Lilly

Hello Everyone,

I hope you have all had a fantastic week.

Neil and I have had a fantastic week.
Neil is happy because he got his new toy, an Apple iPad which is very cool indeed and I am happy because we eventually got our kitten.
After much thought I have decided to call her Lilly. Josie (AJ's little sister) came up with the name on Friday night.
She was incredibly scared when we collected her on Saturday evening. She actually got really agressive with us and I was petrified of her. We got her home and left her to find her way around. Neil and I went out for a couple of drinks then came back to find her hiding under the sofa. I pulled her out and she was a lot more relaxed but still skitish. She still hisses every now and then but she owns the house now.
She went a bit mad this morning. She was running around the lounge, jumping from table to sofa. She tried to eat some of our fake flowers by standing on top of the vase. She tried climbing up my leg while I was wearing shorts. I found her hanging on the curtains and she has ripped the swinging mouse off her scratch post. I have also realised that she absolutely LOVES any kind of wire so I have to constantly keep an eye on her. This all happened this morning. I can not believe she is the same kitten. As I write this she is sleeping on the dining room table (strange, I know) so I am being very careful not to wake her up :-)

We had both the kids on Friday night which was really nice. They are growing up so much its scary. They aren't the babies I knew a year ago. AJ held the gate open for me the other day which was so sweet! He is becoming a real little gentleman, just like his daddy. I am slowly but surely getting used to having the kids around again. I remember when I got back, we had both of the kids for the night and I was totally finished at about 10pm! I could have fallen asleep standing up. They are both doing vey well and are looking forward to their mom having another baby in December. They are also very excited that the baby is a little girl.

All my documents have arrived from SA so I will be asking the Spanish officials for some help this evening. All I need is one document and it is up to them to give it to me. So please everyone, hold thumbs for me. If they do agree to help me, I will be apply for my residency this week :-)

I have finally figured out how to get take pics and get them onto my laptop! So I will have to take some new photos of our new apartment and post them on here. I will do it ASAP.

Anyway, I had better get going now. I will do a new post next week.

Sending you all loads of love

Sam
xxxxxxx

Updates on Neil and Sam

Hello everyone,

So, I know I was meant to do this ages ago but rather late than never. :-)

First off I want to say a big congratulations to Geoff and Jacqui on their engagement! Such wonderful news :-) I wish you both many years of friendship, love and happiness.

Neil and I are both doing great, we have had a few changes to our lives since I have been back. We  have moved from Benalmadena to a place called Casares Costa. Casares is beautiful and a little more 'chilled out' than Benalmadena. Its about an hours drive from Benalmadena and half an hours drive from Gibraltar. Our apartment is gorgeous and a bit bigger than our last apartment. I will upload pictures as soon as my iPhone is working again. It is a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with beautiful views of the sea, hills and our awesome pool. On clear days you can see Morocco from across the sea when leaving our complex. Neil and I often go down to the 'puerto' called Duquesa. They have quite a few bars and restaurants down there and they are all along the port so you  have amazing views. At the moment it gets quite busy down there because its summer and there are loads of British holiday makers.

Neil has started a new job in Gibraltar which he is thoroughly enjoying. He is working for a company that create sites for online gambling companies. They manage and maintain all their clients sites. He is getting on well with his colleagues and gets 'you (or me) time' on Fridays where they finish work earlier than usual. Today they are having a work function and apparently they are quite a wild bunch so I am sure it will be very interesting.
While Neil is at work, I have taken on all the household duties. I loving doing it as it's nice for Neil to come home to a clean house. I have learned how to cook so Neil is enjoying that. Auntie Shazz, I am using my Ina Paarman book often. :-) Shoppimg over here is a nightmare because we have two different supermarkets. When writing a shopping list I have to put an 'M' or a 'L' (Mercadonna and Lidl) next to each item. 

We get AJ on Saturday nights, sometimes Josie comes to stay with us too. They are wonderful little kiddies and we always have so much fun. We go down to the pool on Sundays to work on our tans while the kids swim. The car trip is a little too long for them and they always fall asleep.
The kids have their own room and we have put the TV and DVD player in the room so they can watch movies before going to sleep. Sometimes they have too much energy and will not sleep unless they watch movies. The last time they were both here I went to bed before them. I forgot how tiring it was to look after kids.

On a different note, Neil and I are going to be having an addition to our little family, her name is going to be Poppy or Sophia, I haven't decided yet. She is a little silver tabby kitten who will be 8 weeks old when we get her. She is absolutely gorgeous and I will upload a photo of her as soon as I figure out how to do it. We expect to get her next weekend if she is eating solid food and not drinking from her mom. I have ordered all her kitty stuff online and expect delivery either today or next week so our home will be kitty ready and kitty proof. I am very excited to have her and she is going to be a very spoilt little kitten.

My residencia is taking a little longer than expected as I am waiting on documents which my mom has sent. The Spanish post office is useless and take their time delivering anything so I am  hoping it arrives today or next week too. As soon as I apply, I will have to carry the receipt of application along with my passport as my visa expires on the 10 September. I can't leave the country until I have my residencia so even though my visa expires, I am still entitled to stay here. So all is well with regards to that.

I think that's about all the updates I have for now. I will try and upload photos as they happen I will also try to do a post every week, seeing as I am at home everyday.

I miss you guys all very much and am sending you loads of love.

Sam
xxx

This is Poppy / Sophia

Puerto De La Duquesa