14 May - A Tad Damp

Forecast for today was rubbish so it was quite pleasant to wake up and the rain was holding off.

Definately not a beach day!

It was sort of clearing by the time we got to Roses.

A family of Shags were closed to shore - unusual to see them in the bay. They're usually over in the Nature Reserve.

On our walk back we bumped into friends at the mini golf cafe. We nearly walked past them as it had started to drizzle so we were on a mission to get back! After a quick natter we continued on our way.

Unfortunately just minutes away from our apartment block the rain got much heavier. We had to shelter under the ice-cream parlour brolly!

Anyway after a few minutes we convinced ourselves that it was easing up so whizzed to our destination. Well, at a quicker pace than we normally walk 😁.

We had lunch accompanied by thunder, rain and the occasional lightning flash until mid afternoon when it eventually stopped. The forecast shows that the rain is with us until about lunchtime tomorrow and then sunshine for the next week. Yippee!! 

At least the afternoon was productive as I had time to finish an embroidery I was originally working on while in New Zealand.

With a lunch date tomorrow we hopefully should be able to veg out on the balcony after a large meal 😊.

13 May - Out for Lunch

Yesterday evening we had stormy conditions again. Thunder and lightning flashing about with a bit of torrential rain thrown in. 

This morning from about 7am it sounded like the gardeners in the house opposite were out trying to blow dry the grass! Other than the owner visiting today we couldn't work out the reason for the frenetic leaf blowing, strimming and sawing going on. Anyway by breakfast time they must've been ready to move on to their next client as their trailer was full of leaves and grass clippings.

As we were heading out for lunch with our social group over here we took ourselves off for a walk. There's usually not enough time when we get back after these events and usually we're too full to move.

New signs have gone up down the prom. We had to have a chuckle about the sign about picking up your 'pet's poop'. With the number of cats, rabbits and guinea pigs seen being taken for walks the council probably thought it was best to specify 'pet' rather than 'dog' to cover all eventualities.

Lunch was a typical 4 hour affair with the usual Catalan dishes on offer. However this meal was slightly different in it's dessert offerings.

This was amanida de fruites which translates as fruit salad. We all had a bit of a laugh when the apple on a plate came out. 

Not sure if I did any better with the chocolate mousse. Looked a bit like what the council was concerned about being left scattered along the prom! 😂 It did taste pretty good though even though presentation required improvement.

Anyway despite the dodgy desserts we had a great time and managed to return by 5.30pm from a 1pm start! Just time to catch the last bit of sunshine whilst out on the balcony. And I finished my book, which I've recently found out is being made as the next Cormorant Strike series on BBC.

No specific plans for tomorrow so it's going to be a wait and see day.

12 May - More Wildlife Watching

A bright start to the day so we took ourselves for a walk along the prom.

On our way out we admired the loquats (I had to check what they were on my handy obsidentify app). Apparently they're ripe when they're an orangey yellow.

As there aren't any overhanging branches within easy reach we'll be picking them off the top, where some of the trees are within reach of the staircase.

We were pleased to see that they've managed to replant the palm tree that was previously lying on it's side.

Looks like they're waiting for a last delivery of concrete before the paving slabs go down.

Back at the apartment having lunch on the balcony we were watching the parachutists coming down in the distance and watching the birds. I made an off hand comment that I could hear the noise of chicks or ducklings but we never saw ducks on the canal.

Eagled eyed Ian spotted seagull chicks scuttling about on the roof opposite. Getting perilously close to the edge. 

We now know why, when workmen were up on the roof last week, the reason that the seagulls were swirling around them.

The remainder of the afternoon was enjoyed reading and sewing. Only a few hundred pages to go!

The pleasant weather soon made way for some heavy rain which I'd been watching make it's way over from the mountains. Might be a spot of thunder later. At least tomorrow we'll be undercover if it's wet, as we're out for lunch.