I really had to look back to see when I last posted a blog and it was 21st March in the early stages of COVID lockdown in Spain. Despite my good intentions I have not made much progress on the writing front. Its odd as I almost feel like I shouldnt be spending time sitting at writing etc when I could be outside enjoying the great outdoors.
I dont want to revisit the whole lockdown, easing, new normal etc just to say we finally set off back to the UK on in July, much later than usual. We opted to drive back to the UK and had a couple of stops on the way through the north of Spain. Firstly the walled city of Avila, then it was cycling in Asturias on an old railway line and finally Comillas on the coast with a fabulous Gaudi house. We loved the more temperate climate of the north, it is so much greener than here and the people were really friendly. The ferry back and was not particularly busy and we stayed in our cabin most of the time. We drove back to
a few days of quarantine and then were able to catch up with family and friends, within whatever were the rules of the day. What a difference for Finns birthday in July, last year a big friends and family party outside this year a socially distanced outdoor breakfast. We were able to help out some old friends and housesit for a week while they had a break on the Yorkshire coast, we loved our time enjoying their house and walking and cycling on the canal at Gargrave.
We decided to head back home to Spain once the ferries were up and running and did Plymouth to Santander. We spent days on the Galician coast in a fabulous spot called Rinlo, great cycling and stunning views. From there we did a bit of a Parador tour, first Vilalba, then Benavente and finally the stunning Toledo. The last was my favourite, stunning hotel, lovely staff and amazing views from the terrace.
We got back to the house having enjoyed fabulous food and drink for 4 days in hotels to start the FAST 800 plan. You can look it up at I thought we would
do one week but ended up doing 9 weeks and we have lost 27kg between us. I feel so much fitter and some of the yoga and Pilates moves are easier.
Life here in Spain has depended on which stage we have been at but we have managed to have a break at the coast, to do a little bit of walking, and Adam, Chriss son came out for a month. We have been confined to our local area with insides of bars closed but we are now allowed free movement across the whole of Murcia region. We have plans to spend Christmas with friends, two of whom are in our little bubble and hoping some of the day will be outside.
The UK today seems to be imploding! The fact that a variant is now spreading like wildfire but was known about in September just must feel like the final straw. It would seem that the UK is going to isolated. Putting the S East into tier 4 and then seeing a mass exodus is a bit like the mistake Spain made at the beginning when Madrid was going
Like everyone life has been up and down this year; from a fabulous trip to Mexico that is a distant dream to trying to do the best we can within the rules. Our lovely walking group have not been able to meet, (we have the rule of 6) and I have missed both the walks and the craic !
Although the full blown lockdown is a distant memory I found it difficult, we werent even allowed out to exercise and we had army patrols in our little village. I think it made most people more creative and I managed to have zoom sessions with Finn using pictures etc to help keep him entertained. We developed our own outdoor exercise area on the back terrace too we also used the different spaces in the house to help pass the time. We also had our fabulous views to enjoy and most days really appreciated our situation.
I am grateful that our village Pilates session is still going and my yoga/Pilates class in Mula too. I enjoyed some good walks while Adam was here too.
