Ikea Murcia

We [no I better make that ‘I’] decided it would be fun to go to Ikea in Murcia as I had to have a trolley... dosn’t everyone buy something stupid on holiday?  One of the crochet facebook groups I belong to was becoming obsessed with them for their wool and patterns. I did a little research and Ikea in England Uk sell them for £50 but Ikea Spain sell them for E39.99 that’s £35 a saving of £15!
Plus it will be ideal for me at home.

We set off about 10am for the 45 minute drive along the main roads, bought the trolley and a few other things, plus had a lovely lunch. Ikea UK could do with some Spanish style!

In no hurry to get back Chris put in the SatNav the shortest route back to the villa, and it was a wonderful drive through the hills, past little Fincas and lots of orange and lemon groves laden with fruit. It took just over the hour but was so worth it. We miss so much driving motorways.

Temperature upto 22 today but Chris put the trolley together before going out to sunbathe.
Now where is all my wool...

Approaching Ikea Murcia Spain

Yummy lamb shank for me, meatballs for CJ
and as treat the most delicious carrot cake to follow

Windy roads through pretty countryside

Putting the trolley together

Tuesday 29th January

Slowly recovering from the cold bugs we have both been suffering with. Today was the day of going out and enjoying this holiday.
We started with a trip to Los Alcazares street market, always a fun thing to do, with traders selling just about everything you could wish for. We had not visited this market before and were surprised how large it was.  Everywhere seems to have murals painted on outside walls, guess its better than graffiti. The school where we parked was no exception.

A quick Lidl shop for a few odds and ends, home to unload and then out for lunch at
The Dog House, Dolores de Pacheco, about 10 minutes from where we are staying. We were the only patrons and the food was delicious. Chris had steak and kidney pie, I had Steak and ale pie. It turns out the Welsh couple that own it only bought it in November and were just feeling their feet in a new adventure.  We were so impressed we booked for Sunday lunch.

Saturday 26th January 2019

Both feeling we need some sea air so set off mid morning for an Artisan Fayre along the coast at Carrion Beach, Los Alcazares. The sun is shining and the sea and sky are blue.
There is not much to see on the stalls other than some jewellery and baby things, but we have a nice walk on the promenade.
A quick stop at a ‘China’ shop for a lemon squeezer and the shop next door for a little food shopping.
Back home for lunch outside and shorts on.

Crochet along part 4

Attic24 released Part four of the SweetPea crochet along this morning. I realised I am going to be short of ‘Lavender’ so may have to make a little change... thank goodness sweet peas come in so many different colours hopefully no one will notice. The nearest Stylecraft yarn stockist here in Spain is 100 miles away!!

Hoped to go for fish and chips again today but we are both still really bad with our colds and coughs, in fact I ventured out to buy quick food and see the Pharmacist for some medicine yesterday I felt that bad. Hopefully it will help. Glad I brought my crochet to keep me occupied in between coughs. Twenty degrees today here in Roda.

23rd January

While at home they are suffering really cold temperatures and snow flurry’s we had a bright sunny day here and decided to go for a short coastal walk. Both are still feeling the effects of the bad colds we are suffering and thought the sea air might be a good idea.

Chris taking a stroll

Loved this statue in someones garden

Neither of us felt up to using the gym equipment!

An amazing sun set, taken from the upstairs balcony overlooking the golf course

The light glows on the swimming pool and houses behind us.

Sunset looking up our street

Proud Grandma

I heard from home that Abigail age 15 had received an award, she has been coaching 5 to 6 year olds at the Billings Rhythmic Gymnastics Club for a year now.

Young Coach Award.

We are extremely proud of her.

Attic24 Sweetpea crochet along week 3

I am so enjoying this CAL from Attic24, I especially love the colours.

15 new colour choices were made on Friday 

and I have them lined up ready to start this weeks crochet along.

The 15 colours are based on a Sweet Pea Posy.

Saturday 19th January

It has been a relaxing week of walking by the sea and around the golf complex we are staying in.  A chesty cough has been aggravating  me for the past few days so I have been trying a freshly squeeze lemon in honey to improve things.

This Aloe is enormous 

Yesterday we went to our favourite restaurant, Quesada in Villa Martin, for lunch... wonderful fish and chips, the batter is so light it melts in your mouth even with a cold and sore throat.

Villa Martin tiled square

A pretty mosaic tiled seat

Our favourite local shop Mercadona is closing for refurbishment so we did a large shop to keep us going a few days on the way home. Spent the evening watching Series one of Due South.

Tuesday To the coast

A walk by the Mar Menor coast.

Blue sky and palm trees

Miles of coast and easy walks

Hardly a soul in sight

The Spanish equivalent of the Red Arrows were practising manoeuvres

Back at the villa the next doors garden has a tree full of lemons
they look like Christmas tree ornaments shining in the sunlight.

Again it was hot in the afternoon and Chris sunbathed while I listened to music and worked on my crochet. As I only received my iPhone a couple of days before we left home I had to buy some music to listen to, plus I had forgotten to bring my little [very old] music gadget. Two albums by Alan Jackson, what more could I ask for, I love his Country style.

