Javea, Costa Blanca 30 Oct-1 Nov & 5-9 Nov

With the best bits of the Costa Blanca within a 4.5 hour drive and as the Spanish had two "bank holiday" weekends, we took an apartment in Javea in exchange for a week at the Hayloft.  The weather was mixed, ranging from hot to windy, but we spent 2 or 3 days on the beach and enjoyed snorkling in the Med. The girls 'trick or treated' around the sea-front bars on Halloween and we had a much-needed Brit-experience of shopping in Iceland, eating toasted teacakes and stocking up on books at the charity shops (I haven't seen one in Madrid!).

Crumpets and English tea - very Costa Blanca

And as ever, the seafood was excellent, even with a gap in your front teeth (Annie)!

Visit to Ferrol, Spanish Naval Port

Chris spent a week visiting various Spanish military units including the Naval Port of Ferrol, the Naval School and the aircraft carrier, Juan Carlos I. It was launched on 30 Sep 2010 and cost a fraction of the price that the next generation of British ships will cost.  It may not be the most advanced war fighting vessel but it is a very impressive platform for a wide variety of operations with lifts large enough for Chinook and Harrier, cargo decks for vehicles and tanks, a dock at the rear for 2 - 4 landing craft and an office suite for the headquarters of an embarked force.  The Spanish have got something very right with this investment in the current financial and political climate.  Furthermore, it has been constructed in Spain and with its very favourable price I dare say there will be export opportunities!

Finally, it was a sunny week in Galicia and the seafood was just as good as its reputation!

Guernica, Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid

Having read a book earlier in the year about the Guernica atrocity and Picasso's painting, we had really wanted to see his work in the flesh.  This picture of the girls in a crowded gallery does not do justice to the scale of the painting and this and accompanying sketches were well worth seeing. There are lots of Picassos, Miros and other great Spanish art here.

Cuenca 8-9 Oct 10 with Mark & Julie

Carrie's brother, Mark and his wife Julie came to stay for a week in early October. We visited Cuenca, another World Heritage Site within Castilla-La Mancha to the east of Madrid, reachable with within two hours by car.
It is an extraordinary place, enclosed on three sides by deep gorges with balconied houses hanging over the cliff top. Our hotel was one of them - La Posada San Jose and was a historic building next to the cathedral.

The view of one of the gorges from our balcony. Cuenca is a haven for artists attracted by the views and light. The girls took their sketch books with them.

The footbridge across the river was a little precarious. The picture does not do justice to the height! Uncle Mark is filming whilst Aunty Julie braves a look over the parapet at the 100ft plus drop. 

Miraflores de la Sierra with Grandparents

First Day at Runnymede 2 Sep

The first day of school was great!!!Well, some parts.I soon made lot's of nice new friends from both the classes of year 7.The first playtime I had at Runnymede was really embarrassing.... My friend Rosie and I went to the school loos.The only thing we didn't check was how the locks worked.I pulled on the door and found I was stuck.I called Rosie and she was stuck too. I thought I would miss the whole school day stuck in the loos.We started banging on the doors , and luckily the science prep lady, Julia , found a screwdriver and managed to get us out!I was so relieved!The rest of the day was normal, but by the end of the day I had 50 million books to carry home! 
            Charlotte x 

La Fuente - Fuente del Fresno

Annie & Hayley by Fuente's fuente!