Sunday, 9th November, 2025
A new week. Starting my second week abroad. Only 3 more before flying home. Only 4 more weeks before I start Year 18 of the Blog. Only just over 6 weeks to Christmas. Only ?? years left alive. Oh, take me out and shoot me now!
‘Tis the Season to be Jolly ….
And so it is, just like you said it would be. Life goes easy on me …. most of the time. Got my exercise to complete again today. Got to find somewhere new to explore. Preferably somewhere without crowds of people.
Walked kilometres through massing throngs of scorched and tattooed bodies under hot sunshine down to and around the Marina. So many lovely views scarred by Kiss-me-Quick boat trip kiosks and All-you-can-Drink beach bars.
I got back tired and sweaty, had a gorgeous swim in the pool which is permanently heated to 25C but is almost constantly deserted before settling down to watch Man. Utd. draw in the football and England win the Rugby. A good day all round ended eating Supper outside on the patio in the balmy warmth. That’s how life should be and it should involve nice people.
Weird but enjoyable was receiving a photo across 2,700 miles and 53 years. Old friends in a different place at a totally different time. There are times when I miss youth.
Monday, 10th November, 2025
Another glorious morning. Instant 22C/70F with lovely sunshine. That is what I am paying for. Breakfast with BBC Radio 4 Today outside in the warm air. The washing machine is humming away and all (most) things are well with the world. Fresh orange juice, coffee and home made muesli complete the picture.
I’m reading the Press while taking in the radio news. We are sitting in a quiet, gated community in Costa Adeje on the Southern Coast of a lump of rock just off the Western Sahara in the North Atlantic. We have rented properties here during November – February over the past 10 years and the weather is one of the most reliable and predictable elements. Yes, there have been blips. We had one November with 5 days of cool rain but that really was the exception and, when I say cool, I mean it dropped to 18C/65F which is not cold. By contrast, our Home in England this morning is 14C/57F and raining.
The reason why I bring the topic up at all is because I was shocked to read in the media this report about events on the North Coast in Playa del Roque de las Bodegas:
It just shows up the contrast between the North and South of the island which is well known but this was particularly dramatic. In the South, we have had absolutely no sign of it other than characteristic cloud falling down over the mountains.
Had a Senior Moment today. Quite shocked me. Went swimming this afternoon in the pool here. We were the only swimmers and we spent 30 – 40 mins pushing ourselves up and down this kidney-shaped, comfortably heated swimming pool. I strode out of the pool feeling like a giant of fitness, put my hand in pocket and …. pulled out my phone. It was understandably dripping with water.
It appeared to be still working when I looked at it but I was fearful for its long-term health. I walked swiftly back to our apartment and patted it dry with tissues/kitchen roll and plugged it in to recharge. It immediately shrieked at me that there was water in the mechanism and it could not recharge. At that point, my Assistant took control with a hairdryer on cool and a steady hand for 20 mins. I plugged in my charger and all was well. I was back in touch with the world. Ah ….
Tuesday, 11th November, 2025
A nice, warm morning with a few, fleecy high clouds. We are told that we could have some rain tomorrow afternoon which will make a change. I may be walking in the rain. I will have to put my mobile in a plastic bag. Miraculously, it is still working. It is only supposed to be ‘splash-proof ‘ so I have had a lucky escape. My smartphone, as my wife points out, is an extension of my arm. I do spend my day talking to people on it where ever I am in the world.
While we are away, I monitor our Sussex home remotely – the temperatures upstairs and downstairs in the house, the lights at night time, the security cameras, the temperature in the Gym because of the sensitive equipment, the forecast for the days ahead so I can adjust each of these. I read the local news through media and Blogs to see if there is anything I should be doing. Rather liked this photo taken down near the Community Centre in a park I walk through each day back home.
One of the things I’m trying to manage at home is how to receive parcels while we are out. I don’t want to burden our hard working neighbours so I’m going to install a parcel locker to the side of the front door. It has an initial cost, of course, but should be functional, effective and durable. It also needs to swallow multiple sizes of parcel.
It will need a little man to come in and install it but should last as long as I do. The cost will be about £200.00 so well worth the effort. At least I will obviate articles like this in The Times this morning.
Wednesday, 12th November, 2025
Well the weather forecast said we could expect rain today. As you can imagine, it is gorgeously sunny and warm. Because of the forecast, I went out early walking. Six miles in the sunshine is just a delight. Explored a new area with quality restaurants and clean, attractive coastal paths. Dare I say, it is a Middle Class enclave. Of course I dare say. I’m 74. I say what I like!
Had to get back for 11.15 am and PMQs on BBC2. Fascinating times in politics at the moment. I can’t get enough.
If I was to worship a god, which I don’t, it would be Tim Berners-Lee. He invented the World Wide Web in 1989 and published his first full web page in 1991. I accessed my first internet page just 4 years later. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life. (I did say ‘one’, Dear Reader.)
Almost exactly 41 years later, I was reminded of it all this morning as I woke up on a rock off the coast of Africa and received a message from my Surgery some 3,572 km away. My NHS app alerted my watch via my phone via the WiFi that I was being invited to a clinic.
I smoked cigarettes from the age of 14 – 1965 – and, as in all things, smoked to excess for 20 years. I have often wondered how my girlfriends coped with it. They certainly never smoked. I was smoking 40 cigarettes a day until I gave up on November 11, 1985. I was delivering a Research Paper on Labour Aristocracy to a Masters Degree Tutor Group at Huddersfield University. At 9.00 pm that night, I pledged to give up and have since never smoked anything more than a piece of salmon.
