Birthday escape

 So Friday meant a sluggish drive up to Newcastle airport after work, checked in and surprise surprise, after 5 years of staying here on and off, they re finally updating the rooms. Mine was lovely and to be honest I would love the furniture for my bedroom. Big fat tick for them.

I wandered over to the airport for the twilight check in, got bumped up to an extra leg room seat free of charge and found out the flight was no where near full. I got back to my hotel, had a catch up call with Dale, cracked open some champagne, a half bottle that I had squirrelled away, put the TV on and promptly fell asleep.

I woke up at 2am and thought I should get up.

I was bathed dressed and ready to leave at 3am.

There were two lovely men on reception when I went down and one walked me to my car with an umbrella, I drove round to the car park and dropped off the car, closer to the terminal than I have ever been.

I was straight through security and having my first glass of birthday champagne by 4am.

Happy Birthday to me!

the flight took off on time and I was stretched out having extra leg room and the whole row to myself.

The flight flew by ( no pun intended) and I headed down to the dreaded 'ramp' of Malaga airport...................and there was no passport snake!! there was no queuing on the ramp!!! it was straight down and straight through passport control, still no mug shot or fingerprints taken, and cases waiting at the other side. Of all the birthday treats, this was the best.

I walked down to the 'bowels' of the carpark where I was told I would be transferred by taxi with another couple from my flight, 45 mins later we were still waiting for them. They had tried calling them, no answer, so it was decided that I would go on my own as they had obviously made their own way to the hotel. I was told the taxi would be 10 mins, and just at the last moment the couple turned up. They had been having a cigarette ( of 20 ) as , and I quote ' we had been on a plane for 3 hours!'. Not sure how that took nearly an hour!!!!

There was another false start with the taxi but by this point  my champagne buzz was wearing off and I needed a top up, so any further drama was seriously testing my birthday patience. 20 mins later we were at the hotel and I was being wished a Happy Birthday by the staff and my room (33) was ready for me.

After getting my cards out of my case, opening and reading them ( and having a little cry), I headed out for my long awaited birthday lunch. I walk up to the lovely Italian in the village for Penne gorgonzola with walnuts, I had promised myself last year that I would have it for my birthday after my op ( too rich to have last year), now I actually had this in October but was too 'martinied up' to remember!!!!.

It was amazing and I might just have it again before I go home.

I got back to the hotel and headed down to the swimming pool for a swim, it had started to rain so I was on my own. it was freezing but it really blew the cobwebs of the early morning away.

A nap was now the order of the day followed by cocktails of which 2 were on the house. Ahhhh Grumpy Gabriel was on duty, he sort of smiled at me .I think, but  it might have been wind, I'm not sure, but then out of the back came Alejandro, my day was made.

Despite the nap, tiredness was creeping up on me, so I decided to have an early night and listen to the torrential rain, which by 10pm was showing no signs of letting up.

It carried on most of the night, I had visions of catching an ark up into the village, but it has calmed down and I think my early morning walk is still on the cards.

So let Sunday begin.