winter weather

Sunday Sevens #213 22.12.19

~ Postcard from Gibraltar ~ 2 Comments

Hello and seasons greetings on this Christmassy Sunday Sevens. I hope you are well, and not too frazzled by the pre Christmas prep.

Sunny Sunday

The weather last Sunday was truly glorious, even the cold blooded ones among us came out of from indoors to enjoy some December rays!

No, it’s not our tree

On Monday, I found myself in a beautiful Colonial building in town for a meeting. I was bowled over with this lovely tree in the entrance hall. It looked very much at home in the grand entrance.

Keep on running…

I’m on week two of my running plan, attempting to get a bit fitter. I only managed one run this week, which I’m annoyed with myself about, I was busy at the start of the week but by the end of the week the weather was pretty grim – think gale force winds and driving rain. This was taken on Wednesday morning on my walk down to the sea shore to begin my run/stumble along!

Sharing on behalf of a friend

A good friend of ours was staying over on the East side of the Rock this week and she sent me this lovely photo of the sun rising up over the horizon. What a spectacular start to the day!

Decorations are up – at last!

After much nagging from the Little Postcards, I finally got round to putting up the Christmas decorations and the tree. I wasn’t really feeling Christmassy at all and I couldn’t bring myself to put the tree up when I hadn’t completed all my pre decoration jobs, like tidying up and washing the windows. On Thursday I made a promise to Littlest that I would get the tree up and ready for him to decorate while he was at school. He was happy with that! I treated myself to some little star lights for the hallway – they are battery operated and I think they look rather nice over the mirror.

Carol singing

Also this week, we had a few of the obligatory carol singing events for school choirs. It was lovely to see Littlest singing with his school at the Artisan Christmas market in town.

Friday morning rain

That bad weather I told you about… it was a bit grim. In a break in the rain on Friday I popped quickly into town to pick up a few Christmas things I needed, before school finished at lunch time – my last proper opportunity. I just took the photo to make those of you reading this up north in the UK who might be experiencing a bit of bad weather too, realise that you are not alone! Also, that while I was feeling smug last Sunday watching the gecko sunbathing over on the East side of the Rock, that gorgeous weather was short lived!

And that, as they say is that. Sunday Sevens done for another week. Not the most inspiring set of photos I’ll grant you, but it’s been a good week for us with some fun times and a few meetings with lovely friends, which I forgot to capture in photos – probably because I was too busy talking!!

If you are celebrating Christmas I hope it is a very happy one for you. I send every good wish from Gibraltar for a lovely time with friends and family, and thank you for stopping by!

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads & Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens x2 #210 24.11.19

~ Postcard from Gibraltar ~ 3 Comments

Hello there, sorry for the radio silence last weekend, life was just too busy for blogging. But I’m back with a bumper Sunday Sevens x2! Here goes…

Bowling on a Sunday afternoon

Two weeks ago today, my parents were just a few days into their stay here in Gibraltar- their first visit this year. On Sunday afternoon, we took Grandma bowling! I’m not sure why a film about Venice was being projected onto the screen above the alley!

A beautiful building

I found myself stepping through the door of a building I have passed many times before to have a meeting. I was rather blown away with the beauty of this historic vestibule & staircase.

Hibiscus in bloom

Mr Postcard spotted some hibiscus plants at the supermarket and brought some home. They have really cheered up the balcony with their bright flowers.

Remember to look up

I was on the upper floor of one of the shops on Main Street and spied this rather elegant facade on the building across the street. Admittedly it looks in need of a bit of maintenance but there’s something quite charming about the wonky slats on the shutters. As a homeowner with wooden shutters I can vouch for the fact that they don’t stay looking pristine for long with the intense sunshine we experience here over the summer months. It’s rather a destructive force on paintwork.

Oh for a proper camera

I’m afraid this photo doesn’t do the view justice, but one evening I drove south to Europa Point and as I turned on the road to the Eastside I spied a large orange coloured moon just above the horizon. It was stunning, so I pulled over and attempted to take a photo – it doesn’t do it justice I’m afraid!

