We recently visited the Curry House which is located on the Av. del Mediterraneo, Edif. Toboso II, Local No 9 in Nerja for my first ever Indian meal in a restaurant – we usually have take away! It was absolutely fabulous.

We opted for the safe option and had a mild but tasty Chicken Korma – said to be a suitable dish for beginners, either way it was yummy. I loved the fresh cream and almond sauce, but then again I love almonds. We also had a lovely mixed vegetable curry – a little bit hotter but again, so good. Rice flavoured with saffron and herbs, garlic naan bread and for me – chips! Had to beg for them as my daughter said I am eating far too many chips, but we did share them! And we had beer.

I was so stuffed that we decided to call it a night and not eat anything else, no dessert.

I would heartily recommend this restaurant, which has a good reputation here in Nerja, to anyone visiting the area. There are dishes on the menu to suit everyone. The staff were attentive without being intrusive, friendly without being over familiar and efficient. The food was freshly cooked and hot when it arrived on the table. It was a wonderful night out in our new home town – we will be returning in the not too distant future. They also do a “take away” service.

Finally – we are here in Nerja. After nearly five years of trying to find an apartment that was suitable, we have finally found one near to the amenities and sea (about 100 yards walk to the nearest beach), with the added bonus of a sea view. The apartment is all that we wanted and more. Like all rental accommodation, it has its draw backs – the only one so far is that there was a leak from the waste pipe under the kitchen sink. Simple to fix and for us not really a problem at all.

We have been out to late dinner at four different bars/restaurants and have four lovely meals. The last one being to a Tapas bar on the ground floor of our block of apartments – not on the tourist trail. I simply cannot understand why it is does not have more trade, the food was fabulous, service attentive without being intrusive. An Indian restaurant very close by is popular and the food was excellent – this is the first time I have ever been into an Indian restaurant, usually we have take away. It was an experience not to be missed.

This is the first apartment that I do not want to leave – but this is only our eleventh day! Only time will tell whether I can settle down or not. At the moment, I love it.

When my daughter reminds me of the bar/restaurant names, I will post a review of the food.

Just worked it out – this is our eleventh home since arriving in Spain – an average of 5 months per home!

For the second time in three days the bells are ringing to tell us all that someone has died and a funeral is about to take place; the locals are now heading for the church. I can only assume that the village has an ageing population – we have had six funerals in the village since 30 May 2011. When you consider that the village has a population of about 5 to 6 hundred, this is a high figure.

We were told by a friend that the village had lost many old people over the winter as the weather had been really cold surprising all the locals.

You know without being told what the bells are trying to tell you – it is a slow mournful ring, two very different bells are used but both are soft and low.

The square is now full of people.

We have encountered our first problem with racism since coming to live in the village. This person takes great delight in complaining incessantly to my daughter. Whenever we encounter her, we both speak and try to be friendly. But withstanding the constant foul looks – which occur each time we leave the house – is hard. Goodness know how she does it, but whenever we venture out, she is standing at the door with “that look” on her face. The hatred is clear in her expression. I have seen her looking at other Brits in the same manner, along with any “non residents” who venture into the square – and we have a large number of visitors who love to walk in the hills and visit the small villages. This one is particularly beautiful.

Yesterday she complained about my daughter washing the balcony! Some water, about a quarter of a bucket ran off the balcony down the drain and into the centre of the street, (no where near her home and no chance it could enter her property unless it ran uphill), where it made its way downhill towards the drain. First she banged on the door several times, then stuck her finger on the bell until said daughter answered her “summons”. Then she proceeded to “remonstrate” with my daughter, who politely said (in Spanish), “it was only clean water”. That did it, she ranted on – and on – and was abusive, so the door was closed firmly in her face. Something we have never done before. Normally, we politely listen and apologise. This time, her foul manner, was one step too far. She shouted for about an hour (about the occurrence) at everyone who passed telling them the story. No one took any notice, so eventually she went inside.

Advice from villagers – ignore her. Well that will not be easy, but we will try.

What really annoys her is our Jack Russell (Joe), an absolute angel. Friendly, quiet and generally a good little boy. He had a “wee” outside our door, cos he simply could not wait. She complained. All the Spanish dogs are running around doing their little “wee” all over the square, not a word. It was freezing cold, had been raining, water was running down the street, his little “wee” did not add much to the deluge. I am not annoyed, really I´m not, just sad.

I know universal acceptance is impossible and I don´t seek it anyway, but a little bit of tolerance would be a nice change. Most of the villagers are so lovely, but there is always a “bad apple in each barrel”.

