Pre-Girona plans.

So that was our plans for October onwards starting to take shape. Closer to the present, we had flights booked and paid for to visit our friends Jacqui and Paul in Girona, Spain on 15^th August.  In a lifetime first, we didn’t have any return tickets! How exciting?!  We had left it open as to how long we would stay with them, although it was clear that their new life in Catalunya was not completely smooth-sailing.  They had been so busy in getting their new business, a dog food and accessory shop, off the ground that we had struggled to get hold of them for a face to face talk.  Eventually making contact it became clear that the pressures of their new life were taking a toll on them both.  The shop was doing okay, but not well enough for them to make a living and so, as of the beginning of August, Paul had returned to work with the Met Police on compressed hours.  This meant he was flying back to the UK on a Monday morning and working pretty much solidly until Thursday afternoon when he would fly back to Spain for the three remaining days of the week.  This left Jacqui flying solo in the shop for four days a week.  We asked if we should change our plans.  Maybe this wasn’t the best time for them to receive visitors?  On the other hand, maybe this was the perfect time?!  The aim of our visit was to be of help to them, whilst also experiencing living in a different country and culture and brushing up on our Spanish (and Catalan to a limited extent!).  If Jacqui was on her own a lot maybe I could help her through this transition whilst they worked out how to boost the business?  We could help out at the shop or in their house.  Whatever was best. We had explained to them we weren’t setting out on a site-seeing tour of eastern Spain.  I’m sure there are some amazing things to see, but we really need to retain what’s left of our travel budget for more of the far-flung destinations that we have the opportunity of visiting.  If we get the chance to see a few sights then great.  The plan is hopefully to give Jacqui and Paul some time out from the shop, maybe a girls’ trip away for a couple of days for Jacqui and I and Simon and Paul have discussed the possibility of heading to the Formula 1 race in Italy at the start of September.  Whatever,  we shall see when we get over there.  Jacqui reassures us that they will be happy to have us staying so we are going ahead with the plans and used the week beforehand for the usual prep of ordering Euros, washing and packing.

An example of why being a dog owner is a pain sometimes.... Ralph found himself a lovely muddy puddle to cool off in so that'll be a bath when we get back to the house....! He clearly thought this was great.  Last walk before Girona.