Polish Adventures
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Thu 31st Aug Figeac
Sorry not been updating in a while will fill in the blanks v soon, got loads of new photos etc.
We are in Figeac, near Toulouse staying with Kez's dad.
Had a lovely long lie in this morning, first in ages. Then took the dog on what was supposed to be a gentle stroll 2 1/2 hours later we stagger back to the house feeling v hot and tired after walking up and down several large vallies. Was gonna jump straight into the pool but it was only 20°C so threw the dog in instead. He isnt that good a swimmer in fresh water... Now have come into Figeac to do some shopping etc. I am sitting in an internet cafe, typing one handed as its a stupid French keyboard and because I have a dog asleep on the other feeling slightly stupid.
Going to chill here til Sat then head off to Italy, prob camp somewhere before heading to Turin, no more long car journeys for us! ¶ 11:59 PM 0 comments
Sorry not been updating in a while will fill in the blanks v soon, got loads of new photos etc.
We are in Figeac, near Toulouse staying with Kez's dad.
Had a lovely long lie in this morning, first in ages. Then took the dog on what was supposed to be a gentle stroll 2 1/2 hours later we stagger back to the house feeling v hot and tired after walking up and down several large vallies. Was gonna jump straight into the pool but it was only 20°C so threw the dog in instead. He isnt that good a swimmer in fresh water... Now have come into Figeac to do some shopping etc. I am sitting in an internet cafe, typing one handed as its a stupid French keyboard and because I have a dog asleep on the other feeling slightly stupid.
Going to chill here til Sat then head off to Italy, prob camp somewhere before heading to Turin, no more long car journeys for us! ¶ 11:59 PM 0 comments
Mon 28th Aug leaving Nerja HUGE drive
Came out of Nerja straight into a diversion, then long traffic queues on crazy hilly windy Spanish coast roads. Cruised along coast after traffic cleared to road to Granada amazing views and cool wind farms that look good and don't ruin the view at all. Drove up past Granada the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain. As the deposed ruler of Granada looked back on Granada for one last time he burst into tears "You do well," said his unsympathetic mother, "to weep like a woman for what you could not defend as a man." What a bitch! Then on towards Madrid, I took over driving for my first go on the motorway, was quite scary but got the hang of it and Kate was snoring so didn't feel like I had an audience. Madrid is a stupid weird ghost city that never appears over the mountains when you expect it to and when it does appear it has the stupidest roads/signs etc glad to get past it. On up the road to Zaragotha, again amazing mountains and Z is surrounded by a massive windfarm at least 100 turbines past Z and it was getting dark K getting tired but we need to get to the F1 hotel we booked in Lleida... will make tomorrow's drive shorter.
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Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wed 23rd Nerja
So today we decided it was time to actually start sorting ourselves out! We have got our contracts so we printed them off and actually posted them!!
We are actually moving to Poland, I really thought we where going to end up staying here in Spain. My Dad would love us to and its so easy to hide from real life. So we have to be in Rybnik http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=2000000.29768329&Y=6400000.85699607&width=700&height=400&gride=2065967.29768329&gridn=6430587.85699607&srec=0&coordsys=mercator&db=w3&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=4000000&out.x=9&out.y=10
for the 22nd of Sept. The guy who organised our jobs will get there a couple of days before us and find us an appartment/house to live in. We get all our accommodation costs back as long as we each work 80 hours a month. I will be teaching teenagers and adults in the school and Rory will be going out into businesses to teach people there. At first I was pissed off cos I think it is sexist but then I realised I will prob have a much more chilled time of it!
We leave here on 28th, drive up to France to stay with Kez for a a couple of days, then on to Turin where Rory has family. Then we reckon a week in Slovenia then a week in Hungary before cruising into Poland. ¶ 12:27 PM 0 comments
We are actually moving to Poland, I really thought we where going to end up staying here in Spain. My Dad would love us to and its so easy to hide from real life. So we have to be in Rybnik http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=2000000.29768329&Y=6400000.85699607&width=700&height=400&gride=2065967.29768329&gridn=6430587.85699607&srec=0&coordsys=mercator&db=w3&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=4000000&out.x=9&out.y=10
for the 22nd of Sept. The guy who organised our jobs will get there a couple of days before us and find us an appartment/house to live in. We get all our accommodation costs back as long as we each work 80 hours a month. I will be teaching teenagers and adults in the school and Rory will be going out into businesses to teach people there. At first I was pissed off cos I think it is sexist but then I realised I will prob have a much more chilled time of it!
