It's been a hectic couple of weeks, with a trip over to the UK to do some filming for the TV programme 'Escape to the Country'. It was exhausting, fun, and very interesting, and hopefully fruitful in our search for a new home in Ludlow. We were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed the green countryside and everybody was very freindly. Alistair couldn't stop me from talking to strangers, I hadn't realised that I have missed talking to people in English so much and I certainly made up for it. I have loads of new friends now !!
We flew back to Spain with two of the daughters and they spent their week topping up tans as girls of a certain age do, and swimming in the pool. It is so hot now and I have started getting outside in the garden for 7.30am as by 10am it is too hot to do anything outside other than float in the pool. I have been planting up pots that are in shade with asparagus ferns - they look light and delicate and create a frothy backdrop for the red geraniums. Speaking of the geraniums, they are getting tired after blooming for the last few months so I am giving them a good feed on a regular basis now along with the veg. Broad beans are finished, but tomatoes and french beans are producing well. This morning after weeding the raised veg beds I planted more lettuce and cucumbers and thinned out the Pak choi which has been contributing to our stir fries for the last few weeks. Gardening was finished by 10am and I dived into the pool for a cool down before coffee. I will miss this garden terribly but am excited by future adventures and being able to see the girls more.
We wonder what Spartacus and Achilles (our Spanish cats) will make of English weather, but we think that if they have an AGA to curl up by they'll be just fine.
As I look out of the window, the campo is a gradually turning brown with the heat and only the olive groves and almond trees are still green - and our irrigated garden - no clouds can be seen and the Spanish sparrows are in their nests with their young. At around 7-8pm as things cool a little they will fill the sky and dive bomb the swimming pool to refresh themselves, and we will watch from the G&T terrace no doubt with a glass clinking with ice.
I quite enjoyed the rain in England, how wierd!!