RICHARD FORD

Swedish Death Cleaning…😹
🐈‍⬛ 🐱 🐈
Love it! 😻

I know the feeling..
Generally, we never throw anything out, but this year, it all changes…
Er.. a bit! 🤏

a cartoon of snoopy dancing with the words it 's time to do the friday dance below him Alt: a cartoon of snoopy dancing with the words it 's time to do the friday dance below him

It’s raining, so I’ve decided to start Spring cleaning!

Starting in the main bedroom, I have literally discovered a whole new world inside the wardrobe…

I may even write a book about it(!)

I’ve found clothes that I haven’t seen before, and others that are just relics…

Charity shops soon then… 😃

a cat is driving a car and saying `` hold on almost there ! '' Alt: a cat is driving a car and saying `` hold on almost there ! ''

My little minivan has just sailed through the contrôle technique, the French MoT!

This is particularly pleasing as I’ve not driven it since before Christmas, having been on tour in the camper.

Mind you, I had to invest a couple of hours of elbow grease to bring it back to a reasonable standard!

🚗

a red cup of coffee on a saucer with the words " good monday morning " Alt: a red cup of coffee on a saucer with the words " good monday morning "

Middle daughter has managed to get on a plane out of Dubai.

She was supposed to be going on a well earned holiday to The Seychelles, but never made it that far.

Following over a week hiding in bathrooms (no windows), or occasionally under bridges, they’re now on the way back to the UK…

🤞 ✈️

⚠️ Middle East mobile phone warning ‼️

Hell In A Handcart springs to mind…

Sounds fancy.
We sleep in the garage! 😄

AI generated drawing of part of a camper interior

All part of the fun..(!)

a zombie has more brains than a normal person Alt: a zombie has more brains than a normal person, thinks Michael Jackson from Thriller

Back in France.
20 hours driving over 2 days.
Zombie-ish.
Made the decision to remodel the inside of the camper.
Sucker for punishment then.
Only have 3 weeks, then back on the road.
Certifiable.
It’ll be fine.
Don’t know about the back though.
The Paracetamol Years.
Another unwritten chapter…
✍🏻

a group of people are dancing in a dark room with a red light behind them Alt: people are dancing in a dark room with a red light behind them. One dancer is surrounded

Saturday again.

The last day of February, and the end of our Spanish tour.

I have a couple of karaoke classics lined up so can make my contribution, with some shapes thrown in for good measure.

It’s been a blast on the Costas, and we’re already looking forward to next time, that’s December!

🎶🕺

Life’s A Game… Mexican Train Is SERIOUS!

Games night.
Not very often I spend a Friday playing Dominoes.
(Never, actually!)

Tomorrow, we look forward to bingo with beer as prizes(!) tapas (questionable small plates of food), then karaoke hosted by a Cuban animator threatening to be in drag…

Our final weekend on the Costa Dorada.

💃🏼☀️

This is Sergio.
He’s pretty good.
Another great night actually…✨

Great Thursday!

The beach at the campsite goes on forever!

Unfortunately, the stormy conditions have closed the pitches immediately adjacent to the sands. We have to walk about 50 yards(!)

A little stroll to and from the coast…

Campsite clubhouse where all the real action occurs!

Bling night.✨
Saturday innit?!🪩

We start with bingo!
Sorry, but the prizes are alcohol for a line, 2 lines, and a house, so the odds are not too bad that you’ll enhance your evening!🥴

Then curry & chips, plus a nailed-on chance of leaping about to tunes!🕺

Only another week here in Spain…!🇪🇸

a cat laying on a couch with the words happy sunday written above it Alt: a cat laying on a couch with the words happy sunday written above it

Zero day.
Do nothing Sunday.

This follows a fab St. Valentine’s bash in the campsite bar.

Around eighty Snowbirds of a certain age partied like it was 1999.

It helped a lot that the meal included wine, and the Spanish vocalist was a favourite rebooked.

What a great night,
& slow recovery!

