So how is Barcelona going? Well to be honest a little chillier than I expected, I definitely need a coat to walk down to the Bodega for a sherbet with Dave on a night. Fortunately by the time we are walking home the alcohol has done its trick and every thing seems a little warmer, except that is our dinner which is now cooling on the table as we are at least half an hour late. And today’s a good day - we have been later.


But today in the Bahamas it is 24 degrees. Tea shirt and shorts weather and that’s what we have become used to in January whilst Barcelona is only a mere 13 and as I say quite chilly at times. But the only thing to be pleased about is, it’s not the 5 degrees back home in the UK, so as we togs say ‘mustn’t grumble’




Well on a plus point I have managed to stop Christine’s visits to the shops, so the suitcase will be coming home not quite full, mind you the method was a little more drastic than I expected.


There we were Alex and me in the kitchen sorting the kids out for school when suddenly we spot Christine pirouetting down the stairs and landing in heap after damaging the corner of the wine rack with her head. I quickly check that no wine bottles have broken, well I needed to check them first didn’t I, didn’t want Christine who was still lying on the floor cutting herself on any broken glass and in any case we only had enough wine left to get through today. We would need to plan a supermarket trip if any had been broken.


But very calmly Alex and I assessed the situation and shouted to each other ‘get an ambulance’, which was a bit of a problem from two points, firstly we had no idea what number to ring and secondly Christine who was still lying on the floor was trying to grab the phone out of our hands to make sure we didn’t ring an ambulance.


Alex of course in a very calm manner resolved the issue, she calls Janet (AKA Wonder Woman) yes that’s right the same Janet who has looked after the family since they first arrived in Spain. WW naturally comes round to the house at a sprint and has suddenly turned into the district nurse bringing with her everything from first aid kit to stretchers and splints for broken bones. She immediately makes sure that Alex and I are removed from the scene whilst she sorts Christine out.


She then takes us to a doctors and then an accident unit, explaining all the time to the doctors what the problem is and what happened and then translating to us what we need to do. I thought she was a little over the top when as the doctor approached Christine with a needle she suggested that I go and sit in a different room but not wanting to cause an issue I immediately left to find the coffee machine.


A little later she takes us all home and we settle down for a rest, it’s been a very traumatic morning, I am beginning think a drink is needed but it’s not time for the bodega yet.


So Christine is fine, just has a small headache, oh and a number of stitches but nothing serious. I am shattered from all the stress but struggling on. I am a little surprised that WW alias The District Nurse alias Janet hasn’t arrived yet to dress the wound. If she doesn’t come soon I will have to do it myself. I wander down past her house to see if there is a 'for sale' sign up and a removal truck hurriedly packing their belongings for a quick get-away having decided that living close to our family is not in their best interests.


But fortunately everything turns out OK. We make sure Christine is alright and then Alex takes the kids to play hockey, Dave and I go down the bodega for a much needed beer after strategically leaving the instructions on when to put our dinner in the oven next to Christine who is now laid on the settee under a poorly blanket. And as we are only half an hour late, and as long as Christine has found the instruction we may have some food cooling on the table when we get back.