Mike & Liz In Andalucia

Well, words can hardly describe the surprises I had yesterday. After my spanish teacher encarni making me a cake for my lesson in the morning it just got better.

The day continued as normal with me going to work in the afternoon except I had a call to collect something from the office where my nursing documents were being processed. I went along and the lady sat me down and after chatting aimlessly for about 10 minutes I asked her what I needed to collect. She went to get something and came back with an enormous bouquet of flowers!

After feeling like I was running late because we had music practice to go to and also I was feeling in a rush to see Mike, I rushed home and forgot to pick him up from work! ( he doesn´t know that bit because I rushed back out again to collect him..).

Only I was then to discover I needn´t be in rush for music practice but for a meal reservation instead. Mike had set up a very nice meal in a very swish restaurant which again I wasn´t expecting at all. The food was very modern and I chose the taster menu which was abit of everything consisting of about 12 plates of food. He did well. It evolved into a very special day.

This weekend Liz & I headed out to the shops to buy her Birthday present – a digital camera. Our old camera died on us and Liz said that she wanted a new one. So we went for the smart looking and compact Canon Digital IXUS 60 . Now we have no excuse for not putting any pics up 🙂 I am also pleased to inform you that I have a 3 day week this week (thurs is bank holiday and I took friday off). I’m taking my lovelly wife away for a long weekend to a secret location (not so secret now) and also treating her to different treats throughout the week. Watch this space for response. It’s lunchtime at work and I’m just catching up with bits and bobs before I’m back onto the real work.

See you soon. Mike

Hi. It’s been a couple of weeks at least since we had visitors. After David and Sally we had the pleasure of my brother visiting for a well deserved break. Unfortunately it co-insided with me having to work full-time so it only left the evenings to catch up. But he seemed to enjoy the chance to rest and have the challenge of travelling on buses..

Meanwhile I’m back to part-time hours and appreciating them alot more! I was due to finish at the end of this week and start maternity leave but my replacement nurse dropped out at the last minute due to some paperwork difficulties. So I’ve agreed to work to the end of October at the latest unless someone turns up before then (please turn up!!!!).

We would put some more photos online but sadly our camera has broken. It was at the stage where if you whacked it, it would work but now it’s gone passed that so we’re looking around for a new one so at least we’ll have something for when the baby comes!!! Cause that would be a mighty shame otherwise!!!

Meanwhile, thinking of you all and thanks Chris & Anna for the lovely photo.

Well today David & Sally leaves us after a fun packed week with sun, sand, sangria & Settlers of Catan. I still feel I’m recovering from Revive even though this week I took Monday off to just do “nothing”. Tonight we’re having a night off and just chilling together before we throw ourselves into this wedding tomorrow – watch this space for the post-wedding report. Sunday it’s church once again followed hopefully by some go-karting with the guys (& girls if they want) from church.

Liz is doing & looking really well – each day more and more clothes don’t seem to fit her lovelly round belly. December the 7th seems to be the predicted date. I’ve already booked that week off to make sure that I will be available to take her to the hospital. I’ll keep you post.

Back to work for me guys – coffee break is over. 🙂

Mike

“UNACCEPTABLE”, I hear you say – and quite right too. I’ve not managed to keep our loyal readers up to date with the news in the blog. Sorry guys. Anyway quick catch up!

Well a couple of weeks ago (August 5th-12th) we were at REVIVE 2006 : Excellent time had by all, Liz & I drove to the UK (we love it!) and one of the highlights was the mexican night at cafe ash. Good laugh all around and excellent spiritual content all week. Lots to chew on. On the Sunday we were back at our old church in London http://nwcf.org.uk/ (New Wine Christian Fellowship) – leading worship. We left the UK on the monday morning and arrived in sunny Estepona on tuesday evening – straight back to work on Wednesday morning. Pretty uneventful except for the fact that I seemed to have pulled a muscle in my back with all the packing and very unconfortable driving position (signs of wanting a new car). On the wednesday I got back to work I could not walk but a few painkillers afterwards and some TLC from the local nurse helped things along.

This week we have Sally & David staying with us (friends from London) and just making most of the sun, pool and sagria. 🙂

This weekend we have a Spanish wedding to attend (one of the girls I work with) – that should be interesting at least. Tradition has it that there is no wedding list for presents and those invited are expected to give cash as a present (€50 per person = €100 total).

Other than that it’s my nan’s 95th Birthday on the 3rd Sept and I’m trying to see if I can find a cheap / affordable flight to go back for the weekend.

Finally it was good to see a number of people while we were back in the uk, all the gang at New Wine, Ichthus friends, Andi & Cheryl and Gerard & Helen. Hopefully next time our stay will be a slightly longer one.

Until next time (a little more frequent than last time I hope!),

Mike C.

Hello:)

Well (about 3 weeks ago now) we had a fantastic weekend away in Sevilla. Mike had managed to get a room in a B&B right in the old town so we could walk everywhere . It´s alot smaller than I thought but as pretty as I had imagined. We did most of the main sights on the saturday and then did some of the gardens on the sunday including a ride on a ferris wheel and later a ride on a horse and carriage through the town. One of the high-lights though was on the friday night when we went out for some tapas and ended up having a plate of fresh langostinos…v.nice.

We did however do a tourist classic. Every morning for breakfast there was orange marmelade served which tasted wonderful. We thought, “Oh this must be made from Seville oranges, lets ask where they get it from”. After enquiring about it, the message came back it was some brand called Hero. Our faces collapsed as we realised it was the brand we bought every time we visited the supermarket….we soon left after that.

Since then we´ve had a wedding in an olive grove which was especially beautiful. A couple from church were married and it was very informal, like a faith meal where you bring and share food. Mike and I did abit of music for the service and they just had some cd´s for the evening.

Otherwise we´ve continued working, with mike´s hours increasing instead of decreasing for summer but hopefully things will settle down soon.

I had another check-up last tuesday which went well. We heard the baby´s heart beat for the first time which was wonderful. I´m a little rounder but not that much. Put it this way I´m not in maternity clothes yet! But it´s coming !!!

I know Mike has filled you in on the healthcare experiences we´ve had, least to say it´s all been very interesting for us and I´m sure there´s much more to come…

It´s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster recently. As some of you know, I was in the UK just last week for my grandma´s funeral. It´s been hard especially for my mum having had to see her become unwell over the last 6 months and organize everything but we know she is in a better place now..

On a positive note the baby is due in the same month my grandma was born which brings some comfort as well and makes you reflect on the circle of life!

I had a call from the doctors today and I now have another checkup on 4th July and another scan in October, so it´s good to know we´re in the system!

Apart from all this going on we are following the world cup. Yes even I am watching a few games. Tomorrow, being the Brasil game, a group of us are going to watch it on a big screen somewhere. But we may not watch the second game at the weekend as my wonderful husband has organised a weekend away somewhere….unless it involves watching it….surely not..

Liz