🪩🍷💘

It sucks but we must fight TY
@bluewavesurfer.bsky.social
💘💘
@annettebeebe.bsky.social
@karynchalice.bsky.social
@mlipsitt.bsky.social
@richardfordshow.bsky.social
@pipfisher.bsky.social
@creatureofhobbit.bsky.social @lilatheofficial.bsky.social @sandor22.bsky.social
@cosmotheshaggydog.bsky.social

We’ve all just had an Amber Alert warning to our phones.
🇪🇸
All but essential travel is banned.
I’m following your advice re guy ropes and wine(!)
Musical chairs here, as they keep asking people to move pitches so they can access the trees with equipment.

We’re on our 3rd position in a week.

🤷🏻‍♂️🌴🚐

There’s a 10 hour window when it apparently will die down, so guy ropes to be tightened, in time for another onslaught overnight!

It’s not all of Spain, just where we’ve chosen to have a rally by the coast!

The wilds of Scotland are planned for later in the year! 😬

a man dancing in front of a car with the words have you seen the wind forecast written below him Alt: a man bracing in front of a car with the words have you seen the wind forecast written below him

50mph winds on the Costa Dorada!

(Curiously warm overnight too! 🤔)

This is not the place to choose if you value an awning, because they get eaten for a pastime!

The old saying: “Don’t Come Knockin’ If The Van’s a-Rockin’” springs to mind, but you’d be nuts to be outside!

The Joy Of Camping!

🌬️🏕️

Thank you.
Modern Jive lesson in a minute.
Probably about time!
🕺 🎶

Hi Maureen! 💙

It wasn’t quite as anticipated.
You had to choose 8 songs from a list of 40, and if that tune was randomly played, then you crossed it off.
So you might as well have not had the music, but just odd numbers.

The quiz though, had a music knowledge round, much more my forté! 🎶

a neon sign that says karaoke night in purple letters Alt: a neon sign that says karaoke night in purple letters

…

🎼
Wise men say…

Only fools rush in…

But I can’t help…

Falling in love with you….
🎶

(Just practicing for tonight’s tapas and make-a-fool-of-yourself extravaganza, aka Saturday night at a Caravan & Motorhome Club rally on the Costa Dorada!)

There may be more than one Elvis in the room!

🥴 🤔

a man in a tuxedo is holding a toyota sign Alt: a man in a tuxedo is holding quiz questions

It’s quiz night!

Well, firstly, we have to get through musical bingo, which is a similar thing but instead of numbers, you have to circle an artist or a song title, having heard a clip.

There are some confident people here for these contests, & all for a tiny bag of jelly babies!

➡️ Friday!🍺 🤷🏻‍♂️🎶

Enjoyed it tonight, Jules, coming away with prizes, and “I never win anything!” (as they say…!)

Just got back.
Actually won first line AND first card, so an extra 3 glasses of tinto for our table tomorrow!
Trying not to peak too early though with Zumba in the morning…! 🥵🍷

a group of people are dancing in a hallway with a man wearing a floral shirt Alt: a group of people are dancing in a hallway with a man wearing a floral shirt

Bingo this aft(!)

Not my idea, but there are wine prizes so my hand is forced!

Straight after that, Salsa and Bachata.

Might need the vino for hip lubrication, remains to be seen…

An interesting period on the Costa Dorada, albeit a lot different from my favourite Costa Blanca.

Making memories!

Box of cheese triangles showing wording ORIGINAL SIN

Found a new cheese spread to add to toast…

My daily portion of ORIGINAL SIN !
😈

No injuries, Guy.
January on the Costa Dorada has been excessive to say the least.
We’re looking to February to be a more traditional month, after the noise dies down and all those branches are removed… 🙏🏼

Spanish tree surgeon climbs tree over motorhome

So it begins.

The hi-ab crane couldn’t get under the railway bridge at the entrance to the site, so they’re having to attack the tree branch by branch with a chainsaw.

Won’t be extracting that (formerly) nice motorhome today…
⚠️