Silken 7 Coronas Hotel Murcia

We've not been far since Amanda's return as she was absolutely knackered. She is having to spend her mornings working but we've decided to get out and about a bit more so today we are going down to Mazarron on the Costa Calida.

Although it's not that far, only an hour and a half away, it is quite tough going. The route takes us through Cartagena, quite a big city with very busy traffic, and then over ...

Well would you believe it? I've been working for the last 2 days. A friend of Dave's who I met a couple of weeks ago needed a Brickie to build a couple of pillars. So, I dusted off the old trowel. It's been a long time but you never lose it.

Amanda is back tonight. I'm picking her up at Alicante Airport at about 11.30pm. Lucy and me have really missed her and we are both looking forward to seeing her...Ahhh.

I got up nice and early and was outside the Bank at 8.30 when they opened. I explained the situation and they asked me for the fax receipt which I didn't have. After a lot of huffing and puffing by the cashier she went and got out my paper file. Low and behold there was the receipt that they neglected to give to me the last time. It was duly resent and this time I made sure I had both receipts...Memo to self...Make sure you ...

Sorted out a T.V. package. The lads are coming to install it today so I'll be able to keep up with what's happening in the world. The telephone and Internet connection is being fitted tomorrow so I'll be fully contactable at last!

The lads came to fit the T.V. I've got a satellite dish on the roof which wouldn't look out of place at Heathrow...I hope it's not the one Del Boy had fitted on his balcony in that episode of only fools and horses!! I don't want to ...

We have been having a really lazy time for the past 10 days or so except for the cleaning and unpacking of course. Apart from a couple of bike rides into San Miguel one of the neighboring towns we haven't been far.

The weather has remained ...

Ano ther day. Still no sign of the electric being switched back on. Waited for the promised 24 hours and then called Iberadola again...OH NO!..They say they can't find any record of the payment...After a while it turns out that we have been given the wrong reference number to quote on the fax...AGHHH!.. Now that's been established we ask "How long before we're back on?"... "Within 24 hours" came the now ...

Went down to the Bank to sort out the problem with the non-payment of electric Direct Debit.
The Bank faxed the payment through so we might get re-connected soon...Fingers Crossed.

Ah well...at least the weather is hot and sunny...We can sit in the sun while we wait for the electric.

Our friends, Kath and Dave who live at Torrevieja came over this ...

... great and should be there we estimate, between 4 and 5 this afternoon...The weather is very hot for the time of year and we can't wait for the luxury of a nice warm shower...(insert dream sequence)

Reached Villa Martin...a welcome site after all that driving...Switch on the water and electric...OH NO! the electric has been cut off...Call Iberolada to be told the last 2 payments have not been received and to talk to the Bank...How long will it ...

... than our hearts, diamonds, etc. Of course, I forgot the rules relatively fast, seeing as I only half understood them in the first place, so they had to continually explain the games to me over the next two weeks of fiesta and travel. I spent many a night in La Republika, but I also spent time with my new family and with other exchange students. We had a kareoke night, in which I sang Shakira against my better judgement, we drank shots of espresso ...

... train station and they had a Spain Lonely Planet which they let us look at and a town plan which they gave us. So, we were able to find a pension just across the river, which had a huge pink neon sign over the door, and made Chris think the place was used by hookers but it was actually spotlessly clean and we had no problems there. We walked around the city, and were really quite amazed by the Spanish nightlife which never seems to ...