Following the Sun Diary: Tues7 Dec – Thurs16 Dec

We have been at Los Gallardos for just over a week now, it is much better than La Manga. The weather has been changeable, though sky has been vivid blue and cloudless the temperature is unpredictable. Some days I have been sitting outside in just shorts tanning my body while on others we keep inside the ‘van with the fan heater on. Last night I was so cold I looked out my sleeping bag to snuggle up in, with the duvet on top to keep warm. Moira braved it with just the duvet but if this winter snap continues she will be in hers quick enough.

This morning we played bowls, not the continental type but the proper lawn variety. They have two greens at the campsite with a very English bowling club which has the usual funny rules of etiquette. We had to buy white trousers and shirts which Moira got cheap at the local market, as for flat shoes that don’t damage the green the club have plenty of them to lend out. Also we were able to borrow bowls from the club; they had a big selection of different sizes to choose from. The greens are not in very good condition, very patchy which results in the bowls not tracking as well as they should, it’s probably due to the lack of rain in the area. The first games we played were trips, three players each side playing three bowls each. We had good games considering we hadn’t played since April when we were in South Africa, both of us on winning teams.

There is excellent walking around the campsite with hills all around. The paths are very good, wide and not too rough. One route in particular is the track of an old railway that runs high up and along the contours of the mountain side. It meanders through cuttings carved among the hills and over viaducts that bridge dried up river beds. We have been out on various different routes over the hills and I have done a couple of cross country runs which is keeping me fit.

As usual the site organises a number of activities for the campers and the permanent residents who live in the mobile homes next to the camping area (much better laid out and organised that at La Manga). They have whist, darts, pool, quiz nights and dances each week at the restaurant. We have played whist twice and I was successful on the first occasion when I won a prize of E10. There was supposed to be a quiz last Monday but it was cancelled because lots of people have gone back to the UK to be with family for Christmas.

The TV that is available from cable to each camping pitch is worth the E25 we pay for a month. We are getting all the main UK stations to watch our favourites plus a couple of sports channels from Sky. I saw the Spurs v Chelsea match on Sunday that was very good, lots of attacking football for a change. Now, if we waken early enough in the morning we can watch the third Ashes test from Perth, though realistically probably only the last hour or two.

All the people we have met during our stay have been very friendly and encouraged us to join in at the whist and bowls. A woman Moira met is going to drive her to the supermarket tomorrow to save us packing up and taking out the campervan. Most of the people come here for five or six months, and have been doing this for a number of years. It is a very popular spot but you would think you were somewhere in England rather than Spain.