Well what have we been up to since our last update?
We are still in Torre del Mar, a medium sized coastal resort along the coast from Malaga. We intend to stay here until around 16th February. At first we were very unsure about the campsite but since moving to a sunnier pitch feel much happier and we have been making friends with many of the other residents.
I have now been attending Spanish lessons at a local language school for two weeks. It’s been quite intensive as out of season there are only two of us in the class. Torre, a Norwegian guy and I have just about the same level and the same drive to move fast. My teacher Fatima is excellent and won’t let us speak any English. I have been going to ‘school’ every other day for two hours in the morning then spending my afternoons practising what I have learnt whenever the opportunity arises. It’s great to be able to do this and highlights how much easier it is to learn a foreign language in situ. Graham and Krista go for a long run while I’m at school and as Krista sleeps when running, I don’t think she even realizes that her mummy isn’t there.
We haven’t moved far from Torre del Mar and have only got into the car on a couple of occasions since being here. Out of curiosity we took a day-trip to Marbella last Sunday where we had a nice lunch. It was full of English and we spotted a few ‘trout-pouts’. However we were more struck with how many apartments were up for sale or rent and how many hotels looked deserted. It is clear from a similar situation in Torre del Mar, in addition to empty shops and half built housing developments, that areas like this have been sorely hit by the recession. It is evident from how prices are being slashed (by €100,000 +) that anyone with money looking for an apartment or house down here could do very well right now.
On the days that I don’t go to school we’ve been playing tennis on the public courts on the seafront. I beat Graham for the first time in about a year the other day. This gave me great cause for celebration and relief from always having to be the gracious loser. However Graham will be giving no quarter on his service when we play again tomorrow.
Unsure of when Shrove Tuesday fell we had a pancake day last Tuesday. We have since found out that it is on 16th so will count that one as a trial run and have another. It left the caravan smelling a little buttery but all in all was a great success – lemon and sugar are the best.
Though she didn’t join in with the pancakes, Krista is progressing well with her solids. While puréed carrot and puréed carrot and potato were a little too much for her taste buds, some mushed banana went down very well tonight. However Baby-rice and her mummy’s milk remain at the top of her menu of favourites.
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