Friday, 29 July 2016
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Getting into the swing of things
Sitting in my outside yard (it's a courtyard to Lynn) I'm reflecting on a hectic couple of months. To be honest we've not really had much time to relax here yet. It's hard to believe really. Jesus Pobre is such a laid back village; you could easily sit back and watch the world go by, especially in our house.
We rented a three floor town house in a modern complex (built around 13 years ago) from Paco the ex-tobacconist, as opposed to Paco the Pharmacist - you have to get it right! It has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two terraces on the top floor, you get the sun in the morning and afternoon. It's just a case of swapping terraces. We also have the use of a communal pool, about 50 yards from our front door.
There is a long living room/dining room a galley kitchen and our courtyard but the most redeeming feature is the view out of the front window - we have a living landscape painting - the Montgo national park. Looking out at any time of day you have a different vista as sun, cloud and temperature ensure it's ever changing. It's a landmark from near and far; Javea or Denia, the twisting mountain roads and the valleys leading into the region - it's ever present, every day.
Our first task at the end of May was to clear the 30 odd boxes of our stuff and buy three beds, we had guests and family on the way. To be fair, our daughter and son-in-law had traipsed to IKEA in Valencia and collected two children's beds, we made a trip to OK Sofas in Denia for a look at another.
I think we were in the showroom half an hour and had bought a sofa bed and a corner unit which could also be used as a bed - what a result. The plus points were: they were both in the Sale, the downer: the corner unit would take a month to make. Get the deckchairs out!
Our mission was to have everything almost sorted before the Euro's. That meant finding a suitable wi-fi system and TV package. We went for Europa's 3G wireless router and set top box. Internet okay, TV a bloody nightmare. It's still an ongoing saga!
Our friends were first to visit, just in time for England v Wales, the only highlight of a rubbish tournament. They were swiftly replaced by my youngest daughter and granddaughter plus daughters partner. It's seemed as if we'd not had a break since arriving. It did however ensure we had everything in place - less the sofa.
After dropping them off at the airport we only had a few days before hosting two girls who were attending Summer School at Lady Elizabeth in Benissa, that was for two weeks. Being gluttons for punishment we helped the school out by taking on a 14 year old boy, just for a week this time. So, nothing like throwing yourselves into the deep end!
All of the above has taken place over a 63 day period, add to it numerous shopping excursions, further trips to IKEA, the Spanish version of B&Q (Aki) and me trying my hand at telesales (I was rubbish), what will we do with ourselves when our summer school lad goes home?
It will be August, probably time for a few trips to the beach, the port, maybe explore Javea old town a bit more, go to Denia and gaze enviously at the super yachts moored in the Marina. Whatever we do I can assure you it will all be conducted at a sedate pace but unlike our adventures from Feb until May - there won't be a backpack in sight.
Check out the selection of pictures from our first two months on the right-hand side bar under the Pages section - Photo Album
We rented a three floor town house in a modern complex (built around 13 years ago) from Paco the ex-tobacconist, as opposed to Paco the Pharmacist - you have to get it right! It has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two terraces on the top floor, you get the sun in the morning and afternoon. It's just a case of swapping terraces. We also have the use of a communal pool, about 50 yards from our front door.
There is a long living room/dining room a galley kitchen and our courtyard but the most redeeming feature is the view out of the front window - we have a living landscape painting - the Montgo national park. Looking out at any time of day you have a different vista as sun, cloud and temperature ensure it's ever changing. It's a landmark from near and far; Javea or Denia, the twisting mountain roads and the valleys leading into the region - it's ever present, every day.
 |
| The ever present Montgo |
Our first task at the end of May was to clear the 30 odd boxes of our stuff and buy three beds, we had guests and family on the way. To be fair, our daughter and son-in-law had traipsed to IKEA in Valencia and collected two children's beds, we made a trip to OK Sofas in Denia for a look at another.
I think we were in the showroom half an hour and had bought a sofa bed and a corner unit which could also be used as a bed - what a result. The plus points were: they were both in the Sale, the downer: the corner unit would take a month to make. Get the deckchairs out!
Our mission was to have everything almost sorted before the Euro's. That meant finding a suitable wi-fi system and TV package. We went for Europa's 3G wireless router and set top box. Internet okay, TV a bloody nightmare. It's still an ongoing saga!
Granddaughter and Grampa - ready for the pool
After dropping them off at the airport we only had a few days before hosting two girls who were attending Summer School at Lady Elizabeth in Benissa, that was for two weeks. Being gluttons for punishment we helped the school out by taking on a 14 year old boy, just for a week this time. So, nothing like throwing yourselves into the deep end!
