Rock of Gibraltar

Sunday Sevens #214 29.12.19

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Hello and welcome to the final Sunday Sevens of 2019. (Sunday Sevens for those who haven’t visited Postcard from Gibraltar before is a selection of photos – usually seven, from the past seven days).

We were traveling yesterday so this is more of a Monday Sevens this week! I hope you have had a good week and a fun Christmas. Here goes…

Sunday lunch in the sun

Last Sunday we had a lovely family meal at Queensway Quay. After lunch we went for a bit of a walk to look at the fish and the boats.

Monday morning run

I managed to motivate myself enough on Monday morning to go out for a run (it took quite a bit of will power!). As I ran past the beach at Camp Bay, I couldn’t help but notice that there was rather a lot of plastic washed up on the sand. As I took a breather I thought I’d pick up some rubbish. I was rather shocked with what I gathered in just a couple of minutes (below).

Sunny Christmas Eve

We had a lovely Christmas Eve lunch at one of our favourite Gibraltar restaurants. It was a beautiful day and I managed to order the biggest lamb dish I have ever seen. Thankfully, I had help to finish it!

Christmas Day walk

On Christmas late afternoon, I went out for a walk with Eldest to burn off a few of the calories I’d consumed. We walked south to the lighthouse at Europa Point and then back up north towards town and home again. As we walked along we met the Governor of Gibraltar who was also out for a Christmas Day stroll!

Boxing Day Polar Bear Swim

On Boxing Day I managed to get out for another run – I was doing so well last week (not doing so well of late though). Whilst I ran past Camp Bay, a group of brave souls were taking part in the Polar Bear swim in aid of Cancer Relief Gibraltar.

Wander with the Little Postcards

Later on on Boxing Day as Mr Postcard had to work, I headed into Spain with the Little Postcards and we had a lovely walk by the seaside. We spotted a few four legged friends on our travels.

Will I or won’t I finish this by the end of the year?

So on Friday I was determined to have a good go at finishing my changing tides blanket (pattern from Eleonora at Coastal Crochet) but unfortunately I have been beaten in my quest. I tried and failed to get it done before the end of the year – I can say that because we have now left Gibraltar for a New Year stay in England and I have left the blanket behind – there wasn’t room for it in my case.

I have, however made a lot of progress and the end is in sight, so it won’t be too long I hope. I have also brought a WIP with me to try and finish that instead while I’m away.

Grey day

That lovely sunshine we had over Christmas was long gone by Saturday. The sky was the same colour as the Rock! Never mind, we had a very good spell of weather over Christmas so I’m not complaining.

And that brings Sunday Sevens to an end for another week. I do hope that you enjoyed this week if you celebrate Christmas.

Thanks very much for sticking with me this year, it’s been a bit of a quiet one for Postcard from Gibraltar as I’ve been rather busy doing other things this year. I hope to be around a bit more in 2020.

The Sunday Sevens blog series was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #213 22.12.19

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Hello and seasons greetings on this Christmassy Sunday Sevens. I hope you are well, and not too frazzled by the pre Christmas prep.

Sunny Sunday

The weather last Sunday was truly glorious, even the cold blooded ones among us came out of from indoors to enjoy some December rays!

No, it’s not our tree

On Monday, I found myself in a beautiful Colonial building in town for a meeting. I was bowled over with this lovely tree in the entrance hall. It looked very much at home in the grand entrance.

Keep on running…

I’m on week two of my running plan, attempting to get a bit fitter. I only managed one run this week, which I’m annoyed with myself about, I was busy at the start of the week but by the end of the week the weather was pretty grim – think gale force winds and driving rain. This was taken on Wednesday morning on my walk down to the sea shore to begin my run/stumble along!

Sharing on behalf of a friend

A good friend of ours was staying over on the East side of the Rock this week and she sent me this lovely photo of the sun rising up over the horizon. What a spectacular start to the day!

Decorations are up – at last!

After much nagging from the Little Postcards, I finally got round to putting up the Christmas decorations and the tree. I wasn’t really feeling Christmassy at all and I couldn’t bring myself to put the tree up when I hadn’t completed all my pre decoration jobs, like tidying up and washing the windows. On Thursday I made a promise to Littlest that I would get the tree up and ready for him to decorate while he was at school. He was happy with that! I treated myself to some little star lights for the hallway – they are battery operated and I think they look rather nice over the mirror.