We leave here on 28th, drive up to France to stay with Kez for a a couple of days, then on to Turin where Rory has family. Then we reckon a week in Slovenia then a week in Hungary before cruising into Poland. ¶ 12:27 PM 0 comments
Tue 22nd Who needs an alarm clock??
In the mornings we get up around 9,30, take my Dad and the dogs down to the sanctuary, go have some breakfast (Spanish breakfasts are AMAZING by the way) and do any errands then home for lunch or out for lunch around 2.
We dont have an alarm clock so when the sun gets just below the wall I know its time to get up.
¶ 12:00 PM 0 comments
We dont have an alarm clock so when the sun gets just below the wall I know its time to get up.
This morning (and many others) woke up to find this face staring in on us. This is Paco, he Rocky and the kittens wake up bloody early and climb 
up the bank behind our window and play stupid games. Its fine now we are used to it, but suddenly seeing eyes glinting at you in the dark was a bit scary!
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Mon 21st Aug
Its starting to dawn on us that we are leaving Nerja next monday OH MY GOD, so we should actually get off our arses and do something. So took Soph and Chelsea to the Aqua park, good fun fet too toursity/ pervie to take piccies tho. It being Spain they clap at you when it is your turn to do down the ride, which is different. Also one of the life guards found a chamelion onton the path. The funnist bits had to be Soph going down any of the rides and she had to strategically place her hands to stop her getting the mother of all wedgies... I was crying I laughed so much... then home and down to Punta Laura bar for pizza.
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Sun 20th Aug
Didnt really do alot after last nights fiasco. Just the usual chilling in the sunshine, eating and drinking :-) They did the filming of the the final meal for the Gordon Ramsay thingy, I kept well out of it, just drove a bunch of them down there Gordon looked v nervous. Apparently the new series is called Chef's from Hell or something. I think they all had a good time cos my Dad rolled in at 2 after "gordie" gave him a life home.
We just went out down town, ate some tapas watched some football ¶ 11:41 AM 0 comments
We just went out down town, ate some tapas watched some football ¶ 11:41 AM 0 comments
Sat 19th Aug
Spent my Saturday night picking my Dad up from the airport... I swear dow that I will never ever ever ever pick someone up from Malaga airport ever again. Dropping off I dont mind but picking up! Esp on a Sat night when all the charter flights arrive. I spent 3 HOURS sitting outside that poxy airport. Eventually I went inside for the 4th time had a hissy fit phoning people asking if anyone had heard from him and was marching out to drive off home and leave him, when I heard "KATHERINE!!!" and there he was apparently he had walked past the car three times and left a msg with a prostitute or something grrrrrrrr. Drove back to Nerja and drowned my sorrows in Magners in an Englis bar which didnt help my mood. But apparently the wedding was good and he was well behaved!
¶ 11:24 AM 0 comments
¶ 11:24 AM 0 comments
Thursday, August 17, 2006
17th Aug Rainy Day
We couldn't work out why Rocky is still getting fat when we have totally stopped feeding him.
I was taking these pictured of Woody to send to someone who has adopted him and we discovered yet another of his stealing antics.. he steals the carrots out of the donkeys mouths!
¶ 6:13 PM 1 comments
We couldn't work out why Rocky is still getting fat when we have totally stopped feeding him.I was taking these pictured of Woody to send to someone who has adopted him and we discovered yet another of his stealing antics.. he steals the carrots out of the donkeys mouths!
¶ 6:13 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
15th Aug - A Hell of a day
Busy day yesterday took my mum to the airport.. wonder when I will see her again??
Then down the santuary as Gordon Ramsay was down filming for Hell's Kitchen.
