International Ladies Winter Break With Husbands

It was that time again - the Winter meet up with my Italian and German friends. We  invite our husbands to come on some trips and thankfully they all get on well. We sent them off into the snow to play where they exhausted themselves with planks on their feet! Last year we went to Mosern near Seefeld in Austria and decided it was so nice we would return this year. We couldn't understand why last year's hotel the Mosererhof was fully booked but then found it had been pulled down! Anyway we stayed in a pension called the Spiegl and it was very comfortable with plenty of Schnapps flowing. Unfortunately some vile person decided to go into our room and steal 300 euros but I was determined not to let this spoil our holiday and I shall just have to work a couple of extra days to make it up.
There was some sunshine on our trip although not quite as good as last year. I walked a lot this year and really should have lost quite a few kilos but it doesn't seem to have happened. Perhaps the copious amounts of  heiße Schokolade mit Schlagobers had  something to do with it!
Here are some of the photos of this beautiful area.

The International Ladies.

Just like Narnia - now where is the witch?

We try to drink as many of the local specialities as possible so Ute was having two at a time.

Plenty of fluffy creatures to 'ooooh' over.

Yes it was cold

Massimo has the beers lined up!

We were determined to sit on the sun terrace on the mountain.

I love this picture.

The men were having fun.

The view from our deck chairs.

Off they went but I think they spent quite a bit of time in the bar having Hot Widows!

They are down there - near the middle of the picture.

We had lunch here.

The view from our room.

Under the Peace Bell.

An Escape to Spain

Snow was forecast last week and Hil and I escaped the day before to Spain. We hopped on a Ryan air flight to Malaga where we arrived to 16C at 21.30 and then a short bus ride to the hotel El Fuerte in Marbella.
http://www.fuertehoteles.com/en/hotels/fuerte-marbella/ 

The following day we awoke to sunshine and 21C which was lovely and we spent the day exploring the old town in Marbella and the marina. Later we enjoyed the facilities at the hotel and used the pool.
We found the choice of restaurants to be very good and the food was of a good quality with far too much of it!
On Saturday we awoke to a massive storm. The waves were huge, winds fierce and rain horizontal. The hotel reception was flooded. Oh no this isn't what we went to Spain for! However the black clouds cleared by 11 am and the sun came out so we went to Puerto Banus and watched the elderly men in their flash cars parade around with their dolly birds in silly shoes. Then of course there were the more mature ladies who were squeezed into their clothes and liberally jabbed with Botox. Hil did a bit of shopping in a posh store, we had a very nice lunch by the boats and then took the bus back to Marbella. Public transport there is very good and very cheap.
We enjoyed our short winter break and will be returning.

A room with a view

Our beautiful room was at the top with the arched balcony.

Even the sand castles were very posh!

 

Bright sun behind us and those menacing dark skies in front. There was a quick shower and a rainbow and then it was all over!

 

              

January Sunshine in UK

Recently it has been very cold and dismal. The threat of snow round my way didn't materialise. Today I have a day off and thought my friend Jacky would appreciate a little trip out somewhere. So we headed off to the Rococco Gardens, just up the road in Painswick.
http://www.rococogarden.org.uk/  
We didn't actually go into the gardens as we didn't have much spare time. I am supposed to be getting ready for a trip to Spain shortly. So we just had a stroll and a cup of tea and a natter in the cafe there.
The sun was shining and the skies were blue, it was so beautiful. The Snowdrops are just starting to bloom and so we vowed to return for a proper walk around the woods and gardens in the next week or so.

Sunshine in Italy

We had sunshine and snow while staying with Doriana and Massimo in Italy in December.

Here they are by their lovely home in Cernusco near Milan.

Some views around their village.

The trip to the old town of Bergamo for Christmas shopping was fun and while we were there it started snowing.

Lunch was delicious.

Then we had more shopping in Milan.

Catching up with old friends was great. A pizza night with Lina and her family.

Lina's cats are beautiful

Of course we also had to visit Mariella and her family and taste her delicious cake.

Thank you lovely Italian friends for your hospitality. We had a fabulous time and we hope to see you soon.