Carol singing

Also this week, we had a few of the obligatory carol singing events for school choirs. It was lovely to see Littlest singing with his school at the Artisan Christmas market in town.

Friday morning rain

That bad weather I told you about… it was a bit grim. In a break in the rain on Friday I popped quickly into town to pick up a few Christmas things I needed, before school finished at lunch time – my last proper opportunity. I just took the photo to make those of you reading this up north in the UK who might be experiencing a bit of bad weather too, realise that you are not alone! Also, that while I was feeling smug last Sunday watching the gecko sunbathing over on the East side of the Rock, that gorgeous weather was short lived!

And that, as they say is that. Sunday Sevens done for another week. Not the most inspiring set of photos I’ll grant you, but it’s been a good week for us with some fun times and a few meetings with lovely friends, which I forgot to capture in photos – probably because I was too busy talking!!

If you are celebrating Christmas I hope it is a very happy one for you. I send every good wish from Gibraltar for a lovely time with friends and family, and thank you for stopping by!

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads & Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens x2 #212 8.12.19 & 15.12.19

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Hello! I’m playing catch up this week after overcoming the gremlins I was experiencing on my website. This week’s Sunday Sevens actually spans 2 weeks. Here goes…

Sunday lunch by the water

Two weeks ago, we headed down to Queensway Quay for a family lunch. The weather was lovely, as was the food and the view!

Christmas cards I

Do you remember those little crocheted Christmas trees I made last week? They got turned into a few Christmas cards. I’m rather happy with them.

Christmas cards II

On the subject of Christmas cards, how is this for a stunner? My lovely friend V made this felted card of Helleborus (Christmas roses) for us this year.

Blues

I do love this building, sometimes it jumps out at me, and other times I walk past and forget it’s there. Those blue and white tiles make a bold statement and I love it!

Looking festive

On Sunday evening, I went to the wonderful St Andrews Church Carol Service. It features readings from various Gibraltarian dignitaries and the music is supplied by the Gibraltar Regiment Band. It’s recorded by Radio Gibraltar and gets played out over Christmas.

On my way home I got to see Gibraltar’s Christmas lights at their best, with the streets empty of traffic and folk!

Blowing the cobwebs away

So the scales are telling me that I need to take a bit of action before the Christmas feasting begins… I dusted off the trainers and went out for a bit of a run a couple of times this week. I use the term ‘run’ in its loosest form but I tried. The view was lovely from my point of view, not sure anyone who was witness to my lumbering along beside the sea would agree though!

Last dressmaking class of 2019

Sewing is finished officially as of this week as far as my dressmaking classes are concerned. I shall miss my weekly classes while Christmas happens but in a way it’s nice to see the diary starting to thin out! I’m rather pleased with my seams by the way…

Carol service

I got to go to two carol services this week. They were beautiful, and so lovely to step out of the chaos of the Christmas build up and take a moment. The photo above was taken in the beautiful Sacred Heart Church.

Oh dear

So I guess it’s happening then… Boris got in and we are about to wave goodbye to our wonderful EU membership. I’m beyond sad/angry/bewildered about how this has come about. I like most of Gibraltar (96%) voted to Remain. I can only hope that this booklet produced by the Gibraltar Government won’t be needed.

Seagulls

I refuse to end this Sunday Sevens on such a downer, so here’s a view of the Rock and some of the gazillion seagulls who live here which I took on my walk this morning!

I hope it’s been a good week for you l, where ever you are and that the next seven days brings you good things.

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #211 1.12.19

~ Making Stitches

Hello there! This is a bit late. I have had a few technical gremlins at Postcard from Gibraltar HQ but I’m pleased to say they have finally been ironed out. Here’s the first of the posts I should have published over the past 10 days of internet silence!! Better late than never eh?!

Here’s my first Sunday Sevens to be published in December – it should have gone out on the first day of December, first Sunday of Advent… Christmas is round the corner! Here’s the final Sunday Sevens of November…

Gibraltar on telly!

Gibraltar and the apes featured in David Attenburgh’s Seven Worlds One Planet. Last year, in July, the camera crew were here in Gibraltar and they even flew over our home and they featured in Sunday Sevens #146.

Football training

It might’ve been a grey afternoon as I was sitting on the touchline at football training, but that view is still impressive!

