A snapshot of our Christmas

So that was Christmas week -  mostly sunny and bright and quite warm,   except for the day itself when it was wet and windy.  We weren't the only ones to have wet and windy weather in the world,  family in Sydney had rain too,  as did UK,  at least we only had one brief 10 minute power cut.  Airi had just plugged the hairdryer in when the lights went out - she thought she'd blown up something but it wasn't her or the drier just the weather.

A week in pictures...

 .... the angel is firmly back on her perch at the top of the tree now

...lights over the arch and along the grape vines

...Monday 23rd in the afternoon,  exploring the wind damaged tomato and chilli plants

...Christmas eve lunchtime,  early start for the Santa hats,  although Elliott wasn't convinced it was a good idea.

...Christmas day in the morning,  the first presents,  wheels are so fascinating!

 ....woolly jumper number 1 for me,

 ...and a cashmere one  from M&A,  plus a magic jacket for John - it rolls up into a tiny bag!

...and a fluffy jumper for Airi

The evening of Boxing Day we were all invited to a buffet supper at a friends' house in Yátor,  there were 12 of us plus Elliott and their 10 year old son,  who luckily for Elliott had a nice red shiny sturdy car that he pushed around the carpet and turned it over to spin its wheels.  Lots of hot tasty food - chilli,  jacket potatoes,  chicken,  salad,  cheeses and biscuits,  patés,  and a large sherry trifle.  Not much left after we'd all had a plateful or two...

We left them at 10pm to get Elliott into bed although he was still going strong and playing.

Next day,  tree pruning in the sunshine,

...a beer break in the afternoon of the 27th - we'd been pruning the olive tree and cutting up the branches - hot thirsty work!   Elliott was supervising from his high chair under the sun umbrella.

 ...and then yesterday the 28th we went down to Salobreña in the morning - as you can see it was windy and grey, both the sea and sky.

 ...but looking in the opposite direction,  the sea is really blue. 

 ... then lunchtime.  We went to La Bodega de Salobreña,  within walking distance of the bus stop as M&A had booked the bus to Malaga for their evening flight to Paris.

 ...pez espada a la plancha  (swordfish) for Airi

 ...tortilla gambas  (prawn omelette) for me

 ...and 2 plates of solomillo de cerdo  (pork fillet) for J and M

add a drink each,  then a bottle of house red at 7 euros and we shared a bill of 62 euros.

We waved them off on the bus and did a little restocking at the supermarket before coming home.  By the time we'd put the shopping away  the clouds had lifted and the sky was blue but only just warm enough to sit out and catch the last dying rays for an evening drink.

Today we have a very confused Pip dog.  Monty took very little notice of a baby crawling round the carpet,  walking along holding onto the furniture, or sitting playing with toys,  whereas Pip seemed to think Elliott was another puppy.   He didn't know what to make of her either,  but was happy to watch them from  his highchair.   She got very distressed when he cried, followed him when he was crawling around,  when he headed off into our bedroom she followed him,  circling around almost as if she was making sure he was ok.  Today she keeps going into their bedroom and looking for them,  but they aren't there.