Down in Santa Pola we decided to go for an ice cream . Darren asked the girl behind the counter if we could take a picture of us behind the counter , she said yes . the owner turned u as we were arranging ourselves, at first I thought he was angry turns out he was a great guy and was offering to take the picture so we could all be in it 

He turned into a bit of a David Bailey and insisted on more pics arranging us and posing us until he had the photo that he was pleased with .. nice man 

I wanted everyone to have a good time , to chill and to get away from it all although with three of us now retired , that shouldn't be so much of an issue , but then free from family and in the company of good friends is a quite different experience . At the bottom of the road is the swimming pool and games area catering for tennis , football , basketball and petang

 I was comprehensively trounced everytime even though they tried to ensure I won but it was good fun .

Swimming of course was available to those that wanted it and we mostly had the pool to ourselves

Everyone it seems has friends and relatives out to spain to stay . this doesn't happen for me. fro reasons of cost or time or other commitments it has been difficult to get friends and family out to stay. I don't know why others manage it but for me it has rarely happened. I made some good friends at GIST and have kept in close contact with as many as I can . So one day whilst stood on the roof in spain listening to my neighbour depart with his friends to the golf course , I sighed and sadly sent a text to my friends to say how nice it would be if one day we could all meet in spain. As a man they all said we will make it happen !! Well it has. it wasn't easy , with work commitments , family demands and generally being busy souls it took some organising and a excel chart to plot comings and goings but we did it. 

I waited until everyone had their flight booked then I booked mine because I had to be their when they arrived and after they left . Now you might say why didn't you all go together ? Commitments ! They all made an effort and that was the way it worked out . I flew from Southampton and keith from Gatwick . I arrived first and Keith an hour later. Following day Adrian arrived from Gatwick at one o'clock in the morning as easy jet changed the flight time

Darren was next having heroically flown in from working for 6 weeks in Seattle and with only a day home before to the chagrine of loved ones flying out to join us for 3 days . That's how complex it is
He arrived at one in the morning as well

Finally Brian who had been at the other end of the country for a week drove back and flew out arriving early the following day and so we were for a short time all together . They gave me the bst time I have had in a long time..

it can seem strangely lonely at 20.00 hrs . even so a cyclist 'tinged' me .

you really can see the airport from the bottom of the road . Never realised it was (as the crow flies ) quit so close

just a couple of things on the beach .

 Whilst watching the sun go down one evening I said to my wife we have seen many sunsets on the beach but never a sunrise …. so in the very very early hours we took these.

A short walk in Alicante. This  pavement always makes me feel queasy .

this one has me disorientated with its 3D effect

Ordinary buildings are never plain

Look at this ! Who built this and thought .. I know what it needs !!

So it maybe my mates will go to Spain without me ? Paid on the card so may get my money back . cant afford a second lot of airfares . Also what if I go and cant get back . Actually , you know what , it don't matter . life's to short . If it happens I will sort it . With friends, relatives , relations succumbing to ill health and old age .. make every moment count . this is no biggy in the real world.