Serenity? Bugger that!

Now, Buddism and meditation are something I´d like to be good at - I guess if I wasn´t brought up Catholic and sought out the help of St Anthony every time I lose something....I might actually be one.

Wicca is probably more up my street - in fact if I could make the next couple of days disappear with a flick of my wand I would - pass me that cauldron...

Far flung guests arrive Saturday - black pearl farmers from Australia no less - Stan and Issey have gone to the UK (every little helps as they say) No 1 client is here - I must stop saying client it makes me sound like some sort of lady of the night, I guess at my rates a very cheap one - and I have a zillion words to write before my employer inquires to ask whether I have left the country.....

Today I could not locate the front door key for Casa Duende - kind of imperative for guests - woke Stan up in the UK to shout at him, prayed to St Anthony, located the aforementioned client to see whether he had a copy, first having searched for his number in an email from 2006. - not great at filing - `encouraged´ 17yr old to get up (failed) tripped over cat, fielded call from Satellite man, had row with son, FOUND KEY - Hurrah -  and finally made a cup of tea and sat on step to lower blood pressure.

 Looking for something to focus on for a little meditation I discarded the drip of the leaking tap and subsequent drip of bucket underneath and instead concentrated hard on dappled sunlight and a shadow on my neighbours wall.

Trying hard to ignore chomping sounds from Luna  - stray dog - enjoying her Desayuno.....Cat no 2 decided this was great opportunity to sit on my knee and drive all her knives in.  Ignoring her, well it might be my Father reincarnated, he liked cats, I ommed and ommed and ...........no, it´s no bloody good.

The fish man shouting PESCADOOOOOOOOOOO, the bread van tooting, the thought of all still to do... and finally..............Luna seeing my eyes closed decided tea would be lovely to wash her breakfast down.....slurp slurp......

Un Milagro.....A Miracle!

Another great product is up for review from the wonderful online company MY PURE.  

 

Now nothing reels me in faster than the promise of turning back the years....happy as I am to live in my present, I'm not so delighted about lines and wrinkles, we all want to preserve a bit of youth without resorting to the knife, I would never do that.

 I'm fairly lucky, in genetics as well as in life, and although my late father left me his bunions and double easily twisted ankles, he also had the generosity to bestow on me his great skin, easily tanned and not prone to wrinkling...but the Andalucían sun does do it's best to dry and furrow, so I was delighted to receive a wonder cream from My Pure this month to review and keep.

I tried it, I loved it, and am now a confirmed addict!

What is it...? I hear you yell, calm down I'm just getting to that bit...
It's an instant youth serum from Barefoot Botanicals yes, I did say instant youth...you heard me right!

Now before you say, yeah yeah, let me explain....

The best way to tell you is to show you the blurb, it really does do as it says on the tin, or pack...!

Just 36.95 for 15ml, it's sooo worth it!

Fresh-faced beauty as if by magic! Smooth, flawless skin can be yours with Rosa Fina - Supernatural- Instant Youth Serum, an antioxidant-rich flash beauty balm. 

Firming rosa mosqueta and argan oils combine with collagen-boosting Q10 and wrinkle-smoothing acmella oleracea for immediate and dramatic effects on skin. 

Ideal for dull skin or when suffering from lack-of-sleep (or that morning-after-the-night-before feeling…?) This radiance-restoring, smoothing ‘botox’ alternative is a fast fix that puts back what life (and passing years) take out, while working longer-term to counter signs of ageing. 

This really is the miracle anti-ageing product beyond hype. Expect noticeable softening of wrinkles and lines within 15 minutes. This effect lasts for about 4-6 hours. 

What is different from other ‘flash balms’ is that Barefoot include all the deep acting ingredients to ensure lasting effects when used daily. Barefoot recommend this product for Sensitive, Mature, Rosacea, Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Scarring, Lifeless and Dull.

It's amazing!! And yes, people did actually notice and comment. Reel me in?  I am HOOKED ...and so will you be, go get it!

Flying the nest...

In Murtas, the first clutches of House-martins in residence under the Church eaves are flying the nest, the odd day one falls out a little early and we carefully pick it up and put it on the wall for the mother - and hopefully not a cat - to find.  Sometimes they gain confidence enough to give it a lash and away they fly, a little wobbly but suddenly grown up.

