Wednesday, 21st October 2026 - Piquante Gildas

Going on holiday is lovely. Coming home is lovely too. I haven't seen Lindsey for weeks. She had lit her woodburner which was perfect on a wet windy day. We caught up on stories while drinking tea and eating tangerines.

Day Six of the Basque Holiday - Friday, 9th October 

Alli and I both had a toilet roll panic in our previous apartment. There was only one very small one on display. What a relief to find a large supply in a bathroom drawer. Funny the things we worry about.

Si did his early morning breakfast shop. He wasn't very impressed at the lateness opening times. There was a protest around the square outside our apartment. The cleaners were fighting for better pay. The streets were strewn with paper. My thoughts were they were making a lot of extra work for themselves!

We had tickets for the Guggenheim. Reviews were mixed on-line and from our group. The "puppy" covered in flowers by Jeff Koons was impressive. I wonder how often they get changed. Tim and I had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours inside. There were some odd pieces. I cannot quite 'get' installation art. An example was a piece by Mona Hatoum called Home. Wood, galvanised steel, stainless steel, electric wire, crocodile clips, light bulbs, computerized dimmer switch, amplifier and speakers!!! Lesley and I were both at bit of a loss to understand the artistic quality of this.

The massive sculpture A Matter of Time by Richard Serra made of rusty steel was impressive to walk around and through. The video on how they installed it I found as interesting as the sculpture.

We met Si and Lesley outside and needed a beer. Back near the apartment I ordered 'fich'. They were squid and squid ink croquettes. Very delightful.

In the afternoon we went up another Funicular and met up with Nick and Alli. After a couple of rejections for dinner we ended up in lovely restaurant, just a short stagger from our apartment. Cepas Ajuriaguerra had all we needed. I can't remember what I ate but know it was delicious.

Piquante Gildas or Gilda Minac

Tuesday, 20th October 2026 - Tour by Miguel

This morning I had a video call with Harriet and Herbie. Such a great way to communicate when busy lives make it difficult to get together. We had lots to catch up on. I told holiday stories and heard about The Evanses adventures. 

My afternoon was spent at a WOKAS committee meeting. Lots to discuss about an Art Sale in November and our Chritsmas party. Alison is planning art games this year.

 Day Five of the Basque Holiday Thursday, 8th October - Tour by Miguel

After breakfast provided by our early morning riser Si, we were packed and off on a 2hr 40 minute train from San Sebastian to Bilbao. We had a bit of time at the station and had coffee with a few pintxos. The little meat filled pastry 'things' were delicious. 

What a wonderful apartment with quirky furniture and balconies to sit on. En route we did some essential shopping for water, wine, milk and salty snacks. I had done very little research on Bilboa but a walking tour came up high on the list of 'things-to-do'. Miguel was fabulous. He told us about Gilda's - olives, guindilla green pepper and anchovies, pintxos that you have to eat in one mouthful. They are named after the film Gilda with Rita Hayworth - green (she wore a green dress, salty and a little spicy - no explanation needed! We learnt a lot about the Basque history and how proud they are of their heritage. After we had to stop for a Gilda and glass of white Rioja.

Tour with Miguel
Pen and watercolour

Monday, 19th October 2026 - Top of Funicular

Day Four of the Basque Holiday Wednesday, 7th October

Six became four. Nick and Tim succumbed to 'The Cold' and spent the day recuperating in the apartment. Si, Lesley, Alli and I walked around La Concha Bay to a very pretty wooden Funicular. It took us to the top of Monte Igueldo. The views looking down on San Sebastian were stunning. Back down we stopped in Constitution Square at Bar Txurrut for a couple of strong beers. At this point, I had a memory lapse. Alli filled in the gaps in the day's adventures. I remember now. We went to Bodega Donostiarra, which was very close to our apartment. Nick joined us and looked much better after having a couple of pintxos.

Sunday, 18th October 2026 - Santa Clara Island

This morning Tim and I met with Tom, Caroline and Fable at the Winchelsea Beach Café. They had spent the night bravely testing out Tom's rooftop tent at a nearby campsite. Elizabeth and Keith joined us for breakfast. I recommend the Gourmet sausage sandwich. Christmas plans came up in conversation. It seems too soon to be discussing Christmas until Tim told me it is only 8 weeks away. I love Christmas.

 Day Three of the Basque Holiday Tuesday, 6th October.

Tim and I went for a walk around the coastline. My painting is of a wonderful view of Santa Clara Island in La Concha Bay. The white lighthouse looked intriguing. I have just looked it up and there is a water sculpture inside. Now I plan to go back. Tim and I stopped for coffee. The weather was warm enough to sit outside and people-watch. Afterwards, we spent a couple of happy hours in the San Telmo Museoa. A bonus was it was free entry on a Tuesday. We left feeling cultured. There was a painting by Ignacio Zuloaga of a group of men. I have taken photos to try and learn from the beautiful line work. Back at our apartment we restored our strength with a glass of wine. We headed out to try our first pintxos. Zabaleta Taberna was a great place to start. Little dishes of salt cod, squid, meatballs, croquettes, pork cheek and pig's snout. The pig's snout tasted like pork flavoured jelly. I think I will leave the snout for Tom's dog Fable in the future. We finished the day with Rioja at Bar Txiki - I can't remember if we ate anything more!

Santa Clara Island

Saturday, 17th October 2026 - San Sebastian

I wrote a 'to-do' list, a long one, to keep me on track of my jobs. Not many crossed off today. It was a good day for a walk into the village to post a birthday card and have coffee with Roger. The highlight was all The Evanses dropping in. I am sure the grandchildren have grown in the last few weeks. They are so gorgeous. Herbie was very patient explaining Super Mario to me. I need to do some research so I can keep up with our future discussions.

We are watching Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes - excellent but harrowing.

Day Two of the Basque Holiday Monday, 5th October

First train Lille to Gare du Nord. Second train Gare du Nord to Montparnasse. Third train Montparnasse to Hendaye (French spelling), a rather hot journey with cough and cold viruses in abundance. Last train Hendaia (Basque spelling) to San Sebastian. We added to our daily step count with a walk from the station, along the Urumea River and over a bridge to our apartment. We popped into a supermarket for water and wine. The rosé was very welcome after hours of train rides. Happy 35th wedding anniversary to Nick and Alli. We helped them celebrate with a fantastic dinner in Restaurant Gandarias. Unfortunately, a cold virus took us down by one member. The remaining five of us shared anchovies and spider crab. I had old cow, which was much more delicious than it sounds. I slept very well.

Friday, 16th October 2026 - Day One of Basque holiday

Tim and I got home from a train holiday with Si, Lesley, Nick and Alli yesterday. Hence my absence. 

Day One Sunday, 4th October - Lille

We met on the train and arrived in Lille early afternoon. After a couple of Ginettes in Au Paon D'Or the sunny afternoon was perfect for a wander through La Grand-Place and stroll around the cathedral. We stayed the night in the Hotel Chagnot. What a name!

Here we are walking to dinner at Chez Raoul. It was very rich in the local cheese, Mimolette.

Lille
Pen and watercolour

I took a couple of tiny sketchbooks with me. Each and every drink I drank was captured in pen and ink. 

Saturday, 3rd October 2026 - Winter Ready

Tim has planted up hanging baskets with pansies and polyanthus ready for a riot of winter colour. Thompson and Morgan delivered some very healthy looking plants. They have been a bit hit or miss in the past. These look great. The pansies are already beginning to show their faces. 

Winter ready
Pen and watercolour