VIVA ESPAÑA

I have been so caught up with stuff lately – at work and at home, so I really haven’t had much time or enthusiasm for writing anything – or reading for that matter.

I am still trying to sort out a re-mortgage on my home. Hopefully, when it all works out I should be free of some of my debts, the more interest heavy ones that is. I didn’t realise how time consuming and stress filled this would be – as for paperless applications – IT’S A LIE!! I have a mountain of paperwork from: The Broker, The Solicitor and The Building Society – it now fills nearly two manila folders with random stuff and I still have no money. Ah well, ‘patience is a virtue’ I have been told.

It was Mother’s Day last Sunday and my boys bought me a DVD of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and a lovely card. They were supposed to re-grout my bathroom tiles for me, but a heavy night the previous night, put paid to any manual work and they spent most of the day nursing their hangovers. Boys will be boys eh!!

My sister (Palmers Green) phoned to ask me if I would like to join her and take our Mother out for day on Sunday. She had seen an advert for a ‘Viva España’ Exhibition at Olympia in London - My Mum has been feeling really homesick for Spain recently, she has not been able to spend much time there since my Father became ill and she is really missing catching up on all the local gossip from family and friends. We have tried to convince her that she should go for a couple of weeks, but she is always so guilt ridden (that’s the Catholic part) that she won’t leave my Dad, even though we are all more than capable of keeping an eye on him. – Well anyway, my sister thought it would be really nice to take her there, if only to get her out of the house and spend a bit of time with three of her girls (my other sister Angie lives in Mallorca).

After a marathon journey, which took us five changes of trains (Sunday service on the London Underground is hellish) we arrived at Olympia. The exhibition was primarily for property sales, but in amongst the property sales, were free tastes of: Chilled Spanish Sherry, Soberano Brandy, a selection of wines from all over Spain; Olives, Nuts, Spanish cured ham (jamon Serrano), bread with olive oil and several other tasty titbits. I was feeling quite tipsy after only one taste of the sherry (well it was quite strong!) and my sisters from Palmers Green and Harrow and Wealdstone, were entering into the spirit of the whole event. There was Flamenco dancing and singing and we also stopped for some lunch in the makeshift Square (Plaza Mayor) and had a selection of Tapas . My Mum seemed to enjoy the event, but I am not sure if it only served to make her even more homesick – I must have a little chat with her tomorrow, when I pop in for a visit.

My boys were at it again on Monday night – Tottenham was playing against Chelsea in an FA Cup round (I think?) and they took the loss quite badly and so had to drown their sorrows. My eldest son told me that his brother had fallen asleep leaning against the bar and that he had left him asleep until it was closing time. I also ended up with a street sign in the middle of my living room, which I am not at all happy about. It is being returned this evening – definitely!!

I would just like to say, that my two boys don’t normally go together, out on the ‘lash’ as they call it, but I am quite pleased that they get on so well – it just shows how much they have grown up recently. Sorry did I say grown up – except for the street sign incident they are normally very polite and well behaved boys. Everyone is entitled to go mad a bit now and then.

Well got to go and get ready now – I am off out to meet a friend, we are going to the Cinema to watch ‘Premonition’ with Sandra Bullock. We are then going out for dinner to Chiquitos – better still she is paying!! I have such very good friends!! Ha, ha!!

Adios amigos, hasta pronto.


Jo xx