It has been a busy week planning a trip to Spain. Last Friday my London flat furniture was delivered to home in Devon, 75% of which is bound for my flat in Spain. A few hours ago this was loaded into the Luton van. We depart tomorrow at 09:30 for the Plymouth – Santander ferry. The ferry arrives at 08:00 tomorrow morning. From there it is another 12 hours drive to La Duquesa, about 20 miles south of Marbella. In 48 hours, my flat will have 3 beds, two sofas, a dining table, some shelves, books, videos, DVDs, a DVD/Video player, a TV, some pictures and a coffee maker.
Why go to all the trouble? Due to my Scottish soul which cannot bear to pay the local prices for furniture. Our ever so charming furniture salesman, W, wanted 25,000 euros to furnish my wife’s 3 bed-flat. Please bear in mind it already had 2 sofas, dining table and chairs, 3 occasional tables, 2 beds, all kitchen appliances. So we are talking about 25,000 euros for 1 bed, 5 bedside tables, 3 mirrors, 3 dressing tables, 5 bedside tables, 5 pictures, bedclothes and some sparkle rugs. W has impeccable taste and it would have been really beautiful but I could not go there (at least not yet).
It’s funny, when I am in England I resent the drain of the property in Spain with its being a pain to cover the mortgage each month. However, depart this green and pleasant land in this October with its damp 15 degrees and arrive in 25 degrees and sunshine and I remember why this was not such a bad investment after all. After 3 days I do not want to come back. In 60 hours from now I will find myself in a T-shirt, in some fish restaurant in Castillo having Carabineros. These are larger than normal langoustines which are just beautiful washed down with some Rioja Blanca.
Must catch some zeds now. Darling M will prepare me a manly breakfast in 6 hours, such that I am fortified for my quest.
Russell de la Mancha
This sounds fantastic – I really wish I was there. I hope Dave is coping with his first trip abroad. Can he take the heat?