John & Janet » Costa Del Sol

Janet and John enjoy the winter sunshine of the Costa del Sol

janet — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:30:58 +0000

Janet and John have just turned on the TV to catch the news and weather, they know that the BBC don’t always get it right but when the smiley, bubbly, blonde presenter says it’s freezing in the UK, they both know it’s cold. No doubt, if they were back home now they would have their central heating on and they would be indulging in that great British past time, complaining about the weather. As it is, they have been sitting in the sunshine catching up with an old friend at a local bar, walked across the beach and spent the afternoon soaking up the sun. It has occurred to them on this visit to Miraflores that now John has retired they could spend longer relaxing in the sunshine rather than trying to keep warm back in the UK. Janet, who has always maintained that the light and the lifestyle on the Costa Del Sol are a soothing balm for battered souls is quick to check out the prices of flights. They may have to face the cold of the UK very soon but knowing that they can come back when it all gets too much makes her feel so much better, time to turn her face to the sun and have another glass of chilled white wine.

John has a Bad Day

janet — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:25:15 +0000

When John woke up with something small round and hard in his mouth, he was obviously a little concerned! By the time he felt brave enough to open his eyes and look at what it was, he was besides himself. Janet felt his body trembling as he lay next to her, by the time she had raised herself up, John was holding a rather large filling with some tooth attached in the palm of his hand. Janet did what she always did in a crisis, she made some tea. John winced with pain as the hot liquid touched his exposed nerve, they had little choice, they both knew John wouldn’t make it through the week-end without a cold beer. They would have to get to a Dentist. With no car, the trip to the Dentist in La Cala did little to calm John down. Janet wondered if his nervous state was more to do with the possible cost than any pain he may experience. When the sole of his shoe started to peel away as he walked, Janet knew that in the order of things, this was a bad day for John. When they finally arrived at the Dentist, Janet and John were extremely impressed with the surgery, the staff and the Dentist at Policlinica Alen they were very professional, when the receptionist charged John the emergency rate of 20 euro for a temporary filling and told him he could have a cold beer almost immediately, Janet could see that John’s bad day was suddenly getting better!

Jack transports Janet and John’s furniture to Spain

janet — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:27:07 +0000

Janet and John were pleased and somewhat relieved when they had the phone call from Jack telling them he was outside their apartment with their furniture. The last time Janet and John were at Miraflores they contacted Union Jack removals after seeing one of his adverts in a free newspaper the SUR in English. There had been numerous emails before John had met up with him and handed over a leather corner sofa, a 32ins” colour TV and half the cost for transporting the items. Needless to say, Janet and John wondered if they would see their furniture again. Jack not only delivered their furniture, not an easy task bearing in mind all the steps and the heat, fast approaching 40 degrees, he took all the packing and the old three piece suite away. Janet and John are pleased with their new Corner sofa and will be recommending Jack to others.

Janet, John and the Cat with no Name

janet — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:46:52 +0000

Janet and John are in Spain where contrary to the BBC who forecast rain all week, they have enjoyed some very pleasant weather. They have spent time visiting an elderly friend of theirs who has restricted mobility since falling and breaking her hip last year. Unfortunately, her eyesight has also deteriorated, which meant giving up her car which has been a great loss. However, she has a great sense of humour and still manages to nip around to her local shops and bars on her Invalid Scooter which she refers to as her Ferrari. Janet and John always think of the television series ‘Benidorm’ whenever they see her hurdling towards them. On this visit, she hasn’t been her usual positive self, her cat who has no name, but answers to a whistle, isn’t well and needs to go to the Vet. She also needs to go to the Bank to get a large amount of cash as she is about to take delivery of a brand new red Scooter, John and Janet offered to help. The trip to the Bank was uneventful, John acted like a security guard but Janet felt sure that if they were attacked, he would willingly hand over the envelope stuffed with cash, his wife and elderly friend in exchange for escaping unharmed. The trip to the Vet, was more of an issue, Janet would say that she is more of a people person, than an animal lover. She is very fond of the Family cats, but that’s more to do with the fact that they are Family members, than any great fondness for cats. John, she believes has no great fondness for people or animals, which is why asking him to transport a cat who according to the elderly partially sighted owner has worms was never going to go down well. Janet was relieved when the Vet saw to them promptly, the cat who was struggling in her basket was surprisingly heavy. The poor animal was making dreadful noises similar to baby crying as the Vet took her out to be examined, he asked for help, it was obvious the cat had found the whole episode traumatic because she immediately peed over the counter. Janet looked to her friend and hoped she would rush to help, she did and got scratched in the process. Janet felt some sympathy for the cat with no name, if she had been put in a box, had something pushed up her bottom no doubt she would have peed herself as well. After the cat had been given the necessary medication and deposited back to the safety of her own apartment, everyone was ready to go to the nearest Bar for a drink. John was happy to receive a couple of beers in recognition for services offered.

