9 months of silence... and so much to tell!

Has it really been 9 months since I shared the wonderful news of my "sister's" kidney? How on earth has that happened? Where did the time go? And why didn't I write about it??? 

9 months... I could have had a baby and not said a word (although I promise if that happens I will definitely NOT be quiet about it! :p ).

The only thing I can say is work, work, WORK! :o(

When I started this blog I was only semi-employed, and self-employed at that (teaching private lessons, some periods with more hours a week, others with less), so of course I had plenty of time and energy to write! But then I started doing an MBA while increasing my teaching hours by working part time for a language academy (all the while keeping my own students) and although there was still some time to write, the energy started draining. And then it morphed into a full-time job in a clinic, keeping up with the always-running-behind-with-the-work MBA and still teaching my own students. So it was "little time, little energy". And then I switched to my current job, almost 18 months ago and now I'm like "Time? what's that? Energy? Where can I get a refill please???"

Snapshots from a Somerset weekend

Just wanted to share a few moments with you from my fabulous weekend visiting with US cousins in Somerset... My life is so hectic at the moment who knows when I'll be able to do a proper post!

So these are all taken with my iPhone (I'm writing this while on the train, will post it next time I get wifi access). Photos are (I can't write in between them when posting from phone):

• In Montacute House with my cousins Mary and Kristy waiting for the wedding.
• The church in Montacute where the religious service took place.
• Visiting the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey.
• Goofing off (unavoidable!).
• Saying goodbye to our National Trust owned Stembridge Cottage and Windmill (our lodgings for the weekend).
• Hanging out with Queen Bess in St Mary Redcliff church in Bristol. Plus views of the church in and out. One of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen!
• And me and Pol saying goodbye to Bristol as I write this on the airport shuttle... which has WiFi!!!

On the road again!

I can't seem to stay put! I'm off for another long weekend, once again to a wedding! This time destination UK, and I'm not really going for the wedding, but to meet some friends-relatives from the US who are there for the wedding!

Confused yet? How 'bout this: these friends are almost relatives! Almost??? Well, they are my aunt's (as in my uncle's wife) sister Mary and niece Kristy! But Kristy and I have so much in common we've decided there must be a genetic connection in there somewhere (we're both redheads after all!), other than both us simply being cousins of our cousin James! :p

Oh, and we've never met in person, just on Facebook! I did meet her mom in Paris two years ago when I had a 2-day layover on my return from New Zealand! My aunt told me several of her siblings would be un Paris at the same time as me and I should try hooking up with them. Which resulted in a lovely afternoon and evening and a new friendship with Mary on FB! And a short while later with her daughter Kristy after frequently replying to each other's comments on Mary's FB wall :p

Now we get to meet in person for the first time and I'm really excited! It's also the first time I meet up in person with someone who had previously just been a cyberfriend (FB, blog etc...). When people look at me funny when I talk about someone as a "Facebook" or "Blogging" friend I try to explain that it's pretty much the equivalent of "pen pals" of old, but better 'cause the response time is shorter and we have the added benefit of sharing photos/videos/links... I love the Internet and social networking!!! :o)

I'm off! Hopefully my extremely hectic work schedule will lighten up soon and I'll be able to do some more regular blogging...

This is in the middle of nowhere???

Well, almost. This shot is of the inner courtyard of a Renaissance castle on a hill overlooking the town of Calahorra, about 30-40' away from Granada. The others are the exterior, was rushed but the others to go inside so couldn't get a "perfect" shot, but it will give you an idea...

Wonders of Granada!

What a great way to start 2013: exploring Granada, discovering previously unkown (to my family) gorgeous churches, wandering the streets of the Albaicín and spending an hour there on a wall watching the Alhambra get prettier and prettier as the sun set!

Wonders of the Alhambra

Yay! This Blogger ap will let me put more than one photo! I don't know how I could have chosen just a single shot from this morning's magical 5h!

The Alhambra is most definitely one of the most beautiful places in Spain!!! It's my 5th visit and it never disappoints! Will tell you all about after I return home and sort through all the photos and video. ;o)

Bright Christmas tree

In Granada they set up a nice tree!!!

Testing, testing 123...

Just checking what it's like blogging with my new "toy"! (I got half an iphone for xmas!!!)

If this works ok I'll share a few moments of a New Year's Eve in Granada with you!

This photo is a shot from the car of the Cathedral in Guadix, a small town where we stopped for lunch on our way here. Lovely! But unfortunately closed.