Nerja: Leading up to Nochevieja (New Year's Eve) there is excitement in the air. The supermarkets are filled with Cava and grapes to rapidly stuff into one's gob at the stroke of midnight. We're all looking forward to 2011; they'll be lots of fun and games for the first three months of the year and we are moving back to the UK in April.

Nerja: Beautiful day today - you could just about get away with wearing a t-shirt. Had paella at Ayo followed by a walk back in town. Parkes bought me a new man-bag for Christmas and it's fab.

Boxing Day

Lovely sunny day in Nerja, Beth showing off her amazing running skills.

Nerja: Too much fooooood. Cannot moooooove.

Nerja: Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad

So, Christmas is finally here! Beth currently has a cough and cold but should be right in a few days. I apparently have vertigo and have been feeling dizzy for the last couple of weeks (or is it last couple of decades!). Still, I should hopefully be shot of this virus soon. Parkes, however, is fine and is tucking into our Cómpeta vino dulce.

The weather on the Costa has been challenging of late. Lots of torrential rain and thunderstorms in the past days have given way to gale-force winds. It is supposed to warm up next week to 17-18 degrees centigrade so I am keeping my fingers and other limbs crossed.

Christmas Day for us will be a English-style roast dinner with Christmas pudding and custards. Beth will open her presents from kind relatives on Christmas Day and presents from us on El Día de Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) on the 6th of January.

Proud moment!

Beth has written her own name all by herself !

Sunday

Nothing like a dance routine on a Sunday afternoon..

Happy Christmas from the UK to everyone around the world. The weather is currently snowy and cold but Christmas spirit abounds. Peace and love. (Picture courtesy of Russell Photography Ltd.)

Nerja: Nerja's cemetery is not what I expected. The plaques are stacked on top of each other - it was like walking down an aisle in Toys'R'Us. It certainly saves on space and the place was not neglected with lots of beautiful flowers. It had a happy feel about it.

Nerja: Navidad is approaching and the religious juices are stirring. There are a few of these infant Jesus banners appearing draped over terraces - curious but not unpleasant.

Nerja: 3 year-old angst.

Nerja: One of the more impressive pieces of graffiti.

Nerja: It was a long day in Málaga on Saturday. Once we got home Annerie kindly babysat and Parkes and I went for a couple of pints and an Indian courtesy of Granny B. Jolly nice it was too!

Málaga: Beth on a kiddie-friendly donkey.

Málaga: Girls eating churros. This was our second stab at churros after not really digging them initially. Rather than dipping them in hot chocolate, dip them in sugar and let the good times roll! Combine these with a coffee and you'll be flying for hours.

December Warmth

Strings in action

Moral Of The Story Is...

Don't let your child get hold of your phone..

Nerja: The Christmas lights are up and look splendid and surprisingly tasteful. 

Nerja: Annerie and Helen enjoying the buzz and excitement that is the Escuela de Idiomas Nerja Crimble party. It was fun and apparently lasted until the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Nerja: View from the Balcon.

Nerja: Some warm, wet air has blown its way over from northern Africa and the temperature gauge hit 20 degrees for the first time in two or three weeks. It was nice to wander around in a t-shirt. Rain tomorrow though.

Nerja: Nice pic of Beth and Parkes on Playa El Playazo.

Nerja: A lamp post about to receive the wrath of God.

Nerja: Monday 6th December is Constitution Day in Spain and seems to be taken fairly seriously. Beth has her face painted with the Spanish flag at school on Friday and looked a little like Adam Ant. 

Nerja: Nice family shot on the Balcon.

Nerja: The three of us are at school this week and just as well as the
weather has been cold and wet. I shouldn't complain though as the UK
is really suffering with freezing temperatures and snow.

Schools

Last night we finally submitted our choice for Beth's schooling in the UK. It was difficult making the decision and there is no certainty that she get the school of our choice next year but hopefully it will happen. Meanwhile, in Nerja, Beth went back to school and enjoyed herself. Her mum also started three weeks of studies at the language school and I started a new fitness regime.