Literary festival time!

So this is the main reason why Sunday Sevens didn’t happen last week. It was the annual Gibraltar Literary Festival and it was just amazing. Four days of fascinating talks given by people from all walks of life. Just loved it. I only wish I could have seen more and that it didn’t only happen on 4 days each year!! Below is pictured former BBC journalist Gavin Esler who gave a great talk on Brexit and some of its implications.

Accidental bloomers

So in my dressmaking course I am currently making a pair of trousers. After two trial attempts I am now ready to do the real thing, however my lovely teacher pointed out that the fabric I had bought may be a bit itchy so I should line them. I had some excess lining fabric left over from my jacket last year and used that. I didn’t have enough to line the full leg, just to above the knee – hence I now have a rather fetching pair of bright pink bloomers!

Getting ready for the big match

Gibraltar played host to the Swiss National team this week as the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers continued. Look even Moorish Castle was wearing a shirt! Sadly the support from the Tower of Homage wasn’t enough. Gibraltar lost 6:1.

Obligatory sunset

We had a lovely sunset one evening last week. The high clouds were back lit by the sun which had already disappeared behind the hills opposite.

The last glimpse of sunshine!

We had been warned that bad weather was on the way, on Wednesday morning I could sense this being the last sunshine we’d be seeing for a while, I was correct…

Winter weather

And the rain came, and gale force winds! Thankfully my parents’ flight home managed to land ok, but some flights this week had to be diverted to Malaga to land because of the strong winds. Sadly for me, it meant the end of their two weeks here which seemed to go too quickly.

Christmas is around the corner!

Last night Gibraltar turned on its Christmas lights. They were actually supposed to be turned on on Friday but the weather warnings were such that it was postponed and the stage etc was dismantled to prevent it being damaged by the gales.

It was all put back together in time for a packed Casemates Square to see the Christmas tree get lit up.

And that brings this bumper Sunday Sevens to a close for this week. I hope you haven’t dropped off while reading it – it’s been so long!

Have a good week, and I hope to be back next Sunday all being well!

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #175 17.2.19

~ Postcard from Gibraltar ~ 2 Comments

Hello there, I hope this finds you well and that you’ve had a good week. Mine has been full of jobs and not much that’s been worthy of photos…. I promise next week’s will be more interesting! 😉

An early evening stroll

Last Sunday was spent pretty much at home doing housework and lots of washing. We are in the midst of a kitchen renovation at the moment and I have only had limited access to the washing machine. That meant a frenzied washing session for a family of five!

By the time early evening came, I was craving a walk so headed out with Eldest to enjoy a golden hour stroll…

Dressmaking class

Do you remember that jacket sleeve from last week? It came off, went back on again and came off again at this week’s lesson…. I’ll get it right eventually!

Submariners visit

We were visited by another Royal Navy submarine this week. It always facinates me watching come into port. Not sure I’d like to go in one though…

It’s finished…

At my watercolour class this week I finished my watercolour painting of the ceiling at Sacred Heart Church in Gibraltar. It’s been a fun project, started way back in November! Got there in the end!!

We have fruit!

Our citrus trees are doing well at the moment – I don’t want to tempt fate, but for the past couple of years we’ve lost our fruit before it was ready to pick. Fingers crossed we’ll get to enjoy these in a G&T before too much longer…

Kitchen update

Progress has been made in our kitchen… we have a floor, plaster on the walls and even the beginnings of cupboards. I’m so looking forward to washing up in a sink rather than a bath!!

That’s it from Sunday Sevens this week. I hope the week ahead is a good one for you!

As always I’m linking with Natalie from Threads and Bobbins for this weekly blog series.

Sunday Sevens #173 3.2.19

~ Postcard from Gibraltar ~ 2 Comments

Hello! Greetings from a sunny, slightly chilly Gibraltar. It’s been a week of wild weather all over the shop. Thankfully we just had torrential rain and gales and no misplaced polar vortexes or cold snaps! I hope you’ve managed to stay warm and dry this week.