All of the above has taken place over a 63 day period, add to it numerous shopping excursions, further trips to IKEA, the Spanish version of B&Q (Aki) and me trying my hand at telesales (I was rubbish), what will we do with ourselves when our summer school lad goes home?
It will be August, probably time for a few trips to the beach, the port, maybe explore Javea old town a bit more, go to Denia and gaze enviously at the super yachts moored in the Marina. Whatever we do I can assure you it will all be conducted at a sedate pace but unlike our adventures from Feb until May - there won't be a backpack in sight.
Check out the selection of pictures from our first two months on the right-hand side bar under the Pages section - Photo Album
Goodbye England - Hola Spain!
We spent a week adjusting after our travels around Asia, strange not going back to the pub though. My first priority was getting the car fixed; a flat tyre and it being a non-starter fully concentrated the mind. I called out the AA, they got it going allowing me to drive the car to the garage and get it prepared for the long journey to Spain.
Packing the car with our remaining possessions it was evident it would be overloaded. A trip to Halfords did the trick - I bought a roof top box; sadly that would cost me a little bit more later in the journey. Using the time wisely I got our financial arrangements all in order and sent out change of address details to various companies - ready for the off!
On Saturday 21st May we said goodbye to my Auntie Pam who'd looked after us on our return and departed to Warminster to say "tarra" to Lynn's dad. Our ferry was booked for the Sunday and was a two night crossing from Portsmouth, a chance to test out the new sat-nav. I managed to catch up with an old army pal in Warminster on the Saturday night after I'd watched Man Utd winning the FA Cup final and Louis Van Gaal losing his job.
All the goodbyes completed, we set off for Portsmouth and the UK base of Brittany Ferries. They weren't too benevolent towards us though; the robbing so and so's charged me another £40 for the top box - I'd booked the ticket in February, didn't think they'd be that tight. As it was, we drove onto the car deck of Cap Finnistere and parked in an area you could have got two double-decker busses in; on top of each other. Why the hell we got charged for an extra foot of height is beyond me.
We found our cabin, I hadn't splashed the cash on this, it was bunk beds for us and I was on the top. Luckily there was just enough headroom for me to get up after negotiating the ladders. I'd not had this much fun since I was in the army!
The crossing was uneventful - thankfully, I'm not a good sailor at the best of times. We survived on the self-service food and drink, we weren't on holiday, this was serious, we'd need the spare cash in Spain. After two nights (including a stop off in Roscoff to change crew) we landed at breakfast time in Bilbao - Hola y buenos dias!
Just our luck we were picked out for full passport check but it wasn't long before we were following the directions on the sat-nav and tearing round the high-rise of this Basque Region city. Climbing into the high lands it took on a look of Scotland or maybe even Switzerland. It was cool too at this level, the temperature struggling to reach 15 degrees Celsius.
The Basque Region gave way to Rioja, the vines spread out for miles along the side of the highway and on any exposed slope. Signs for ski resorts were also popping up on the exit roads - snow evident on the higher sierras; certainly not the Spain we were used to. We seemed to be climbing higher as we crossed the Zarragoza Plain, skirting the city of the same name, it was getting warmer now.
After six hours driving and two pit stops we descended from the high ground toward Valencia, the temperature now touching 25 degrees - Palm trees - we were on the last leg of the journey.
We've been visiting Spain for the last eight years, always landing at Alicante and approaching our final destination from the other direction. Fortunately last November we'd been across to celebrate our daughter's birthday and had visited Valencia. Having negotiated the ring road and in familiar territory the last 45 minutes was a breeze, hardly any other cars on the road (at 4pm), we were here - our new home. Now the hard work begins!
 |
| Everything taken but the kitchen sink |
On Saturday 21st May we said goodbye to my Auntie Pam who'd looked after us on our return and departed to Warminster to say "tarra" to Lynn's dad. Our ferry was booked for the Sunday and was a two night crossing from Portsmouth, a chance to test out the new sat-nav. I managed to catch up with an old army pal in Warminster on the Saturday night after I'd watched Man Utd winning the FA Cup final and Louis Van Gaal losing his job.
 |
| Last pint in Blighty with Dave (Pies) Taylor |
We found our cabin, I hadn't splashed the cash on this, it was bunk beds for us and I was on the top. Luckily there was just enough headroom for me to get up after negotiating the ladders. I'd not had this much fun since I was in the army!
 |
| A bleak looking Pompey |
The crossing was uneventful - thankfully, I'm not a good sailor at the best of times. We survived on the self-service food and drink, we weren't on holiday, this was serious, we'd need the spare cash in Spain. After two nights (including a stop off in Roscoff to change crew) we landed at breakfast time in Bilbao - Hola y buenos dias!