Almuñécar: We spent a lovely afternoon in Almuñécar at the aquarium. Beth enjoyed gawping at the great big sharks and did a little fishy dance (which was nice).

Almuñécar: Parkes topping up on fish.

Almuñécar: Parkes, Beth & Granny B.

Nerja: Beth in the tea house on Calle Granada. Very nice it was. And they serve tea.

Nerja: We are due some rain in the coming days so we took a gentle stroll around town today. The oranges are now quite ripe in the trees but eating one would put you on the toilet for days.

Nerja: The best coffee in town. Just down the hill from the Parador but I cannot remember the name of the bar.

Vélez-Málaga: We spent Monday afternoon in Vélez. Quite a nice place and deceptively large. We walked up to the fort on the hill and back down, stopping for a well-earned coffee at the bottom.

Vélez-Málaga: Beth gives her new body-warmer an outing.

Vélez-Málaga: Nice town if a little unspectacular.

Vélez-Málaga: Photo taken up by the hill fort.

Nerja: Sunday afternoon walk with Granny B (absent). Starting to get a
bit chilly out here.

Nerja: Sun goes down on Playa de Playazo.

Stop The Press!!

Parkes took Beth to the clinic today to get her neck cleaned and dressed. Beth was very brave. Her neck didn't look too pretty this morning but hopefully the gland will now return to its normal size. However Bekie was told we need to return to the clinic every day for the next few days or so to get the wound cleaned. Very nice of them to do this. Meanwhile, Parkes' is beginning to feel a little better, aided by a constant supply of cheese and crisps.

Glands

Beth has been back to hospital today with a very swollen gland in her neck. I has a big white head on it and doesn't look particularly good. She has been given some strong antibiotics to get rid of it. Apart from that she seems absolutely fine. Her mother is also unwell and hopefully both will make a speedy recovery in the coming days. School has been really difficult this week and I am the dunce of the class (again). However it is great fun learning this stuff even if you make some mistakes.

Granny B

Granny B arrives in Spain on Saturday and we are all looking forward to that. Although we haven't killed each other yet it will be nice to have someone else in the house to natter with. The weather is now cooling down and we are getting daily temperatures of 18 - 20 degrees centigrade and more rainy days (although these are the exception not the rule).

Language school is going great for me and I have another 5 weeks to go too! I managed 89% in last weeks test which I was pleased with since I was pretty rubbish at that sort of thing at school. Vamos!!

Nerja: Beth and Parkes on a Friday afternoon treasure hunt.

Nerja: Catching fish for Friday's supper.

Nerja: It was 'Otoño' day at school today to celebrate a harvest festival of sorts. Beth made a raindrop and wore it as a hat. Rather nice.

Bath

View from the apartment in Bath, Parkes had a fabulous weekend and came back thoroughly pooped.

Nerja: Beth hasn't been too well over the last few days. She's had a temperature and the doc says it's viral. She's good a good appetite though and is sleeping well. Hopefully it'll clear up in the coming days.

School is going well for me - really enjoying it! Parkes is off to Bath on Friday for a girls weekend which she is thoroughly looking forward to.

Nerja: Parkes' Halloween look.

Nerja: One of these bastards landed on the pram as I was pushing Beth back from the swimming pool on Saturday. A local gentleman kindly removed it for me. A beautiful creature but it hadn't paid the fare so it wasn't going anywhere.

Rainbow

Sunday met us with gale force winds then rain, then sun and then more high winds.

Nerja: Beth and her class dressed up for Halloween today and took trinkets into school with them. They all looked fantastic and made me chuckle.

Nerja: Spooky class getting ready to go inside.

Nerja: Paella anyone? The result of Parkes' cooking lesson.

Nerja: Wow check out my kebabs?!? What a feast of colour and flavour!!