For the first time ever, this is Sunday Sevens on a Monday – I forgot to press publish!! ….whoops! 🙈

Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens…

Surprise trip

Last Sunday I made a last minute surprise trip back home to see my parents. My Mum hasn’t been too well since New Year, so I headed back to try and cheer her up. I left Mr Postcard in charge at home and ran away for a few days. Mum was rather incredulous when my face appeared at the lounge window – but after the initial shock she was pleased to see me!

Sunshine

Coming from Manchester I have faced a lifetime’s torment about the fact it always rains there… here is proof that that’s completely untrue! It’s funny being back at home, within moments of going out to the shops I bumped into an old school friend and a friend’s husband. I had to message the friend to say that her husband wasn’t seeing things, and that yes, I was waving at him from my Dad’s car!!

Snow!

On Wednesday morning we awoke to a surprise blanket of snow. Little did I know the impact it would have on my day ahead and my trip home… if you saw my Friday photo challenge post this week, you’ll understand (2 hour long drive to the airport which normally takes 20 minutes and 5 hour delay for takeoff).

Where’s my kitchen gone?

So while I was dashing off home to visit my Mum, poor Mr Postcard not only had three young men to look after, he also had the builders in. After 6 years in our apartment, with a kitchen which was falling apart, it was ripped out this week. We’re living off very simple meals, takeaways and leaning heavily on the microwave!

Art class

I escaped the dust and power tools on Thursday to get to my watercolour class. It was bliss to get away from the chaos!

Stormy skies

On Friday we were greeted with gale force winds and torrential rain, just in time for the morning school run – it was rather grim! Fortunately the rain subsided later on, so we had a dry afternoon school pick up. It definitely felt like winter after a long run of good weather here. Not as bad as snow and ice though!

Food!

We had a gorgeous dinner last night – we went out rather than cobbling something together in our makeshift kitchen. It was delicious and I didn’t have to wash up in the bath afterwards!!! (#firstworldproblems)

I hope you’ve had a good week and that wherever you are in the world, you are dry and warm. Until next week, bye for now!

Friday photo challenge (week 5) Nature

~ Postcard from Gibraltar ~ 3 Comments

This week, I made a quick trip home to see my family. On Wednesday morning I awoke to find everything covered in a light blanket of snow.

It was beautiful to see everything brightened by the dusting. Little did I know what an impact nature would have on my day…

Not only did it mean a 20 minute journey to Manchester Airport would take 2 hours…

It also lead to a delay of 5 hours to come back home to Gibraltar… I was one of the lucky ones – at least I got home. Many didn’t.

It’s hard to believe that such a little bit of snow could cause such disruption. But it does remind you that nature is always capable of disrupting our well made plans.

Mersey Estuary

Nature is so beautiful though…

Severn Estuary

…don’t you think?

Weymouth

I’m linking with Alison in Andalucia for this weekly photo challenge #52Fridayphotos

Sunday Sevens #173 27.1.19

~ Postcard from Gibraltar ~ 6 Comments

Another week gone, I hope it’s been a good one for you. Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens…

A quiet Sunday

Sunday was a quiet day, a bit of pottering, homework with the Little Postcards and a nice sunset to end with.

Super wolf moon

Early on Monday morning (6:12am) there was a total lunar eclipse. I was asleep when that happened. Eldest got up early to see it but not early enough – it was supposed to be a red/brown colour which gives it the name ‘blood moon’. The very large normal coloured moon was still in evidence when I left the house for the first time on Monday morning. That was spectacular enough for me. Sadly this photo doesn’t do it justice, it was beautiful to see.

Back to sewing

After a rather long hiatus for Christmas and New Year, sewing classes started up again this week. It’s so nice to be back and to catch up on everyone’s news. Oh, and work on my jacket sleeves began…

Rough seas

We have been exceptionally fortunate with our weather lately. We often have a lot of rain at this time of the year, but thankfully we haven’t seen much at all so far. I can’t help feeling it won’t be long before the wellies are back out again. It was a bit gusty though midweek. It doesn’t look too bad in this photo, but the sea was a bit choppy – not a day for going out in a little boat.

