Month: May 2017

2017 Weekly photo challenge (week 22) Lost

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This little chap got lost last year. I got the fright of my life as I walked past the lounge door and spied him flying about indoors – he must’ve taken a wrong turning and  flown in through the open front door. When I tried to rescue him he got himself trapped between the sashes of our old wooden windows.

Thankfully I have a young botanist in the house and he rose to the challenge of rescuing the Blue Tit. We brought him outside and popped him on the balcony. I fully expected him to fly off straight away but he stayed for a while to compose himself before scooting off to find his friends.

I’m linking with Wild Daffodil and Nana Cathy for this we key photo challenge throughout 2017.

Sunday Sevens #85 28.5.17

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I can’t start Sunday Sevens without mentioning Manchester, I was born and brought up in Greater Manchester and like everyone was shocked and deeply saddened by what happened on Monday night. My thoughts are with all those affected.  I am so proud though, of the way Mancunians have reacted to this atrocity. 

Gibraltar stood in solidarity with those who were affected with a minute’s silence on Friday and flags have been flying at half mast all week.

Now, onto the rest of this week’s Sunday Sevens…

Breakfast al fresco 

On Monday morning I got the chance to do something I haven’t done for a very long time; a breakfast date with Mr Postcard. It was a beautifully sunny morning and we sat outside to enjoy our eggs – it was delicious! 

Back to the drawing board


Now my dress has been completed at my dressmaking class, it means pattern drawing time again. It doesn’t look much like a blouse yet, but who knows where I’ll end up! 

How many boats?

I spied this out in the Bay this week. That’s a heck of a lot of boats having a piggy back on a big boat!

Seashells 

The summery weather we’ve been enjoying this week inspired us to paint some seashells at watercolour class. I really enjoyed painting these. Sometimes you try really hard and make a mess and other times you relax, go with the flow and it just works. 

Summer’s here

The sunny weather meant a trip to the park  one evening. The Little Postcards were full of energy so we went to play an early evening game of football before bed. It was grass stains galore but they had fun. The sun can only mean one thing; it’s almost time to unleash my pasty white knees on the unsuspecting public. Apologies in advance…

I’ve voted!


My postal ballot paper for the U.K. General Election made it over to Gibraltar this week. I was so happy to be able to mark my X in the box of my choice. If you want to have a say in the result, please vote! Women died so that I could have the chance to vote.

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins.

A stroll around Gibraltar No.21: roundabouts 

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It’s been a long time since I last took you on a stroll around Gibraltar, so here’s a new jaunt around this place we have made our home; it’s less of a walk and more is a drive though! It’s been inspired by a tongue in cheek gift Mr Postcard received for Christmas a few years ago… traffic islands or roundabouts are the subject matter today.

Apparently there is such a thing as a ‘Roundabout spotter’ so if there are any of you out there in cyberspace this one’s for you!

Gibraltar has a good few roundabouts considering it is a pretty small place. This is not a comprehensive catalogue of them all, but here are a few …

… beginning with the Sundial Roundabout.

This is the first Roundabout you will encounter if you arrive in Gibraltar by road. There is a mini (painted on the road) roundabout next to the airport, but this is the most northerly proper roundabout. 

The sculpture in the centre forms a sundial and the points of the compass are marked out on the grass verge running around it (you can see N for North in the photo above). Also around the base are images of the symbols of the zodiac. 

When Gibraltar enjoyed it’s most recent royal visit from the Earl & Countess of Wessex, back in 2012, planters were put on top of the compass letters and it looked beautifully colourful.

Our most southerly roundabout of note is this one next to to mosque at Europa Point. 

From afar it looks like a natural planting arrangement with rocks and pebbles and a few plants. Up close though, you can see a flock of metal birds.

I have tried to find out what they are, but failed. They do look to me rather like Gibraltar’s native Barbary Partridges though.

It’s not just Gibraltar’s wildlife which is celebrated in traffic island form – it’s nautical history is too. An anchor takes centre stage at this roundabout on the junction with Queensway and Ragged Staff Road.

Some of our roundabouts are planted with tropical plants, there are a couple close to Morrisons supermarket- this is one of them.

The story of what happened to the civilian population of Gibraltar is marked by this beautiful statue of Evacuees returning home to the Rock after many years separated from their friends, families and their homes.

