Coast of dreams TV Documentary

This is currently being advertised locally
"A NEW DOCUMENTARY SERIES WANTS TO HEAR FROM BRITS IN TORREVIEJA…CHASING THE DREAM: Do you know a British family or couple who are about to make the big move to the Torrevieja area? If you/they are ‘upping sticks’ in the next couple of months, or have recently moved over to Spain, then we would love to hear from you.STARTING A NEW BUSINESS: Are you embarking on the ultimate challenge, putting it all on the line to be your own boss? If you’re starting a new venture in Spain - or have launched one in the last year or so we’d love to hear all about it.MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR: Have you found that Spain is not what you expected? If you are fighting to stay where you are, or are considering leaving Spain behind then please get in touch.If any of the above sounds like you or someone you know, then please send an email telling us a bit about yourself to: coastofdreams@studiolambert.com.Alternatively call us on 0207 534 2016 and we will call you back.(Calls from the UK charged at standard rates on BT landlines – calls from mobile networks and overseas phone providers may be considerably more)."
Yet another program on this area of Spain.

APAH Dog Rescue

If you find an abandoned dog, your first step should be to go the your local vets and they will check to see if the dog has a microchip. If the dog has, the vet will endeavor to contact the owner. However, if the dog is not chipped, do not take it to the local police because it is their policy to put the dog down if not one comes for it in 5 days.

I recommend you contact one of the dog charities. My local charity is APAH Dog rescue. They are based in Pilar de la Horadada. They are a charity who do an amazing job rescuing the many stray or unwanted dogs in this area.

If you are able to foster or want a dog or your own they always have a good selection from which to choose from from puppies to older dogs.

Visit their website here

Washingtonias

One of the most popular palm trees here in the Orihuela Costa are the 'The Washingtonias' also known as the Desert Fan Palm.

They love this climate. These tall and majestic palms can reach a height of 25m. Once a year small white flowers form which turn into black seeds. These seeds are easy to germinate. Many have done so in my own garden where I have small palms growing in many of my flower borders and pots.

The dead leaves hang down and form a skirt, however ours are trimmed once a year to keep them looking their best.

They are a protected species and you have involve the local authorities if you want one removed.

Torrevieja market

On Friday there is a market in Torrevieja. It is quite large and rambles over quite a number of streets at the back of Torrevieja, away from the sea, close to the Guardia civil main office. The market is separated by product i.e The fruit and veg stalls are grouped together, etc. It is quite easy to spend the morning rambling through it. If you don't go until mid to late morning expect crowds, particularly in high season. Hang onto your handbag, girls and men for that matter. They are police roaming around to deter pickpockets or bag snatchers, but it can still happen.

Tony's Soccer School

If you have children aged from about 5 upwards and they want to play football. I can recommend Tony's soccer school. The children can train and play on weekends and some weeknights. It is based in Mil Palmeras where it is flood lit for those dark winter nights.
Tony's email address is me@thepickfords.fsnet.co.uk if you need any information.

Moors and Christians - Cartagena

This weekend in Cartagena the Moors and Christians festival will take place. The events start tomorrow. This is quite a tourist attraction with coach tours advertising trips over this weekend. If you have a chance to go post your review here. Alas, I cannot go, but would love to hear about the events.

Telemicro

Has Telemicro gone for good?

There has been a lot of speculation over the last couple of months of it's demise and possible/not possible return.

The story has gone quiet over the last two weeks and I have read nothing positive in the press, so I'm assuming the future for them looks bleak.

I am not affected presently as I use Torresat for my TV needs. Will they be next?

Favourite Spanish Food

My favourite Spanish food is tapas. 'Tapas' means little plate and I love to taste numerous dishes which on their own don't fill you up which means you can have a selectionof different flavours.
I particularly like:
1. Garlic prawns.
2. Pork in tomato sauce.
3. Sepia [Cuttle fish] cooked with oil and garlic - great for dipping with crusty bread
4. Sardines
5. Calamares [squid] Deep fried in a light batter.

All rounded off with a glass of Rioja.
What's your favourite?

Torrevieja's Proposed High Rise Revamp

There are plans a foot to build high rise blocks in Torrevieja. Currently there is a limit to the number of floors which can be built. I believe this number is 5. The plan is to build blocks with 28 floors. This, considering the problems with the credit crunch, over development and the area's propensity for earth tremors seems a little ridiculous. If anyone wants to see the plans go to the ayuntamiento in Torrevieja.

Earth tremor

Yesterday at about 1700 hours there was an earth tremour. It is not recorded on the Instituto Geografico Nacional which means it must have been less than 1.5 on the richter scale. Nevertheless to experience it is a little disturbing. That is until you look at the Instituto's website. There are maps which show where these earth tremors occur. The main map is covered with tiny dots, each one representing a tremor event. There are hundreds of dots.

Rain and Drains

A little bit of rain here floods the drains and makes roads turn into rivers. Well actually it's not so much a 'little bit of rain' but a torrential downpour from anything from 10 minutes to 2 hours. It's all or nothing here. Either full on sun or monsoon. It is very rare that it ever drizzles. The last couple of days has brought floods to roads everywhere. The knock on effect is that my tumble dryer is no longer redundant.

