September

September
Chris and Co. had only been in Mojacar 3 days when Ben, one of Chris’s friends, had an urgent call to return to Oxford University. He had been selected for the University Rugby Team and had to be back for a two days training before leaving for Japan on a tour!
All hell broke loose as we couldn’t find him a flight. It was the busiest holiday weekend of the year!! Eventually Chris and Ben camped out at Alicante airport and managed to beg a seat back to Gatwick. Ben made the squad, they won, and he is now a “Blue”.
Above - the Oxford Blues in Japan - Ben back row 4th from right Right - Pre match warm up in Japan - Ben 7th from right
The Guggenheim Museum	Since Chris had driven down with Ben, in Ben’s car, and the other 2 friends were heading on through Spain, Chris had to drive back on his own. He took 3 days to get back to London, taking time to visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao amongst other sites. To save money, he slept in the car, a “KA”, for two nights – a bit tight for a 6 footer I’d have thought.
During this period we had a long weekend in Letchworth, courtesy of Brian & Liz Synott. We spent the weekend staying in their beautiful home. However, the highlight was a spectacular night out at the “Spitfire Proms” at Old Warden airfield. It was the night of my dreams - good company, excellent food & wine, live orchestral music and historic aircraft doing flying displays…. all at the same time!!!!

When the Synotts (right) say we're having a picnic - this what they mean!!
We had arranged to go to Spain again for a few weeks with Dick & Shireen. The plan was to go to Madrid, hire a car and drive around Spain for 3 or 4 days finishing up at our house in Mojacar. Mid September, as arranged Dick & Shireen picked us up to go to Liverpool Airport. We had gone about 6 miles when my phone rang. It was Jill’s sister-in-law saying that Jill’s mum had been taken into hospital and was dying. Jill and I had to abandon our trip. Dick and Shireen carried on to Spain.
Miracles do happen – Jill’s mum who was given hours to live survived and is still alive and kicking. It was obvious after 3 days that she was going to survive so Jill and I caught another flight and after an interesting journey down from Madrid we joined Dick & Shireen in the sun. We took a slow route back doing the site seeing bits in Cuenca & Madrid.	Above - LWQ making the lunch Right - Dick, Les & Jill site seeing in Cuenca

Left - Indalo man the symbol of Almeria & Mojacar in particular Right - A couple of Spanish ---- artists! Picasso & Dali?- no it's Dick & Les having a painting competion - Dick was unanimously voted the winner!

Cuenca - Who are those two nosey people on the next balcony?	Madrid - Bloody tourists - can't even read my telegraph in peace!