Gibraltar’s newest roundabout is this one on Queensway. Decorated with a sculpture in the shape of the Rock of Gibraltar with the shapes of figures cut out of it, it’s a monument to the women of Gibraltar.

As the sun moves around the Rock during the day, the figures cast by the sunlight move around and appear to be supporting the structure. It was unveiled officially on 6th December last year by the Chief Minister’s wife, Justine Picardo. The two women behind the work are architect; Ruth Massias Greenberg and artist & sculptor; Ermelinda Duarte.

How about a roundabout where you have a good chance of getting wet on a stormy day?


Built on top of the breakwater surrounding the new small boat marina, this road and its little roundabout offer a great vantage point for spotting cruise ships, and rather impressive yachts, like this one!

My absolute favourite traffic island has to be the one at the Trafalgar Interchange. When we first arrived in Gibraltar to live, it wasn’t particularly remarkable, but during our first few years here, a lot of work was done to smarten this area up and it’s just beautiful now. 


The flower beds nearby are lush and well maintained and the shrubs on the island are neatly clipped. It makes me smile when I see it planted up with new bedding several times a year.


The whole area is a real green oasis, I love this lush corner of Gibraltar.

Look it’s even home for a special visitor at Christmas time!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this lighthearted look at what many people may consider to be mundane traffic islands, I fear I may have turned into a bit of a roundabout spotter myself!

2017 Weekly photo challenge (week 21) stationary

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However you arrive in Gibraltar, be it by air, sea or road you can’t help but see the huge tankers and container ships moored out in the Mediterranean and in the Bay of Gibraltar. 

On our first ever visit to Gib, when we came to look for somewhere to live, I was struck by these huge ships just sitting there going nowhere. I asked the estate agent (who was showing us around) what they were doing there. She explained that they were parked in a kind of stacking system waiting to be called into port to load or unload their cargo.

Whenever I look out of our front windows I can see several of these large ships moored out in the Bay. The ones closest to Gibraltar are bunkering, in other words being resupplied with food, fuel and other things ready for their onward journeys. The only days when the Bay is quiet are Christmas Day and over Easter.

I’m linking with Wild Daffodil and Nana Cathy for this weekly photo challenge throughout 2017.

Sunday Sevens #84 21.5.17

~ Making Stitches ~ 12 Comments

Hello everyone, I hope you have had a good week, it’s been a crazy busy one for me with endless to-do lists and jobs but somehow we made it through and I think almost all the jobs got done (which is a minor miracle). 

Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens (it’s Sunday Tens this week actually but never mind!):

A Sunday stroll


Last Sunday my legs were a little achey from the exertions of the Med Steps 5 the day before, but we went for a bit of a walk nonetheless. We found ourselves in the Alameda Botanical Gardens, which was just stunning in the spring sunshine.

We also had the rare opportunity to walk in the middle of Europa Road, as rather large crane was being removed from the site of a very big house which has been built. Normally it’s quite busy with traffic along here, but on Sunday it was so peaceful.

Beautiful balcony


This has got to be my favourite balcony in Gibraltar (apart from our own). It always looks so lovely. It looked stunning in the Monday morning sunshine.

Dress finished!


At last my princess line, lined dress with sleeves is complete! It’s been a long slog, but I got there in the end. Next project at my dressmaking class is a blouse!! With loads of buttons eek 😬 and a collar! Holy Moly! I may get that finished by Christmas 2018?!

Sad news and a crochet escape

At the beginning of last week, the crochet world heard the sad news that Jenny, the 19-year-old daughter of Little Box of Crochet founder, Amanda Bloom had died. Jenny had been living with cancer and was taken to the hearts of many of us as we contributed squares to her ‘blanket of hugs‘ late last summer. 

The outpouring of love and support for Amanda and the Little Box of Crochet team has been huge online and I hope it goes someway to helping her and those close to her now and in the future.

On Wednesday, I began a new Little Box of Crochet project, designed by Lucy at Attic24 and including rainbow colours. I think we all need hope in our lives and to me that’s what a rainbow means.

Making bias binding 

I have never attempted to make my own bias binding before, but I had a go on Thursday for a secret project I’m working on. I had been putting it off, but really there was no need. It was pretty easy – apart from the bit when I kept scalding my fingers and thumb with the steam from the iron while I tried to fold and press the edges at the same time! 

Cake anyone?

Our church held a cake stall on Main Street yesterday to raise funds for Christian Aid week. People were incredibly generous, so if you bought a cake, a second hand book or made a donation, thank you! Your money will go to help those who need it most.

