CoLJ 8 - Cup of Coffee

We have been in the UK for one week and have tried to purchase a decent cup of white coffee on several occasions without success! We have tried in coffee shops, cafés and public houses.

The first problem we experienced is that we seem to speak a different language to the local restaurateurs. They do not seem to understand what a cup is. It is not a half litre mug, it is not a small gazunder, it is not a small pottery flower vase with a handle, or a paper popcorn bucket for one with a plastic lid and a straw. A cup, to us, is usually a small crockery drinking vessel that holds approximately 250 ml of liquid and is generally found with a saucer as a partner.

The second problem is the quality of the coffee supplied. We do not want a teaspoon of the cheapest Colombian instant freeze dried coffee dissolved in tepid water, or even worse powdered coffee, with added cold or lukewarm milk, that is beginning its metamorphosis into cheese. What we want is reasonable quality fresh ground coffee brewed fresh when we order it with hot fresh milk added. It doesn't have to be made from Jamaica Blue Mountain beans, a good quality arabica bean will suffice. What is the point of establishments making a show of having a Gaggia or Brasilia or similar coffee maker if they don't know how to use it properly?

The third problem is the extortionate price we are asked to pay and the lack of value for money. We do not want to have to have a mortgage to pay for a cup of substandard coffee. In fact we probably wouldn't get one as financial lenders will not lend for something of non-standard construction!

Our search goes on.

CoLJ 7 - Ashford Apartment.

Wednesday involved a trip to Ashford in Kent to look at some apartments as possible permanent UK accommodation as alternative to Spain for several months of the year, including the three hottest summer months. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom.

We visited a site entitled 'Evolution' by Fairview Homes. Unfortunately the site and properties failed to impress. The location and access were very disappointing. The houses and apartment blocks were of a modern concept that reminded us of a Lego model town. The apartments were in our opinion too small.

The trip was not the failure it might seem. It has given us an actual, physical, appreciation of the modern concept of design and size of new build apartments; something that cannot be truly appreciated from on-line property searches. That's one site crossed off the list.

On the journey back to Roman Way we stopped at Tenterden for lunch, as in the morning we had passed through the town and thought it picturesque.

CoLJ 6 - Lewes.

Tuesday needed a return to normality with a visit to nearby Lewes to buy more groceries. Whilst there we had a meander around part of the historic town. We only had a glimpse of the town's heritage with more to be seen on our next visit in a few days time, but must mention the pretty Southover Grange gardens.

Southover Grange garden

CoLJ 5 - Brighton to Eastbourne.

Monday was a day for being a holiday tourist. Starting with a brief visit to see nearby Brighton seafront we then drove along the coast road to Eastbourne, the older persons capital city, where we sat on the beach in the Sovereign Harbour area, along with other older, presumably retired couples, and ate our lunch. I kept my eye open for the Age UK representative in case we were approached for a 'Pay as you Laze' ticket or a signed donation direct debit mandate.

Seven Sisters

In the afternoon we headed back across the South Downs to the cottage via Birling Gap and Alfriston. We stopped at the Birling Gap to view the Seven Sisters white cliffs. If truth be known, actually the main reason was to buy an ice cream at the café there. However we very nearly didn't stop because the National Trust, who own the land here, wanted us to pay to park the car to buy our tub from them! An alternative parking space was found and a toffee and hazelnut ice cream tub was devoured sitting on the cliff top before continuing our tour.

CoLJ 4 - Roman Way.

Having arrived at Roman Way cottage at 16:00 hrs. been given a quick tour and explanation of the facilities in the accommodation, taken possession of the key, unloaded the suitcases from the car, it was time get some essential shopping for our first evening meal and breakfast in the UK for nearly one year. The easiest solution was to find the nearest supermarket in Lewes. Our first choice was to look for a Tesco, the UK equivalent of Carrefour in Spain and France, as, like them or not, there is always one not too far away.

The next two days, being a week-end, we used for relaxing after the drive from Spain, to stock up with groceries for the week to come, and get the clothes washing done.

The Downs from Roman Way

We were pleased to find that Roman Way is almost “exactly what it says on the tin”. There is always the concern that holiday rental properties do not match up to expectations.

