The start of another week...

It felt very strange not having to take Mike to work this morning and even stranger not having to wait around to pick him up at 3.30pm. This is something I will not miss! I now have my hours back so I intend to make the most of them! Work wasn't as busy as I thought it would be and I was kept occupied doing some admin tasks. It will soon be two years since I started here! Where has the time gone?

Keith picked me up at 2pm and we popped down to Riverside where I bought some bird food in Wilco's. I have neglected the birds a little bit lately since we moved the computer back inside the house. I never get to see them feeding any more, which is a shame.

When we arrived back home I hoovered upstairs and then tackled a pile of ironing. Outside the weather was horrible again so it was lovely to draw the curtains when it got dark and make the house cosy!

Mike contacted me in the evening to say he was having a great time so that was a relief!

Rain, rain, rain...

I had more of a lie-in this morning, thank goodness and we awoke to grey skies and rain. How lovely...

We took Sophie to the gym this morning and while she was there we popped to Tesco and did some shopping as we had nothing for dinner tonight. It was a roast kind of day so we bought a joint of beef to enjoy this evening. Delicious!

Back home I did more writing and I will be glad when I've finally updated the blog - I am so behind but that was a consequence of not taking a laptop with me this time!

Keith did a bit of ranting this afternoon when he realised we'd run out of foil so Sophie and I sloshed our way to the nearest shop to get some more. The roads are flooding and apparently there is worse to come over the next week as an ex-Hurricane passes near the UK!

Which reminds me - the 2019-2020 storm names are:

Atiyah
Brendan
Ciara
Dennis
Ellen
Francis
Gerda
Hugh
Iris
Jan
Kitty
Liam
Maura
Noah
Olivia
Piet
Roisin
Samir
Tara
Vince
Willow

I am still annoyed I never made it last year! Hannah was the last, and then it would have been Idris and then Jane. Pah!

Keith cooked the roast beef in the evening and very good it was, too! There were enough vegetables left over to make bubble and squeak tomorrow!

Just the two of us...

I was awake early this morning and it was lovely to ease myself into the day slowly!

I helped Sophie tidy up this morning as Laura was coming over for lunch. Both of them were then going to a jewellery making afternoon as part of a colleague's hen party celebrations! While they were nattering away in the conservatory, I updated my blog which was great as it meant I could re-live our holiday in Mallorca all over again!

Both Keith and Sophie were out in the afternoon so I had the house to myself. Bliss! I had a long soak in the bath and then watched an episode of The Affair which I'm enjoying immensely at the moment. It's such a shame it's the last season.

Keith came home from the football and we had a very quiet evening, just the two of us. Strictly Come Dancing has now started so it's only a matter of weeks before there will be talk of Christmas! I cooked a Tesco Finest meal for dinner and the house was so peaceful! It rained heavily in the evening and it was very cosy in the conservatory with the noise of the raindrops on the roof.

Sophie arrived home at about 9.30pm having had a great afternoon. She'd made two sets of ear-rings with a psychedelic vibe...I thought they were great!

Saying goodbye...

At least this has been a very short week and today it's Friday! Yippee! Mike packed last night and lugged out a suitcase to the car this morning as he is leaving this afternoon to go down to London. I felt a bit emotional taking him to work as I remembered back to when he started the job and how pleased we were that he had been taken on. It's a real shame he's finished his contract, but we always knew it was only until September - maybe he can work for them again next year.

We said goodbye and I drove away feeling very sad. I just hope that he gets on in London and gains a bit of independence. The house will be very quiet without him! I warned him to stay in touch with me or else!

Work was OK today and it was great to get out at 2pm and go home. Keith and I called into Tesco to get some flowers for my Mum and dinner for tomorrow night. Sophie is out at a hen do making jewellery so there will only be the two of us. Maybe it's time we got used to it!

Mum and Dad were pleased to see us and were delighted with their wine and flowers. We had a good chat about the holiday over a cup of tea and then returned home where I did more writing on my blog!

As soon as Sophie came home it was wine time and we sat and watched Celebrity Masterchef while preparing the dinner. It's the weekend tomorrow!

