The blog posts have now become fewer and further between. We are very aware now that our time here is coming to an end, so the urge to Explore is much reduced - we are doing quite a lot of local pottering instead. And preparations for the return are building: I'm spending more and more time sorting out the launch of my life coach business, which is scary but fun. So I'm afraid there is a lot less blog-worthy activity underway... But there are still four Mallorcan weeks left to record, so here goes!
Monday: as usual, run day. I am pleased to report that we are in the final stages of our Couch to 5k training programme. Our goal in the last week is three runs of 30 minutes each, and today we did our first 25 minute run! The whole way around our normal marina route including to the end of the sea wall and back, plus a bit more! The ability of the human body to go from running 1 minute to running 25 minutes in 6 weeks is pretty staggering. Anyway, we were pretty proud of ourselves...
As it was a sunny day, we decided to try out the Es Capdellà poolside restaurant we'd seen the other day. After another amazingly pretty drive through the green Mallorcan countryside (with all the almond trees now covered in fresh young leaves), we got back into the village and parked up. The swimming pool restaurant still looked pretty but already had three huge tables of 20 or more - two of cyclists, one of walkers - so we decided to visit another day. Instead, around the corner was Bar Nou, Es Capdellà's number 1 restaurant. After a little wait we got a seat on their enclosed, light-filled terrace (it felt very Chameli-esque) and ordered paella mixta. Very delicious it was too, especially the artichokes (my favourite). Then another lovely drive to school pick-up and the usual Monday-overtired Jemima.
On Tuesday, Kevin's new running enthusiasm saw him appear unexpectedly from the bedroom in the morning dressed in his running clothes! He had decided to catch up on the run we missed last week, with Jemima being off school. I declined - it was extremely rainy, and I am a fair-weather runner by choice. He was brave and headed out; then came back saying he'd done over 30 minutes, which was very impressive (but I was still pleased I didn't go). We then popped into Palma for Kevin to buy a new jacket, after his got broken on the boat over the weekend.
It's amazing, popping into Palma. Ten minutes away, we have an amazingly beautiful medieval city of 400,000 people, with all your 21st century conveniences, including brilliant parking, and Spanish fun and fiestas. It is all so easy. Apparently it's not like that in the summer - local people we've spoken to don't go near Palma at all in July and August. But right now, it's great.
Mission accomplished, it was back to Chameli's where we were having lunch with Kevin's new friend from his night out in Heroes. He is from England but been here for two years (mostly house-hunting it seems); and is a former investment banker who likes supercars and personal development. A great combination! And we had a jolly time - lots to talk about. Kevin and he stayed talking while I went to get Jemima, and then it was home again, still raining (really grim weather today).
Wednesday is always Run Two of the week - or run three, for Kevin. The weather was better, but it was windy, which makes the sea wall section harder work. But we did it, and our pace improved (Kevin has now started taking his phone so he can use Map My Run, and even I've got interested in our stats...). It is getting busier in the marina as we get closer to Easter: more people strolling about; obvious security guards; and most exciting of all, they have started putting out the umbrellas on the beach! We watched for a while as the tractor towed them around the sand - it's all beginning to look like holiday season is warming up alongside the weather. It's quite exciting.
Then it was a pottering in Portals Nous day - a few errands, lunch in Chameli's. The time just slipped by, very happily. But there's no run tomorrow so I have plans for an Outing...
Bar Nou
