Fuerta Birthday

First time to this amazing Canary Isle and probably not the last. It must be one of the most laid-back, tolerant, temperate and friendly places around. Off the Moroccan coast it is roughly 60 miles from the Sahara as the crow flies and would have a similar topography were it not for a prevailing breeze, which occasionally develops into a strong wind, that helps maintain a fairly constant 20c (70c F) - the breeze is quite warm and makes walking/sun bathing etc pleasant.
















The environs alternate between volcanic moonscapes and desert like sands -

Las Dunas

but, oh the beaches, miles upon miles of white and gold sands sloping gently into deep aqua marine and azure seas:

Must put in a word for our hotel, Surfing Colours, in Corralejo. Wonderful large rooms, with basic self catering facilities if required, firm beds, equipped balcony, two pools, loadsa sun loungers and, yes, surfers - the Island is a surfers paradise with the breeze and reefs providing great surfing waves. The staff were magic too.

 

but not all surfers are safe :)

Corralejo is the northern most town on the Island with a fine harbour and regular ferries to Los Lobos, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria. There are many eateries, and many have good veggie options :) A couple deserve mention. The amazing lady at Cordon Blue on the sea front does the best veggie breakfasts around. The pizza man at Da Luca is a master of his art and a wonderful fella to boot.

 

 

The volcanic Island of Los Lobos lies just off the northern tip of Fuerta, a 15 min boat ride away. Once a base for pirates the whole island is now a nature reserve. A walk round the Island takes about an hour or two, with a break half way round at the lighthouse and a welcome dip in the sheltered bay at the end of the hike.

vegetation seems to be able to grow almost anywhere !

After a visit to a trip organiser, who was a bit unsure of what day of the week it was, we decided to organise our own tour of the Island. It was a good call. The local buses are somewhat akin to luxury coaches, have v friendly drivers and meander through the Island heartland to a lot of the places of interest (and at a fraction of the price :) The capital, Puerto del Rosario, since 1860 is worth passing through and acts as a bus hub.

From here we meandered down to Betancuria, via Castillas del Angel and Antigua, within the Parque Natural. It was the Islands capital  until 1834. It was thought it's inland position would protect it from Barbary pirates, but Jack Sparrow struck virtually destroying the town and taking its 600 inhabitants captive. Nowadays Betancuria is one of the prettiest villages on the island;

If you do find yourself there, skip the tourist eateries in the centre and pop down the hill to Bodegan Don Carmelo, run by the Silvero family for 400 years - a great little find:

To the north, and on the coast, lies El Cotillo. At its southern end is the Fortaleza del Toston built to deter British and Arab pirates. Overlooking the small harbour it is also where a number of eateries are to be found,

to the north are more beautiful sandy beaches:

Love the way, on most harbour sides, the chrissie decs are made from collages of sea paraphernalia:

That's My Girl

Marion's new novel "Those Rosey Hours in Mazandaran", not out until February next year, is already attracting attention in the literary world - 

Grab a copy of Decembers "Writing Magazine" and see Adrian Magson's full page article:

 and on Amazon:

Catch Marion at http://deckledged.blogspot.co.uk/

and Adrian at http://adrianmagson.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/my-latest-articles-in-decembers-writing.html?spref=tw

Autumn in the Lakes

Ullswater, at the back end of October, was looking very autumnal. Summer had lingered this year but late autumn winds and rain brought many of the leaves down quickly.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye ...

In his earlier years Alf was a mover and bone shaker. First on two wheels with the Border City Wheelers. Having won his class in 1948 he donated the Alf Sewell Cup to the BCW and it is still awarded today. Onto two wheels + engine Alf became a scrambler - which cost him a few broken bones and a coupla teeth *ouch*. Up to four wheels after a number of local rallies he was a moving force in getting Team Treadfast accredited for entry to the 1965 Scottish RAC Rally, winning the team prize for that year.

In later life his shed/hanger/dry dock, at his home in Wigton, became a model making centre for radio controlled aircraft, model schooners and other intricately detailed models.

Alf's daughter Mel served 30 years in the RAF where she met and married Barry. Alf's second marriage was to Doreen in 1974. He was also Uncle to Sis and myself.

Weekend Meanderings

Gloucester docks seemed busier then usual with tall and small ships being repaired at the dry docks:

















Then it was off to Marnhull which lies in the Blackmore Vale of North Dorset. Saxon charters show that Marnhull existed as a village in the 10th century, although the village's site has seen human occupation as early as the Iron Age,and a Roman settlement was established at Ashley Wood in the east of the parish. The village presents a mix of architectural styles, with post-war developments existing alongside properties dating back to Tudor times and earlier. It also lies close to East Stour, one of Marilyns ancestral homes, and her relatives now live in Marnhull. We stayed at the wonderfully atmospheric 16th century Crown Inn, complete with massive open fire, priest hole and converted stables.

Journeying on to old friends Bet n Jim in Shaftsbury, home of Hovis's Gold Hill -

by the side of which is a memorable little museum with free entry - a regular little time capsule -  

But returned to some sad news. Uncle Alf, the last of my parents generation of immediate family, had passed away. Alf's passion was driving, in the early 60's he was a driver and driving force behind the successful Team Treadfast that took the team prize in the Scottish RAC rally - he was driving a Saab. Alf was also a prolific model maker and accomplished yachtsman.

CheltLitFest 2014 Part II

Just the Two of Us

Stole the sub-title from the first of a two volume autub from Sheila Hancock - yes I even remember the early b&w 'Rag Trade' days. She really is a most engaging, humorous and modest person - a Quaker and a pacifist. After being pursued by a number of publishers, in particular Penguin, to try for a novel, seven years in the making, Miss Carters War has appeared. She paid great tribute to the many emerging writers, as capable if not more so than herself, who struggle to get a publishers attention. A thoroughly absorbing session.

On to another thought-provoking session with Alan Johnson, John Cambell, Michael Cockerell and Becky Milligan discussing 'Who was the greatest Prime Minister Britain Never Had?'. It covered the centuries and many famous names. An interesting agreement was to split the time line between pre and post TV media, between the great public speech makers and the sound biters. Those proposed ranged from Fox, Castle, Bevan, Bevin, Hessaltine, Whitelaw, Jenkins, Williams, Healey, Portillo - so many deemed to either be in the right place at the wrong time or the wrong place at the wrong time.

After a short break it was the turn of the Summerfield event and Shami Chakrabarti and her new tome 'On Liberty'. Brilliant presentation, great raconteur and handled the questions effortlessly. She really is one amazing person and, as a nation, we are so lucky to have someone of her talents, insight and campaigning zeal at the forefront of protecting our civil liberties. A succinct point made, that the European Convention on Human Rights that the current Cameron administration is so bent on destroying was originally developed by Churchill and the post war Tories to protect all European citizens, in law, against the onslaught of oppressive dictatorships in the future. Of her new book her 12 yo son was moved to comment "Mummy, this is a very short book with a very big font" - out of the mouths of babes :)

Rounded off with 'Present Tense: Pakistan' was to be with Sunday Times Foreign Correspondent Christina Lamb but she understandably was diverted to the lauriet celebrations for Malala Yousafzai (Christina helped with the book 'I Am Malala'). Her place was ably taken by Prof Ian Talbot of Southampton Uni and a renowned writer on Pakistan.

Congratulations Malala and Kallash