Back to reality...

It was a rude awakening at 6am this morning when Sophie woke me up! She went off to the gym while I showered and got ready for work.

Keith took us both and dropped me off before going to do our weekly shop. It's sobering how we slip back into the routine so quickly. I was at work until 3pm and the day passed pleasantly enough. I was very much looking forward to getting home and catching up with the blog and re-living the holiday all over again!

Dinner this evening was curry and afterwards we caught up with 90 Day Fiance, which made us howl with laughter when one of the women slapped her fiance in the face with a cream cake! Hilarious!

A lot of the programmes hadn't recorded while we were away which was a total pain as we had to download them all! Oh well, there's worse things that can happen!

Back home...

The journey home from Stansted was fine, apart from a couple of heavy downpours on the M11. We arrived back at about 3pm and Monty was delighted to see us again. The garden looked lovely as I think the UK had had a lot of rain while we were away.

Mike disappeared off to see his friends while Sophie and I unpacked and made a start on the laundry. After a cup of tea and some slices of toast it was time for a nap as we were all tired from the journey and the early start.

In the evening we decided to have one last meal out at Akasaka in town. It was also a way of bidding farewell to Mike who was going to stay with his girlfriend, Abbie, in London for a while. His job ends on Friday and he hasn't been taken on as a permanent member of staff so he is hoping he'll find something in London. I think it's a good idea for him to go off and be with Abbie as he missed her on holiday and I'm hoping that the break will do us all good.

We drove into town and I suggested a drink at the Princess Alexandra pub before the meal. We parked on the street and when we got into the pub Sophie asked for a Pilsner. The girl behind the bar asked for her ID which Sophie didn't have, so no ID, no drink. I was really angry as it's been ages since Sophie has been asked for identification. Mike didn't have his either so it put a real dampener on the evening.

We went and sat down and all of us felt really annoyed about the situation. I couldn't understand why they had left their ID at home, but there was nothing we could do. We drank up and left to go to the little quirky bar on St Giles street but that was closed! We weren't having a great night!

As it was now 7pm we decided to just go straight to Akasaka and have a meal. Thankfully, there were no questions asked in the restaurant and Sophie enjoyed a glass of wine while Mike had a beer. At no time in Mallorca were either of them asked for ID!

For starters we ordered tempura vegetables (me), chicken thighs (Keith), Gyoza (Sophie) and squid for Mike. Our mains were chicken ramen soup for the children and the katsu curry for Keith and I. As always the food was delicious and plentiful. We also ordered a bottle of Sake, which was delicious!

Return to Mallorca! 19-25 September 2019

Homeward bound

I lay in bed this morning dreading getting up as I was not looking forward to the journey home. I hadn't had a good night's sleep (the suckling pig seemed to have trebled again in my tummy) and I just wanted to wrinkle my nose and be home. I wonder if that will ever happen in the future, when we could just teleport ourselves without all the hassle of travel?

Anyway, we were all up at 6am and we did the very last of the packing and making sure we hadn't left anything behind. Keith and I went to get the car and I was amazed at how dark it was. Somehow I had imagined that we would be leaving in the sunlight, but it was still pitch black.

Keith took some rubbish and recycling to the bins while I carefully manoeuvred the car out of its parking space. The windscreens were all misted up and I dreaded hitting anything! We drove back and met the children who had been checking the luggage and weighing the case. It was a bit over so they'd transferred some clothes at the last minute!

We set off at exactly 7am and looked in vain for a post box so Sophie could post a card to her friend in Leeds! We didn't see one so we gave up and headed off towards Inca and the motorway.

Luckily, as the morning wore on it became lighter and by the time we were halfway to Palma it was daylight. Google maps warned us of a hold up ahead and I suppose it was the morning commuter rush hour. Not much changes wherever you are in the world!

We were soon directed to turn off the motorway and onto another dual carriageway that ran towards the airport. I was very thankful for Google maps and the directions took us straight to the road where the Hiper rental office was. We turned right and called into a petrol station to re-fill the tank. It cost us just under 20 euros so we hadn't used that much at all.

