We got back from La Palma around midnight last night. The route was La Palma to Madrid, a flight of a round 2.5 hours and then a change of plane for Madrid to London, about 2.25 hours. Our layover in Madrid was a couple of hours at the airport during which time we people watched – some were wearing face masks in an attempt, I presume, not to catch swine flu! Whether these passengers had arrived from Mexico or were just scared they might be near someone who had I’ve no idea. I’m not worried, if I catch it I’ll just take Oinksip

Before we went I wrote “the seafood is out of this world”. Here’s proof of that.

Actually, there were two tentacles but I’d already eaten one before I thought of phtographing the plate!

These are Essy’s fish at another restaurant, Casa Goyo.

And this is Casa Goyo. As you can see from the landing lights sticking up this place is about 100 metres from the end of the airport runway! Luckily the airport doesn’t have a lot of traffic so it’s no great inconvenience. The place looks scruffy, has about the worst location imaginable but serves some of the best seafood on the island. There is no menu, you’re simply asked “Do you want fish, calamare or meat?”.

Tomorrow is my birthday. If anyone in Winchester depot wants to know how old I’ll be it’s one less than the duty number I did yesterday (Friday 24th)!!

Anyway, to celebrate the event we’re off to La Palma in the Canary Islands for a week.

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We spent a week there last year and enjoyed it so much that we want to go again. The scenery is dramatic, the weather excellent, tourism is low key with no massive hotels and the seafood is out of this world. What more could you wish for? Last year we stayed in the Parador this year we’ve rented a small house which you can see pictures of here.

PS If any burglars are reading this ….. we may be away but the house is not empty!

I’m still struggling to get the tracking data transmitted. During a google search I came across this which looked quite hopefull :-)

I’m not absolutely sure this is going to work but if it does you can track where I am driving the bus. I’ll activate it tomorrow morning and we’ll see how it goes. I should be leaving Winchester at 06:00 bound for Salisbury. Then departing Salisbury at 06:50 for a rather slower trip back to Winchester.

Update.

Well, it’s not working yet. My Blackberry GPS is working fine but when it sends the current location, speed etc. data I get a ‘Network error’ message. It would be so much more helpful if it could give a little bit more information than just ‘error’. I know there’s a f*$%”ing error because it wont work!

Oh, did I mention Test Valley School again ;-) There is news. The CCTV I wrote about on Friday has been downloaded and shows very clearly the two culprits who gummed paper over the CCTV cameras! They are seen holding the paper and then an arm stretching up, as the hand nears the camera it all goes blank. Stagecoach are taking a very positive attitude and a meeting is being scheduled between the school who will be asked to officially confirm the identify of the culprits and the Hampshire County Council school transport ‘boss’. They will have their passes withdrawn by Stagecoach *permanently*! One of the culprits was already on the banned for 14 days list but that is really only academic now.

Just another name and shame plug – Test Valley School. The Test Valley School in Stockbridge, Hampshire to be precise.