What a year so far, and it has only just begun...
I sold my flat and now have to sell my car, clothes, shoes, bags, and furniture—all gone. But my soul is intact, and my heart is ready to explode onto the new pages of a new chapter.
Reminiscing back to the good times in Espana, I met Sanchia, who worked in a field similar to Lori's, myself, and another of Lori's friends, Leya. We had another lunch on the beach at Chirringuitto's, which I would only partially write home about, but the company was great. All divorcees exchange life stories of love, disappointments, leanings and moving on. The company was so good that we decided to meet again at a local bar in Marbella's old town in the evening. Once Lori and I arrived, the banquet was filled with a few more! A ladies' night. It was enjoyable, as I was blessed with a beautiful entourage of fabulous Spanish ladies and a few men from many nations. By the time Aisha joined us, most had left, and I had done a Haldita number with a group of men claiming to be owners of a bra factory! Oh dear, a couple of caipirinhas, a night out in the town, free from my ordeal of dealing with renovations, had left me somewhat drained, and now, it was time to let loose. I have a photo of Lori holding her head in her hand and looking at me with rolled eyes as if to say, here she goes again. The tapas restaurant we ended up in before shutting was delicious.
On the last day, we picked up Aisha, accompanied by a school friend she had accidentally encountered at her residence after all those many years and invited her to join us. Another fab girlie day spent in the mountains where La Ronda was formed. The drive was picturesque as we went higher in altitude; we stopped to watch a row of vouchers sitting on the opposite mountain, flying away in turn, one after the other, as in a ritual.
I sold my flat and now have to sell my car, clothes, shoes, bags, and furniture—all gone. But my soul is intact, and my heart is ready to explode onto the new pages of a new chapter.
Reminiscing back to the good times in Espana, I met Sanchia, who worked in a field similar to Lori's, myself, and another of Lori's friends, Leya. We had another lunch on the beach at Chirringuitto's, which I would only partially write home about, but the company was great. All divorcees exchange life stories of love, disappointments, leanings and moving on. The company was so good that we decided to meet again at a local bar in Marbella's old town in the evening. Once Lori and I arrived, the banquet was filled with a few more! A ladies' night. It was enjoyable, as I was blessed with a beautiful entourage of fabulous Spanish ladies and a few men from many nations. By the time Aisha joined us, most had left, and I had done a Haldita number with a group of men claiming to be owners of a bra factory! Oh dear, a couple of caipirinhas, a night out in the town, free from my ordeal of dealing with renovations, had left me somewhat drained, and now, it was time to let loose. I have a photo of Lori holding her head in her hand and looking at me with rolled eyes as if to say, here she goes again. The tapas restaurant we ended up in before shutting was delicious.
On the last day, we picked up Aisha, accompanied by a school friend she had accidentally encountered at her residence after all those many years and invited her to join us. Another fab girlie day spent in the mountains where La Ronda was formed. The drive was picturesque as we went higher in altitude; we stopped to watch a row of vouchers sitting on the opposite mountain, flying away in turn, one after the other, as in a ritual.
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| The road to... Not San José but La Ronda! |
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| The last two vouchers before flying off |
Once at the top, we parked the car in the car park next to a church and walked to town. The sun had faded in strength, and clouds were hovering above us. The old town was absolutely gorgeous, and the cameras were out in search of new subjects to focus on.
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| The church in the centre of the town |
After a walk around, Lori had organised lunch at the Casa Ortega restaurant. The owner and his son greeted us with a smile and sat with us, ordering their unique dishes, which we happily indulged in. Three different red wines of the region were poured, one after the other.
So much for Aisha's health clinic diet! Who cares? Don't we go around saying we only live once?
So much for Aisha's health clinic diet! Who cares? Don't we go around saying we only live once?
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| At the Casa Ortega |
After the long hours at the eatery, the restaurant owner offered to take us four ladies on a tour of his city in his Mercedes Jeep. As they were about to close the church in the main square, he approached them, and the doors of this magnificent monument were opened for our private viewing.
