Strike Me Down! No Blog for ten days!

It occurred to me just yesterday that I have completely forgot to blog this week. Then it hit me! What have I really got to say this week?

Its just all getting a bit "samey" isn't it (Is that a word?) I feel like we are living in Groundhog Day, every day is the same, even down to the faces you see walking down the street at a particular time of day. We are all just stuck in this world of limbo, unable to go anywhere and not knowing when things will change.

Anyway enough of this doom and gloom. On a lighter note we are now permitted to have live entertainment again...Hoorah. I was literally chomping at the bait last Friday when Eddie told me to get on stage and sing a few songs with the guitar. I didn't need to be asked twice! Monday was no different when we were entertaining at the Wine bar along with Jay Francis. I actually left there feeling like I´d been transported in to a world with no Covid restrictions and no problems. It was fabulous, even if it was only for a couple of hours and it just confirms the importance of music in peoples lives. 

The weather has just been amazing this week. We´ve gone from having Storm Philomena with record breaking low temperatures and rainfall for this time of year, to record breaking high temperatures and it is just gorgeous. There´s nothing like a good vitamin D fix to motivate you and lift your spirits. I find it amazing how some people can sit in the sun for hours at a time, I can manage about thirty minutes before I begin to need some shade.

Los Gigantes, along with most of the island continues to be very quiet, although our loyal supporters are still continuing to visit us at the bar. We´ve started a new games night on Thursday evenings which is proving very popular. It also gives us the opportunity to raise some money for charity. There is a charity here called F.A.C.T (Fighting Against Cancer Tenerife) and they help people that are suffering with this awful disease. Whether it is providing transport to and from hospitals for treatment, or just someone to talk to, they are there and they provide a great support network for many people in on the island.

We were also sad to say goodbye to someone this week, Lauren, who we met at the wine Bar last year. She´s become a great friend but its now time for her to spread her wings and move on to the next chapter in her life. We will miss you and wish you all the luck in the world and look forward to seeing you when you return for holidays.

Until next time keep riding the storm and stay safe.

H x

Throwing back to 1999, And A Visit To Los Cristianos

I was reminded the other day of an event that happened back in June of 1999 and I thought I would share it with you all.

It was Eddies 40th Birthday and we had been living in Mallorca for around two months. We didn't know too many people, so took it upon myself to arrange a couple of things for us to do in celebration of his milestone. One of those things I arranged was parascending, you are attached to a thin piece of string and a parachute and tied to the back of a speed boat. We did this in Port Alcudia and it was brilliant, it was exhilarating, and along with amazing views across the bay it made for a great outing.

The second treat I lined up was scuba diving. He had been harping on about it pretty much from the moment we arrived in Mallorca, so it seemed the obvious thing to do. We did a try dive in one of the hotel pools and booked up to go.

We set off early for this one as they told us it was the best time to go. We arrived at the dive center in Port Pollensa along with half a dozen or so other people where we were fitted out with wet suits. Everyone had these really cool shorty style wet suites however, the only one they could find to fit little old short arse me resembled something that had been hanging about since the 1970's. I felt very uncool but had no choice but to go with it.

So with everyone else looking the part and me looking like a 70's throw back, we headed off to the boat that would take us out to the bay. While on the boat we were kitted out with tanks, facemasks and all the other gubbins that we would need. We then arrived to our dive point and we had all been shown how to gently roll ourselves in to the water with the tanks on our backs. Sadly it was a maneuver that I just simply couldn't do, a gentle shove from someone behind me and I was in the water.

We were then ready to be shown the next set of instructions that we would need to know before the actual dive itself. Everyone stood up, however, everybody else was in excess of around five and a half feet tall .........except me at my staggering height of 4 foot 11, although I usually round it up to 5 feet. By now I was beginning to lose the will and the desire to progress any further. The top and bottom of the story is that while Eddie and the others dived down a few meters and looked at the wonderful wildlife that the Med has to offer, I simply bobbed around on the top and watched from above.

It wasn't a bad experience and it has by no means put me off going again, in fact quite the opposite I would love to have another go but preferably without looking like a 70's has been.

Cabin fever took hold of me yesterday and I needed to escape the west coast. We just needed a change of scenery and we headed off down south to Los Cristianos. The weather was good, parking was easy as like everywhere else its very quiet. Many places have closed, some sadly for good, however we stopped for a coffee and a sandwich, visited a couple of shops and had a lovely walk along the sea front.
It was just the change we needed and I hope, along with everyone else that Los Cris and the rest of the island will soon be back to being the tourist hub it has always been.

As always until next time, stay safe and ride the storm

H x

A cold January!

Whats going on with the weather?

Its usually lovely this time of year albeit a bit nippy at night. This year however, its cold, we've had storm Filomena and its been five years since we had this much snow on Mount Teide. Its not even mid January yet!

I have a theory, just a theory and I said to Ed just the other day, that if things were "Normal" we´d love to hop on a flight to Madrid, just to see the snow that they have had, yes its bad there too. However, under usual circumstances, as in pre Covid, would the weather be this bad?
If there was the usual air traffic, if there was the usual amount of cruise ships wondering about the seas, then the usual road and train traffic, all of which has been greatly reduced. Would the weather be like this, or is it a result of the covid restrictions? 