This morning, 41 years on, I received an invitation via my NHS app from my Surgery to attend a Lung Cancer Screening. Quite surprised but pleasantly. It sounds an excellent service. As soon as I get home my willy and my lungs will be checked for signs of cancer. I will then go on to have a whole body scan in addition and one that will concentrate on my prostate. This is fantastic by the NHS and I am very grateful
At the same time, the internet and the NHS are combining to allow me to order Repeat Prescriptions for my neighbour to collect tomorrow and, this morning, I tested my INR and sent the result to Worthing Anti Coagulation Unit who will reply with medication levels and the next official test date. This is the future of Health Care provision and it is wonderful.
I should have been in Leeds this Lunchtime meeting old friends from over 50 years ago. Instead I am here off the African Coast. I don’t apologise but I do regret. I am going to organise my own reunion soon. It will be enjoyable.
Just been for a lovely swim to complete the exercise for the day. The pool was empty apart from a friend of mine. She’s so small, you can hardly spot her. Swimming is a wonderful way to relax after a long, sweaty day.
Thursday, 13th November, 2025
I woke up at 5.45 am thinking I was having a heart attack. I had a dreadful pain where I thought my heart was. I may have slightly Hypochondriacal tendencies and I may be subject to mild bouts of panic but my Dad died of a heart attack and I am always wary of the signs. It suddenly struck me that I was abroad, wasn’t completely clear about how to get assistance or even the exact address of where I am living at the moment.
I did what any man would do in these situations, I woke my wife. She immediately pointed out that wasn’t where my heart is. Apparently, it’s on the other side. Who knew? She also pointed out that I was doing a lot more swimming than normal and had probably strained a muscle. Suddenly, it all became clear. I wasn’t going to die … well not at that precise moment. I wonder what’s for Breakfast.
As we get older, these are serious considerations in travelling. It had a serious bearing on why we left Greece. One of the first things I do in arriving at a destination is check out the emergency Medical Facilities. Fortunately, I found two ambulances parked outside this Doctors’ Emergency Surgery just a short walk from our apartment. A quick photo and the number is added to my contacts.
Of course, we are never without Worldwide Medical Insurance which comes free with our bank account and I always have an EHIC (now GHIC) card account although I’m never sure why because it rarely works when you really want something. It was a European Heath Insurance card which never actually worked in Greece. Their system is so poor that they always demanded upfront payment. After Brexit, the Tories cobbled together an even more useless replacement that was so Global it wouldn’t be entertained in USA.
In emergencies, you really do have to look after yourself. Local Authorities are not reliable. You know here on Tenerife today, all schools are closed. The weather is forecast to be powerful winds with torrential rain which is why it is actually warm and sunny with blue skies and not a hint of a breeze. The kids must be loving the day off.
Friday, 14th November, 2025
Absolutely glorious morning – Life affirming & Existence lengthening. The bad weather forecast for yesterday just didn’t happen. We had a lovely day and a long, warm evening. I drank too much wine and slept like a log. Up at 7.00 am and on with the day.
Today’s project is to look at a new, rental/purchase property bit higher up the mountain from here – away from the tattoos and motability scooters. It is only about a mile or so walk but that mile should make all the difference. The place we are in this year is fine but, once out of the gated development, the environs are less than perfect. I want to retreat to more rarefied air.
There was a wonderful and I found utterly moving article in today’s Guardian about Photobooths and their decline in the light of digital photography. Photographs are some of the most frightening and moving objects in people’s lives. Sometimes, I feel that only applies to me but the sensation of time stopped reclaims old time while emphasising its movement. Looking at an image of the past in Lines On A Young Lady’s Photograph Album ….
In short, a past that no one now can share,
No matter whose your future; calm and dry,
It holds you like a heaven, and you lie
Unvariably lovely there,
Smaller and clearer as the years go by.
The Whitsun Weddings – 1964
Philip Larkin had it perfectly as with so much from my early years. Time cannot be reclaimed however much we improve on it across the years. There is a thought to carry with you over your day, Dear Reader.
Saturday, 15th November, 2025
Half way through the month and half way through my time away. Life goes on, Dear Reader. What did I do yesterday? What am I doing today? What would I be doing in UK? The answer in all three cases is walking, walking and walking.
In UK, I would be walking in 13C/55F of misty drizzle. Here, I am walking in 25C/77F of gorgeous sunshine. Yesterday, I walked up to a new Development called Atlantic Homes. They have properties for sale and rent in the first phase which I featured yesterday.
I hadn’t realised that there is a huge, new second phase currently underway. It is certainly looking very interesting. I went in to the Sales Office of the Building/Marketing company, Viqueira, to get my name on the email Information List for when Phase 2 is completed this time next year.
In the meantime, I have rented an apartment in Phase One for 4 weeks in November 2026 to get a feel for it and be on site when the new ones are due to be released. The Development is up, away from the tattoo brigade. There isn’t a cheap paella restaurant or an All-You-Can-Eat Chinese in sight. It is an area to sit back in and breathe out.
This afternoon, I am at Twickenham watching England play the All Blacks. By Half Time, it is a wonderfully balanced game separated by just one point. Life can be wonderful, Dear Reader. Come over and share it with me.
What an afternoon. My wife cringed with extreme embarrassment as I roared on England as they destroyed the once mighty All Blacks. I’m sure the people of Tenerife were ecstatic.