I'm back!

I've just returned from a week's walking holiday in Spain. With a small group from the Wednesday, 'long walkers' we flew from Liverpool to Alicante, and were based in Calpe. I was a bit shocked when I arrived there, for the first time, as I've never spent a holiday in a high rise resort and thought it looked pretty awful.  My apartment was on the 22nd floor, with extensive views - mainly of other tower blocks, but some bits of the coast and salt water lagoon.  After a while I sort of got used to it all, as the resort was quite smart and well maintained, and it was quiet.  I certainly wouldn't want to be there in the high season with the thought of the amount of people who must occupy those tower blocks.  The old town was more my sort of place.  Calpe was a very good base for our walks and my apartment was excellent.   The weather was fine and mostly sunny, apart from one rainy morning, although the temperatures were unusually low for the time of the year, but I found it fine for walking.  Pity it was too cool to loll on my balcony-with -a -view on the odd occasion.

We enjoyed a number of walks in the mountain ranges behind the resort.  The wild flowers were a delight - fritilleries (above), jonquils, various orchids, asphodels, euphorbias etc, and the almond trees were in blossom. Evenings were spent enjoying delicious meals in various restaurants, and also in the home of our leaders Phil and Monica, along with our other leaders John and 'Q'.  The going was a bit rough underfoot as it is limestone country, but we 'oldies' all enjoyed the challenge and the views from the high points.  This was my first big adventure since becoming a widow.  Mike had lived in Spain when he was a young man (before meeting me) and I did accompany me during the week, in the form of a small teddy attached to my rucsac.  He would not, however, have approved of my climb to the summit of Calpe Rock ( Penon de Ifach) - all 332m of it, including traversing shiny, slippery limestone slabs with the help of fixed rope handrails - as he did have a fear of heights.  Here's a photo of my fellow walkers at the top.  On the way down, I tripped!  Fortunately for me, I landed face down in a soft bush, and  bumped my head on a rock and although a lump appeared, it soon went down, and all I have to show for it is a slight bruise on my forehead.  However, I think I must have given the others a fright as I was quite near the edge.

 

Just before I went away I caught up with a bit of 'plotting'  - tidying up, digging over, and swapping over my strawberry bed with my salad bed.  Since returning, the better weather (hope it stays so) has encouraged me to think about the forthcoming year on the allotment,  and I have spent some time in the greenhouse setting a few of my veg seeds.  I also managed to get in some gardening on Saturday, and enjoyed listening to the birds singing.  My snowdrops are at their best now.

 

In the new year I started yet another hobby.  I'm now making gemstone jewellery.  I've already sold a few items and have had some orders. I've even booked myself into a jewellery making session at the Mitchell Centre later in the month. 

My interest in geology sort of runs over into my love of the various

gemstones.  The earrings on the left are made from cultured freshwater pearls, tiny emeralds and quartz drops.  Above right are lapis lazuli earrings, and below various bracelets, including the one at the bottom which is made from moonstone chips and emeralds, on a silver chain. The family history has taken a back seat for a while, and will probably be resumed during the autumn and winter months.  I'm hoping we have a decent spring and summer.  If I can get on well with my garden and plot, I may even be able to sit out in the sun, making jewellery. 

 

It's a short blog this time, but at least I'm up and running again.