

Case is now packed it is well under 20 Kilo.

I watched BOBBY what a wonderful film and what an amazing time in History. I remember the day Bobby Kennedy died so well.It was a time of great turmoil in USA and Bobby Kennedy brought hope to so many.

My favourite scenes in this film and the ones with Laurence Fishburne.

In all the years since John died I have never had a feeling he is around; other family have ,but not me.

The other night I was watch a film and I had a feeling I felt John's hand on my shoulder ; just very briefly.

The next thing we had a crazy thunder storm with torrential and hailstones.

It reminded me of the day A&L and I were in Inveraray after scattering John's ashes at the Rest and be Thankful. The heavens opened that day too. I don't believe John was here ; something in the atmosphere must have triggered a memory, a feeling; perhaps I sensed the thunder storm was coming. 

I am in my last two hours in Castlenel. Time to pack away this laptop and get changed for my journey. 

It is very cold in Liverpool about 13 degrees; probably much colder at midnight ( 11.00 UK time)

Adios Castlenel till June 

                   "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

                                       — A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh

Bye the way.....May the force be with you....on  Star Wars day.