Santa Pola salt pans before dawn

This is an area of outstanding beauty although most people see it as they dirve between Alicante airport and Guardemar de Segura. This might explain how it retains its magic despite the large conurbations all the way around this area. It is a place that demands respect any time of the year. This photo was taken before dawn.

The older town and cave houses

Despite being on the edge of desert the rambla near Puerto Lumbreras has taken on a very colourful coat this summer and the scent that comes from these flowers is heavenly.

Yes another bank holiday gone and the house still not sold. Why do people trapse through a house with no intention of buying just to have a nose around. One rubbish offer and a few maybe's but nothing final. This is so frustrating. Two good things though mums house sold and she found one close to my sister. Don't who is madder my mum for doing it or my sister for allowing it. They'll kill each other. Still at least that lets me off the hook. I can now move nowing that she has come in to the family fold. The other good thing being the youngest pony has joined the gender of gelding. Ouch !!!!

Well guys we made it!

With only two weeks to prepare, we're now in Los Boliches, Costa Del Sol lafter eaving our jobs, family and friends behind to run a bar. Some people probably thought we were barmy after all we did go on holiday and come back with a bar!

Our house is still not sold but it is on the market. What's the worse that can happen! (That seems to be our phrase to get us through the two week period and has worked so far). Most of our big furniture has been sold and thanks to friends and family who have kindly taken things off our hands.

Jules and I spent the week in Moratalla so we could do a spot of renovation (after paying just over 100 euros for building permissions - which it seems you need for even small DIY jobs) at hour place in Moratalla. We didn't get as much done as we'd liked but were really chuffed to be messing about in our own Spanish home.

In fact, the house was much bigger than I remembered - which is always a nice surprise.

Mañanaitis Bureaucracy and us