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Already our friends and neighbours Helena, Judy and Alan have left, and we are now on our own on the campsite, we miss them a lot, we will be staying in touch as they journey home to the UK and Sweden. We feel all those who are now heading back to the UK as the basic costs of the return have increased massively. You must get a Covid test before you leave and then the two you must have when you get back cost £210 per person. If you go back through France, you have another €120 for a test there. Helena will need one at the French border and another for the German one so it no longer easy or cheap to move around. Hopefully as the vaccine rollout covers more people this will change.
We will as I said able to visit some of Andalucía before we head back but are lucky that we are in a motorhome as this allows us to travel in a Covid friendly way as we are self-contained and naturally self-isolating.
This week’s highlight was Karen’s 60th birthday, it seems that most of the big numbers have fallen during the Covid pandemic and we look forward to being able to celebrate these notable dates next year with a fair wind and a jab or two.
The weather has been to say the least has not been the greatest with lots of wind and rain keeping us inside and preparing the van for the end of the European part of our adventure. On Wednesday we had booked a meal in a restaurant in Vejer to celebrate. The idea was to cycle there, but with over 40 mph winds this was not really a plan so a taxi was ordered.
Just so you know that when you order a taxi around here you pay for the journey for the taxi to get to the pickup point and then the journey to the destination. Just let us say the it was a very expensive trip, but so worth it if you ever come to this area you need to go to the El Jardín Del Califa in Vejer, this Moroccan restaurant is lovely great service and more importantly fantastic food. The whole setup is inspired.
After we got home we had some Zoom calls with the family back home where presents were shown on screen and the family had used pictures taken from Buster as their backgrounds even Pino got a look-in! Not too bad a day!
The next day was overcast and cool so we continued to prepare for our imminent departure by giving Buster a full-on spa day and he looked resplendent as the sun made a short appearance as I finished.
For the past two months here, life has been as simple as it can be, long walks and cycles the odd meal out and the cat! It is time to move on and see what we are allowed see here. Follow the local rules and stay safe.
News from Pino
Well Hi there again, this week has been a strange one for me, on Monday, (it seems you humans have names for the days), us cats just enjoy everyday the same. But as I was saying Monday the humans stuffed me back into a black box again, and I remembered from the last time that something bad was going to happen, I have not been the boy I was since that visit. So, I screamed and complained but to no avail, I was taken to the Vet place again, they gave me a lot of tests and it seems that I am an extremely healthy cat! All good news you would think but no more ‘jections’ they called them vaccines, plus they put something called a microchip into me and they gave me something called ‘Pport’ or something like that.
Seemingly with this ‘Pport’ I can go anywhere with the male human as my ‘Pport’ is now linked to his. He told me that they are taking me to ‘Brexitland’ sounds exciting as they have lots of shellfish and like that.
I am going to stay with some of their friends while they look around the local area, they have lots of my favourite prawn heads so I don’t mind, travelling in ‘Buster’ for weeks would not suit me where would I prowl?
I now sleep indoors in Buster on windy and rainy nights; I have my own spot as I have moved Karen off her seat. She has moved the big human off his, so all is fine, he can sit on the floor if he likes. I am quite excited really as I have not travelled before so it will be an adventure.
Also they have bought me presents a big bed and toys plus something called a lead, a collar and a harness. I don’t know what the last three are for, but they sound like fun, don’t they? I hear I get to try them out on Tuesday when we leave, I will let you know what they do next week.
Also because they are taking me they have had to delay the return to get a Pino friendly cabin on the ferry so we will be heading to Brexitland in April. So excited.
¡Hasta luego! Until next time.
Pino the Cat
Michael Stanley says
Many Happy Returns Karen!
Bucking the trend. Most humanoids start shrinking during the octogenarian era but earthwise you’re well and truly Precambrian..
Mirella (next door) has a cat cage. Pino should get on famously with a fellow feline stray. Plant when next heading to the New Cross Turnpike.
Dave, looking browned off mate, get that left arm bleached prior to return.
Spring sprunging here. We’re flying around.
See you soon
Mick
David says
I am coming back with a tan, we have sacrificed to stay away from the glory that is the UK in lockdown. Now you say that I can’t come back with a tan.
Helena Andersson says
Lovely story! Miss you both too! Drive safe!
Matthew Orton-Wadhams says
Happy Birthday Karen – looking good for six decades of London life.
Bernard Kenna says
Happy Birthday Karen,