Mallorca part 2

Wednesday we woke up and it was dull and cloudy, this is not the weather we expect over here! We decided to out for the day, and because Ollie was with us, we thought the Palma Aquarium might be a good idea. It's not far from the airport, about 45 mins drive, and we were there by 12. First thing to negotiate was the car park, tiny, but with a great guy manoeuvring people in and out. Then there was the queue to pay - enormous. But, we made it, and I have to say it was one of the best aquariums I've been to. The first section was tropical seas, and was made up of a mixture of huge and small tanks, with everything from piranhas and sharks to tiny brightly coloured fish like Nemo.

Of course there were sharks,

and giant Moray Eels, which looked as if they were talking to you as they constantly opened and shut their mouths.

There was a display of jellyfish and one of seahorses. The jellyfish were fantastic, displayed very well in tanks with coloured lighting, and were hypnotic to watch.

All through the exhibit the tanks were very well set out, with cushions for everyone to sit on and watch the fish. We spent ages there, and then came out into the sunshine to the gardens, complete ponds of turtles and rays, and with pirates throwing waterbombs at everyone to drench them and cool them off, as it was now very hot.



Then it was into the jungle exhibit with waterfalls, orchids, and giant ferns. Finally it was the ocean tanks which were enormous, and we sat for ages watching the sharks and other fish, which in places swam above us.

It was a great day out, we spent nearly 5 hours there. Then it was back for a swim and catching the last of the rays.

In the evening Stu and I went into Alcudia to meet a friend from work and her husband who were staying just round the bay from us. We managed a quick walk round Alcudia first, and then had a lovely evening with them in the old square.

Thursday was glorious, so we spent a day by the pool. I read a book, from start to finish, the best way to do to. It was Room, by and I recommend it to anyone. Amazing. In the evening we went to Alcudia again, and took Ollie and Tom for a walk round the old town, including round the city walls where you get amazing views of the town and the surrounding countryside. Bit scary in places though - you'd never get some of the steps up to the walls through UK Health and Safety!



The streets of Alcudia are lovely - some just small houses with plants and often people sitting chatting in the shade outside, and some with very upmarket shops, and always with  lovely bunting across the street to provide a little shade.

After a meal in a lovely courtyard garden, we were back to the villa for more socialising and a couple of games of pool.

Friday morning by the pool again and then to the beach, where Ollie and Tom built a car, and I made another dribble castle, my favourite beach pastime.

A quick nip to the supermarket to stock up on essentials, ready for Beka, Paul and family joining us tomorrow, and then a meal in the bar just across the road, where Ollie tired himself out in the bouncy castle. I had my first cocktail of the holiday, a champagne one complete with sparkler.

Then back to the villa, and Tom and Stu had a last few games of pool, but this time I joined in, and won two games on the trot. Pure luck, and them potting the white, but it felt good anyway!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mallorca, part one

So, we're in Mallorca, one of my favourite places. On holiday. Saturday was a rather uneventful day getting here - a lovely clear day as we drove across the Snake, good check-in, nice food and drink in a Lounge ( thanks to my bank giving me a Priority Pass), and a flight delayed by only an hour! Arrived at our villa in Puerto d'Alcudia about 8 o'clock and after a quick look round, we were off to find somewhere to eat. A nearby grill sufficed, and after a couple of beers and some steak and fish we felt like we were on holiday. The clouds seemed a bit darker than normal, but we thought nothing of it, until we woke up...

...the next day to find it raining. and I mean raining. Good old English throwing it down rain. So, we stayed in bed and hoped it would go away.



When it didn't, we got up and went shopping. Got the essentials, beer, wine, bread, loo rolls, you know the sort of thing. And got back to the villa to find the rain had stopped, and it was sort of OKish. Warm enough to go in the pool. Only the pool was cold. Very cold. But we soon got used to it, and a


good time was had by all. However, when we got out, we were cold, and me and Ollie sat wrapped in a blanket - not what you expect for a holiday by the Med! A phone call from home then caused a bit of a panic. The utility room ceiling had water dripping through it. The only thing above it was the fish tank, which was....leaking! Some quick thinking, and the application of a towel and duct tape seemed to save the day, and later we wandered down to the Jolly Roger Bar, which was - ordinary. Then we came back, sat outside the villa and chatted over a bottle of wine. Very civilised.

Monday we woke up to glorious sunshine, and spent the day by the pool. Reading books, listening to music, eating ice creams, and generally chilling out. In the evening we drove to Puerto Pollensa, and walked along the bay, looking at various sand sculptures



till we found a place we liked, and Tom and I shared a paella. Ollie wasn't impressed with the seafood!



