Zagan is in storage, but no mice guests this winter!
It’s been nearly three months since I last wrote a blog post. Without the 9 to 5 of a job, it’s not like I haven’t had the time, but I just haven’t had the head space until now.
We’ve had a bit of a rough start to the year. Last year both my parents were diagnosed with dementia, and Mum’s decline these past 12 months has been rapid. After a rough end to 2022, we finally decided as a family that it was time Mum moved into a care home. Dad has been amazing caring for her for all these years, and it was a very tough decision, but Mum now needs professional help on a day to day basis.
It’s taken a couple of months for Mum to settle in, and for the rest of us to find a new routine. Dad gets the bus over to see her a few times a week, and our visits to Mum and Dad’s are now a case of picking Dad up and driving over to see Mum. It’s still all a bit strange, but when Dad and I visited the other day, we had a lovely hour of dancing in the day lounge with her before leaving her to have lunch with her new friends.
Once I was sure Mum was happy in her new home and Dad had settled into a new routine too, we took the opportunity to nip away for a couple of weeks. After much deliberation, we decided to head back to Nerja in Spain. Yes, we’ve spent several months there over the years, but all we needed from this holiday was a chance to relax and put life back into perspective. As we’d been and done pretty much everything in Nerja, there was no pressure to visit the ‘must see’ sights, so it suited us perfectly.
With only a couple of weeks available, we left Zagan in his storage space and flew to Malaga from our local airport. There we caught the train into Malaga city centre (it’s only 10 minutes away), and from there a bus to Nerja. Getting from the airport to the apartment we had rented cost us the grand sum of £6 each, much cheaper than a taxi or airport transfer bus, and a bit of an adventure too.
We had a lovely couple of weeks doing very little. Some running, some walking, some eating out and a bit of reading. There wasn’t any sunbathing taking place as it was really windy and a bit chilly, but we really didn’t mind. Our apartment had massive windows with a view across the rooftops to the sea so we could sit inside with the heating on and watch the sunset.
Our flight home was on the Monday morning (booked to avoid the massive price increase for school half-term flights), so on the Saturday we caught the bus back to Malaga and stayed in an apartment in the city for a couple of nights.
It turned out to be the last weekend of the Carnival, so we had a great couple of days watching parades and joining in with a massive confetti fight known locally as the ‘battle of the flowers’. We’ve been back nearly a month and we still keep finding bits of confetti in pockets.
Just before we left for Nerja, the tenant in the shop we rent out left, so it’s back on the rental market along with quite a few other shops in our local town. I think all high streets are struggling at the moment, but knowing how often shops change tenants we’ve said all along that it’s a bonus for us if ours is rented, and we don’t rely on the rental income from it.
Life back in The Cooler is pretty similar to lock down, only we can go out whenever we want and places are open. We refuse to put the TV on before 5pm (otherwise I’d be a total couch potato). Jay is working on our next book and doing lots of running and gym work training for the London Marathon in April.
I’ve been trying to keep sane with everything going on with my parents, while at the same time trying to understand and get menopause symptoms under control. It took a few months forward and back to the doctors, but I’m now on HRT patches and after upping the dosage, I’ve just recently been able to have a full night’s sleep again. I’m slowly getting back into running and have booked a half marathon for June as something to aim for.
Our property that we let to Jay’s Dad flooded just before Christmas when a pipe in the attic popped a joint. Progress is very slow getting it back to habitable again, but last week it was finally signed off as being dry after the ceilings (which had textured coatings containing asbestos) were removed. Now we’re just waiting for the contractors to put all the ceilings back up, redecorate, recarpet, refit the skirting boards etc. We hope to have Jay’s Dad moved back in by the end of April (he’s currently in an AirBnB – thank goodness for insurance!), and have been blessed that he’s been so good about all the upheaval.
We’ve blocked out the month of May to go away in Zagan. He has been somewhat neglected these past few months, poor thing, but the great news is that he didn’t have any mice move into him this winter which is a big relief. The list of things that needed doing when we got back from our last trip hasn’t been touched and he’ll need a big clean inside and out.