Just our luck we were picked out for full passport check but it wasn't long before we were following the directions on the sat-nav and tearing round the high-rise of this Basque Region city. Climbing into the high lands it took on a look of Scotland or maybe even Switzerland. It was cool too at this level, the temperature struggling to reach 15 degrees Celsius.
The Basque Region gave way to Rioja, the vines spread out for miles along the side of the highway and on any exposed slope. Signs for ski resorts were also popping up on the exit roads - snow evident on the higher sierras; certainly not the Spain we were used to. We seemed to be climbing higher as we crossed the Zarragoza Plain, skirting the city of the same name, it was getting warmer now.
After six hours driving and two pit stops we descended from the high ground toward Valencia, the temperature now touching 25 degrees - Palm trees - we were on the last leg of the journey.
We've been visiting Spain for the last eight years, always landing at Alicante and approaching our final destination from the other direction. Fortunately last November we'd been across to celebrate our daughter's birthday and had visited Valencia. Having negotiated the ring road and in familiar territory the last 45 minutes was a breeze, hardly any other cars on the road (at 4pm), we were here - our new home. Now the hard work begins!
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Welcome
Hi and welcome to Costa Del Blogga, a view of life on the Costa Blanca.
Written in the first instance for all my family and friends both in Morecambe, Lancs and worldwide; it's also a portal for anyone living in this lovely area of Spain to contribute anything of interest for all of us. Living in the beautiful village of Jesus Pobre I'm in a unique position to commentate on activities in both Javea and Denia with an inquisitive eye on the rest of the Costa Blanca.
Posts at the moment will appear ad-hoc but eventually I will publish content on a regular basis; one of my main writing projects at the present time is getting my book Backpacking on a Pension started. You can read what is virtually the synopsis of the travelogue by clicking the link on the right-hand sidebar. Don't forget also to navigate through the archive. My friends back home have already read and contributed feedback to that blog during the period February to May this year. Newbies - contribute away!
Feel free to give your feedback on this blog - you may have to register into the world of Google. If that bothers you sign up for email updates and get in touch that way - especially if I make a boo boo with any information disseminated. I am after all: human!
For those who live here on the Costa Blanca and run businesses this is your chance to advertise for free for a limited period. Of course those readers who also live here will know about you but there will be others reading this who may be thinking of visiting or living in the area. Get in touch with me on dennisonmike057@gmail.com or give me a ring on 965974396 or 0044 7966238347 to talk business.
My "Mission Statement" (God, don't you hate that saying?), is to Inform, Educate and Amuse. But please, let me know if I "piss you off"!
So, enjoy the blog, get involved, be invigorated but above all - be happy!
Mick Dennison
This photo was taken at the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market. A full article on this great social get together will appear soon.
Written in the first instance for all my family and friends both in Morecambe, Lancs and worldwide; it's also a portal for anyone living in this lovely area of Spain to contribute anything of interest for all of us. Living in the beautiful village of Jesus Pobre I'm in a unique position to commentate on activities in both Javea and Denia with an inquisitive eye on the rest of the Costa Blanca.
Posts at the moment will appear ad-hoc but eventually I will publish content on a regular basis; one of my main writing projects at the present time is getting my book Backpacking on a Pension started. You can read what is virtually the synopsis of the travelogue by clicking the link on the right-hand sidebar. Don't forget also to navigate through the archive. My friends back home have already read and contributed feedback to that blog during the period February to May this year. Newbies - contribute away!
Feel free to give your feedback on this blog - you may have to register into the world of Google. If that bothers you sign up for email updates and get in touch that way - especially if I make a boo boo with any information disseminated. I am after all: human!
For those who live here on the Costa Blanca and run businesses this is your chance to advertise for free for a limited period. Of course those readers who also live here will know about you but there will be others reading this who may be thinking of visiting or living in the area. Get in touch with me on dennisonmike057@gmail.com or give me a ring on 965974396 or 0044 7966238347 to talk business.
My "Mission Statement" (God, don't you hate that saying?), is to Inform, Educate and Amuse. But please, let me know if I "piss you off"!
 |
| Luna - my daughters beautiful dog - and some bald bloke looking after her! |
Mick Dennison
This photo was taken at the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market. A full article on this great social get together will appear soon.
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