Seems like yesterday Josh was born, a CZ section birth relieving me of his foot lodged under my rib cage and a large baby with a resemblance to Winston Churchill.   The past 17 yrs have gone in a whisper - almost 7of the last ones here under the languid Spanish sun.  Living in this little pueblo has slowed down my kids late childhood and stretched out innocence and halcyon Summer days just that precious bit longer.
 I think we only had one Irish Summer in 1976!

At 17, I was - or thought I was - an independent female, working and paying tax, partying and jetting off wherever I liked - no strings! Josh is a serious chico, diabetic since age 4 and worries more than I ever did. Party animals that we are, he is our Captain Sensible. Unless he´s with his mates...! That´s him in the middle...

Yesterday he took his first solo flight to see his uncle in Prague - a long time resident there - and as we stood and watched him check in at Málaga Airport and then walk away through security - bag on shoulder, La Liga footballer walk perfected - not a glance back....I thought yay! 
The first of many forays into his real world ....feeling happy for him I wondered why  I felt like his big size 42 trainer was still lodged in my chest....gulp! :(

Strumming along to the music of Córdoba

Strumming along to the music of Córdoba 
Highlighting the International Guitar Festival ON NOW! Can't you just hear those Castanets?!

GUEST POST FROM JOE JOHNSON

A guest post by Joe Johnson, a fan of Spain and all it has to offer the tourist of today.  More great reasons to visit wonderful Andalucía in 2012!

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Ski, Beach and City all in One Holiday? Look No Further Than The Sierra Nevada!

When it comes to holidays, there are many misconceptions about certain destinations, for example many people from outside the UK are under the impression that it always rains there; completely inaccurate of course!  

While some of these misconceptions may simply be the result of misguided folklore, there are other widely held beliefs that can be put down to a lack of local knowledge, for example, did you know you can ski in Spain? That’s right, the country famed for hot weather, beaches and blue sea has it’s very own snow-covered peaks.

But where? We all know the Alps nestle in the heart of Europe, but it’s certainly less clear where exactly in Spain you can go hurtling down a glistening piste; enter the Sierra Nevada, this mountain range is located in South Eastern Spain and houses one of Europe’s most southerly ski resorts. 

Spain of course has always boasted this and other resorts, including the Pyrenees, but only recently has the country’s ski resorts re-entered the favour of tour operators alongside it’s already length repertoire of tourist attractions.

So what can the Sierra Nevada offer?

·         Over 100km of slopes

·         20 lifts

·         Facilities that cater for every ability level

·         Modern stylish hotels and chalets

·         Numerous restaurants and bars

Clearly the Sierra Nevada is well equipped to please ski buffs, complete beginners, and those just tagging along for the booze. Well established resorts in France, Austria or Switzerland are often quite specialised, meaning they only suit near Olympic-level pros, or young revellers for whom skiing itself is a minor concern, but because the Sierra Nevada is fairly isolated then it caters for everyone, meaning if you have a group with different needs, Spain is the obvious clear choice.

It’s not just the Sierra Nevada that offers variety however, the entire region around the mountain is perfect for tourists, with a number of cities a short drive away, and the coast just a little further.

Granada

The city of Granada is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and offers a unique experience in that it is one of the few Spanish cities that enjoys a backdrop of beautiful snow-capped peaks. It has more than just great to offer however, most notably The Alhambra, a vast, exquisitely crafted fortress built in 1492 with Arab influences. Other popular attractions in Granada include...

·         Numerous Moroccan coffee shops complete with Shisa Pipes

·         Enjoy Free Tapas (as long as you buy a drink!)

·         The Hammam baths where you take a relaxing dip

·         The Albayzín, an open air museum

Not being content with having an exciting, multicultural on its doorstep, the Sierra Nevada region is perhaps one of the few places in the world where you can make the transition from ski gear, log cabins and crisp white snow, to sun, sea and sand in less than an hour.

Venture south from the mountains and be greeted by the Costa Tropical, officially the joint sunniest coastal area of Spain (along with the Costa Almería), enjoying 320 days of sunshine every year. This area is relatively untouched by tourists, at least compared to resorts further west along the like Málaga and Marbella, smaller costal towns like Motril and Almunécar offer beach living at a slower pace.

This region of Spain really does offer up some incredible variety and makes the ideal location for a ski holiday with a difference. Visit at the end of the Ski season if you want to maximise your chances of sunning yourself on the beach.

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Joe is a quarter Spanish and loves going south east to Spain on holiday