Happy New Year!!!

Well we´ve made it to the Canaries.  The unfortunate part is I picked up a cold a few days ago so I´m a little sniffley and my ears failed to pop on the descent so I´m somewhat deaf.  It has cleared a bit from yesterday but I still feel like I´m in a bubble with wierd crowd roaring in the background.

Christmas was good, good food, family and visiting.  Tom, Dave´s Dad, has been up and down - some days worse than others.  It was hard to leave him mom on her own with him. Hopefully the doctor/nurse who was to visit yesterday will be able to get Margaret some extra help for at home.

Happy belated birthday to Michelle, the boxing day baby.

We  didn´t do much between the 26th and the 30th other than a couple of night visits to pub.  On one such visit while chatting with a new friend of Dave´s nephew Jonathon, Dave and Scott determined they were related (Margaret´s side) ... small world. 

On the 28th the weather was decent so Dave & I took a drive to get out into the day for some sun and fresh air.  Went up over the moors and into the Holme Valley.  Stopped in Holmefirth for some fish & chips and a wander.  The air was VERY fresh but it was nice to get out and about for a few hours.

Yesterday, the 30th, we were up at 4am.  In the cab at 5am on our way to the airport. Flight took off just after 8am and we arrived on Fueterventura just before 2pm.  Unlike most flights, here in the EU they assume everyone is from the EU so they don´t hand out immigration cards which means when me, on the Canadian passport, gets up to the officials I´m made to wait for a special stamp, or in this case made to fill out a landing card and get back in line again.  A little bit of a pain in the ass.

The airport is about 2/3rds of the way up the island and our resort area is toward the southern end.  Our shuttle drops others off here & there along the way, taking about 1.5 hrs to get to our place - we´re the last ones to be let off.  We´re staying at the Sunset Crystal Beach & Suites Hotel.  And I´m glad to say that all of my worrying was for nothing.  The room is nice and clear, no sea view - garden view, bathroom is clear and fairly new, with a nice private balcony.  From the back of the hotel is the pool and bar area, overlooking the ocean.  It´s about 6 flights of stairs down to the ground and then a few hundred meters or so out to the waters edge.  Today is sunny with some high cloud and a light breeze.  Probably about 22 degrees - quite lovely after freezing temperatures and snow back in the UK.

After unpacking and brief look about, we hit the snack bar for a nibble and a few drinks then go for a nap before dinner.  Boy where we knackered - turned the alarm off and didn´t wake until almost 8pm!!! OOPS !!! Manage to make it down to the restaurant for some dinner, sit out on the pool deck for drinks to enjoy the evening air, then turn in.  With this cold I´m still pooped.

Today we have a lie in.  Current local time is 12:30pm.  Dave´s finishing getting dressed and I´m talking to you.  We missed breakfast but will head down for lunch then take a walk about.  There were some clouds out this morning but the sun appears to be burning them off.  Tonight is the New Year´s Eve Gala, complete with Karoke!  Right up your alley Shana.  I just hope it not all in Spanish or German!  Most of the guests here appear to be German, but the staff all speak English as well.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas season with friends and family. 
All the best to each of you in 2010.