Janet, John, Taps, Sink and Airport Security

janet — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:22:17 +0000

Janet and John decided not to carry the glass sink they had bought, back in their hand luggage. They had already packed taps, click clack sink waste, edging tiles and several large steel bolts into their bag. Janet was pleased when she went through airport security with her large bottle of perfume without any problem. John on the other hand was not so lucky, the last time they had taken taps back to UK in their hand luggage, security hadn’t been such an issue. But this time, the scanner picked up the tap, the security guard called the Guardia Civil and with the help of another passenger, John was told to go back and book the bag into the hold as he couldn’t take a metal object on board. He obliged, without making any comment about the practicalities of actually taking the tap out of a box which was sealed with a plastic strap and then doing any damage with it. Janet was told to wait in Departures, while she waited she wondered how much Ryanair would charge for putting a bag in the hold, a bag that might well be overweight, she hoped that John had his credit cards with him. As time went on she thought she should practice saying ‘You sent my husband back out because he had a tap in his bag and our plane is about to leave’ in Spanish. She was more than a little relieved when she saw John coming into Departures. They have both agreed that in future all their DIY purchases will go in the hold and they will make an effort to improve their Spanish.

Janet, John, Sun, Spain and Sink

janet — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:24:10 +0000

Janet and John have been sitting in the sunshine at a local bar, enjoying a few drinks with friends. Back in the apartment, they are now wondering how they are going to pack the few items they have bought into their hand luggage for their trip back to the UK. Normally Janet will buy a few things in Zara, on this trip she has only bought a cardigan so it’s not a problem. After checking restriction on liquids she is relieved that she will be able to take back the Cartier perfume she treated herself to. Their biggest concern is the sink they bought in the sale in Habitat, the click clack taps and the edging tiles. The tiles and the tap can go in the hand luggage, Janet and John have taken tiles and taps back before. Janet remembers the accasion vividly because John had bought grout, when security at the airport picked it up and called the guards and sniffer dogs she was horrified, when John then produced a hank of rope she decided it would be best if she walked away. After John explained the grout was much better than what he could buy in UK, they let him go. How he will manage with the sink, she doesn’t know. Hopefully, they will let him carry it onto the plane as it is a very nice black circular glass sink which will look great in the en-suite they intend to build. But just in case she will keep a good distance in the airport security check tomorrow.

Janet and John think Spain offers value for money again

janet — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:16:24 +0000

Janet and John have actually enjoyed going to the Supermarket and Bars on this visit to the Cost Del Sol. For the past year or two Janet has complained bitterly about the cost of groceries, whenever she got to the supermarket checkout there would be a sharp intake of breath as she handed over a huge amount of money for very little food. John on the other hand, thought that having to pay 2.50 euro for a San Miguel at the local bar spoiled his enjoyment. But not anymore, the Spaniards have at last seen sense and slashed prices at the supermarkets. Janet and John have been more than happy to pay 1 euro for a decent bottle of wine and 95c. for a large bottle of San Miguel, food stuffs are more realistically priced as well. The bars that have managed to stay in business have reduced prices, a local bar which charges 1 euro for a coffee and 1.50 euro for a small beer is always busy. With a better sterling exchange rate and more affordable property prices, Janet and John think Spain is now offering value for money again.

Janet and John enjoying 1 euro bottles of wine

janet — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:15:50 +0000

At last the Spanish supermarkets have realised that in order to attract customers, particularly the Brits they have to lower their prices. Janet and John have been shocked on recent visits at how expensive their grocery bills were. However, on this trip a better exchange rate along with food prices that have been slashed, Janet and John have managed to get out of the Supermarket without feeling robbed. In fact they have bought several bottles of wine which were on offer for 1 euro, they have enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon sitting in the sun tasting some rather decent Spanish wine. They intend to go back tomorrow to buy several more bottles.

Janet and John go to Spain and catch the Flu

janet — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:57:11 +0000

John and Janet have enjoyed a couple of days of relaxing and soaking up the sun. However, for the past two days they have been suffering with the flu. They have managed to find a pharmacy that was open and taken what has been recommended, Janet has argued that as the instructions are in Spanish and there is no obvious mention of not drinking alcohol then they should continue to do so, they have slept well. Unfortunately, plans to celebrate their Anniversary have had to be cancelled, they don’t feel that turning up at a restaurant in their pyjamas is appropriate, that’s if they could find one open. It really is very quiet here, Janet has invented a game of spotting another person from the balcony, she hasn’t reached double figures yet. The flu is beginning to get to her, but as John has said having the flu together is really quite sweet and being ill in the sun has to be marginally better than being ill in UK. Janet blows her nose, puts on some more sunscreen has another glass of wine and agrees.

Janet and John go to Spain

janet — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:04:50 +0000

Janet and John have been blessed with wonderful weather, the sun has been shining since they arrived. They have met up with friends for a drink and enjoyed a stroll around Puerto Banus, about the only place on the coast where the bars and restaurants have been open. Spain takes it’s holidays seriously and for anyone coming here it’s worth remembering that there are two Bank Holidays at the beginning of December, Constitution Day on the 6th and another on the 8th to mark the Immaculate Conception. Consequently, many businesses will close for several days. Janet and John have been surprised how many of the restaurants and bars have closed for the entire month of December, which is no doubt a reflection on how the Spanish tourist trade has been hit by the recession. Anyone wanting a quiet break in the sun, this is the place to be.