He is doing a thing on their Valentine's Ball thingy when the food was awful the place was grubby etc.
Finished that then went down to Miquels for dinner. Dad got v drunk as we waited hours for our food again and preceeded to chat up Big Mo out of Eastenders - think he feels abit embarressed today :-)
He also threatened to shoot Rory, drown Rocky and called me a bitch at least 10 times ... during a discussion about going to a wedding ... (no not ours!) Had to drink another bottle of wine to get over it after he left . ¶ 2:42 PM 0 comments
Then down the santuary as Gordon Ramsay was down filming for Hell's Kitchen.
He is doing a thing on their Valentine's Ball thingy when the food was awful the place was grubby etc.
Finished that then went down to Miquels for dinner. Dad got v drunk as we waited hours for our food again and preceeded to chat up Big Mo out of Eastenders - think he feels abit embarressed today :-)
He also threatened to shoot Rory, drown Rocky and called me a bitch at least 10 times ... during a discussion about going to a wedding ... (no not ours!) Had to drink another bottle of wine to get over it after he left . ¶ 2:42 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
14th Aug Nerja Spain
Got up early to go for a run today... stupid phone wasn't charged so had to wake myself up. Left the house at 9 with a v excited Rocky ran down the hill, along the beach v dusty and v v hot ALREADY... by the time got to the dry river bed had to walk sooooo hot. Poor rocks was panting like a mad thing. Got to the donks and the the new boxer dog that Brian told everyone was a fucking manic and he was going to kick its fucking head in had disappeared....
Blagged a lift back up the hill with my ma, quick check of my email before breakfast in town our contracts have arrived!!!
Rory isnt v well either a touch of the sun or tooooo many mossie bites (he looks like he has chicken pox!)
Another chilled day went to Miquels by the pool for dinner. Everyone is avoiding Brian as they think he has done something to the boxer... and my folks are fighting cos my dad wont be going back to the UK for the wedding 2moro cos of the filming.
One of the kittens is missing, so the remaining one has adopted Rocky
¶ 4:29 PM 0 comments
Got up early to go for a run today... stupid phone wasn't charged so had to wake myself up. Left the house at 9 with a v excited Rocky ran down the hill, along the beach v dusty and v v hot ALREADY... by the time got to the dry river bed had to walk sooooo hot. Poor rocks was panting like a mad thing. Got to the donks and the the new boxer dog that Brian told everyone was a fucking manic and he was going to kick its fucking head in had disappeared....
Blagged a lift back up the hill with my ma, quick check of my email before breakfast in town our contracts have arrived!!!
Rory isnt v well either a touch of the sun or tooooo many mossie bites (he looks like he has chicken pox!)
Another chilled day went to Miquels by the pool for dinner. Everyone is avoiding Brian as they think he has done something to the boxer... and my folks are fighting cos my dad wont be going back to the UK for the wedding 2moro cos of the filming.
One of the kittens is missing, so the remaining one has adopted Rocky
¶ 4:29 PM 0 comments
6th August - Madrid
Heading down towards Spain everything starting to get a bit sunnier, cross the border into the Basque country, can't work out any of the signs it all looks a bit Russian not Spanish looking words at all. Got a bit lost and started heading towards Bilbao oops. Heading towards Madrid now, far too hot for camping and Kate has itchy feet and just wants to get to Nerja, manage to persuade her that we shouldn't drive the whole way today! Saw massive fields of thousands of sunflowers more than i'd ever seen before, pretty amazing. Finally start to get near Madrid but it never seems to appear keep expecting to see it over the next hill/mountain but no just more hills. Find the hotel but can't work out how to get to it, end up driving for about an hour often on brand new toll roads with no other cars on the road. Get to the hotel in the end, sick of Madrid already.
