Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in IBIZA, Surrey, East & Central and West London (The NEXT Chapter).

Week 213 Saturday 14^thJuly until Friday 20^th July 2018.

Growing up my family went on camping trips to South Wales or Cornwall.  Spain might as well have been another planet; my image of the country was a place with people who had skin as tough as red tanned show leather.  

   “All aboard the Skylark”.

Of course I am uglier and older now and am never happier than sitting belted into a large metal tube travelling at speed thousands of feet in the air.  I still don’t enjoy the heat but some of my favourite places have been warm (Tofo, Mozambique) it’s all part of travelling.  A few years ago I spend a long weekend in Barcelona, what a beautiful city with people whose skin was nothing like tanned red leather, in fact there were a lot of very beautiful people speaking a lovely language.  Last week i visited the legendary party island of Ibiza.  I decided on the plane to let groups like the hen party (“Team Sullivan”) who travelled out on our flight to party hard while on the island, this gave me licence to do nothing.

   “What a beautiful place”.

The family hired a villa in Sant Joan de Labritja, which I read is the least populated Municipal on the island.  Our nearest neighbours were a couple of hundred metres away on every side.  As you would expect I spent most of my time in the pool, catching children (my niece and nephew if you’re wondering as they jumped in).  Or lying in a hammock (I only fell out once) attempting to read but usually falling asleep.  Something that was very relaxing at any time was the sound of crickets and other insects nearby.  Because the villa was secluded, I embraced skinny dipping (sorry if that image has psychologically damaged you) which is something that everyone should try.

   “Were good at sitting down”.

We hired two cars; luckily all I had to do was follow my brother-In– law like an excited dog sniffing the arse of a friendly puppy.  Every car in rural areas was covered in layer of red dust which looked very much like Martian regolith.  I did wonder what the dust was doing to the cardiovascular systems of the population who live on the island and its visitors.  Thinking about this, a lot of clubber are probably inhaling powders and other substances a lot more dangerous than red dust covering cars.  Even though the countryside appeared very desert like, there were a lot of trees and other vegetation which have adapted to survive this harsh environment.  All over the island there were trees full of Lemon’s, Orange’s, Plum’s and other fruits.  In the grounds of our villa we had so many trees with fresh fruit which of course we enjoyed.

   “Look at the fruits”.

As you would expect, the beaches were stunning!  The sand burnt your toes, the sea was an incredible shade of blue and a lot of women were topless!   I took every opportunity to swim and generally mess about in the ocean including jumping in fully clothed to the amusement of my niece and nephew.  No I didn’t go topless!

   “What can i say, just beautiful”.

Those seven days were not enough, with so much more to see.  Flights are cheap; it’s just the delays that can be a pain (thank you a certain budget airline).  I would imagine that no frills accommodation would not break the bank; it might be useful to learn how to ride (balance) on a small clapped out moped.  During the last day I noticed a couple of dive centre so maybe this could be my future.  Who knows? 

   “I really liked the old red car, very European”.

Growing up, Spain or the Mediterranean was a location that didn’t excite me.  This attitude I suspect was because all I ever saw on TV and in Film’s was the UK or US.  The lifestyle of children growing up in the Mediterranean was completely different to that of South London.  That’s all changed, I realise that places like Spain and the Mediterranean are exciting and full of adventure.  Of course I wouldn’t say no to re-visiting Newquay or Tenby, as I have many happy memories of them from childhood.  One which that stands out is seeing Tony Blackburn presenting the Radio 1 Roadshow in August 1977 in Newquay.  What a  show and of course Tony is still a radio legend, but it’s the tight white shorts he wore that have haunted me to this day.  Maybe I should book another flight to the Med as therapy. 

   “Smiles, kisses and a couple of drinks”.

And Now For Something Completely Different…… 

   “So pleased mum got in the pool a couple of times.  Which boat should i buy”.

While I was away the office had a reshuffled.  As a result I have lost my limited view outside, such as seeing the top of vans parked or clouds passing.  Now I can see the lift and the occasionally a head bobbing back and forth in the reception.  I miss the clouds!

   “It really was that hot in the car”.

And Finally……

   “Roisin Murphy was wonderful”.

I joked at the opticians when I picked up my glasses “its all down hill from now”.  The guy looked at me seriously and said ”yes it is”.  Opps that put me in my place, eyesight is not to be joked about. Yes I am wearing the specs as I type this.  Do I look intelligent or a bigger knob?

 “Trying to write this shiz, if only i can find those specs”.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have mainly been watching:  

“Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope”, (S2, ep 4).  “Click”, (TX: 07/07, 14/07/18).  “Doctor Who S11 Trailer”, (TX: 15/07/18).  “Gnomeo And Juliette”, (2011).  “Hidden”, (S1, ep 6 & ep 7).  “Horizon 2018:3, How To Build A Time Machine”, (TX: 10/07/18).  “Jack Whitehall At Large”, (2017).  “Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 6).  “Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing”, (S1, ep 4, TX: 11/07/18)(ep 5, TX: 18/07/18).  “Plebs”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 6)(S2, ep 1 to ep 8)(S3, ep 1 to ep 8).  “Star Trek: Beyond”, (2016).  “Stath Lets Flats”, (S1, ep 3).  “Stupid Man, Smart Phone”, (S1, ep 1, TX: 15/05/16)(ep 2, TX: 22/06/16)(ep 3, TX: 15/05/16).  “The Five Billion Pound Super Sewer”, (S1, ep 1, TX: 17/07/18).  “The Last Leg”, (S14, ep 3, TX: 07/07/18)(ep 4, TX: 13/07/18).  “The Misadventures Of Romesh Rangernathan”, (S1, ep 2, TX: 08/07/18)(ep 3, TX: 15/07/18).  “The Rise And Fall Of Nokia”, (TX: 10/07/18).  “The Sky AT Night”, (TX: 08/07/18).  “Top Gear: America Special”, (S9, ep 2, TX: 02/02/07).  “Top Gear: Botswana Special”, (S10, ep 4, TX: 04/11/07).  “Top Gear: Polar Special”, (S9, ep 8, TX: 25/07/07).

This week I saw live:  

“Roisin Murphy At Somerset House”, (15/07/18).

This week I have mainly been listening to:  

“BBFC Podcast”, (ep 20, 25/04/14)(ep 38, 08/12/15)(ep 46, 23/03/16)(ep 50, 18/05/16)(ep 76, 06/12/17).  “Chasing Earhart”, (KPH Special, 14/07/18)(ep 51, 15/07/18).  “Grief Cast”, (ep 46, 18/07/18).  “Iain Lee (Bonus)”, (12/07, 13/07/18).  “Iain Lee (Highlights)”, (12/07, 13/07, 16/07, 17/07, 18/07/18).  “LBC Podcast: Mystery Hour”, (19/07/18).  “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (13/07, 14/07, 20/07/18).  “NASA: Gravity Assist”, (17/07/18).  “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 53, 13/07/18).  “NASA: In Silicon Valley”, (ep 99, 13/07/18).  “Quick Question”, (S2, ep 1 (ep 15), 16/07/18).  “Skeptiod”, (ep 632, 17/07/18).  “Soundtracking With Edith Bowman”, (ep 97, 16/07/18).  “The Kimchi Chronicles – What?!# 6”, (15/07/18).  “True Crime Finland”, (ep 25, 13/07/18).  “Morrissey”, “Suede”, “Erasure”, “The Pet Shop Boys”, “Nirvana”, “Blur, Roisin Murphy”.