January 2008
Written by Geoff Forster
January saw us celebrate the New Year at home with friends.
We did the traditional Spanish twelve grapes ritual where you eat a grape on each dong of the church clock at midnight. Always a laugh.
We had an invitation to a party at Chris and Gilly Band's home in Estación Cortes on New Years Day. 
We had a great time. Good to meet some friends and celebrate with good food and wine.
January 5/6th is Three Kings Night - Reyes Magos in Benarrabá. People travel huge distances to be in the village for this special enactment of the Nativity play. Everyone ends up in the church for the giving of the presents. 
The animals are all well. Little Charlie the kitten is a problem as he keeps scratching his head. He lives with a plastic protector on. A visit to the vets soon for him. Poor little cat.
I made my first return to the UK staying with our friend Colin in Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire.
A big thanks to Colin's son Steve, his wife Hannah and family. Paul, Chalkie, Steve and Vel.
Who made me very welcome. Also friends of Colin wherever we went. Especially in the White Horse (HQ). Jemma, Ray, Karen, Ida Wessels from Capetown (who cooks a good curry!) I also met up again with Roy, Julie and Jenny who have all been guests in our apartment in Benarrabá. So I had a fantastic time.
This is my favourite photograph - Click to enlarge in our gallery. 
Stoke Albany is a beautiful village.
During my stay I did work ... including a couple of days at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset. We drove passed Stonehenge, somewhere that I'd always wanted to see. The diameter of the stones is a lot smaller than I'd imagined, I was a little disappointed.
At the museum there were lots of restored planes and helicopters used by the navy. Including a huge hanger simulating an aircraft carrier deck. It is very impressive.
A little out of place, but no doubt a big attraction, is Concorde.
On the way back to Northamptonsire we passed the 'White Horse' carved in the hillside near Westbury. Somerset is a lovely county. The volume of traffic in the UK is horrendous especially around Oxford!
I've added a UK gallery on our www.1costadelsol.com website.
You can see lots more photographs of Stoke Albany and the Welland Valley.
Also larger versions.
Anyone else with photographs of the UK can upload them here.
I can also add galleries for your country or a country you've visited if you wish.
Just send us an e-mail.
Meanwhile back in Spain ... Jane was all alone ... well apart from a house full of dogs and cats and two donkeys in the campo to look after. On January 20th it is San Sebastián's day. Patron Saint of Benarrabá. There was a procession and fiesta.
We first came to Benarrabá this day in 2004 to view our house.
You can see more of Jane's photographs of the fiesta either at www.benarraba.com where there is one long page. Or in our gallery where you can browse thumbnails and get larger photographs.
I returned at the end of January. It was good to be back but I'd met some wonderful people in the UK and hope to meet them all again soon.