Sean & Graeme

OK so it's been a while. Apologies.

August, like July, June and May before it were busy.  Things happening in town, friends and family visiting, the new house, birthdays etc.  Although visitor numbers have dropped along with the general tourist trend we have still been quite busy.  Fine tuning bits of the house, planning stuff for next year etc.  Graeme was and still is working hard and it looks like all the hard work will start paying off very soon.

We have 'closed-up' the pool area for winter, switched off the pumps etc as the nights get longer and even though this last week has been gloriously sunny and warm we have had cold spells and even a few tremendous storms.  The aftermath of one day long torrential downpour gave us the sunset featured in the picture I've included in this post.  Not a bad pic even If I do say so myself

I am now using my TEFL qualification which I got way back in 2003 before leaving the UK.  Just two nights a week teaching English to a small class of adult beginners, they're a nice group and it's actually quite fun / interesting.

Currently there are no plans for travel in the foreseeable future but this may change so will keep you all posted.

Artwork on display

If you are in or around Sitges check out Cine Cafe on C. Jesus.  John is showcasing 4 of my pieces for the next month or so.

Over a month . .

since the last post.  WIll make an effort to have the last 4 weeks worth of photos and news up here by Friday!

Zut Alors!

Apparemment nous avons maintenant pour avoir un orateur français régulier lire le blog. 

Ainsi pour ce poteau est pour leur avantage. 

Merci !

Festa Major

Is celebrated at different times, dependent usually on the patron Saint of each town.  This weekend is Sitges turn. Today is a holiday in Sitges and last night saw fireworks light the midnight sky above crowded balconies and terraces, a flotilla of boats a crammed seafront and beach.

Despite Graeme having a bad back and me seemingly unable to shake this damn cold we stayed up for the fireworks, have a look at the pics here.

Too Darn Hot!

At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it like my t-shirt to my back.

Last week we said Au'voir to Great Aunt Jean and Hola to brother Matt.

In all the fuss of guest turn-around and then getting ready for the weekend's party I forgot to post the pictures from Jean's visit.

We had a great time and Jean was a real hit with all our friends.

Have a look here for the pics of Jean's visit.

39 Steps

So today is Graeme's 39th, tomorrow is mine.  We split the difference and had the party yesterday.

Thanks to everyone who came and made it a great day.  Special thanks to Jon & Eddy from Hotel Liberty for fabulous catering and, unintentionally, being made to also function as de-facto door men.

See the pics here

Skyland

Sitges always has loads going on.  Tango Exhibition , Beach Rugby, Vintage Car Rallies, concerts, recitals all seem to exist in their own little bubbles/circles, even when advertised within the local monthly guide.

While on a little mooch round town yesterday with Great Aunt Jean, I saw a door open that's usually closed.  My inquisitiveness got the better of me so we went in for a look.  This was in Estudi Vidal on C.d'en Bosc in the old part of town.  Inside was a cool, in all senses of the word, space with some brilliant artwork.  Photos taken of the sunset across the sea.  Stark pictures, at first glance BUT shot through with some of the most amazing and dramatic colour and texture, thanks to the clouds.

We then realised that we were neighbours and that Dorota has one of the houses on the road above us in Llevantina.

Apologies for the crease in the flyer to the right, but I folded the card to pocket it.  More of Dorota Boisot's work can be seen at her online Photoblog here

Michael & Andrew in Sitges for Paul & Pedro's wedding

OK, so, Great Aunt Jean arrived on Thursday and is here till this Thursday.  This has been booked for a couple of months now and we are all enjoying her trip.  I will post pics and more on Jean a little later in the week.  For now let's bring you up to date on the last weekend's fun.

Michael & Andrew also arrived on Thursday to stay with us as we were all attending Paul & Pedro's wedding here in Sitges.  Yes, even Jean was invited.  The wedding itself was brilliant, as were the receptions after on Stephen's rooftop and then in the gardens of the Liberty hotel.  It was nice to see so many friends, especially Craig & Hugh, seeing how much travelling back and forth between here and the UK Craig is having to do for his job.  The rest of the weekend was very chilled but, of course included a visit to El Cafe with LOTS of lovely Rimarts' Cava.

Click here for a few candid pics of the wedding and some more taken over the weekend with Michael & Andrew enjoying the pool & jacuzzi.

Finally

here are the finished pics of the house with all the furniture and pictures etc in place!

Just in time for August's first visitors, Great Aunt Jean and Michael & Andrew.

Lovely Lucas

So here are the pics from the Lovely Lucas's stay in Sitges.

The sun came out.

This morning was cold, well cool, and gray.  Thankfully that all burned off and now the view looks like this;

Which is all rather lovely.  The last two weeks saw us hosting Josh & Lucas from Hong Kong AND a surprise visit from Monster, also from Hong Kong.  We went into Barcelona to catch Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour, the second time for Graeme and I.  It was well worth it.

At the end of this week, Graeme's Great Aunt Jean arrives, we are also having Michael & Andrew to stay and on Friday we are all off into Sitges for the day celebrating Paul & Pedro's wedding.

This week I shall be putting up pics from Lucas and also a final set of shots of the house showing all the pictures up, the guest bedrooms finished etc :)

That's it . .

pretty much anyhoo.

Mick just left after a days hanging pictures.  The place now REALLY looks like home, bigger too.

A final set of pics of all the rooms, now all finished, will be up next week.

Holiday/Jackson Tribute

In the Stadium! It's our annual Madonna concert