Dressmaking class

At long last, after working on the pattern and a couple of trial runs, I got my trouser fabric out and started cutting at dressmaking class this week. It’s time to work on the real thing!

A splash of colour on a grey day

Wednesday was a bit of a grey, drizzly affair, but we got a glimmer of colour in the sky just after the morning school run. Can you make out the rainbow?

A bench with a view

At football training with littlest this week, I found myself with a seat on a bench with a view. It might not be the most upmarket sports stadium in the world but that’s one heck of a backdrop.

Convent Christmas Craft Fair

It was the annual Convent Christmas Craft Fair on Thursday. It was as fabulous as ever. I left with a shopping bag full of goodies, including an adorable mini sprout stocking and some mojito soap!

Night sky

I came home from somewhere (I honestly can’t remember where – must be my age and not the drink 😜) and the evening sky looked lovely with a sliver of a moon and Venus.

And that’s all folks, thanks for stopping by again this week. I hope you have a great week ahead. I shall be doing a catch up Sunday Sevens again next weekend.

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins.

 

Sunday Sevens #209 10/11/19

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Hello, another week gone by and all of a sudden (if the TV executives & supermarket bosses would have you believe it) Christmas is round the corner… not thinking about that just yet! Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens:

Wildlife Park open day

On Sunday, I took the Little Postcards along to the Alameda Wildlife and Conservation Park in the Alameda Botanical Gardena. This little ‘zoo’ as we used to call it was important to us when we first moved to Gibraltar 10 years ago with just 2 Little Postcards. We lived across the road from the gardens and they became our garden replacement after moving from our home in the UK with our own garden.

The wildlife park is in a very small corner of the gardens and is a sanctuary for animals which have been seized from boats by customs and also houses a few of the problematic native apes who have found themselves outside of the Upper Rock ape community.

The open day was to raise funds and awareness for the work the park carries out and was a huge success if the number of families there was anything to go by.

We all fell for the African Grey parrots who had a lovely chirpy conversation going on with themselves, the other birds, the apes next door and visitors too!

Blue skies are back again!

We had a rather wet weekend last weekend, although nowhere near as bad as the weather the UK has experienced this week. By Tuesday the blue skies were back again.

What a scorcher

By Wednesday morning, this is the weather we were having, it was so hot on the Eastside, although it was grey and blustery around the other side of the Rock! Gibraltar has a very complex weather system…

Wonky carrots

I got quite a shock when I pulled this carrot out of the bag! Diamond, our bunny liked it nonetheless.

Here comes the rain again

Just look at those grey clouds… the rain came back…

Seagulls galore

The noise from these roosting seagulls was terrific!

Sparkly lights across the Strait

Do you see those lights over the water? That’s Morocco. It looked so close on Friday night as I was driving past Europa Point.

And that brings this week’s Sunday Sevens to a close. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #207 27.10.19

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Hello there welcome to this week’s Sunday Sevens. You find us on midterm here in Gibraltar – and we are enjoying the prospect of not having an early alarm tomorrow morning!

Trafalgar Memorial

It was the 214th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar on Tuesday. Every year, on a Sunday near to the anniversary, a special ceremony takes place at Trafalgar Cemetery in Gibraltar. This year’s remembrance happened last Sunday.

The men who lost their lives in the battle are remembered and wreaths are laid on the graves of two men who came to Gibraltar immediately afterwards for treatment, but who died from their wounds.

There is always a Royal Navy vessel in port for this ceremony and the sailors attend in their uniforms. It’s a really special time.

Med Steps on a Monday

It was a beautifully clear, sunny morning on Monday and I headed off up the Med Steps. I spied these two big black birds overhead which were circling above the Rock and causing a great deal of excitement amongst the seagull population. I spoke to one of the wardens about them, and I’m reliably told they are a pair of ravens, and it’s hoped that they will breed next year.

Dressmaking class

So my second pair of trial run trousers were sewn this week and although my problematic large calves were adequately accommodated, elsewhere they were a bit on the large side this week! Darts are the order of the day in my next class!

Sunset alert

Sunday sevens wouldn’t be Sunday sevens without a sunset pic would it? Here’s this week’s one.

Framing my paintings

I finally got round to framing a few of my watercolour paintings this week. I bought some frames a few weeks back and wanted to hang them in the hall. My seashells from two years ago we’re just the right size.