We do go and visit Zagan every couple of weeks to check on him and turn over his engine. Just sitting in him, even in the storage yard, releases a bit of tension from the shoulders. It makes us think of past adventures and dream of trips to come. We’re eyeing up where to go in May, possibly Ireland, Scotland, Wales or France, or maybe England. As usual we’re not great with planning, so we’ll probably just see where the weather is looking best – after all that is the beauty of life in a motorhome, no plans.
Ju x
Thats a lot going on and appreciate the update. That seems like a nice place you got for you mum.
Dealing with the menopause is tough, my wife is there too, but yet to try HRT, it will be interesting to hear how you get on.
Take care Simon
So sorry to hear what you’re going through. Sounds very similar to the end of 2022 for me, from a parent going into a care home to the lack of sleep caused hot flushes. I can completely empathise with the tension and anxiety you must be feeling. Sending best wishes.
Lovely post as always!
I thought it was just me not in the right place to post blogs, and everyone else was in a good place.
Sorry to hear about both your mum and dad, but staying positive must help, good luck with the marathon sx
I have followed your blog posts for many years. Having lost both my parents in 2021, my husband and I finally set out on our motorhome adventure in late December 2022. We crossed from Portsmouth to St Malo and headed south down the west coast of France. We then crossed to the east coast of Spain spending a week in Benicassim and 2 weeks in Javea. We toured south and west taking in Nerja and Torrox (possibly about the time that you were there – I now understand your love for this coast). Back north and east to Valencia then north to Roses on the Costa Brava. North through France including the Millau bridge. A fantastic trip inspired by you. Home tomorrow but thinking of the next. North Africa? Eastern Europe? Norway? Many thanks for your inspiration. Stick in with the menopause. I have been through it. Not much fun at the time but life at the other side. Happy travels.
I’ve been reading about your travels and journey for years now and feel like I know you even though we are strangers. That’s testament to your ability to communicate with your audience I guess. Virtual hug for the fun and games you are experiencing just now. I’ve been though both of these particular journeys and can say it’s a challenge. Good for you writing some reality it’s cathartic I’m sure.
It’s lovely to read your blog again. It got me through lockdown when I could only dream of buying a camper and travelling, and now I am sitting here in the Italian Alps sipping coffee whilst looking at the Dolomites through our campervan windows.
I’m sorry you’ve had a tough start to the year but it sounds like together you are working through things as a team.
I hope the rest of 2023 brings more happiness, further adventures and fewer hot flushes.
Personally (I’m going through menopause too)and I get the best night’s sleep in the camper… maybe they should put it on the NHS.
X
My heart goes out to you for your Mum and Dad – I am familiar with that path. And then one thing piles on top of another in a real annus horribilus. Sounds like you’ve just about reached a new steady state and Zagan is loyally waiting to take you off for another adventure. Good luck. X
Sometimes life gets in the way and problems just accumulate. Hopefully things will settle down for you both soon and you can resume your travels.
Best wishes
Peter
Sorry you’re having a tough time, thanks for taking the time to write this blog. We always look forward to reading it.
Hope you get away soon.
Regards
Chris and Keith
Hi you two, a big thank you from us for the inspiration that took us to ‘your’ campsite in Nerja for a few days earlier this month. What a great site, and we were even in the same section you were in! We walked up to Frigilliana one day and marvelled at the very idea of you running up those hills! We certainly want to go back another year. Always enjoy your posts – keep them coming! PS also enjoyed your favourite ice cream place at the Balcon de Europa (pistachio and chocolate!) 😋
Hi there,
So good to read your blog again, I hope everything goes well for you both this year and you can get out n about more often. I’m heading back over to the UK from NZ in a couple of weeks with my partners parents (both 80) for their once in a lifetime trip to their parents home towns in Scotland. We’ll be reunited with our motorhome ‘Beastie’, sorely missed for 6 months. No better way to travel. Thank you for your inspiration…
Cheers Andrew – sounds like a great trip you’ve planned there, have a great time! Thanks, Jason
Thanks for continuing to write your blog and showing your vulnerability- you are both an inspiration .
I am taking early retirement this year so hope to see you in our red and white VW camper
😊
Thanks Greg – congratulations on your early retirement and happy travels. Yep, hopefully we’ll bump into each other on the road somewhere! Cheers, Jay