Saturday - Internet at last

Friday Night
We had a nice lazy morning, walked the dogs round the olive groves then made a packed lunch for our walk. We drove to Jimera de Libar and asked the man at the station if dogs were allowed, he said it was up to the guard and to buy a ticket on the train. We waited for the train, the dogs were not keen so they were unceremoniously chucked onto the train. The guard said it was ok to have the dogs on if they stayed out of the main carriages, we waited by the door. The guard never asked us for any money so we got the train journey for free!
We found the start of the walk easily and headed of up the path. Just at that point Nafeica called to say the phone engineer was on his way and were we in, I was a bit hacked off at this as I had considered waiting in in case he came. We completed the walk which was longer than we had thought but a really peaceful and quiet walk, the dogs could hear the river running nearby and were desperate to get in for a swim but as it carries all the sewage from Ronda we did not let them. Lunch was spent sitting on a large boulder with a view of the railway line!

We found our way back to the car, the walk took a total of 2 hours which was good time and the weather was great.
Just after we arrived back the phone guy appeared at the door, he spoke no English and was scared of the dogs but he tarted work. It was clear he was not keen to be here and could think of better things to doing. I was quite concerned he was going to bugger off so I called Nafeica who arrived and had a chat. It appears he cant find where the cables go into the house, you'd think that they would have a record or something but this is Spain! He has tried every box in the street but is still having trouble, currently he is apparently at the main junction box but I think we'll probably never see him again.

Thursday Night
We'd decided to stick round the village today as it was Andalucia Day, a national holiday. We took the dogs for a walk round the village, we bumped into Kirsty and had a good chat with her, it was good to see her again. We've arranged to meet up with them for a night out so that will be good.
There was a band playing in the town square, then there was some sort of play with the kids dressed up as pirates, not sure what it was all about but we stood and watched it for a while. There was an old man that stopped to chat, we'd no idea what he was saying but we smiled and said si a lot, we think he was saying that if he had a dog he'd like one like ours. We held the leads tighter! We also bumped into a couple hat had a pointer type dog, Dan didnt like it but Ben was very keen!
We had a bite to eat in Bar Los Amigos, we were the only ones there and they let the dogs in so that was god. We walked back to the house and read our books for a while.
Getting slightly bored we headed to Ronda for a walk round, Susan drove up the windy road with very narrow passing places and steep drops. She did very well, especially as Ronda has changed and the car park we usually use was now on a one way street and she had to drive right into the centre and underneath the town square. We stopped for a coffee in a new cafe in town, it was staffed by the grumpiest woman, she never smiled, threw the cutlery on the plate and looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp.
We wandered up to where the vet was to check it out but it was closed for the holiday, we'll drop by another day. We fund an internet shop where we checked our emails then headed back – still no internet or phone in the house, apparently Telefonica have now decided it is a fault but I'm not convinced. No idea when it will be sorted!
Took the dogs for a walk up the hill and round the olive groves and Susan is cooking tea. Tomorrow we plant to take the train up the valley then walk back.
Had a nice tea and watched 2 episodes of ashes to ashes.
Wednesday Night
We arrived in good time on Monday afternoon, the drive was quite ok but the last bit was on tight rural roads and as it was so close to home there was a temptation to drive too fast but we managed safely. The house is in good condition except the phone / email was disconnected as Nafeica who looks after things for us forgot to pay the bill and now we are having trouble getting connected again despite the bill being paid on Monday. We should have been connected today and it's still not on yet – to say I am getting frustrated is an understatement. Poor Nafeica is doing what she can but Telefonica are not easy to deal with. Anyway, no idea when this blog will get uploaded but I'll write it up anyway.
Tuesday we stuck around the house to get the dogs used to their new home, took them for a walk up the tracks through the olive groves opposite the house. The weather was great, really hot and dry, unexpected as we have been here in February before and it was cold and wet.
I had fancied a flat screen telly for the house and as we spent so little getting here we decided to treat ourselves, the furniture / electronics shop across the road thought Christmas had come early when we walked in with handfuls of cash. Shortly after we left poorer and we had ordered a flat screen 26” telly, a new orthopaedic mattress and a new pillow for Susan. The telly was delivered that evening and we both agree that it is too big for the room and if you sit too close it makes you feel sick, also it doesn't have an audio out socket which allows us to listen to the radio on the roof terrace. So. We are thinking about bringing it home to Scotland with us when we leave, we'll see!

Us with Duquesa in the background

Ben running on the beach

Ben and Dan - their first swim in the Med
Today we had decided to head down to the coast to Duquesa to let the dogs run on the beach as they had been cooped up in the car for so long. I took then up the track for a walk but the sheep were running around so we had to turn back but on the return route I noticed a small lamb sleeping in the doorway of the school. It was very small and friendly and I stroked it and tickled it, it seemed happy with that then went back to sleep.
We are trying to get the dogs used to being left alone in the house so we left them whilst we went to the bank, unfortunately the young pretty blond woman was not there today – we'll go back another day. We then went to the butcher and market for veg.
We drove to duquessa and stopped for a drink at a harbour bar, the dogs were beside themselves as they could smell water. I sat next to 2 poofters who both had really bad BO, it made me feel quite sick. We walked for a while along the beach, the dogs loved it then on the way back we stopped for lunch at a seafood restaurant, not my ideal choice but it was not clear that it only sold fish. The waiter was really good to the dogs so that was ok with me. We left a good tip then headed back to the car.
We drove up to carroufour to get a good shop done, spent a fair bit but it was staple stuff for the cupboards.
Back home and watching telly and reading books, very sunburnt!.