Hogmanay

This is Adam with his bowl of grapes waiting for the countdown to midnight as Spanish tradition has it that you eat a grape on each strike of the bell - so 12 grapes in 12 seconds - not as easy as it sounds!

San Silvestre 5km

Steven took part in the fun run last year - which seemed easy for him after the Edinburgh marathon he ran before we moved to Spain - and he decided to sign up again this year. He soon realised that last year he was much fitter as he had loads more free time to go running every week! He's the excited guy standing on the steps at the back dressed in tinsel carrying "plankton" and "spongebob squarepants!" At least he made it to the finish with tinsel intact!

Navidad

Christmas in Cehegín is very different from Christmas in Edinburgh. There never seems to be any queues in the shops and nobody seems particularly stressed about it all! We had my parents visiting for Christmas so they helped us move back into the big house and we all had a lovely traditional Christmas dinner of turkey with all the trimmings (thanks to my mum!)

Murcia city

Steven's work night out was a few days before Christmas (and all paid for by the company so we couldn't possible decline) so my parents kindly looked after Adam and the big house while I headed off on the bus to Murcia city to meet Steven after he finished work. I had time for a wander around before dinner - which didn't start until 10.30pm! I think we were eating dessert at 1am!

Adiós amigos

Adiós to our friends again! They are off for an Indian adventure and we are again lucky enough to be back staying in their lovely home for the winter - which is a totally different experience to staying here in the summer! Good luck to you all - we miss you already...

English storytime

This is my friend Sabina and I in with one of the infant classes doing story-time in English. The (Spanish) English teachers are keen for us to read to infant ages 3, 4 and 5 and also to Primary 1 and 2 classes. Maybe they'll offer us part-time jobs at the school if we volunteer for a year or two!

parque ecológico

We went along to the opening of the new ecological park just outside Cehegín. Adam was so excited when he saw kids queuing up for the rope slide so off he went...

bowling and the beach

Another weekend away at Molino Blanco apartment (gracias mis padres). Too cold for a swim but the sea was ok for Adam to paddle in - at the end of November! We've had a very mild November but it's bound to change soon...

Dia de la castaña

Today at school was "the day of the chestnut". I volunteered to help (which really only involved me watching some Spanish mums roasting chestnuts in the school corridors but it meant I could stay and watch). The kids in class were all making funnels or hats from newspaper before lining up to get their share. This is Juan - the school "janny" dressed up and roasting away...

sports

Seems to me Adam is growing up way faster over here! He loves taekwondo but also went to track with his friends and enjoyed everything - although it got a bit chilly for me after 90 minutes watching!

around town

Profesor de Inglés

Steven is now a Profesor de Inglés with a language school called Fluency Idiomas teaching kids from age 8 to 18. He says he is kind of winging it at the moment as has to teach himself English grammar first before trying to explain it to the kids. He is putting in some really long hours but coping well and looks on the up side - as Spain has loads of fiestas and national holidays - so does he!

G & G anniversary

Adam's "Granny & Grandad Spain" came to stay for the weekend so we could celebrate their ruby wedding anniversary with them - we went for lunch to a restaurant called La Mariposa (which is English owned) in the Sierra Espuña so it was very relaxing not having to speak any Spanish!

2nd tooth

Adam lost his second tooth today and swallowed it along with a bite of his bocadillo! Will the tooth fairy ever get one from under his pillow he wonders...

1st loose tooth

Adam was very happy to finally have a wobbly tooth! It came out 2 days later - in class - when he twisted it out!!!! The teacher took it off him but the tooth fairy still knew he'd lost one and left 1€ under his pillow.

Try not to notice the hideous yellow sponge effect walls of my bedroom in my recent rental. The place is GRIM!!!!!

G & G weekends

After a hard two weeks at school Adam was very happy to head to the coast for weekends visiting his Granny & Grandad Scotland. Adam loves going out at night for a meal...

...although not so happy to be told it was time to head back for bedtime!

I think he'll still play on these things when he's 14!

back to school

Adam was ready to get back to school and has missed seeing his wee friends every day. I was dreading the return as thought he might relapse to the clinging crying wee guy of last year but he was absolutely fine on day one and felt very grown up to be in P1 and allowed to play on the patio with the bigger guys - more excited on day two and three cos he got to wear his (sports) school uniform - but had a bit of a cry on day four and he is not sure why - maybe because he wanted to wear uniform but his class wear their own clothes for two days and uniform for three! Fingers crossed for next week...

First day - with a bag full of school books.

2nd day in school uniform

fiesta week

Fiesta week in Cehegín is a big deal and they party 'til all hours through the whole week. The final night of fiesta had a huge firework display which we missed as it (as usual) started at 1am but Adam had his first day of school the following morning so he sensibly went to bed at 9pm.

Ladies on the candlelit procession

There were 25 paella pans on the go!

Paella almost ready...

Avoiding the shows and stalls and heading up the hill for tapas

September job

Steven has just landed himself a job in Murcia city - teaching English to all different age groups of Spanish kids. Contracted until June 2010 then he can decide whether to teach at summer camp or maybe back in Edinburgh...

All is well at the moment - and will be even better when Adam goes back to school next week.

la playa

Adam really does like a day at the beach!

river

We had visited this river many times but the last time we went there were dozens of people jumping in and swimming along it! Adam had no swim shorts but pants did the job! Faster and colder than it looks but lovely...

underwater

Adam loves swimming underwater and said it was so much fun when he got to do it with his cousins too!

La Cueva del Puerto

Visiting the local caves just outside Calasparra.

mariachi

Last Sunday's evening's entertainment.