Christmas is now over and we have welcomed a New Year. We decided not to return to the UK for the festivities this year and missed a wonderful New Years Eve party at our Grandson's restaurant at Lapworth. He had a Las Vegas night with Blackjack and Roulette using ‘Monopoly money’ with prizes for the biggest winners. It was a great success and has already been pencilled in for next year. James works very hard and it shows in the level of business he creates at the Punchbowl.

The recession has hit the Costa del Sol with tourism down and business suffering. The surviving restaurants have to give special deals to encourage customers. All the golf courses are down on green fees and some members are not renewing their annual membership. A number of Hotels have closed some permanent and some for the season. The local El Paraiso Hotel is in administration.

In this time of gloom and doom in the financial markets, what a joy it is to be living in Southern Spain.  Those of us that do so, or visit regularly, are truly blessed.  .

Well, this coast became famous worldwide because of its weather, Mediterranean coastline, golf courses, atmosphere, clean air, and open countryside.  That has not changed apart from the over development of the coastal strip. You now have to go further inland to find the open countryside.

We have had the most amazing weather this September, October, November and now December.  As a global warming sceptic, I tell you, we have had this type of Autumn/Winter many times before, but when it happens it is such a delight and especially now.

For the record, we had only 3 days of rain since April until just prior to Christmas: even so we were not short of water.  Wonderful sunshine, warmth and the most glorious sunsets imaginable. For the last two weeks we have had rain, sometimes torrential, most days and the reservoirs are overflowing. The golf courses have been closed more days than they have been open.