Watercolour class

My watercolour of Sacred Heart Church ceiling is coming on apace in my art class. I’m enjoying slapping a bit of colour on it now!

Blue skies

The lovely weather continued on Friday (above) and Saturday (below) it doesn’t feel like January at all … until you get a cold gust of wind or stand in the shade for too long – then you know it’s not summer!

A big plane

I’m not sure whether you can make out the huge grey plane through all the netting, but we were rather taken by surprise at Littlest’s football match yesterday. All of a sudden this rather large RAF plane appeared behind us coming in to land on the runway – it was silent until we heard a sudden roar! ‘Only in Gibraltar’ as they say round here…

So that’s Sunday Sevens for another week, I hope the next seven days are kind to you.

As always I’m linking with Natalie from Threads and Bobbins for this weekly blog series.

Sunday Sevens #171 13.1.18

~ Postcard from Gibraltar ~ 9 Comments

Hello and welcome to yet another Sunday Sevens, my word, that week went fast. It’s been a great one for us here in Gibraltar weatherwise, distinctly un-Januaryish. Normally at this time of year we can get some very wet and rainy days, proper soak-you-through-to-the-skin rain, but we have been remarkably lucky and had lots of clear skies and sunshine. Here goes…

Sunny Sunday walk

The aforementioned sunshine was out in abundance last Sunday, so we headed out for a nice afternoon stroll with scooters and looked for good spots to get up a bit of speed. I even got roped in for one of the races, not sure what the people who saw me zooming past thought (can I just point out that it felt like zooming to me, but was probably more like crawling to the onlooker).

Med steps on a Monday morning

I headed off up the Med Steps first thing on Monday, it was a clear morning in the diary. As I had just dropped the Little Postcards off at school for their first day after the holidays, I thought the laundry could wait and I’d head off for a walk to burn a few of the calories I may have consumed over Christmas and the New Year. There were a few apes about early on in the walk which is rather disconcerting as it was at a rather narrow part and I wasn’t able to give them a wide berth. I’m pleased to say they weren’t bothered about my presence and continued picking fleas off each other or whatever it was they were doing while I continued past.

Boring jobs

This is the point in Sunday Sevens when I would normally post a photo taken at my sewing or watercolour classes. They are yet to start up again after Christmas, so I made use of my time by getting some boring admin jobs done. Hopefully there will be more creative photos in next week’s Sunday Sevens.

Something’s afoot

When I was out in town during the week, I happened to pass the old police station in Irish Town. It’s been lying empty for a few years now, which is a real shame because it’s a beautiful building. I was sad to see it slowly falling into disrepair, but it would appear that something’s going on. I hope that whoever has taken it on, will treat it with respect, because it’s facade is beautiful.

More sunshine!

I’ve got nothing much to say about this photo other than to show you more sunshine. I was out and about doing jobs and spied some tourists heading off up the Rock on the cable car.

Fluffy clouds

I don’t normally walk this route, but I ended up walking this way past St Joseph’s Church on Friday and it struck me how pretty this flight of stairs is down to Scud Hill below, especially with the boats in the distance.

A quick jaunt into Spain

Yesterday morning, once our footballing commitments were finished we headed into Spain for a bit of retail therapy, well actually it was just a trip to the supermarket, but it was nice to have a mooch around somewhere different and get some things we can’t get hold of in Gib as easily. It’s always nice to see the Rock waiting for us on our return.

That’s all for Sunday Sevens for this week. I hope you’ve had a good one and if you’ve returned to work / restarted a school routine this week, that it’s run smoothly for you. I have to admit I’ve enjoyed having a bit of time to myself again, as much as it’s nice to have everyone around at Christmas.

Have a good week!

As always I’m linking with Natalie from Threads and Bobbins for this weekly blog series.