Once again, architecture left behind by religions worldwide is the best creation of humankind in terms of beauty and richness. Shame the religion itself gets so meddled with by egos.
We returned on my last night in Marbella and went straight to bed after packing. In the morning, I made another quick visit to the Cappuccino café, bid Lori farewell and drove straight to the airport on the empty motorway at high speed under the Malaga sun. Last but indeed not least!
Upon returning to my new home with the carpenter and decorator, only to name a few of the workmen visiting daily and causing more dust, I lost it slightly on the second day back. Reminding Rick of all the details he still had to take care of. Then suddenly, just after 3:00pm, I was getting sick of my own sound; after a blood test in the morning and not having had anything to eat, I warmed up some soup and sat in my messy living room to eat when Rick called me to confirm a finishing, the tray pushed aside, the orange colour butternut squash soup with a touch of turmeric flew in the air and landed on my carpet, all over the newly painted walls, onto my new painting and thank goodness the latest order of sofas were covered in dust sheet, or ... Ayayaya. As though that was the last straw, I got up, looked at the mess 'I' now had left behind, worse than any dust and withdrew myself from it all, approached Rick, who was watching with the decorator in disbelief and wondering whether I was going to explode like a volcano and gently asked:
"Yes, Rick, what would you like to show me?"
Then, I went back to collect a brush and sat on my knees, scrubbing the orange-coloured carpet. Now, that was a sight while the decorator began cleaning the walls. It was excellent paint, and there was no sign left whatsoever. While on all fours, I calmed down completely and started behaving as I used to, with kindness and understanding. It was like, honey, things can still get worse, so get off your high horses and remember the keyword... Gratitude at all times.
In the days that followed, the workmen continued filling the few rooms of my flat until the job was almost finished—except for one leak, which can wait for now as I am off again!
Christofer visited London after my trip to Spain to add further spice to my improving days. Then came Frieda, my dear friend who did a fantastic job showing us around her country in Peru last February, to stay with me for a few days. We had so much catching up to do on the first day, which happened to be a Saturday with the moodiest of weather as we watched the sun, blue skies turn into grey and then came rain. Then again, the cycle of nature would repeat itself on several occasions that same day. We did not find a rainbow watching out of the now-finished living room looking onto the garden with two Buddhas. Why two? One came with broken toes, so they sent me another and told me to keep the first. When I placed the first Buddha with the toes fixed at the end of the garden, looking into the living room, I saw that it perfectly fit into its new home, so I had it painted a different colour. Now... They are both here to stay, and I am truly grateful.
By the way, Frieda and I did find the rainbow we searched for the next day while driving through Hyde Park!
The battle with the Jehovah's Witnesses, or my neighbours, whom I call Joshua's Businesses, is still ongoing. They want to be bullies, and enough! I ain't having none of that. I wrote to the wife saying:
"Lady, you cannot take the law in your own hands," I said, and since they tried to threaten me one evening, I also added, "And I don't take threats too well!"
So here I am, with a name change (back to my maiden name), a new address, and a whole new way of being. I am praying for kindness in all our hearts. There must be a good reason why my neighbours are being unruly, and there are lessons to be learned all around.
One last point, I had to go to court Monday morning. Another first for me. My criminal barrister was a lady who was great fun to chat with, I really enjoyed her company, but I suppose after travelling to all corners and representing... Well, let's just say practising law in such depth as for people considered criminals, having to represent me for three past speeding offences and, this time round, for jumping the lights must have seemed pretty trivial. There wasn't really much to argue. The lady judge was someone I would have loved to get to know, but no chance there; she was kindly spoken, and fair enough, I lost my driving license for the next six months! After 36 years of driving worldwide, it is time for a rest. All good. Had a cappuccino later with my lawyer, whom I met for the first time, and we had a good old chat before I departed into the underground world!
As the wine merchant at the Casa Ortega restaurant proudly announced:
"Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go wherever they want!"
On that note... Ta ta, dear readers. I'm finally off to bed for an early start at Heathrow Airport.
Destination Vietnam and Cambodia! On my own.