At the end of the week-end we have had to knock off a few satisfaction percentage points as a result of the level of cleanliness that we found. What a pity that previous renters had not cleaned up properly after themselves, and that the owners had not noticed their (renters) failings. The kitchen food cupboard contained old opened and used products, some of which had spilled out. Why do people think others after them would want to use their leavings. There was dried food spillage on the refrigerator shelves. The bread toaster had not been emptied of a considerable quantity of crumbs, possibly a week's worth of toasting. The bread bin was in a slightly similar state. Some of the crockery was dirty with dried food on plates; unfortunately this made us feel it necessary to wash each item of kitchen equipment before use. Long hair strands of previous occupants left in the bathroom. Minor but irritating problems that take the cherries off the top of a four **** cake.

CoLJ 3 - Folkestone to Kingston.

The Folkestone area has memories for me, as I lived in the town and in close by Hythe for most of my primary school years. It is not the town I remember. It is not the vibrant seaside town I enjoyed living in. It is tired and run down, with much of it in a state of dereliction. The harbour area is a disgrace compared to the busy cross channel ferry port I knew. It was a disappointment when last year I decided to re-visit my old playground.

For me once again this year, as in most previous years, and like the vast majority of those arriving at the channel tunnel terminal, it is just the point of arrival into the UK and a point to be quickly left behind on the ongoing journey.

But first, as usual, I needed to call in to the local Tesco garage to fill up the petrol tank. I usually run the petrol level as low as possible approaching the tunnel in France. There is a considerable cost saving in waiting to purchase petrol until entering the UK. There is a further saving by bypassing the petrol station on the terminal and popping into the outskirts of Folkestone. A 10 minute and 2 mile diversion is worth it.

Having given SatNavratilova the address of our holiday cottage for the next two weeks, received her instructions, we turned our back on the town.

After a short distance on the M20 our journey was a cross country route through the Kent and East Sussex countryside. It was very pleasant to pass through the picturesque hamlets, villages and small towns. The intense, lush, multi hew, green foliage of the countryside being an immense contrast to that of the Costa coast of Spain. What was not pleasant though was the condition of the roads, the aggressive attitude of other drivers, and the overall driving experience. The surface of the majority of the main roads was appalling with broken patches of the driving surface and potholes. I do not remember the roadside vegetation being allowed to grow so close to the edge of the road, making it very dangerous when negotiating the many obscured twists, hidden bends and blind corners in the single carriageway roads. As bad driving habits go, the Spanish driver can learn from the British drivers we encountered. They could learn; how close a tailgating vehicle can get to another without actually touching it; how to ignore lane discipline; how to ignore road markings and overtake on blind bends. I will think again about criticising too quickly the roads and the drivers in Spain.

Never-the-less we arrived at Roman Way, Kingston safe and sound despite the efforts of the southern counties kamikaze drivers.

CoLJ 2 - Drive to the UK

The two days of the drive to the Channel Tunnel went as planned. A daily start at approximately 08:30 hrs. and a completion by 19:00 hrs. As usual the actual driving time was split into around two hour sections interspersed with breaks of twenty to thirty minutes for drinks and use of services.

Day one saw the completion of our journey north through Spain with our evening stop at Beziers in France. This was a change from our normal stop-over in Narbonne.

Day two had the aim of getting to within two to two and a half hours from 'Le Tunnel sous la Manche' at Calais, with the night stop at Senlis some forty minutes north east of Paris. The days driving was uneventful except for going over the impressive 'Millau Viaduct' and the southern circulation of the 'Boulevard Périphérique' of Paris. That was a time not to doubt the ability of SatNavratilova Garmin. I had to trust that the latest maps she had were up-to-date and she knew the easiest and quickest route in her mind. She didn't let me down. Her instructions were clear and she didn't need to shout “Recalculating!” The only thing that was a little concerning was the number of death wish motorcyclists in Paris weaving in and out of the traffic, hazard lights flashing, still seeming oblivious of their vulnerability, honking their horns and gesturing at car and van drivers that did not clear out of their way or leave a big enough space between the traffic lanes. There seemed to be many motorcyclists on the type of bikes that had two front wheels.

On day three arrival at the tunnel terminal was as planned, giving us time to use the facilities and get a coffee for the journey through the tunnel. The layout of the access roads from the check-in, to the customs checks, to the refreshment terminal, to the train have altered since last year. We arrived at Folkestone on time.

Change of Life Journey 1 - Prologue.

A few days ago Natalie, my wife, and I started a journey that will almost certainly change the remainder of our lives. It will probably change how we live. It will possibly change where we live. Who knows how it will change our lives, we don't!