Monday 14th

Today we are settling in for our six weeks here in Roda, Mercia Spain. The washing machine is on the go and a quick hop to the shops for essential supplies.
First stop to one of the many ‘China’ shops, they sell everything and I need an oven glove and some elastic. I brought with me a pair of summer trousers not worn for probably 6 months only to find the elastic in the waistband has gone so a running repair needed!
Mercadona grocery store for our major shop, then Overseas grocery store selling Iceland, Waitrose and Greggs produce for a few extras we want, especially the frozen Greggs sausage rolls, yummy!

The weather forecast 19c but in fact it got hotter than that and we both sat outside in the sunshine, Chris in just shorts sunbathing me working on my crochet project. As the shadows lengthened we went for a walk around the block and I experimented with my new [to me] iPhone taking photos.

The Garden

Blue skies and orange groves

Chris in shorts entering the villa

Sunday Zaragosa to Roda

Back on the road again for the final journey to our home for the next six weeks.
After a few miles the temperature dropped to Minus 5 degrees!!!  seriously cold.
Luckily as we travelled further south it rose to 18C plus. 1397 miles from home.


Fuel costs in the UK £1.25  France £1.30 and Spain £1 a litre approx.

On the journey to Roda I worked on my latest crochet project. Attic24 CAL [crochet along]

Saturday in Zaragosa

A welcome lie in after two days of travelling and then into the city for some sightseeing.

Basilica del Pilar [no photos allowed] stands in great splendour and our first place to visit.

An important Christian pilgrimage site , this baroque place of worship has a most magnificent high altar piece and the Regina Martyrum dome was painted by Goya.

The Zuda o Azuda was the headquarters in 13th century of the Muslim governors and has seen many changes.
It is now a tourist board.

Part of the preserved section of the 3rd century city wall

Goya is mentioned everywhere and a museum houses many of his works

We were recommended a visit to the La Seo Cathedral, just 'wow' 

Rebuilt from 1316 to 1319 in the Gothic style the high altar is just an amazing item.

Gold work, paintings and carvings are almost too much to take in.

There are so many places to visit in

this wonderful city but bad knees and 6500 steps were all I could manage.

We finished our day with a meal at the Buffalo Resturant.

January 11th & 12th France to Spain

1001 miles travelled from home, under the Pyrenees and through stunning scenery.
I completed yet another sock from heel to toe, green this time. It’s partner was completed before I left home.

We have arranged two nights at the Tulip Hotel Zaragoza Plaza Feria

Don’t you just love a RED building!

January 10th England to France

Up at 3am on the road by 3.30am for our booking on the 7.20 Eurotunnel early arrival means we travel on the 6.50 train and arrive in France half an hour later plus one hour time change . 8am in the pouring rain we travel to Poitier, a 15 minute hot drink / loo stop and a 30 minute lunch stop plus a 15 minute walk stop [ need to get the legs moving] we arrive for Our first night hotel.

Sejours & Affaires Poitiers Lamartine France


This is very much in the student area and the room comes with a kitchette and all mod cons for £40 plus 6 euros for secure parking.  After a rest and cuppa we decide on an early dinner, which means either McD or KFC as all the resturants do not start serving until about 8pm. We find a KFC and then fill up with Auchan fuel at 1.43 euros a litre [ 1.53 on the Autoroutes].  541 miles today.

Knitted from heel to toe on the drive from the tunnel to Poitier,
Had to wait until we arrived at the hotel to work the Kitchener stitch!

Jacqueline's 50th birthday

On Sunday ten of us celebrated daughter in law Jacq's 50th at the Windhover Resturant.
Her mother Heather and two sisters Karen and Christine plus Karen's partner Jackie, Chris and myself plus of course Richard and the girls.

Lots of empty plates.

Fun with the balloons

Back at their house  we shared the stunning cupcake birthday cake
Happy Birthday Jacq.

Sweet Pea CAL week one.

Sweet Pea colours wound onto lolly ticks and pattern printed.
The first instalment of the CAL [crochet along] was released on Friday
 and I have the starting chain of 212 stitches ready to go go go!
Thank you Lucy at Attic 24 for designing this CAL.

January IAM

The start of a new year and nine of us got together for our first IAM meeting of the year.
As usual they was a lot of noisy and chat but it is so nice getting together to share our lives.

Much to the amusement of the others I showed my half started sock collection.
We go on holiday soon and I can do straightforward knitting in the car on the auto routes, but nothing that needs attention. My plan is to have a few socks ready with either the top ribbing or heel worked which means they are ready for easy knitting. With a bit of luck I will have three new pairs of socks by the time I come back from Spain.

Penny had completed her latest quilt with extremely clever quilting to allow for the oval shaped centre.

Olivia brought Jenny to the meeting and showed us a lovely dress she had made.
Maureen looks on admiringly

Pauline had completed a couple of fleece baby blankets with applique rabbits.

Shirley, the wizard with the crochet hook, had completed a scarf that we all admired.

Ann having just returned from Australia showed us a clever use for a Tea Towel.
She had bought the bag at a craft show.