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5th August - Saturday Camping in woods
Woods near Salles Southwest of Bordeaux
Drove for kilometres looking for this campsite, had no real plan other than to drive into the national forest as there was bound to be a campsite there. Followed lots of confusing signs before eventually finding the site, in the woods with loads of mossies sat and ate pizza in the dark complaining about France being shut, nothing to do, decide to just go for it and get to Spain, plan is to cross border and find a campsite just on the other side. ¶ 4:09 PM 0 comments
Woods near Salles Southwest of Bordeaux
Drove for kilometres looking for this campsite, had no real plan other than to drive into the national forest as there was bound to be a campsite there. Followed lots of confusing signs before eventually finding the site, in the woods with loads of mossies sat and ate pizza in the dark complaining about France being shut, nothing to do, decide to just go for it and get to Spain, plan is to cross border and find a campsite just on the other side. ¶ 4:09 PM 0 comments
4th Aug Eurodisco Campsite
Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu Southwest of Nantes
Seemed like a nice campsite when we first arrived but they played very loud God-awful eurodisco the early hours stopped us sleeping for a while but both so tired it didn't matter after a while. Went for a wander in town, a car went past us and a guy leaned out the window and shouted "Jaques Ruuusellll!!!" at us in an excited French accent ?!? What the hell? ¶ 4:05 PM 0 comments
Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu Southwest of Nantes
Seemed like a nice campsite when we first arrived but they played very loud God-awful eurodisco the early hours stopped us sleeping for a while but both so tired it didn't matter after a while. Went for a wander in town, a car went past us and a guy leaned out the window and shouted "Jaques Ruuusellll!!!" at us in an excited French accent ?!? What the hell? ¶ 4:05 PM 0 comments
2nd & 3rd Aug Carentan France
Campsite - Le Haut Dick
Took nearly two hours to put tent up for first time but done with minimal swearing only hit thumb with mallet once.
Lovely campsite next to a canal. Just a pity that there is NOTHING happening in France this time of year all the bars shut at 9pm :-( ¶ 4:00 PM 0 comments
Campsite - Le Haut Dick
Took nearly two hours to put tent up for first time but done with minimal swearing only hit thumb with mallet once.
Lovely campsite next to a canal. Just a pity that there is NOTHING happening in France this time of year all the bars shut at 9pm :-( ¶ 4:00 PM 0 comments
1st Aug Leaving the Island
Actually leaving the little Isle of Wight..... oh my gawd
We have got far too much stuff.. it won't all fit in the car...just stuff it all in we can sort it out later, shit where's the dog? The dog was under the car getting covered in oil/grease. He was absolutely black, tried washing him, tried shaving it out but it blocked all the clippers, tried cutting it out... Phoned the vet in a panic "We are leaving for the ferry in 30mins..... " He sugested good old washing up liquid. Worked a treat :-) Had to leave the house in a tip tho.. ooops
Isle of Wight ferry was grand, got to Pompey 4 hours too early for our cross-channel ferry (RORY!) so spent the time trying to rearrange the car. Rory made up for all my crying the week before, by sobbing his way onto the ferry (OK, so I did hit him clip across the ear which started the tears! - manly tears crossed with laughter at the ludicrous situation Rory) Ferry was v bumpy so I slept through it. Rory waved to his folks on the the piers (through his tears of course ;) ) and the poor dog sweated away in the car.
Passport control was really easy would defo recomend the pet passport scheme. ¶ 2:09 PM 0 comments
We have got far too much stuff.. it won't all fit in the car...just stuff it all in we can sort it out later, shit where's the dog? The dog was under the car getting covered in oil/grease. He was absolutely black, tried washing him, tried shaving it out but it blocked all the clippers, tried cutting it out... Phoned the vet in a panic "We are leaving for the ferry in 30mins..... " He sugested good old washing up liquid. Worked a treat :-) Had to leave the house in a tip tho.. ooops
Isle of Wight ferry was grand, got to Pompey 4 hours too early for our cross-channel ferry (RORY!) so spent the time trying to rearrange the car. Rory made up for all my crying the week before, by sobbing his way onto the ferry (OK, so I did hit him clip across the ear which started the tears! - manly tears crossed with laughter at the ludicrous situation Rory) Ferry was v bumpy so I slept through it. Rory waved to his folks on the the piers (through his tears of course ;) ) and the poor dog sweated away in the car.
Passport control was really easy would defo recomend the pet passport scheme. ¶ 2:09 PM 0 comments