It had a simple start, a visit to the United Kingdom, to get away from the intense heat of July and August in Spain. A respite for Natalie from the unbearable heavy heat and the continual attention of biting insects. A holiday from Spain.

Will the holiday journey have a simple completion with a return to our Spanish way of life, or will it have a complex finale? Will it be a replay reversal of our journey to Spain in July 2001?

Time will tell.

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There is a dead wasp in the swimming pool; - what should I do?

I was sitting at home one  afternoon recently with some friends who had called round for a chat and a cup of tea. There was an unexpected knock on the front door. I broke off from the interesting conversation we were having to see who was at the front door in the middle of the very hot afternoon.

“There is a dead wasp in the pool” said the young lady standing on the door step in her swim suit! She was on holiday, with her equally young beau, staying with a relative who has a property in the community.

I ought to clarify at this point that not only do I live next to the communal swimming pool but I am also the Chairman of the Community in which the pool is situated.

Her statement threw me for moment and before I could think of the appropriate response she enquired as to what she should do to remove the offending insect from the water.

Refraining from the urge to make a satirical, or verging on sarcastic, comment I suggest that perhaps the solution was to scoop the invader out of the water with the aid of a handful of water as a propellant. If that failed she might try the alternative of using her swimming goggles as a scoop. I suggested that her 'Sir Galahad', who remained in the pool, possibly as a rearguard defence and lookout, might assist her in the quest to remove the Hymenoptera.

It is good to be able to assist the youth of today with their education!

Having made my constructive suggestions, I refrained from leaving my guests and undertaking an act of chivalry by despatching the 'beastie', thereby enabling her 'Knight in Armour' to save the señorita from the Spanish invader. With what I perceived as a look of disappointment, that I was not to accompany her, she returned to the swimming pool. Whether or not she, or her 'Superman' hero, or neither of them extracted the wasp from water I'll never know, and to be honest, even though they felt it necessary to disturb my afternoon, I don't need to know.

On returning to my guests I found them chuckling amongst themselves about the episode they had just overheard. Wondering if it was real life or a trailer for a comedy sketch. I put their minds at rest.

It is another one of the joys, or is that peculiarities, of being Chairman of a Community!

Moronic Mother puts swimming pool users health at risk.

I supposed it shouldn't surprise me, having been the Chairman of our Community for five years, but it still does, how stupid and inconsiderate some of the owners, and their visitors in some cases, of the properties within the community can be in relation to communal areas! In this case, and probably in the majority of cases, for the majority of Community Chairman it relates to the use of the communal swimming pool.

In order to maintain the quality of the water within the swimming pool, and therefore directly the health of users of the pool, our Community has an agreed, and issued to all households, set of rules governing the correct use of the facility. Included is the rule that; 'No child using and/or wearing nappies, or not considered as satisfactorily toilet trained, is to be allowed in the water at any time, unless wearing a specially designed, leak proof, swimming nappy'; not an unreasonable rule to try to reduce or eliminate health risks.

Recently I had to speak to an owner, of some long standing, of a property within the community who was using the swimming pool with her very young child. The lady in question brought her child into the swimming pool area, where upon she removed the nappy the child was wearing, leaving the used, soiled, nappy on the perimeter concrete edge of the pool, close to the water, and where other swimmers sit before entering the water; then took the naked child with her under the shower, as required before entering the water, making a little effort to wash herself and the baby, paying little attention to it's now nappy free bottom area; then took the child into the water without any sanitation protection, as required, on the child!

Not only did she leave a soiled nappy on the edge of the pool; she had the child in the water without protection, for other users of the pool, after her visit, from the possible urination or defecation by the very young child in the water.

In the latter case I wonder what she would have done if an incident had occurred resulting in faeces in the water? Would she have informed someone, or myself as Chairman, so remedial water treatment could have been initiated to protect other pool users, or would she have said nothing, done nothing to rectify a problem, and just left the pool area?

On observing her actions I of course immediately spoke to the lady; pointing out that they were unacceptable; that the child be removed from the water immediately; that the soiled nappy be removed from the pool edge and disposed of correctly. Taking into consideration that I am aware that she has had medical training, including rules of hygiene I assume, I was surprised, or was I, by the look she gave me of what I take to be indignation that I should say anything to her about her action! Why can't she do what she wants irrespective of the potential effect it may have on others. Who was I to reprimand her. Who was I to point out to her the unacceptability of her unhygienic actions.

Oh well; another one of those experiences of human nature that comes with the role of being Chairman of a Community.