A catch-up with a lovely friend

A lovely friend of mine came round for a visit this week – the first time I’ve seen her in months – and she brought these beautiful flowers. They look glorious in their vase and are a lovely reminder of a fab chat over lunch.

A prickly situation

This little chap/lady got him/herself into a bit of a tangle this week in my parents’ garden in Manchester. (So this isn’t one of my photos – thanks Dad). The last time I remember seeing a hedgehog in their garden I was about 10 – so it’s not a common occurrence, or if it is, they are very stealthy!

He/she had a rest in a box in their porch before heading off for a wander…

And that brings this week’s Sunday Sevens to a close for another week. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #202 22.9.19

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Back again, and just one week since the last one! How are you? I hope you had a good week!

Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens:

Back to school

My Dressmaking classes restarted this week – it felt good to be back again and using my brain! New term means a new project – trousers. Pattern drawing began this week and I took in the fabric I bought in the UK to show my teacher – thankfully it got the seal of approval. It will be a while before I start sewing with it though, after I cut my paper pattern I need to make a trial run in cotton to make sure I have the pattern correct.

Sunny morning in town

Its been such a long time since I’ve met a friend for coffee, but I managed it this week. We had a really good chat catching up on news from both of us from over the summer and cooking up a plan for the future – it was fun.

Birthday cake baking

I certainly wouldn’t get a place on Bake-Off… one of the Little Postcards celebrated a birthday this week and carrot cake was the request. I only bake for birthdays and occasional charity cake sale so it’s not my speciality nor is my spice rack particularly up to date. Imagine my horror when I replaced the required spices with new ones (as the old ones were a few years out of date) and only discovered the unopened packet of ground ginger when I was clearing up afterwards.

My delight at being told, ooh Mummy this tastes so gingery was a relief! Shhh it’s our little secret!

Many shades of grey…

It was a very grey affair on Friday… just look at those grey skies against the grey of the Rock, road & the buildings!

Relay for life

I had the privilege to pop along to the annual Relay for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK which was taking place yesterday. I wasn’t taking part, just cheering along from the sidelines. This amazing event saw about 80 teams of people walking round the track at Victoria Stradium for 24 hours from 11am yesterday to 11 am this morning – that’s some going. It is a very emotional event as many people are walking in memory of loved ones and in support of friends and family who are going through cancer at the moment. What a special thing to witness.

That’s it from me for this week, I hope you have a good one! Until next time, bye for now…

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #200 11.8.19

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Did you catch the title of this post? Sunday Sevens number 200 – eek how did that happen? Have I really been writing about what’s happened during my weeks for 200 weeks? If you have been with me from the start I reckon you deserve some kind of reward for your stamina! Thank you to everyone who’s been reading my posts for so long whether you’re a newbie to Postcard from Gibraltar or have been dipping in and out for years, I appreciate your company – thank you!

By the way, I had lots of fun walking around the town centre looking for ‘200’s for this photo collage (thank goodness Gibraltar’s dialing code is 200!!).

Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:

Beach day

Last Sunday and Monday were spent doing laundry from our trip to Portugal last week and putting our home back together after having contractors in to do some much needed jobs in our absence. Tuesday, though, was a beach day. It was lovely down at Sandy Bay. I stupidly thought that after a long summer of using factor 50 suncream I could throw caution to the wind and go down to factor 30. I was wrong. a bit of previously unexposed flesh couldn’t cope with it and I got a bit frazzled. That’ll teach me. I’m back on The factor 50.

Market day in La Linea

I’m on the hunt for some fabric to recover our dining room chairs. I have a design in my mind and headed to La Linda’s Wednesday market to try and buy some. Unfortunately the stall holders didn’t have what I wanted. We did have a nice lunch at Cafe Modelo in La Linea town centre (their chips are really rather nice) and had a bit of a walk about – it made a nice change,

Lovely sunset

On Wednesday evening we enjoyed a glorious sunset over the Bay. The photo doesn’t really do it justice.

Thursday swim

I took the Little Postcards to the Europa open air pool on Thursday, it was lovely. I didn’t take any photos in the pool but am always amazed at the waterfall above it.

Bougainvillea blooms

I have included this bougainvillea a few times in Sunday Sevens over the years. It always seems to be in bloom and was laden with flowers when we walk past it this week.

Squeezing the last bit out of the day

On Friday we stayed on the beach until the last rays of sunshine had disappeared over the Rock. The Little Postcards were having so much fun in the sea and burying each other in the sand. It seemed such a shame to leave.

