Goodbye to all that

Yesterday is backblipped -- a sociable and foodie day.

Here, Mystère is looking longingly out at his domain. He was locked in while we cleared up and finished packing the car and was not happy about it. Even less happy when Ines arrived to do a final clean and collect the keys. "Where is he?" she wondered. I eventually unearthed him behind an armchair. It's only the second time she's seen him in three months (the first being the day we arrived). I know I will miss the glorious light in this house!

Sigh ... it was a lovely morning. Bright and fresh, 15 degrees, glittering blue sea, a light breeze. We dragged ourselves away and endured the seven-hour drive to our usual aparthotel just outside Valencia. It's a really convenient place to stay -- easy access from the motorway and for 50 euros a night you get a large, comfortable and quiet studio with very basic cooking facilities. The first time we stayed we had awful tapas in the ghastly Irish pub downstairs. Since then, we just bring something easy to cook -- this time pasta with some bolognese sauce I made and froze a few weeks ago. So we can just hole up and try to reassure Mystère. Who as usual has spent the last three hours alternately creeping round the room and hiding under the beds.

Extra: a typical Spanish motorway. There were actually busier periods!