At just after 8am we returned the car and it was checked over. We had a short wait for the shuttle bus to take us to the airport and then we joined the throngs of people at the easyJet bag drop. The people in front of us were going to Berlin...we were tempted to go with them!

Once we had dropped off the case (it weighed exactly 23kg) we passed through security and looked for something to eat. I was desperate for a coffee and Sophie and Mike went off to get us some breakfast. We ate a soggy chicken sandwich accompanied by a grim coffee and just had enough time to get to the departure gate. There was no time to look in the Duty Free, which was a real shame.

The flight home was uneventful and I read the entire way. All too soon we had arrived at Stansted and after getting our case (thankfully the Gin bottle was still intact) we boarded the shuttle bus to take us to the car park. It seemed incredible that our long-awaited holiday was over, but it had been fantastic and I fell in love with Mallorca all over again!

Return to Mallorca! 19-25 September 2019

Birthday Boy!

We awoke to the best weather of the whole holiday with endless blue skies and hot sunshine. Perfect! Keith opened his presents in the garden and was very pleased with the tee-shirts the children had bought him (Sophie chose another from the Cafe Espanyol). I had suggested going back to the spider restaurant for a celebratory breakfast, i.e. Restaurant Llenaire (the children used to be entranced by a fake spider hanging from a branch of a tree next to the seating area), but I knew it had changed hands and was now called Swing! Hmmm!

We all piled into the car and found the road that runs behind the resort of Puerto Pollensa. It used to be that you could drive towards Alcudia along the front but it has now been pedestrianised and you can only drive towards the port during certain hours.

The new road is very slick and brought us out in the area called Llenaire. We went right at first and found ourselves too far out of the port so we turned around and headed back, finding a convenient parking space along the way. Swing and another restaurant, Siurell, are on the corner and I had thought that Swing opened at 9am (according to Google anyway). There were some men doing dangerous things with drills and electrical cables so my heart sank as it didn't look open.

We walked up to the entrance and even though the opening times were chalked on the wall as 10.30am, a member of staff said they weren't open until 11am. The best laid plans! We had no choice but to walk on and find somewhere else which wasn't a problem as the weather was gorgeous and the views were stunning.

Eventually we came across a cafe called La Maina which was serving breakfast and I'm sure we ate here years ago, when Sophie was suffering from a bad ear infection. Why didn't I write a blog back then?!

We took a table and had a good look at the menu, three of us ordering the full English while Sophie defected and chose the German breakfast instead. The breakfast came with tea or coffee, orange juice and all the usual suspects. My only gripe was the sausage which tasted cheap and nasty!

A steady stream of people walked past all heading towards the beach or into the port and it was lovely to sit and soak up the sunshine while we ate.

The plan had been to walk around the marina and look at the boats but it was very hot and none of us had hats or sunscreen on. We reluctantly walked back to the car gazing at the stupendous views. I had forgotten how beautiful it was here!

As it was our last full day we decided to make the most of the weather and go back to the house to sit around the pool and relax. All too soon we would be back at home and three of us would be returning to work.

On the way we called into the Eroski on the edge of town to get some water and a snack for the afternoon. We parked in the underground car park and spent a very pleasant hour examining all the different things to buy. I adore supermarkets abroad - the smell is intoxicating and I could spend hours looking at everything. Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of room in the case so I was unable to take any wine home with me, which was a real shame. Perhaps if we visit again, we'll drive and I can fill the boot with wine!

Back at the house there wasn't a parking space outside so we dropped off the children with the shopping and found a space in a car park near a school. It meant that tomorrow morning, we'd have to go and collect the car to load it up with the luggage. I suppose we could have waited until a space became available and then collected the car, but knowing our luck it would have disappeared when we returned!

I made a half hearted attempt at packing but the lure of the sun was too much and I spent the afternoon outside with everyone else. Mike amused himself by asking me to throw some of the loose tiles around the pool into the water so he could retrieve them!

All too soon, the time came to tidy up the outside terrace and pack as tomorrow morning we were setting off at 7am. We managed to get a lot of clothes into the two hand luggage bags but there was still a lot to go in our big case.