Busy day in the Bay

I happened to look out of the window yesterday and thought it looked really rather busy out in the Bay. There were ferries heading back and to to Morocco and tankers bunkering in Gibraltar waters as well as huge container ships heading to Algeciras port. I think the only day it’s quiet out there is Christmas Day.

And that brings this week’s 200th Sunday Sevens to a close.

I forgot to include this last week… here’s a little compilation of my July highlights.

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Sevens #197 21.7.19

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Hello there! I hope you’ve had a good week! Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens, seven pictures from the last seven days….

Beautiful building

I had a meeting in this beautiful old building on Monday. I have walked past it countless times on my wanders around Gibraltar but never set foot inside before. Wow, what a stunning staircase!

Sunshine through the green!

I drove past this banana (I think) leaf on Tuesday and the sunlight shining through it caught my eye. When I walked past it later, I had to take a photo!

Marbella

We had a midweek trip to Marbella. The old town is just so pretty.

The breakfast of champions

We went out for breakfast on Thursday morning – what a treat! Never had new potatoes with my eggs Benedict before… it was delicious though!

Levanter galore!

It was a rather grey but humid day on Friday. We went to the beach… it was rather quiet! (I wonder why?!) The Little Postcards enjoyed themselves in spite of the weather.

Beautiful bougainvillea

I walk past this beautiful bougainvillea every so often and it almost all year round looks fab. We’ve had mixed results when we’ve tried to grow it – this one gets a gold star!

And that’s all from me for this week. I hope it’s been a good one for you.

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #191 16.6.19

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Hello there! This week has been a rather busy one, the last week of full days for school children here in Gibraltar (read parents dashing around frantically to get as much done as possible) and I went home to see my Mum & Dad. Here goes this week’s Sunday Sevens – seven (or more) photos from the last seven days…

Leaving on a jet plane…

Last Sunday I caught a flight back home to Manchester to see my parents. Mum hasn’t been too well recently and was in hospital awaiting an operation the previous week. She was allowed home for 24 hours at the weekend, so I was able to have some time with her on Sunday before she headed back… it was lovely to see them both.

Birdy art work

Mum was in the Manchester Royal Infirmary, which is right next door to the Manchester Eye Hospital. My Dad took me on a detour to see these seagulls in the back of the main entrance of the Eye Hospital. There used to be a whole wall full of them but now these are the only ones left. My very talented little brother made them with a friend as a commission for the hospital. I’m glad I got to see some of them at least in situ!

Memories of last summer..

Did you see my post last year about the Bee in the City trail around Manchester? I didn’t see this Bee last year, s/he’s now living in the vestibule area of the Manchester Eye Hospital.

You had one job…

On one of our many trips back and to from hospital visiting hours, I spotted this sign on the entrance to a car wash. It really cracked me up. Not sure whether the car wash was operated by the Knights who say Ni?

Heading home

Mum had her op on Monday, I’m pleased to report it went well. She was allowed home on Tuesday. I was really grateful that I was able to be there and to spend some time with her, my Dad and brother. The staff at the MRI were wonderful and we’re so grateful for all their care and attention.

On Wednesday I flew home to Gibraltar early in the morning. As we climbed through the rain clouds above Manchester I spotted the shadow of our plane on the blanket of clouds below.

Last art lesson

I went to my last watercolour lesson this week. I’ve been going to my lessons, which I have greatly enjoyed for about 5 years now. I always finish for the summer once the children go on half days and have quite a few other things lined up for the autumn so I have decided to finish my lessons. I will still paint when I have the chance, but my formal lessons have come to an end. My slightly distracted attempt at a daisy on Thursday perhaps wasn’t a great example of 5 years of classes, but never mind!

Back in the crochet zone!

I don’t think I’ve picked up my crochet hook since the Easter school holidays. I’ve been very busy with all sorts going on and when I’ve had free time, I’ve not been in the right frame of mind to do it. Yesterday, for the first time I was in the mood, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting back into my Coastal Crochet CAL.

So that brings this week’s Sunday Sevens to a close. We’re off out for a Father’s Day meal with Mr Postcard now, and I wish all Dads out there a happy day (my own Dad included). I spoke to my Mum this morning and she’s sounding better and brighter every day. I’m sure she’ll be back to her old self very soon.

Have a lovely week!

Sunday Sevens was created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.