While on the stall, we were treated to a march past by the usual Saturday historical reenactment:


Later, the Royal Anglian Regiment marched by with a band to celebrate their newly awarded freedom of the city.

It was quite a sight to see.

We headed home before the classic car rally drove up Main Street… it was a busy day in Gibraltar yesterday (and I didn’t even mention the Convent Garden Paty or Museum Open Day!!).

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie from Threads & Bobbins. It features seven (ten in this case) photos from the last seven days, if you would like to join in with your blog, pop over the Natalie’s website to find out more.

Rising to the Med Steps 5 Challenge (in pictures)

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Last Saturday morning, my alarm went off  at 7 so that I could get up the hill to the start of the Med Steps 5 Challenge. After a couple of days with rain showers I was relieved to see that the forecast of cloudy but dry skies was correct. 

It wasn’t long before the crowds of walkers and their supporters began to arrive. Just after 9am, the safety briefing began in readiness for the start of the event. 

And at approximately 9:30, we were off and underway on lap one! It wasn’t too bad as we were carried along with the momentum of the crowd, although by the summit, the crowd had thinned out a bit.

There were a lot of tourists on the Upper Rock and the apes had come out to greet them, and us!


48 minutes for the first lap, not too bad.

The wildflowers are at their peak in the nature reserve at the moment, these poppies were my favourite.

2 laps done…

And here’s the proof!

Onwards and upwards…

Three laps in two and a half hours…

Time for a breather and a great view south towards the lighthouse.

Starting to slow up a bit… Almost a whole hour for lap number 4.

On the final lap and I was starting to flag, I couldn’t even focus the picture! Thank you Soreen for giving me the energy to finish (you can take the girl out of Manchester…).

The floor in parts of the walk was carpeted in a confetti of olive blossom. I was looking down a lot at this point, just trying to get one foot in front of the other…

I did it! I even managed 15 minutes faster than last year (I have no idea how I managed that with less training, unless the extra weight brought me down quicker 😉).

Look, five stamps, one for each lap of the challenge. Phew, I’m glad that’s over, anyone fancy joining me next year?

Time to collapse…

If you would like to hear some of the atmosphere of the day, why not give my latest podcast a listen here?

Postcard from Gibraltar Podcast Episode 012: Doing the Med Steps 5 Challenge 2017

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This time last week, dozens of intrepid walkers were preparing for the challenge of the year: the Med Steps 5 Challenge. Organised by the Gibraltar Prison Service and with all funds raised going to Cancer Relief Gibraltar, it’s an event which is growing year on year.

After a few wet days, the rain held off meaning everything went to plan. Individuals and teams of walkers and runners set off for up to five laps each of the Mediterranean Steps.

One walker even attempted to complete the challenge in high heels! In this episode of the Postcard from Gibraltar Podcast I meet some of the people behind the event and take you along with me for the walk. 

I even managed to complete all five laps!

***To hear the podcast click here***

This is the last in this first series of Postcard from Gibraltar Podcasts. I’m taking a little break to record some more material for future podcasts, thank you so much for joining me so far.

If you have missed any of my earlier podcasts, you can find them all through my blog postcardfromgibraltar.com as well as on iTunes and PodOmatic.

Theme Music : Happy Me by Twisterium

2017 Weekly photo challenge (week 20) cycle

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The cycle of choice preferred by the masses in Gibraltar has to be the motorcycle. They are everywhere. Parked in every little scrap of space at the side of roads, even on pavements at times. 

As a pram pushing mother of small children they were the bane of my life, finding myself in the middle of a road with a pram and unable to access the pavement because of a row of motorbikes tightly packed together and parked at right angles to the kerb.


I can see the merit of having one though, it takes relatively little space to park, and you can dodge traffic jams pretty effectively. 

For some motorbike riders though, as they don their helmets they lose all common sense. They speed, overtake and undertake with scant regard for their or any other road user’s safety. I have heard them described as “insects” and it’s such an accurate metaphor, from the noise they make to their swarming habit (especially at traffic lights).

I’ve lost count of the number of motorbike accidents I have seen happen here, fortunately they were all minor. Amazingly the riders involved (who are usually young men) appear to walk away from their scrapes relatively unscathed, a few bruises and grazes and perhaps their pride dented. Tragically, though, we are well aware that these accidents can be fatal. 