Birthday meal

This evening we walked up to the square and Sophie and I made a reservation at Q11 (or Onze) for 7.45pm. We decided to celebrate and visit Jimmy's Cocktail Bar this evening as it was Keith's birthday but when we arrived we found it closed. What a disappointment! We went instead to the Monkey Bar and Sophie ordered an Aperol Spritz while I chose Campari and 7UP, something I used to drink every evening. When her drink arrived she took one sip and spat it out, saying it was too bitter. I think she had been given Campari, because when mine arrived the drinks looked and tasted identical. It meant that I ended up with two glasses!

The couple on the next table decided to join our conversation and agreed with Sophie about how bitter the drink can be!

After our drinks we strolled the short distance to Q11 and were shown to our table on the edge of the seating area. The place was very busy and we were glad we'd booked! The building where it's situated used to be run down and scruffy but it has been turned into a very smart dining place indeed, with an upstairs seating area and a wine shop next door.

I ordered a bottle of white for Sophie and I to share called Quibia which was delicious. I love it when the waiter brings an ice-bucket to put the wine in - little things but it all adds to the lovely experience!

We chose starters from the tapas menu - goats cheese on crusty bread for me, pa amb oli with ham for Keith, an octopus dish for Mike and corn polenta with ham on bread for Sophie. Unfortunately, as we were eating our starters we were attacked by mosquitoes and Sophie estimates she was bitten at least ten times, mainly on her legs. The staff were very good in handing out repellents and citronella candles, but it was a horrible thought that the little buggers were so aggressive. All of us have been bitten on the holiday with Mike suffering swollen hands as a result.

Thankfully they seemed to disappear as the evening wore on but I knew we'd have a legacy of them in the days to come. Our main courses arrived and Sophie had chosen the vegetable risotto with a parmesan crisp while the rest of us went for the suckling pig. It didn't look like a big portion, but when you cut into it the meat trebled in size! It was delicious!

Sophie's vegetable risotto

Three of us found room for dessert while Keith had an Irish coffee. Sophie and I enjoyed panna cotta with a red berry coulis (too much acidic fruit for my liking) while Mike had chocolate cake. We'd ordered another bottle of the wine as it was delicious and Mike was drinking that rather than the beer.

Although we'd planned on going to the new Ca'n Costa, Fogoneu (it was closed but very pricey) we had a fantastic last meal and it was a great celebration for Keith's birthday. The bill came to 206 euros, the most expensive of the holiday but that was mainly down to the two bottles of wine we ordered (25 euros each) and also I suspect, a premium in prices for being in the square.

We strolled home and noticed that our street was much darker than usual. We could hardly see the way!

Birthday boy with new tee-shirt!

Return to Mallorca! 19 - 25 September 2019

Cala San Vicente

Unfortunately Keith was ill last night with an upset tummy and we really hoped it hadn't been the lunch he'd had at Tannat. We therefore had a slow start to the day but by mid-morning he felt OK to venture out to another of our favourite haunts - the beautiful small resort of Cala San Vicente.

We had stayed here when Sophie was about two and spent a fortnight in a rambling old villa that was a death trap for a toddler! We never let our daughter out of our sight as there were several flights of hard stone steps, one of which led to a musty basement, as well as a drop from a low window in the living room right into the pool. However, it had been a lovely holiday and we'd enjoyed exploring the resort and spending time on the beach where the sea was aquamarine and the towering cliffs never failed to impress.

It was a short drive and we went past La Moraleja hotel which used to have fabulous sports cars in the reception area. They looked to be all gone and as we drove past I hoped it hadn't closed down?
The road goes past several other hotels, bars and restaurants and once you're around the headland you can see Cala Molins below and the towering cliffs that dominate the beach.

Along here there used to be several shops selling beach items, postcards and cold drinks but it looked like they had all closed down, which was a real shame. We passed the small Bar Mallorca and parked next door. Opposite was a block of apartments but underneath there used to be a restaurant where we once met our neighbours, Gill and Tim when their daughter Phoebe, was just a baby.

