Friday Smiles 2022: Week 42

Well here we go again. This week has been quite a busy week starting last Friday when we went to a clinic in Mojacar to get Chris' blood test booked. Unfortunately we had to go back on Monday as that is when they do them. 

Saturday was his birthday, and as the place we had intended going to for a meal was closed for a big wedding reception, we decided to have lunch at a place on the way to Turre. Pre-pandemic we went there quite regularly as they will serve a simple one course meal which is what we usually want. However Monday was also my birthday so this was a joint celebration treat, so I went for the 'menu del día', which is a three course meal served at many places originally for the workers who start early, and return again to work in the evening, so they need a good meal before their siesta. It is usally good basic food, and I went for it because one of the starter options was my favourite jalopenas stuffed with cheese, and very nice they were too. My main course was chicken in peppercorn sauce and it was possible the best cook chicken I have had out here. It was melt in the mouth delicious. I really didn't need a dessert as well but I couldn't resist the profiteroles.The restaurant is set up on a slope with a long wide patio with tables where you can sit to eat, or have a drink with friends, and enjoy the lovely view of palm trees and misty mountains in the background. I took a birthday photo of Chris to put on facebook. (Sorry if you have seen some of today's photos already).

On Sunday I cooked a special roast beef dinner for us at home - another treat as we don't often have a proper joint of meat just for the two of us, though I do still do a traditional Sunday roast of sorts every week.

On Monday we were back at Mojacar for Chris' blood test and he took this birthday photo of me - looking a bit wind blown and dishevelled but still smiling! 

On the drive down I took these photos of a beautiful dawn, sunrise, through the car windows. It was a lovely start to my day.

Tuesday there was a coffee morning to raise much needed church funds. Jasmine, one of our congregation, holds a couple of these each year. Her house is a good forty minute drive from us, but I like to show some support when I can, so I asked Chris to drive me over. It was such a lovely day so she was able to have all the stalls outside. There was plenty of hand knitted items, books and DVDs, and a range of bric-a-brac to browse through. Tea and coffee were served inside the fly screen porch and there were tables around her pool so you could sit and chat in the sunshine. Just before we left the raffle was drawn, and the morning raised 408€, so well done Jasmine.

As soon as I settle down in the evening, whether I am inside or out on the porch, Tango has started coming to sit on my lap again. Yesterday he made me too hot and I had to force him onto the arm of my chair. He doesn't look too impressed.

Tolly has other ideas. I think I move around too much for him so he never sits on me for long. He decided that Chris' shoe was a better place to lie!

As we pulled in after one of our drive outs, I noticed how the pink vine next door had suddenly come into full bloom again. It has a few flowers all year, but Autumn sees it at its best. It goes by the botanical name of Podranea Ricasoliana, but has many simpler names, the most commonly used one being Pink Trumpet vine. It grows fairly robustly so we do have to cut it back when it hangs over our fence and tries to bury our plants, but I love it all the same.

We have a few other plants in the garden. This little pink carnation which I grew from a cutting from a bunch I was given years ago, just keeps on giving.

And I really thought this crown of thorns had given up and died, but it is producing a few new flowers again now.

But the real prize goes to the roses. They are still blooming. The flowers are a bit smaller than the first blooms, but there are loads of them. Here  are some I took a picture of yesterday.

And finally I have this lovely photo of my three great-grandsons. Today's babies just don't want to stay babies for long do they, and little Reuben has plenty to smile at as he watches his adoring brothers playing.

We had lovely long video chats with each of our sons on our birthdays. And despite all the postal disruption in UK, we did get cards from my three sisters. One of them is 92 in a couple of weeks, but she still made a lovely card for us, and we had other lovely handmade ones too. We know there are still a couple of cards floating around somewhere, that will probably reach us eventually. My son says they will probably arrive in time for Christmas! Family are so special all year, but even more so when we celebrate things together.

So now it is time to link up with Annie's Friday Smiles and get this published.