Puesta del sol

We never had a sunset in Sussex. The trees behind us ate the sun at about 5pm when we were plunged into cold and dimpsey-ness. We longed for a west facing view.

The sun now sets behind our house and dips into the Tramuntana mountains, we can enjoy it until darkness.

 

It's not all sun, sea and sangria

I know what it looks like. The beautiful pictures, the never-ending sunny days, the crystal clear sea and the food as fresh it looks. But Spain has its challenges, its quirks and in Mallorca - 2 languages to decipher.

The humming noise near my head as I tried to sleep in the oppressive heat last week turned out to be a nest, a swarm rather, of flying ants. Apparently they live in the electric socket in the wall - so we sprayed the crap out of the them with some severe Spanish chemicals and vacated the room for 2 nights. After clearing up a city of ants and their flying queens we attempted to sleep in our room again. More Spanish chemicals were needed.

The heat is what we dream of in grey and rainy climes. But it is insanely hot this time of year in Mallorca. P hasn't worn clothes for days, she asks whether anyone is coming to the house so she can decide whether to wear pants or not. The pool is a necessity.

The cats spread out on the tiled floor hoping to get as much of their furry bodies on the cooler material as they can. They pant. They hide. They turn up their noses at the Spanish cat food and demand tuna fish. Their world has been turned upside down.

The Internet comes and goes. It disappears if it's windy, or if it's cold or if a man knocks off a wire from the pole near our house. And we have to sort it in Spanish.

And the driving is scary as hell. I can get to Campos where my friend lives, to Aldi the Supermarket and to the petrol station. I have to do the airport tomorrow. I'm nervous already - keep to the right, keep to the right, keep to the right.

Peepo

I always joked with him that when we lived in Mallorca, on a finca, we would have so many animals. I envisaged a new pet a week. A few chickens and rabbits saved from the pot, a skinny cat or two picked up from around the bins, a horse because I like them and a dog if I could persuade him.

What I didn't expect was to inherit a parrot within an hour.

The landlord of our rented house didn't want the parrot to go to his flat in Palma, in a small cage, and wondered if we would look after him.

I'm not a fan of birds in cages. But I'm really not a fan of birds in very small cages. So we said YES to Peepo the parrot.

He's a very cross parrot. Hes obviously not used to people in his aviary. So slowly, we have made his concrete home a little more pleasant - and by the time we have finished I hope to give him a little slice of the Amazon jungle.

The never-ending birthday

I'm not sure why I felt I had to make up for P's birthday being just a few days after we landed in Mallorca. As if her own swimming pool wasn't enough.

Weeks before we left Sussex I had bought a mountain of Playmobil, and Lego, and books and a rather fetching pair of roller boots. These were all diligently wrapped and sent on the truck to Mallorca, ready and waiting as we arrived.

She had a party with her Sussex friends amongst rain and tears.

She had a party at Granny's house with cartwheels and games.

She had paella and chocolate cake on the actual day.

And she had a Mallorcan BBQ party with our 3 friends on the island, their dogs, and a delicious ensiamada.

An Aldi special choccie cake

Much longed for paella

Alcudia bowls

Magdelenas for birthday breakfast

Ensaimada con crema

Figgy-woo

Happy 8th birthday my little one

The fattie catties arrived

What an ordeal for the fluffers. A drive to Gatwick at 5 am, a 3 hour wait in check-in, a 2 hour flight (I wonder if their ears popped?), a wait in Spanish cargo and then a drive to our house in Mallorca.

Cleo was meow-ing loudly as she arrived. Lupin had given up all hope I think.

We let them out of their wooden boxes and cuddled them furiously, despite them stinking of pee. Keeping them in one room, the last of the English Felix cat food was wolfed down in a nano second before they walked with purpose exploring their new surroundings.

They protested loudly at being kept in the spare bedroom wanting to be with the family. If cats could speak, Lupin would have struggled with words fighting back the tears with relief.

I have never seen happier cats.

Three days in, the Spanish cat food is delicious and the coolest places to snooze have been discovered. It will be a month before I let them outside where they will have to learn the language quickly. I'm not sure the locals are that friendly around these parts.

Milady for m'ladies

French food in Spain for my Euro-cats

Everything is the same but just a little bit different

We did it!

The build up was insane, leaving Sussex took weeks of goodbyes and see-you-soons. I didn't sleep for days and we were all delirious once we had arrived. Dizzy from the excitement and from the the 2 am start.

Moving to Spain has taken years of dreaming. Every Friday night, after too much wine, we would remember our days before kids, living in Seville. We were in love with the culture, the people we met and lifestyle, wanting it so desperately for our children as well. Nine years of plotting and 6 months of planning, we have finally landed on the island of Mallorca. To start life anew, where everything is a game and a puzzle to decipher. Where everyday is just a little different to what we know. 

We are thrilled and overwhelmed.

And just a little bit scared. 

But that's what makes you feel alive.