Nice to be back...

.........as it's been ages since I last wrote anything.  John has done all the hard work recently, downloading photos, editing video footage and uploading lots and lots.  Just looked back and I haven't put pen to paper - or the equivalent of it nowadays - since May 7th. 

We got back from wedding number 2 last Monday afternoon after a very long drive - 1130 miles each way, Montenegro to Paris.  The nice thing about driving is that you are in control, no baggage allowance, no suitcase sizes to worry about,  cool box of water and fruit juice for when you get thirsty, no hanging around waiting in the airport.  It was a long drive, we took longer going up so as not to arrive tired, stopped over in 3 places and got to each stopover early enough to see a bit of the town but did the drive home over 2 days. 

When we left home it was sunny and 29°,  Monty and Pip just lounge around in the shade when it's like that but the weather changed soon after we left and it got very windy - just like it did when we went to Japan!   Pip gets very frightened when it's windy, she prefers to hide under the bed but couldn't get in so somehow managed to get out through the fence and run to the neighbours.  Not for long, as our dog-sitting friends were here early in the morning and brought her back home.  Because it was so hot,  I'd left the windows open to let the breeze in as I didn't fancy coming home to a hot, stuffy house.   Lovely and cool but very, very dusty.  I spent most of the first day back cleaning. 

Since then,  we've watered and weeded, planted out runner beans which we started off in yoghurt pots, tied up and staked the tomato plants,  the chilli seedlings need to be pricked out and potted up soon,  the coriander and lettuces are still ok, although the coriander is starting to go feathery and there are flowers coming  which will be next years seeds.  The cucumber bed is ready for them to be planted out so that's a job for next week but a late evening thing when the sun's gone behind the almond and shaded the bed.

Yesterday we had four friends pop in on their way home from an early morning walk to Yegen,  they went up about 9ish, but it was almost lunchtime when they came back down. We were about to make a tortilla for lunch so made 2 large ones to share with them.  Followed by a cold drink - water actually at that time - another tapas, another cold drink, maybe by then a beer or two, surprising how time flies!  Suddenly it was 4 o'clock and another couple who are over in Yator at their house rang....could they come up?  Of course, the more the merrier.  More tapas, good job there are things in the freezer and plenty of eggs and potatoes!     Said goodnight to the last ones at 12.30 this morning,  surprising lack of dishes, pots and pans.  Somehow I managed to wash up and we  reused the same  plates as fast as John prepared food. Normally we wake up to a kitchen full of saucepans, plates and  every glass we possess needing to be washed.  

A lazy day today, it is Sunday after all.  Brunch at lunchtime,  a swim this afternoon, caught up with some reading,  chilli roast chicken for dinner tonight and now we are just back from a late dog walk.