I haven't felt this cold in Tenerife since I don't know when, in fact when I was gigging outdoors last winter before we were locked down I vividly remember that was wearing frocks that I would've been wearing during the hot summer.

I remember doing a gig in Las Americas in the winter about five or six years back, I wore a long dress with warm leggings underneath and a very thick shrug to keep my neck and shoulders warm, gigging on the Golf del Sur was chillier still. It's all very odd and I don't know whether we were just due a cold winter or if it is a result of whats going on in the world?

Los Gigantes, along with the rest of the island remains awfully quiet, even more so because people can't sit in a warm environment to enjoy a few drinks or a meal. Protected outdoor warm seating is difficult to find so sadly many folk are simply not going out

There has been speculation that this could soon change, maybe allowing for a small amount of people to be allowed inside venues, although it could just be another dangling carrot, we will see.

Until next time, stay safe, ride the storm and stay warm!

H x

I've enclosed a few pictures, one of Eddie and I in our winter hoodies, some of Tenerife after the storm, some of the weather in Madrid and the last one is something that happened when I was bored with a few moments to kill at the bar. Its a coaster crocheted from Ring pulls. There was wine in the glass but I had drunk it by the time the photo was taken.

What Have You Done Today, To Make You Feel Proud?

It never ceases to amaze me how our community pulls together during this awful times. It was the night of the three Kings last night, and usually there are parades across the island. Families come out in their droves and the atmosphere is wonderful

This year is obviously different. It would've been so easy to just cancel these parades but no. The rain held off and the King's came! OK it was a little sedate but they still came and its this sort of community spirit that makes me feel proud to live where I live.

A big well done to Santiago Del Teide, along with all the other municipalities both in the canary Islands and Nationwide. People pulled together once again. I have enclosed a few photos from last night's parade.

To Buy Or Not To Buy A 2021 Diary

That's the burning question isn't it!

4 days in and the UK is once again plunged into a lock down. Sadly the first two lock downs weren't enough and here we are again back to square one. I did read somewhere that kiddies play areas could remain open so the little ones can play together, a luxury we didn't have in our strict lock down last year. The first lock down was a novelty and the weather was OK, sadly I don´t think this one will be so easy. 

I remember the day towards the end of our lock down when the kids were finally allowed out to play, It was a joyous occasion and it was wonderful to hear kids laughing again, and the sound of trikes, bicycles and footballs in the street.

We happened to be watching the news yesterday when Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement that Scotland would be going in to a lock down and both Eddie and I, along with most of the UK probably knew what was coming next. Boris then came along at 8PM with his usually scruffy appearance and babbled away confirming our thoughts. Personally, if I'm honest I find him a bit of an embarrassment. The man is running the country, he could at least get a decent haircut (up until yesterday that is) and he could look a little more like he cares about his appearance. Maybe I´m being a bit picky but you would think someone in that position would have higher standards than he appears to have?

The vaccines are being rolled out as we speak, I´m not sure that this will make much difference, maybe in the long term but who knows? I know they've probably been tested to within an inch of their life, but can they really be suitable for all? Some poor folk are on a concoction of tablets, especially the elderly, and I do wonder whether this vaccine is compatible with all these different medicines. I´m no scientist so I don´t know, as usual these are just my thoughts and ramblings.

I was chatting to a friend the other day and he told me that in Cambodia there had been no deaths from Covid, not one. I didn't disbelieve him but this was something I wanted to see with my own eyes so I took to Google and had a look! Its amazing that they've had 382 confirmed cases and not a single death, amazing if you ask me. It also makes me question what they are doing over there, and why we seem to be getting it so wrong. The population of Cambodia is around 16 million, the UK is 66 million! All I can say is that they seem to be getting something right.

So, whats happening in Los Gigantes I hear you ask?
We had a relatively quiet NYE, although we did celebrate every hour in the bar as we figured it was midnight somewhere and although we had to be closed by midnight we just about managed to see in our new year here as well!
The weather has not been that great which is typical. Usually in January the weather is good, however now that indoor venues are off limits, the weather has not been that favorable. It´s not that cold, it just means we take an extra layer of clothing. If I´m honest I love it and before long we will all be complaining once again that it´s too hot.

I also heard someone complaining that they had traveled here and because there was no entertainment on in the village they said they had been brought here under false pretenses. I´m really sorry to hear this but surely if you choose to travel during a pandemic then you should take in to consideration that things are likely to change. I do get annoyed by these sort of people but I guess it wouldn't´t do for us all to be same.

I fear Los Gigantes will remain very quiet for the foreseeable and it saddens me. We will however continue to do our best and we are once again, thankful for the continued support of our loyal locals. We introduced a new game to 60's Bar this week which has been very favorably received by our locals, more about that in my next blog

Take care, Stay safe and keep riding this god damn awful storm!!!

Until next time

H x

New Years Eve 2020

Bring in the New Year In Somewhere a few hours ahead of us!

Some scruffy guy in need of a good haircut! Sadly, he´s closed all the Barber shops down!!!