Last night we went out for what I would describe as a ‘typical’ evening out in Almerimar.

We started off with dinner in Al-rruz. As ‘normal’ we didn’t even leave the apartment until 10 pm so by the time we got down to the marina it was pretty busy with people sitting outside and enjoying a very pleasant evening. Over a glass of chilled white wine, tortilla and olives we decided what to eat. Sands wanted a proper meal, I just wanted to pick at some food so combined we went for a salad, 2 tortilla cameron, a fillet steak (Sands) and a 1/2 portion of clams and a 1/2 portion of calamari and some croquettes. Naturally some chilled white wine was required. It was good to sit outside and catch up with each other as Sands has been in the UK for 10 days.

Rather than a desert or coffee we went for a walk around the marina and bumped into some friends so we stopped and had a drink with them in one of the cafes. It really still seems strange that one venue can be selling toasted sandwiches, coffee and cakes, beer and Tapas or a JackD and diet coke at midnight. That is one of the great joys of life here in Spain - the relaxing nature. Children still running around, young people on dates, elderly people enjoying a conversation all collected in the same venue. No trouble, no rowdy behavior - just everyone out to enjoy themselves.

We had arranged to go back and have a brandy and a coffee with Ines and Juan Carlos, but when we got back to Al-rruz we bumped into some friends finishing off their meal, so we had a drink and a chat with Ines and Juan Carlos, then headed off to a cocktail bar in the marina with our friends where we bumped into yet more friends and listened to a live band - very good, although our Spanish wasn’t good enough to understand what they were saying, but then again our Spanish friends didn’t understand it either.

We got home around 2am to a very enthusiastic reception from Moreno who thought it was all very exciting to run around and play with us on the balcony at that time in the morning. Am not sure what time we called it a night, but I know that 6am came around far too quickly - the customary lick on the ear from Moreno telling me that he was awake and wanting some attention.

So today will be a typical day after - chill out, go and grab a coffee and tostado in the marina. The Rolling Stones are playing in El Ejido tonight, the rescheduled tour from last year when Keith fell out of his tree. We had tickets last year but haven’t bothered this year, although we heard last night that there are a lot left so maybe we will get tempted later on. We also got invited to a birthday celebration this evening - all in all a very pleasant evening.