Goodness - We're halfway through 2026

How is it possible that its June already? Where have we been?

After our usual early months in Nerja, which this year coincided with the Easter processions again, we managed to meet up with a few of the Iceland Group (we travelled there together in 2014) for a really enjoyable few days in the historic town of Wallingford. It was great to see each other again and we used the local bus service to spend time in Henley on Thames and Oxford.

From the Turf pub in Oxford...

It so happens that while we were here, the band Police Dog Hogan were performing at a local venue. For Guardian readers, a key member is Tim Dowling and it was great to actually see him perform in the flesh after reading his amusing column on Saturdays... A good time was had by all.

We must mention our local Leigh on Sea Sea Shanty Festival which is always a must-see when we're in the UK home.

In preparation for journeys across the channel, we've registered the 'van so that it has a registration number, document and 'plate - which should make border crossings out of the EU a heck of a lot easier. The back of the 'van's looking very full though.

As I write this, we're 'doing' part of the UK coast again, this time between Blackpool and Liverpool. It's here if you're desperate for something to read.

What will we do next?

Coasting Along in the Summer

For various reasons we've decided to remain in the UK during the upcoming summer months - so that means continuing our coastal adventures. Where will we go? It's all here...

What's happening to the world?

 As we travel, we never fail to meet great people wanting to help us to see and understand their country; we almost always return uplifted and hopeful of a more understanding and better world.

Then I re-engage with world news and, especially, X (Twitter); so much intolerance, misogyny and even hate. It's getting worse. Why do people find truth-shifting alpha males so easy to follow?

From our motorhome trip around Southern and South Africa...

a wall in Soweto market

It's Malaga Lights Time Again

 It must be December because here we are again in this Malaga wonderland, rubbing shoulders with locals and their families and tourists from far and wide.

Gets better every year...

Severe Floods in Spain

The unprecedented flash flooding in the Valencia region, taking so many lives and destroying so much has shocked us all. Our thoughts are with the affected families.

Donate HERE 

People in the area work together to clear the debris from this unprecedented disaster which has overwhelmed local and national rescue services. There is much criticism of the government rescue effort from the locals. Here's the story in music from Trinidad Urquia (en Español)

Now the storms continue and are affecting Malaga and, to a lesser extent, our 'second home town' of Nerja, thankfully sparing lives as I write this. We look at the images of flooded roads in Malaga and the ground floor of the airport building and wonder if friends due to fly tomorrow will indeed do so. We're flying out to Nerja again next week, all being well, so we'll be able to check our house for the effects of the storm.

Malaga Yesterday:

[video widely shared on social media - origin unknown]

This weather phenomenon is called a DANA in Spain but this one is severe and, perhaps, a wake up call to Europe as the impact of Global Warming is again being felt 'close to home'. 

Here's the BBC's explanation 

 

Here's hoping for less damage and no lives lost over the next few days.

Summer Stuff

Settling back into Leigh and family life after our Portugal trip, we've also managed a bit of UK travelling. 

We took our 'van for a week to the Camping and Caravanning site at Eastbourne, meeting friends, the main objective being attendance at the Golden wedding anniversary celebration of our mutual friends and ex-colleagues; we also did a couple of great cliff walks and some local exploration.

Of course, we've also managed to fit in some of our coastal exploration, this time in Wales, and, as I write this, we've stopped off in the Cotswolds at Moreton in Marsh at the CAMC site here, spending a few days exploring this beautiful area before heading back to Essex.

Two National Trust highlights, for us anyway, were Snowshill Manor and Chastleton House . Chastleton house because it's a unique glimpse at the house exactly it existed some 400 years ago as the declining wealth of the family meant that very little was changed over most of its lifetime. 

Snowshill Manor because its eccentric owner, Charles Wade used the Manor largely to display his varied collection of objects; when he handed this to the Trust, it was on condition that his displays were to be maintained as he would wish and that's exactly what the Trust have done. Wonderful.

Two more of the many highlights of our visit to this area:

The Mill at Lower Slaughter 

Stow on the Wold

We've not fully sorted our travelling plans for the rest of this year, let alone next. We will, though, be in Nerja for October with two daughters joining us for a few days.

Rainy Return

Recently returned from our six week exploration of Portugal, we're wondering when this spell of wet weather will end. The tan's wearing off for goodness sake.

A wonderful trip