The clouds were clearing away and the sun was out but the sea looked very rough, with the red warning flag flying above the beach. There were a few people dotted about sunbathing but nobody in the sea at all!

We strolled about and I told the children there was a path that ran all the way to Puerto Pollensa. We had once attempted it with a pushchair but gave up as it was too rocky! Not a lot had changed here, which was a relief, and the Bar Mallorca looked just the same as it always did.

Two restaurants opposite were still in business - La Tasca and Pepe's Bar but some of the others had disappeared, including L'Alba where we met Gill and Tim. We walked over to the Bar Mallorca and ordered some drinks whilst admiring the stunning view.

The sun had come out properly and the sun was a beautiful shade of blue. Several cyclists arrived looking very pleased with themselves and hung their bikes on a special rail outside.

The building next to the Bar Mallorca was in the process of being renovated, but no work was being carried out. I should imagine it takes place during the quieter winter months. We sat for a while enjoying the views and the sunshine and then had a quick drive around the resort, stopping to say hello to the villa we stayed in years ago. Before leaving we checked out the La Moraleja hotel to find it open but the cars were definitely gone. I have always wanted to stay there so maybe one day I will!

We drove back to the villa and had lunch of pizza, crisps and salad. We're not here for a long time and I wanted to start using up the shopping we'd bought the other day!

Later in the afternoon we walked up to the square and had a quick drink before Sophie and I went to do some shopping in a lovely place that sold incense sticks, jewellery, bags and all manner of trinkets and ornaments with a distinctly Indian feel. Sophie found a ring she loved and which seemed to shine with different hues of blue and green. It was beautiful. As a little joke I bought Keith some incense sticks as he's mad about them, and a holder for a birthday present tomorrow. I'll get him a proper gift when we get home!

Keith and Mike had returned to the house so we checked out Cantonet for a meal this evening but they were closed. The supermarket nearby was also closed which was a pain as we needed some water and bread, but it looked like they were shut for a siesta. There was a sleepy, quiet feel to the town and it was great to wander about and soak up the sights and smells!

As a treat. Sophie bought us an ice-cream each from a little place near the Monkey Bar and they were delicious!

The bells ring out...

Back at the house we relaxed by the pool until it was time to get ready. Tonight we decided to have a drink at La Scalinatta again because I really love this area at the bottom of the steps. Sophie and Mike went to book a table at Cantonet and we ordered our drinks. I treated myself to a small bottle of Cava while Sophie had a large glass of Sangria.

Although this is a quieter part of the town, there were still lots of people walking past and cars driving along the very narrow road. As we were sitting there, the bells began to ring out and it was lovely to hear them and was really atmospheric. I imagined what it must be like to live in Pollenca!

After a couple of drinks we walked the short distance to Cantonet and I am convinced it's where the restaurant El Temple used to be. We were sat in the courtyard garden, a really pretty place with white walls, bright paintings, lots of green foliage and small lanterns. It was very dimly lit and extremely romantic!

It was so dimly lit we could barely read the menu and a woman opposite was using her phone to make out the writing! We started off with a very rustic bread with olives and aioli and I ordered a bottle of Macia Batle Crianza that the four of us shared.

Mike and Sophie shared a starter of beef carpaccio, Keith had parma ham with melon while I opted for the goats cheese salad which was huge! Ironically, Keith had this starter back in 2006 when we last ate here! How weird is that!

The restaurant was busy with diners of different nationalities - Spanish, British and German - and there was a great atmosphere in the pretty outside area. For our main courses, Sophie went with the classic dish of ravioli stuffed with Mallorcan sobrasada, Mike and I chose the chicken stuffed with the same spicy sausage and Keith opted for rabbit, one of his favourites. I thought our meal was very rich with maybe too much cream smothered over the top but it was tasty nonetheless. Sophie was a trifle disappointed with her ravioli, of which there were just five...

We managed to find some space for dessert. I couldn't resist the panna cotta which was truly delicious, Sophie had tiramisu, Keith chose the cheesecake and Mike went for a gooey chocolate cake. We were stuffed!

The three courses with wine, bread and water came to a reasonable 150 euros, just 4 euros more than our last meal back in 2006!