When we got back we heard loud noises and after discounting thunder, decided it was fireworks, and climbed on the roof of the villa to watch them, and in the process saw an amazing shooting star. Not seen one as clear and as close at that before.

Today we woke up to sunshine and a few clouds, and after a mooch by the pool, walked to the beach, all of 10 mins. Ollie and Tom dug a hole until they reached water,



always a good thing to do, and I regressed to my childhood and built a sandcastle by the edge of the sea, and felt that amazing glow of pleasure when the sea filled the moat all the way round! Then I turned it into a dribble castle, taking me back to when my kids were small and I spent many happy hours doing it - all towers and turrets and fairies and wizards. And then watching the sea eventually claiming it and taking it down. Great fun.



Lunch at a beach cafe of sandwiches, chips and beer ( what else?), and tried to watch a friends funeral as it was live streamed to find it needed Microsoft Silverlight (yuch), and wouldn't work on my iPhone.

Back to the villa and some more reading by the pool, interrupted only by the fridge door falling off. Fairly spectacular. Maybe too much wine and beer in it? Then a BBQ with home made burgers, which luckily stayed together and some pool and table tennis and more wine before bed.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Non dancing weekend

A few years ago the dance team realised that we enjoyed going away together for the weekend, but sometimes the dancing got in the way. So, we organised a non dancing weekend. We went to the grouse and claret pub at Rowsley near Chatsworth where's there's a nice little camp site, and we've been going back ever  since. Last weekend was our annual pilgrimage, and the routine is usually the same.

Arrive Friday afternoon/evening, out the tent up in the rain (well often), have a relaxing drink in the gazebo after the rain has cleared up, and then go for a meal in the pub. Then, its more socialising in the gazebo, often with a few songs and tunes.

Saturday we walk into Bakewell - there's a number of different routes, and this time we went the steep hill way. After a stop to feed the ducks, its lunch in one of the pubs, and then an hour or two for some retail therapy.  Then - a breal with tradition, shock horror. Normally we walk back along the river to the campsite, but this time we caught a bus to Stanton-in-the-Peak. We were reliably told by Donald, the walk organiser, that the bus took us almost to the top of the hill. Well, he was technically correct, depending on how you define "almost". After a pretty steep climb we got to Nine Ladies Stone Circle, where the prehistoric stones made a good resting place. There was also an interesting tree, decorated with all sorts of stuff, including a dedication to Cthullu, which amused my son no end, but I've no idea why!

It was all downhill from there, back to the campsite, but on the way being one of the the dogs - a lovely gentle greyhound called Gem  - thought she could get through a gap at the side of a stile but couldn't and got stuck. Some very delicate handling and persuading her to go backwards eventually got her out.  Then everyone had a well earned rest.

The sun had shone on us all day, and continued to do so for the traditional BBQ. Everybody chips in and we have loads of food, followed by toasted marshmallows.  We also had pavlova, and I was challenged to whisk the cream with a fork, which I did, and tipped the bowl over someone's head to prove it was stiff enough. I'm glad it was! A rather more spectacular event was when I bent down near the BBQ to try and stop it wobbling, and set my hair on fire! Well, I'm told it was spectacular, of course I couldn't see it, but I could smell it!

More socialising, singing and playing, and this time it stayed nice enough for us not to huddle in the gazebo, which we've done before!

On Sunday  some of us walked to Chatsworth, via coffee in the garden centre, and had a picnic by the river, watching the deer who were on the opposite bank. A short shower had us running for the trees, but afterwards we were back on the riverbank with the kids paddling in the river.

A leisurely walk back, and a pleasant evening with those who were staying the Sunday night. A meal in the pub, a few drinks, and a not too late night. next morning we packed up quickly and were back to work by 11 - not bad really, and a great weekend with not a clog in sight!

Dancing Weekend

Great weekend away with my dance team, Yorkshire Chandelier down in Northamptonshire. It was the weekend of dance organised by Queen's Oak and Rose and Castle. About 15 different dance teams, camping at a Rugby Club for a couple of nights, and dancing at various pubs and villages. Great fun, and brilliant weather.

Good food, good company and a fair amount of beer and wine. There's some lovely villages which we visited on a bus tour on Saturday. Saturday night a ceilidh in the pavilion, and on Sunday we went to Stoke Breune Canal museum - a great place to visit. After a boat trip along the canal, all teams took turns to dance alongside the locks, being careful not to get too close to the edge.

Good to be with our mates Sheffield City Morris again.