I have to admit, that I do rather like these bright Vespas, but I dread the day one of my boys comes home with one….

Sunday Sevens #83 14.5.17

~ Making Stitches ~ 8 Comments

Hello there! This installment of Sunday Sevens begins and ends with the Med Steps. It was the Med Steps 5 Challenge yesterday and this morning I am feeling every step I climbed! It was worth it though, a great sense of achievement comes with knowing I’ve completed the challenge, but that is nothing to the challenge faced by the people who use the Cancer Relief Centre here in Gibraltar.

Here’s my weekly round up:

3 times round again!

Last Sunday I went out for my last three times round training session in readiness for yesterday’s challenge. This time last year, me and my training buddies had done at least one four times round session and plenty others in between. Three was the most I could fit in this year.

Finished sleeves 

In my dressmaking class, I managed to complete my sleeves and attached the linings – just got the hem of my dress to finish now 🙂

More Med Steps 

On Wednesday morning I got back up the Steps with one of my training buddies from last year. It was a hot morning and we could feel the sun beating down on us. You can’t underestimate how much harder the heat can make it. I kept trying to imagine that we were walking through a cool damp cloud… it didn’t work!

Gibraltar Crochet Collective 

At this week’s meeting of the Gibraltar Crochet Collective I began work on the border of our Sixty Million Trebles blanket. The requirements for the blankets submitted to the appeal have now changed, so this is going to be a smaller blanket for a young child. We are going be starting a new collective project soon…

Watercolour Steps 

I think I’ve finished my watercolour interpretation of the Med Steps. It’s not exactly how I imagined it would be in my head at the start, but I think it’s finished. (Please excuse the slightly battered mount)

Evening stroll


On Friday evening I found myself at Europa Point at sunset, it’s amazing how different the atmosphere is there at dusk. There are no tourists or kids at the park, it was really tranquil.

Challenge complete

These five stamps mean I completed all five laps of the Med Steps in the Med Steps 5 Challenge yesterday. I’d say laps 2,3 and 4 were the worst!! 😝 It was very warm, but the support of fellow walkers, organisers and the wonderful cause it was for is what kept me going. I was amazed to see that not only had I completed all five, but I did it 15 minutes faster than last year! I really don’t know how that happened!

I took quite a few photos of the event, so please watch out for a Med Steps 5 post coming soon!

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins.

Med Steps 5 Challenge 2017

~ Making Stitches ~ 11 Comments

So, the time has almost come, it’s nearly time to lace up those trainers, slap on the suncream and hope for the best… it’s Med Steps 5 Challenge time!


The beautiful rugged pathway which leads walkers (and very fit runners) from Jews Gate to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar will become purgatory for those of us who, for some strange reason, thought it would be a good idea to do it 5 times!

Last year I completed the climb 5 times with a couple of friends (after agreeing it would be fun) over a slightly boozy Christmas meal. Well, I’m not sure ‘fun’ is the word I’d use. It was flipping hard work, it was hot too, but the atmosphere of the event was amazing and the sense of achievement was something else. 

It was by far toughest physical challenge I’ve ever faced (aside from childbirth). I am not a sporty or athletic person by any shade of the imagination, but after 4 and a half months of training I was thrilled to be able to cross the finish line in 4 hours and 40 minutes along side my training buddies.

We managed to raise a considerable amount of money too for the wonderful Cancer Relief Centre here in Gibraltar. The Centre supports people undergoing cancer treatment with all sorts of complimentary care and services, it has a children’s playground and a new after school club for children affected by cancer, as well as advice for patients and listening ear. 


I think I remember saying after it was all over that I was pleased I’d done it, but never again… so why am I preparing to turn up at the starting line again this time? I’m not sure to be honest! We did begin our training in January as a trio again but other commitments and life got in the way for my training partners from last year, so they will be cheering me on from the sidelines.


In fact, life has kind of got in the way for me too this year, I have only achieved 3 times round in my training schedule this year a couple of times and we managed 4 times in preparation for the last one. So I’m now going into this year’s event feeling a little bit of trepidation knowing exactly what’s in store for me.

I know I can do 5 times round with the right training behind me, but I’m a little underprepared this time. I also know that if it takes me over 5 hours it doesn’t matter, the most important thing is to try my best and show support to this incredibly worthy cause. Wish me luck!

If you would like to hear about the Med Steps 5 Challenge from one of the organisers, why not give my latest podcast a listen?