A visit to Tosall Gross

Lenny and Win are just that kind of people,  friendly, welcoming, generous and Win's cooking? Well! can you blame me for staying at their villa for a few days rather than just the one which was my original intention.

This morning was a typical example. My plan was to move on. The plan was going well when around mid morning I get out watering can and water container ready to top up Sadies fresh water. We were parked roadside just outside the villa and water top up was all I had to do before being on my way.

"C'mon Tanya. Lets pop into the villa, get this water and say cheerio."

3 hours later after more motorhome chat as they hope to upgrade theirs this year plus some computer sorting out and plus a yummy lunch of cheese and salad rolls I remembered my original intention. We did eventually get away and I reflected happily on an enjoyable 3 day stay as we slowly negotiated the wickedly steep and twisty road to 'Oliva' at the base of the mountain.

Win lost her beloved husband Dave several years ago but not before they had together created their beautiful mountain villa at the 'Urbanization' of 'Tossal Gros' overlooking 'Oliva' and the coast as far North as 'Cullera' and South to 'Denia'.

She eventually decided to move to Spain permanently with new partner Lenny. I met Lenny last year purely by chance while I was wandering around 'Javea'. We got talking about the dogs, as you do. They have a lovely wee Shi-zhu. Tanya and Buster were soon good friends.

They're both involved with a local church and Win runs Burmese cooking classes to raise cash which then goes into feeding the local street people. It's a big English speaking x-pat area and Win tells me there are lots more ladies around than available men. Hmmmm! Best keep moving methinks!

So here we are once again out in the high scrub and forest between 'Llombai' and 'Montjoi'. A roughish but well used track which when Tanya and I walked up it presented us with a delightful spot. Sadie was soon levelled up, parked and cup of tea was enjoyed as we watched the sun drop over the distant hills while in the large and fertile plains below us the lights started to twinkle in the various towns. One small white van passed us early this morning just as I was sleepily pulling old clothes on to take Tanya for her early morning walk. Ablutions you say? On such a beautiful morning they come later. The owner of the white van cheerily greeted us as we passed him later collecting up his baskets full of pine cones. So far he has been the only passing traffic.

This combination of social immersion then 'alone'ness' seems, at present, to meet and satisfy my needs well.  The 'alone'ness' is time for Human 'Being' with meditation, reflection, reading, silence and of course Tanya. The social immersion quickly returns me to normal 'Human'ness' and places my feet firmly back on terra firma.

I guess a superb meal of Cod and Chips from a British owned and run fish n chip shop in 'Moraira' counts as Terra Firma. Lenny & Win recommended it, and they were right too, it was sooo good. Sadie took us all down there and afterwards we took Tanya & Buster for a walk on the beach and around the 'as pattern' Spanish holiday resort Marina full of expensive sleek and obscene looking plastic gin palaces. A little unkind maybe as I do like to walk round these marinas with usually the sailing boats attracting my attention. Especially the more traditionally built ones. I still prefer Sadie though and her ability to effortlessly sail the roads.