After a few
weeks dealing with the details of relocating from Stanhope to San
Enrique the day arrives. Last time emptying the rented cottage was
eased when Rachel decided to take it on …. this time it was
serious, though, being furnished, a few extra bits and pieces may be
seen as a boon to the landlord and maybe not. In any case most of the
important things (inasmuch as things can have any importance) have
been shared out and the odd book (and there have been some very odd
books over the past four and a half years) has rested on the single
shelf remaining from the four shelf library … after all who knows
when the landlord or prospective tenant might find the book for them?
…. of course the magic of this library was that the right book
often found the right person at the right time, many of them finding
me and leading to the next one to buy at the ethical alternative to
Amazon (this is called Hive, works well and makes a donation to the
local bookshop of your choice – this ad is not sponsored in the
traditional sense … the writer promotes enterprises which gladden
his heart …)
Since the
flight from Newcastle was very early, it seemed prudent to stay B&B
last night near the airport . Although the flight was even too early
for the B&B, which reduced it to “B” … still a tidy
solution to enable a full day travelling and another money free ad,
for Stonehaven Lodge, ten minutes stroll from the airport and just
£25 for the bed.
Gillian
offered to drive me across the hills …. fitting for me … such a
soul connection and a great team for Wheels to Meals … two brains,
one mind … if I had a conscience I would feel guilty deserting her
to the many daily practical challenges of running this beautiful
project with the elders of the Dale … I don't and she offers no
reproach, recognising as I do that the new adventure is not to be
denied.
Three hours
from North East England to Southern Spain seems far to quick and the
rest of the journey is slowed to enable adjustment ...the clear
bright sunlit snow topped hills of take off give way to cloud and
spots of rain on landing …. a beautiful irony, a blessing to assist
the transition, still warm and confident that the Costa del Sol will
live up to its name over the coming months … though a shame for
those short break folks counting every day …. of which there are
remarkably many considering all the talk and reality of austerity …
The couple
in the adjacent flights avoid eye contact … possibly frequent
flyers wary of being trapped by unwanted chatterers for the trip …
ordering up wine at 8 am to pass the time … which leaves me, at the
window seat, to enjoy the changing land, sea and cloudscape …
At Malaga a
first attempt at speaking Spanish leads to a change of plan for the
onward trip … skipping the city for an express bus to Marbella,
where more Spanish establishes a two hour wait and al fresco lunch
before the next bus to San Enrique …. more or less, because the bus
actually stops at the petrol station at the motorway junction nearby
…. leaving me with a perfect stroll up through San Enrique, to the
old bridge over the Guadiaro and up the track to the Casa del
Puente, my new home... for now...
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