We walked back through the dark streets and I joked to Sophie that it was like the narrow alleyways in Don't Look Now which was filmed in Venice. I expected to see a little red coated figure disappearing into the distance at any minute!

Return to Mallorca! 19-25 September 2019

Market Day

After a somewhat restless night, (the house is pitch black at night, because of the shutters and the dark street outside, and Keith couldn't find the door to go to the bathroom!) we awoke to sunshine and blue skies.

We skipped breakfast and visited the fantastic Sunday market that takes place in Pollenca from early morning to midday. On the way I took some photos of the family and the old buildings that make this town so gorgeous.

What I really love about the town are the tall, old, shuttered buildings and the tiny shops hidden down narrow, secret alleyways that have their wares displayed outside. Colourful clothes, souvenir trinkets, shoes and jewellery are all arrayed artfully and add to the lovely atmosphere of Pollenca. You can just glimpse the shadowy, cool interiors of the houses with antique furniture and marble floors.

The main square has stalls stuffed with fruit and vegetables, olives, olive oil and local produce such as hams and cheeses. We eyed up some local olive oil as we are running low at home and planned to take some back with us.

The Cafe Espanyol was doing a fine trade with people having a morning coffee and pastry but we pushed onto the narrow side streets where stalls were selling jewellery, clothes and fabrics. Sophie was on the lookout for a new ring and we examined every stall on the way up to the Calvari steps. We spotted a lovely heart with blue chips of stone in the middle which we noted for later.

Keith with his daily fix of the newspaper - looking at the sports pages of course!

The start of the Calvari steps

By now we all fancied a sit down and a drink so we found a table at La Scalinatta a cafe at the bottom of the steps. I ordered a coffee while Sophie went for a Cappuccino which she said was disgusting as it had cinnamon sprinkled over the froth! Not her favourite spice - she hates it!

Of course, the men had beers and it was lovely to sit and soak up the atmosphere and the sun. It was very busy and Keith decided to go back to the Cafe Espanyol and wait for us as we wanted to explore and look at restaurants for tonight. Sophie, Mike and I had a fantastic time browsing the stalls and the local shops  where I bought an iron cat thermometer for the garden. There was also a great little supermarket near the cafe which sold local meats and cheeses as well as a range of Mallorcan wines. We saw the Mortitx Blanc for about 12 euros.

We walked towards what used to be Cantonet restaurant and discovered that it had moved - it used to occupy a terrace next to a church but there was another one now in its place. We looked at the menu but it didn't appeal at all so we walked on and found Cantonet on the opposite side of the street. I had a feeling that a beautiful restaurant called El Temple used to be here as there was a pretty courtyard at the back where we had a wonderful meal. Cantonet was closed so we couldn't look at the menu but we thought it might be a good choice for tomorrow night.

Some man love going on here...!

Looking from the church down towards La Font del Gall. Cantonet is now on the right.

Lovely tiles in here, but very expensive!

Another huge church!

I loved this balcony!

We strolled down the street and came to La Font del Gall. We turned left and went to see what had happened to Ca'n Costa, my favourite restaurant in the world when we used to visit. It was now called Fogoneu and we had toyed with the idea of going there on Keith's birthday. I had a good look at the menu and saw that it was closed on Tuesday, so that was that! The prices were very steep - 50 euros each for the tasting menu with an added 25 euros each for a wine pairing. The menu was short so that's always a good indication of quality, but the prices were expensive - there wasn't much under 28 euros for a main course.

I felt very sad as I absolutely loved the old Ca'n Costa - I have so many happy memories of taking the children there (Sophie first visited when she was 9 weeks old) and the place was beautiful, elegant and never disappointed. Why do things have to change?

Before going back to Keith at the Cafe Espanyol, we bought the heart decoration so that will be a lovely reminder of our day. Keith was sitting inside the cafe which was rammed with people. We had a drink and decided to go and find something to eat as none of us had had any breakfast yet!

The cafes and restaurants in the square and nearby were packed to the gunnels so we walked further out of the town past the sadly shuttered up Clivia restaurant, another casualty. This used to be the place to go in the town and I was shocked to see it had closed down.

