Future Visitors

Whoa Whoa. My lovely sister is coming to visit again. I got a text from her with her available dates & within 1/2 hour I had her booked on a flight for November. She will arrive with us late evening on Friday 16th & leaves late evening on the following Wednesday. This will give her 5 full days therapy shopping & I have already booked a girls day out on the Tuesday. Seems ages until she comes but I know the time will quickly pass.

Paso de los Pescadores

On Monday, a number of the International Costaleros who carry one of the Easter floats in Torrevieja were asked to assist with carrying the Paso de los Pescadores (Fishermans Float) as they were short on numbers.

Quite a few of the Internationals turned up & all were given a shirt with the Paso badge on. The picture shows Allen & another San Luis member Les Bedford proudly displaying their shirts.

The float was taken from the church down to the harbour & loaded onto a fishing boat decked with flowers.

The boat then sailed off into the sunset for a trip around the harbour.

When they returned it was almost dark. The boat & all the support boats were decked out in lights.

They unloaded the float then a choir sang for about 30minutes before a spectacular firework display. The float was then carried back to the church. Some of the International Costaleros retired to a bar for an after carry drink & for some toasted cheese & ham sandwiches at midnight.

Here we go again

Last night was the opening ceremony of the Spanish Nationals Bowls Championships.
Today we start playing & it will be a long 2 weeks as I am also organising.
Temperatures well into the 30s so lots of water will be needed.

Champion of Champions Final

After this mornings final I am now offically the Ladies Singles Costa Blanca Champion of Champions. I am so chuffed to achieve this, especially as I have been spending 9 hours a day organising the event too.



Champion of Champions

This week I have been running & playing in the Costa Blanca Champion of Champions. All the San Luis entrants got through their first round matches only to fall at the second hurdle, except little old me in the Ladies Singles.

After a very scrappy game in the first round in which I played in my terminology crap but managed to win, I have won my other matches comfortably to get to the final. This will take place on Saturday morning, as my possible opponents still have to play their semi final.

Will update after the Final.

Weightwatchers

Two weeks ago I signed up for Weightwatchers as both Allen & I wanted to lose weight.
The first week I lost 2,1kg & Allen lost 1kg. After weigh in this week Allen has now lost 2kg in total while I have lost 3.8kg (over 1/2 stone for those who work in old weights).
We are both happy with our progress & I am hoping that I can lose my 10% by the time we go to UK early June.
Will keep you upto date with our progress.

We Are The Champions

This weekend was the conclusion of our Club competitions which have been running throughout the winter season.
I was fortunate enough to get to 3 finals, 2 of them with Allen.

Yesterday morning we played the first of them, the Rinks with Joe Johnson & Alan Barton. We showed what a team can do if they play as a team. We scored 2 shots on the first end & after that were never ahead in the match. We scored a single shot on the 18th end to draw & force an extra end. When Allen, Joe & Alan had finished bowling we were holding game but Mal Hughes killed the end making us replay it. Once again after the three lads had finished we held shot, neither Mal nor I did anything with our first bowl but Mal took the shot with his final bowl. One bowl left to play & I had a tickle off my first bowl to turn it onto the jack & win the game.

A quick break for lunch then Allen & I were back in action playing Mixed pairs against Mike & Sheila Cox. Once again we won the first end then let them get away from us. With the score at 13-4 to them it looked as though the writing was on the wall but a 5 on the next end put us back into it & we got going. We only dropped 1 more shot on the final end & won 21-14.

This morning I played the Ladies Singles against Margaret Morrison. What a game we had. First Margaret went ahead then I did. Margaret pulled level then I went ahead again. She evened the score at 17. A couple of ends later & she led 19 to 18. She now needed 2 while I needed 3. I then played my best end of the match & with just Margarets last bowl remaining held 4 within inches of the jack. She played weight & hit the head but the jack went the wrong way for her & I held the 3 shots for game.

Three finals & 3 wins.

I am especially pleased because of the amount of time I have had off from bowling this winter with health problems.

Snow in Spain

Today the highest temperature has been 9C & I understand it was down to -2C overnight. Have spent most of the day in the house with heaters on to keep us warm. But according to the pensions office in UK the ex pats are not entitled to receive their winter fuel allowance as they live in a hot country. Anyone think we should send them this picture to prove we do need to pay for heating.

This is Alicante, only 30 minutes drive away with snow on the mountains behind.







More Wedding Items

Having completed the previous wedding order I thought that would be it. Then I was approached by a couple who are getting married In Gibraltar & then having a reception back at their bowls club. Their only remit was that it had to be black & white theme.

I decided to do the table settings as easel cards. Decorating with black & white daisies & black butterflies with gems.

I then used the same back sections on the table plan which was done on black and decorated in reverse to the settings with white & black daisies and white butterflies.

Delivery tomorrow so fingers crossed that they like them.

Just 2 More Sleeps

Back in April when I booked my short break to UK for the Craft Show it seemed like ages away. But time has flown & on Thursday I will be flying out from nice warm Spain to ?? But I wont be spending much time outside so wont need to worry. I am staying in a hotel at Birmingham Airport & will get to & from NEC via the fly train shuttle.
On Friday, I will be joined by Lynda, my dear sister & my lovely niece Chloe. There are 3 shows in one so will probably cover what they want to see on Friday & then do all the cardmaking stuff on Saturday. Am armed with my bank card & plenty of sterling.
On Saturday evening Lynda is coming back to Birmingham so we can go out to eat, and will then stay at the hotel with me. I have to be at check in at 5.25am so Lynda will wend her way back to Gloucester and be home by the time I take off.