February 1: A brilliant pressie arrived this morning…..a TELESCOPE! We’ve seen a couple of the little villages opposite including one we didn’t know had a tower, the remaining snow in crevices of the mountain opposite us and the moon, seeing some of the craters so clearly!
Toasty in el Grande this afternoon 21o, clear blue skies and gorgeous hot sunshine. Almost wishing I hadn’t winterised the pool but as we know from Friday night, the wet weather is not long coming now. At it’s height, the temperature reached 25o!
February 4: We hope your 2016 has started well. We’ve obviously been keeping abreast of the dreadful weather you’ve all been having plus the various ailments that some of you have been suffering; joking aside, it doesn’t give us any joy.

February 5: It’s been rather chilly in el Grande today but all of a sudden the temperature’s increased to 18.5o and this little chap has appeared above our front door. He’s only about an inch and a half long bless!
February 6: It’s 18o again! I’ll be sunbathing before the England Six Nations Rugby match!
February 7: There’s a rainbow over the Guadalhorce valley. Forecast was for scattered showers we had a few spits but look at it now! 18.5 degrees again!
February 11: Damn strange weather! Freezing this morning then it rained. Windy. We’re now sitting out front in 21o sunshine and it’s raining across the valley! How bizarre, how bizarre! ☔
Are we in Spain or the Yorkshire Dales?!
February 13: Swifts! The swifts are here! Saw a siskin this morning too!
February 14: Enjoying fabulous meal at El Fogon de Morales and all the lights went out! Still it’s a steak house so everything cooked on gas griddle and it’s quite romantic tee-hee!
Lights out! Blowing a hooley! Washing in the pool! Some now back in the washing machine! Sheet over the wall of the communal garden hanging on by a peg! Changed into England shirt…..all in time for the rugby! Come on England!!
Our internet tv provider has just flashed a note on our system that severe electrical problems in el Grande and a poem: ‘roses are red, some even hazy, the electricity in Spain, is driving me crazy’ ! Brilliant!
Still no tv. C suggested we go outside once the washing’s done and stand holding the washing in the wind – it’d be dry in 5 seconds!
Oh dear! The wind continues, it’s now raining for good measure. The pool cover and its housing is now IN the pool not on top of the pool where it should be! Have rescued some bits and hopefully can repair it tomorrow. We still have internet and tv so grateful for small mercies!
February 16: Well this is a first! Has turned really cold in el Grande 3o overnight, snow on the mountains and only 12o now bitingly cold wind but sitting outside dressed in black to absorb the warmth of the gorgeous sun. All I need is a windbreak and it’ll be really toasty!
February 17: Minus 2 in el Grande this morning – brrr!
February 18: 2o in el Grande this morning and grey! Was freezing overnight – I went to bed in amongst other things 2 thick pairs of socks and jogging bottoms!
February 19: The cold wet weather we’ve been promised for February has arrived and been in situ for 2 days now. So we’re indoors sorting out as decorating starts in earnest next week: lounge being transferred to second guest room where spare tv is so main lounge can be decorated first. Once that’s done, we can finish unpacking – yippee!
February 21: Saharan red dust covering everything! At least it’s turned decidedly warmer – 17o on veranda.
Just seen article saying that 1 in 7 properties sold in Spain in 2015 were to non Spanish (by Domus Venari)
February 22: Still as misty as it was yesterday but thermometer nudging 20o.
So far so good – our first Chinese in Spain at Restaurante Chino Hong Bin Lo in el Grande. Vast improvement on the terrible Indian we had a couple of weeks ago. Just the menu del dia but 2 starters, main course with rice, dessert or tea/coffee for 7.30euros can’t be bad!
February 23: The mist has cleared considerably today so much so that you can almost see the mountains on the other side of the valley. Thermometer nudging 20o again – lush! And this beauty has flowered for the third time since we’ve been here!
18.32 Spanish time, 22o and still sitting outside! It’ll get chilly once the sun disappears though.
February 27: That be snow on them thar hills! It’s blowy today and very cold only 8o.
Decorating is coming on a treat thanks to the fabulous work of Fran and his young Padewan Jack!
That light glow is rain. The cloud above is black!
February 29: Better view of the snow. Not as cold it’s 10o but wind is not as chilly as it has been.