Retirement in the Costas

With due thanks to Margot, we had a brief taste of the life of a retired Brit living in Spain. As anywhere, it seems the more you put in the more you get out, and it was good to get a sense of the real Spain (and some of her issues) from locals we met. Infrastructure much better than the last time we visited, and a new government about to be sworn in (albeit with the EU demanding yet more cuts to public spending). However, if what you want is sun and cheap living, there appear to be worse places to live.

Slightly surreal to temporarily join the local choir to practice parts of the Messiah, but as us singers know, there is nothing like choral music for bringing people together.

Beer and tapas in Almoradi

Hot springs at Archena, near Murcia

Hot springs at Archena, near Murcia

Marina at Torrevieja

Torrevieja

Post market and post lunch at La Marina

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Hovercraft at Lee on the Solent

Having passed the Hovercraft Museum at Lee on the Solent a number of times when it was firmly shut, the news that it was opening on Saturday mornings was met with glee from the old man and me and less enthusiasm from the old dear. So when Bryony visited in February, it was a good opportunity for some father/son – grandmother/granddaughter bonding time – but separately.

BTW, museum well worth a visit if you are into that sort of thing – you would struggle to find anything similar elsewhere.

Parents – 60 years and counting

Our family is extremely fortunate in having both sets of parents with us. We celebrated the paternal parents’ 60^th wedding anniversary in splendid style, taking the house in Cornwall that we occupied 10 years ago to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. This time Livi managed to avoid putting her hand through a glass window, so instead of hospital in Truro it was lunch in Padstow. Pictures were taken by Charlie, the quiz by the Old Man and Sunday by Father Christmas. So lovely to get together with family members who we don’t see enough to remind us how blessed we are with each other.

Just need to check the house is available in December 2025. The parents are certainly up for it.

BTW, 70 years is Platinum (and 80 Oak).

Padstow

St Kew

What a lot

Toasting the parents

The games room

Christmas quiz

A visit to the parents

About time to get the parents back on the site following a visit a few Fridays back. The house is looking in great shape (especially following a supreme short back and sides on the grass – check out the picture!). On the way there picked up Livi from an extended stay with her new surrogate sister Rosie.

Check out the hat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My hat’s better

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still not taller than the old man yet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out those lines!