Just when we were giving up hope and thinking of the pizza and salad back at the house, we found Tannat, a cafe serving lunch right on the outskirts of the town. There was even live music to enjoy!

We had a great meal of chicken caesar salad (Keith) beefburger (me) chicken goujons (Mike) and tapas for Sophie. She ordered chicken croquettes and patatas bravas. The waiter who came to take our order didn't write it down and forgot Mike's chicken and Sophie's potatoes, but this was quickly rectified.

The day had started to become very warm and Keith and Mike decided to walk home while Sophie and I visited a lovely supermarket nearby called Agromart Balear. I'm sure it was a farm shop on a much larger scale and had lots of delicious foods to buy. It was closing up so we grabbed a bag of crisps and some little chocolate muffins and made our way back to the house. On the way we called into another beautiful shop selling the most gorgeous clothes and jewellery - everything was so pretty but quite expensive!

Local info...

In the evening Keith and Mike went to the Bar Roser Vell while Sophie and I carried on down to R3spira, a new, very modern restaurant situated at the bottom of our street. We looked at the menu and booked a table for 8.30pm. Inside it looked very stylish and several tables were lined up along the pavement.

After booking the table we walked up to the square and sat right outside the Cafe Espanyol facing the beautiful view.

We both ordered glasses of Sangria while we waited for Keith and Mike.

It was a lovely evening and the sun was just setting. Another thing we have noticed is that the birds don't come down to roost in the trees as they used to. Every night, at a certain time, they would flock down in busy groups and settle themselves in the trees that line the square. Perhaps they go elsewhere now!

Keith and Mike joined us and ordered two beers. They sat next to us so we were all sitting in a row. I noticed a man leaning against the entrance to the cafe and after Sophie had remarked about a nearby baby screaming he started talking to us. He said he had been born in Pollenca but was now living in Harlow in Essex with his English wife. He was in Mallorca visiting a family member who had been very ill and I think he was in a contemplative mood as he commented on how busy the town was and how many tourists there were.

Seeing it through his eyes was quite sobering as he said the town used to be really quiet and there had been a lot of changes in the square. He said he had worked in the Cafe Espanyol when he was 14, 35 years ago! It made me think about how we'd react if one of our local villages was suddenly taken over by mass tourism with people insisting on speaking their own language. An unsettling thought!

This prompted me to ask about the two names of the cafe and he said that Ca'n Moixet was the old name and meant "little cat". He pronounced it "moichette". I had thought it was the name of the original owner, so I was wrong!

Inevitably, the talk turned to Brexit and I was surprised by the vehemence of his feelings on the subject - he believed it should happen and quickly! He said Boris Johnson had "balls"! His concerns were large numbers of people coming into the UK and not working or contributing so this was very surprising. He grew very animated about the topic!

Keith and Mike sat there and didn't say a word, but I enjoyed talking to him and getting a different perspective on things and it was very interesting talking to someone who had been born and bred in the town.

As the time had arrived for our restaurant booking we made our way down to R3spira and took our seats at one of the outside tables. Looking at the menu we were spoilt for choice! We decided to go with a bottle of sparkling wine from Jose Ferrer called Veritas while the men stuck to beer. We were given bread and olives as an aperitif and we chose our meals - a spectacular octopus dish for Mike, bruschetta for Keith, and mussels in a white wine sauce for Sophie and I to share.

Mike's starter arrived with great theatre, with the plate covered by a dome. When the waiter took it off smoke billowed out in swirls which we thought was amazing!

Mike's starter

Our mussels

The food was delicious and the staff very friendly and attentive. For our main courses we chose cod in an aioli crust for Sophie, chicken stuffed with ham and cheese for Mike, lamb chops for Keith and pork in a mushroom sauce for me.

Mine and Sophie's meals

We all agreed the food and ambience were fantastic and it was a great find. We managed to find some room for dessert - Sophie and I shared apple tarte tatin while Mike enjoyed a chocolate brownie. The bill came to 156b euros which I thought was brilliant seeing as Mike's starter was almost 19 euros!