It most certainly never rains, but it pours…
13 June 2007
and that’s exactly what it’s done here today. I honestly don’t mind the odd shower or two and have been known to purposely go out in the rain. Today I really needed to go to our local Tesco as the cupboards are bare, but I’ve had to wait on phone calls all day.
On Monday my neighbour and I had a little ‘prang’ as I was reversing out of my drive and he was coming forwards from his drive. It was impossible for either of us to see the other and it was just bad luck. Noone was hurt, but both cars need repairing. The damage looks nothing, but the cost will run into thousands it seems. Consequently, the last couple of days has been nothing but phone calls to insurance companies, car replacement companies, car repair centres and even a call from a solicitor. The company said it was ‘routine’ to see if there was a claim, which seems to be only for uninsured losses such as our excess and a car replacement.
This is what has kept me at home today when I should’ve been shopping. However I remembered that on my last visit to Tesco I was given a voucher for free delivery from them, so it looks like I may be taking them up on that offer.
Tomorrow the car goes in for repair and hopefully will be back with us by next week. Thanks to the insurance company we get a similar car, which is good as we have a football tournament to go to this weekend and a family party next week, so we need the space especially for the dog!
How long will summer be here?
12 June 2007
We returned from our holiday to find that there was for now anyway some sunshine here too. Son Number One spent the weekend with friends, who he reported had a swimming pool in their garden, so only called back home to collect swimwear and a towel!
Meanwhile Son Number Two decided to get our pool out. Unfortunately, not only was our pool only a paddling pool which when seated didn’t go above the top of his legs, but also had sustained a dog induced tear last summer, which we had forgotten about. I have to ask why we didn’t dispose of it instead of storing it, but that’s another story!
Despite the hole he managed to fill it and after being told that sellotape would not fix the hole he decided the next best thing would be to place a ruler under the tear to stop the water seeping out?
Well, you might laugh as I did, but it actually worked for the couple of days it was out. Both he and the dog continueed to have great fun cooling off in the four or five inches of water that it held!
However, we must throw it out now. The water has all disappeared and I’ve seen a much better one here that I’m considering, which is not too expensive. The only minor snag is that we may have seen summer and the new pool may never get christened!
Let me entertain you
10 June 2007
I have two very lively young boys, who are constantly bored. Son Number Two who is 11 often gets in the car to drive home from school with his first words being “I’m bored”. What can you say to that?
Travelling can be a nightmare as they are mostly past the age of I-spy, although it might entertain them for a short time. Jim does tend to find the most obscure things for us to try and guess though. For example on one holiday we were searching for something beginning with ‘C’. After some obvious guesses like cloud, curtain etc I do get a bit weary and just call out random words like chemical or clapper and the game falls apart. The boys are asking for clues after about a minute, but still it’s fun.
However as I say that doesn’t amuse for long, but luckily both now have i-pods and PSPs. The PSP passes me by. I can’t get the hang of them, but not so for the children. The i-pod is a little easier for me to use. I wouldn’t have a clue on how to get the latest on there and mostly don’t want to know though I did quite like the new Avril Lavigne song, which I believe is called Girlfriend. (The boys will laugh if that’s wrong)but I can play the games on there. One of my favourites is solitaire and during our recent 4 hour flight it relieved the boredom for a fair portion of the flight where food and duty free wasn’t being offered.
We also have a portable DVD player with two sockets for headphones, which is great for using in the car. The boys can sit quietly watching Superman or Mr Bean or whatever the latest film is and we can listen to the radio in peace.
These ‘toys‘ don’t come cheap but we’ve acquired them over several years for birthdays and christmases. They have been worth their weight in gold and I can recommend any of them.
There’s no place like home.
9 June 2007
We all enjoyed our holiday, but I think it’s probably fair to say that we won’t rush back to Fuerteventura again. The island was quite pleasant and of course the sun shone and the villa was great too. The trouble was that there wasn’t much for us to do.
I enjoy lying by the pool and having the odd swim. The boys adore being in and around the pool too. Poor Jim finds this all a bit tedious and after half an hour of reading The Da Vinci Code he wants to wander off by foot or by car. That’s where the snag was. There were many windmills and a row of shops with, what seemed like thousands of primarily chinese restaurants, and lots of sand. The National Park is acres of sand dunes in fact. We did drive throught the area and we had a walk through the dunes and down to the beach. It was like being in the desert and quite breathtaking in a sandy sort of way! Here we could watch braver people than us wind surfing and indeed the island boasts plenty of places where you can partake in such things. If that appeals then click on the picture to the right for a chance of a kite surfing experience. 
We drove around most of the island, but sadly we didn’t come across anywhere to spend any vast amount of time. We could’ve taken a boat to Isla de Lobos, which is a tiny uninhabited island, but then if we found Fuerteventura lacking in entertainment I guess that would be even worse! Or there’s a boat to neighbouring Lanzarote, but we’ve been there so that seemed a little futile. We should also mention the kite flying, which due to the wind is a favourite and actually quite spectacular.
Please don’t think that we’re miserable people who like to complain because it isn’t the case. I’m merely being honest. For some this may be their paradise. I imagine that if watersports are your thing you’ll be entertained from dawn till dusk. Indeed a couple we met go nowhere else, so evidently not everyone shares our view. In fairness it was relaxing for the boys and me, but I think Jim was a tad bored. The evidence was when he had finished his selection of novels and was prepared to read some of my books namely Sharon Osbourne by Sue Crawford!
We came home with suitcases bulging with various items aquired by the boys, such as footballs (like we need any more!) and snorkles. I got some Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume (thank you Jim) and sunglasses. Jim just got to foot the bill! I think he was just pleased to see his beloved dog again and I was more than pleased to see that our house was still standing after leaving it the hands of a 19 year old, but that’s another story!
If you are going to Fuertevntura then don’t be put off by my opinions. It was for me ideal weather and as I’ve said a fabulous villa. Have a read with this book before you go to find out more about the island and things to do and see.
Just keep taking the pills.
8 June 2007
I have suffered from hayfever for many years now and to be honest I forget how rotten it can make you feel until it’s that time of year again. The worst time was when I was pregnant and unable to take antihistamine tablets, so was given eye drops and nasal sprays as I recall. I also tried herbal remedies. If I could I’d just go without, but the itchy eyes and nose just drive me to desperation. I think I could perhaps cope with the non-stop sneezing at a push, but not the itching.
I have been taking cetirizine lately, but that ran out and I was left taking loratidine. I’ve also tried piriton(chlorphenamine maleate), which seemed to work. However, since taking loratidine and coincidentally since coming back from holiday, I have been sneezing and suffering some symptoms. I wasn’t sure if this was the change in medicatio, but having spoken to my brother, who also suffers, I think it’s just the high pollen count.
I have seen other products, which I could use to help relieve the symptoms, such as an eye pillow wheat bag like this one. I have no experience of using this, but may give it a try as well as some nasal spray. Meantime I need to keep taking the tablets, but I have ordered some more cetirizine to be on the safe side!
