[cessna152towser]

The purpose of my trip to Spain in January was to organise for Ann to be able to go there with me to celebrate our Silver Wedding on Tuesday 7th April. We set off on Monday, this is the Easyjet Airbus A319 being prepared for departure to Malaga.

At Malaga Airport I had arranged for an English speaking guide to meet us and help load the luggage into a wheelchair accessible taxi which he had booked for us. This took us to Fuengirola, where we had a penthouse suite with full disabled facilities on the top floor of the hotel where I had stayed previously. Through MartinGrenoble of xmarks I was able to arrange for an English nurse who now lives in Spain to attend at the hotel mornings and evenings to see to Ann's medical needs, washing and bathing etc. This is a view I took from the balcony while Ann was with the nurse.

Tuesday was the day of our anniversary and I took Ann to visit Fuengirola Zoo.

Appropriate to our anniversary we saw these loving monkeys.

A braw Sumatran Tiger. Unfortunately on the way back to the hotel we were waylaid by five "helpful" youths who offered to carry Ann's wheelchair down a flight of steps. They were quite insistent despite my assertion that we did not want to go that way and I had to grip the wheelchair very firmly to prevent Ann being snatched away and while I was doing so one of the youths plundered my pocket and made off with the day's spending money. Fortunately after my previous experience of Fuengirola most of our money, as well as passports and Ann's handbag were locked up in the hotel.

Eventually we got back to the hotel and got dressed up for our anniversary dinner. I wore my lightweight Hunting McLeod wool kilt and Ann wore her xmarks tartan jacket.

At the dinner table, silhouetted against the sea.
More to follow shortly.

[cessna152towser]

In a moment of madness I thought that another xmarks siege of Sohail Castle might be fun for the following day, Wednesday, since Ann had not been with me the two previous times. We went via the harbour to look out for galleons.

This was going to be more difficult, the previous twice I had gone as a foot soldier and this time I had to wheel the siege machine, or trebuchet, up to the walls.

Passing below the castle and turning back to approach via the west slope offered a less steep option. Note that I wore a sporran this time to keep an eye on my money rather than having it in a side cargo pocket.

It was a hard pech up to the level of the castle walls. At this point I stopped for a breather. As I took this photo I felt something heavy and wet hitting my back. A man came forward, pointing to a bird which was landing on one of the castle turrets as being the culprit. I took off my shirt and he turned my kilt round back to front to show that it was also covered in muck. He gave me a bottle of water and some paper towels to clean myself up and went away. We retreated to base camp which was a cafe below the hill where the castle stood, intending to have lunch, but I then discovered that I only had a few coins left just enough for a cup of coffee each. I mentioned to the lady in the cafe that I was not having a good day, having been birdbombed and apparently dropped my banknotes. She then asked if a man had offered to clean up the birdsh*t and when I described him she said that was one of his regular tricks. He throws sh*t over the tourists, offers to help clean it up, then makes off with their money. The crafty spaniard had obviously dipped my sporran when he reversed the kilt then cleverly closed it again so I would suspect nothing.

[SFCRick]

Congrats on a Silver Anniversary, may you have many more.

[ktm5258]

Congratulations.....looks like a good time!..thinks for the photos

[McClef]

Glad you and Ann had a great time apart from the famous bird crap trick.

[Niblox]

Robbed twice!! It'll teach me not to take any large amounts of money or anything valuable with me in Spain (if I ever visit there) - the trick with the bird droppings was obvious - he knew your sporran had some valuables in it, the crafty so-and-so.

Apart from that, I hope the rest of the trip is pleasant and trouble-free, and (for goodness sake) DON'T take any large sums of money or valuables out with you when you go for a walk!

[JSFMACLJR]

Congratulations to you both! ad multos annos.

[McFarkus]

Congratulations on your silver anniversary. Too bad about the thievery.

[Galician]

Congratulations on the anniversary!

I feel awful about the thefts, though. I hope that you were still able to enjoy something of that beautiful city, especially on such a special occasion in your lives.

[BEEDEE]

Congratulations on the aniversary and kudos for arranging the trip for Ann. What a pity that you were robbed again. I have no time for people who prey on others such as you and Ann - they have no moral or ethical values whatsoever.

Brian