I will write there, if not, see you. I will be back in three weeks.
With Love
Once again, architecture left behind by religions worldwide is the best creation of humankind in terms of beauty and richness. Shame the religion itself gets so meddled with by egos.
We returned on my last night in Marbella and went straight to bed after packing. In the morning, I made another quick visit to the Cappuccino café, bid Lori farewell and drove straight to the airport on the empty motorway at high speed under the Malaga sun. Last but indeed not least!
Upon returning to my new home with the carpenter and decorator, only to name a few of the workmen visiting daily and causing more dust, I lost it slightly on the second day back. Reminding Rick of all the details he still had to take care of. Then suddenly, just after 3:00pm, I was getting sick of my own sound; after a blood test in the morning and not having had anything to eat, I warmed up some soup and sat in my messy living room to eat when Rick called me to confirm a finishing, the tray pushed aside, the orange colour butternut squash soup with a touch of turmeric flew in the air and landed on my carpet, all over the newly painted walls, onto my new painting and thank goodness the latest order of sofas were covered in dust sheet, or ... Ayayaya. As though that was the last straw, I got up, looked at the mess 'I' now had left behind, worse than any dust and withdrew myself from it all, approached Rick, who was watching with the decorator in disbelief and wondering whether I was going to explode like a volcano and gently asked:
"Yes, Rick, what would you like to show me?"
Then, I went back to collect a brush and sat on my knees, scrubbing the orange-coloured carpet. Now, that was a sight while the decorator began cleaning the walls. It was excellent paint, and there was no sign left whatsoever. While on all fours, I calmed down completely and started behaving as I used to, with kindness and understanding. It was like, honey, things can still get worse, so get off your high horses and remember the keyword... Gratitude at all times.
In the days that followed, the workmen continued filling the few rooms of my flat until the job was almost finished—except for one leak, which can wait for now as I am off again!
Christofer visited London after my trip to Spain to add further spice to my improving days. Then came Frieda, my dear friend who did a fantastic job showing us around her country in Peru last February, to stay with me for a few days. We had so much catching up to do on the first day, which happened to be a Saturday with the moodiest of weather as we watched the sun, blue skies turn into grey and then came rain. Then again, the cycle of nature would repeat itself on several occasions that same day. We did not find a rainbow watching out of the now-finished living room looking onto the garden with two Buddhas. Why two? One came with broken toes, so they sent me another and told me to keep the first. When I placed the first Buddha with the toes fixed at the end of the garden, looking into the living room, I saw that it perfectly fit into its new home, so I had it painted a different colour. Now... They are both here to stay, and I am truly grateful.
By the way, Frieda and I did find the rainbow we searched for the next day while driving through Hyde Park!
 |
| The Serpentine - Hyde Park |
 |
| The Rainbow! |
"Lady, you cannot take the law in your own hands," I said, and since they tried to threaten me one evening, I also added, "And I don't take threats too well!"
So here I am, with a name change (back to my maiden name), a new address, and a whole new way of being. I am praying for kindness in all our hearts. There must be a good reason why my neighbours are being unruly, and there are lessons to be learned all around.
One last point, I had to go to court Monday morning. Another first for me. My criminal barrister was a lady who was great fun to chat with, I really enjoyed her company, but I suppose after travelling to all corners and representing... Well, let's just say practising law in such depth as for people considered criminals, having to represent me for three past speeding offences and, this time round, for jumping the lights must have seemed pretty trivial. There wasn't really much to argue. The lady judge was someone I would have loved to get to know, but no chance there; she was kindly spoken, and fair enough, I lost my driving license for the next six months! After 36 years of driving worldwide, it is time for a rest. All good. Had a cappuccino later with my lawyer, whom I met for the first time, and we had a good old chat before I departed into the underground world!
As the wine merchant at the Casa Ortega restaurant proudly announced:
"Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go wherever they want!"
On that note... Ta ta, dear readers. I'm finally off to bed for an early start at Heathrow Airport.
Destination Vietnam and Cambodia! On my own.
I will write there, if not, see you. I will be back in three weeks.
With Love
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