David Miliband

I saw David Miliband on the TV last night. Now normally I do not get involved with politics, but I feel this is worthy of comment. He was addressing an audience of party members. I closely watched him through the news report and his stance and mannerisms revealed to me of a very condescending nature. His back was hunched and it appeared that he was addressing a group of naughty children rather than his contemporaries.

I am well aware that politicians get coaching on how to present their speeches and body language. They are also taught to deliver words in 2 or 3 word groups only, for emphasise and ease of understanding by their audiences. However, this staged approach on how to control the nation is wearing a little thin for me.

Schools Orihuela Costa

There is a rumour that the new secondary school for this area has started to be built. We have waited years for this moment but no- one I know knows it's location. The rumour goes that the first stone has been laid. I think I will approach one of the local newspapers tomorrow to find out more info and report on it pronto.
The current school in Playa Flamenca is partly made up of temporary Porta cabins. The main part of the school is built on the edge of a ravine in which it is slowly sliding down. One day it will have disappeared completely.
Personally I have given up on the state secondary system also known as the instituto. Unless things improve I am looking elsewhere for education for my children.

UK Weather

Everyone I have spoken to recently has complained about the UK weather. My mum told me she has had the heating on this week which when you live here seems quite odd. I have had the aircon on at night to cool the bedroom down because it's still quite stuffy, especially when a thunderstorm is brewing. the days have not been so bad bu the nights have been only 8 degrees. Snuggling under the duvet weather. When it finally arrives here I 'm quite looking forward to it. [How does the saying go?] You can take a girl out of the UK but not the UK out of a girl.

Gran Chino - Rioja and Torre de la Horadada

One of our favourite Chinese restaurants is the Gran Chino restaurant in Rioja. It offers it's cheapest 3 course menu with wine, beer or soft drink for €6.85. The quality of the food is very good, always fresh and edible. However, we can equally recommend it's sister restaurant, the Gran Chino in Torre de la Horadada, which is lesser known and offers the same menu for €4.95. That is a real bargain. The only downside is that the spring rolls are not quite as good [ lacking in meat]. Order the Wan Ton soup if you are really hungry - guaranteed to fill you up. They do an extra menu at this one which offers for €6.75 for a 3 course with wine, beer, soft drink and double combo main course including king prawns or duck for this price. This is a real bargain.

Chez Restaurant - Villa Martin Plaza

A couple of weeks ago we ate in Chez, Villa Martin. We had been recommended it by a number of people. To be honest we were disappointed. When we arrived it was fairly quiet with piped Spanish music and attentive service. Alls well so far. We thought we would treat ourselves to steaks. These were not a good as we were expecting in terms of flavour and options on the menu. They were entrecote and served with cold peppers from a jar. We have had better elsewhere. The atmosphere changed when the live entertainment started. A Spanish singer with a Spanish guitar. It started well with a few low key instrumentals but soon became hideous when he attempted to stand up and belt out Elvis numbers! the place soon filled up with diners. If we ever return I will not order steak!

Coastal Walks

There's a brill walk you can do on the coast path around Cabo Roig. It offers good exercise as it's not on the flat and also great views. You see the sea crashing beneath you and it takes you past the military base, where you may even get to see fit young men on manoeuvres, wearing wetsuits, diving into the sea off of the cliff, or parachuting into the sea from military planes. It is possible to walk from Cala Capitan around to La Goleta beach. It is also possible to drop down into the marina for a coffee or snack on the way.

Thunderstorms

I love thunderstorms. We had a big one on Sunday night, which brought clean rain. This is the rain I like the best. It doesn't make a mess of your car, patio, window surrounds and washing that you may have left out overnight, because here you get complaisant about those sort of things. They have been brewing up over the last couple of days. You can sometimes hear a rumble of thunder in the distance. I think we may get another good storm tonight. The Doodle is following me around which is a good indication. She hates thunderstorms.

Cala Capitan beach

The beach looks lovely today. It gets combed every morning in the summer season, from March through to the end of October, whilst the beach bar is still there. I am still not walking the dog on it, as it's not permitted. A few other dog walkers are. We do in the mid winter when no-ones about. We are very particular about leaving only our footprints and the doodle [Labradoodle] loves the sea on calm winter days and loves to run around in circles on the beach. It's such an invigorating place in the winter when its either windy or it's calm. Most holiday makers never see it at it's best. I definitely recommend it as a place to visit.

Lists

Lists - I like lists. They stop me from forgetting things. We are a household of listers. Husband does numerous lists and I do a lesser amount unless it's Christmas or we are going on a trip and I have to organise everyones things to take. Lists are invaluable.
What do you like to write lists about?

Motivation

I'm back. I haven't blogged on this for quite a while. There will be regular posts on here in the future.
I've been reading up on motivation.
There are 5 key elements:
1. Tune into your feelings.
2. Work out where you want to be or what you want to achieve.
3. Focus - Concentrate on one thing at a time.
4. Write a list of things you want to achieve week by week of even day by day.
5. Get on with it and have fun on the journey. If it's not fun don't do it.
Bye for now!