Renamed

From now on, Scout John (aka John Thorpe – near neighbour) will be known as the Scarlet Pimpernel.

When we met up with John and Carol at Barajas Airport in Madrid, John went off to get a bottle of water and was still gone when we were called to board the plane. Carol would have got on the plane without him except for the fact that he had the tickets in his shirt pocket.

At Alicante, John and Carol went to a different area to collect their international luggage. As they were waiting, John apparently went off again leaving Carol to sort out their heavy cases. Carol says that he does this all the time – in supermarkets she will be talking to him only to turn round and find him gone.

Their good news

John tells me that the President of the Pensioners Club came to visit them yesterday to say that they had been voted “third age” king and queen for this year’s annual fiesta in August. All I can say is, I hope that when they are called to go onto the stage at the coronation, John has not disappeared off to a local bar for one of his favourite belmontes.

Normally, Carol is a little camera shy – that will have to change come the fiesta because I will be pointing my lens at her many times over! I am quite happy to go round to their house for a practice session if she wishes.