It seems I had a lucky escape yesterday – apparently the electrical current passed through me (two wires in the light fitting touched, hence the “bang”), resulting in a nice big flash from the tap I was touching. Don´t know how this happened, but it did. I just have difficulty believing it. Apparently I should have gone straight to the doctors, but I didn´t – typical of me.

So far the only problem I am having is that my arthritis is worse today, the pain that is. The stiffness is about the same. Muscles in my shoulders and arms ache also.

Are these as a result of the “incidents”, don´t know. What is done, is done!

An hour ago I had a close call when I went into the bathroom and turned on the basin tap – a flash of electricity about 8 inches in length shot out with a … loud bang. My daughter yelled “what the hell was that”, she was just outside the door with Joe our JRT. When I emerged – pale, shaking and speechless from the bathroom she asked “that noise, it came from the bathroom, right? My daughter turned the electricity back on – I stood outside the bathroom door. A flash shot out of the light fitting on the ceiling accompanied by a loud bag, the electricity went off again. The only things working in the house now are the hob and two sockets in the kitchen, everything else is off.

I thought, as there was an electrical storm with heavy (torrential) rain, that perhaps we had been struck by lightning. Lightning just loves me, this is not the first close encounter I have experienced in my life.

The first encounter – riding a horse, storm began and struck a tree just about 25 yards away, wood flew in all directions. My horse … he just stood and looked, then moved off again without a care in the world.

The second encounter – lightning travelling along the road around me (very pretty blue) as I bolted (no pun intended) for home, my hair was “electrified, stood up on end”. That only happens in movies, right?

The third encounter – outside a house when a lightning bolt came towards my boyfriend and myself, changed course at the last minute and hit the house next door blowing a hole in the front and back of the house.

Fourth encounter – I had a television in my bedroom, the aerial connection (aerial in loft), outside my bedroom window, lightning struck aerial connection, loud bang from my television which never came on again.

Lightning is attracted to me. So many times my hair has been stood on end due to numerous other encounters, too numerous to mention. My father was certain I would end up “fried” or “toasted” or whatever it is that lightning does to you. But at least I lived to tell the tale, so far!

I have been researching the various places that we fancy living for a short while – Eire, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada and my personal favourite – North America. Each of them are beautiful countries – we love the food from Sweden, the wild landscape of New Zealand, the winters (at least me) in Canada and almost everything about North American, though it does have its downside as any other country.

My cousin lived in Canada for most of her adult life, having moved there on advice of doctors. She suffered with Asthma (as do most of our family – from the maternal side). I envied her bravery in going there with a young family and having the extended family so far away. I never though I would be brave enough to move to another country – here I am at 64 years of age living in Spain and researching where to go next.

Serious contenders now appear to be – in order -Sweden and Eire, though we have been warned that some people experience racism in Eire – have to say I have always appreciated the Irish friends my father had when I was in my 20s. I was married by this time, but one of them wanted me to become his wife, he actually asked my father for my hand in marriage. Dad told him I was already married, his answer – I could get a divorce and as I had not been married in the catholic church they would have no problem with me marrying him! Whether he was telling the whole truth, I will never know. But it was funny at the time and it is good to be admired.

Back to the tale – I haven´t the foggiest idea where I want to go, so another six months in Spain is on the cards to give us time to weight up the pros and cons!

Two parcels are awaiting delivery from Amazon, this time the parcel – after two failed attempts to deliver – was (allegedly) left at the local bar near the entrance to the main street in the village. Went down to collect – man in bar said he did not have a parcel with our name … actually showed us the parcels he had. Phone local agent … when told of the comments by the man who was supposed to have taken delivery, he was abusive, rude and nasty.

So yet again, a complaint has had to go into Amazon, this time by telephone.

Why don´t the just deliver the damn parcel, surely it would be a lot easier than making excuse after excuse. The comments are usually “incorrect address”, “tried to deliver” latter saying basically no one was in the house when they called which is a downright lie, as I rarely leave the house and daughter works from home.

IMHO it is time Amazon found an agent in this area who is prepared to do the job they are paid for and deliver the parcels, whilst I appreciate that they are one of the best for deliveries to towns and cities, they suck when it comes down to delivering to villages. If they leave them at the bar, surely they could either phone the person who expects to receive the parcel to tell them they can pick it up there or indicate so on their tracking, or else drive a few hundred yards to the house … in the main square and it cannot be missed.

We received our parcel from Amazon via their courier in Spain, MRW. Wonders will never cease. Is it because they have now cleared their backlog and deliveries are back to normal, or is it the constant complaints and moans. As we have cancelled our orders, we will never know.

Or rather didn´t – their agents in Spain still not have delivered our order and what is more their excuse is the same as before, i.e. they could not find our home despite being on the main square, next door to the shop and opposite the tapas bar, oh and right next to the church which simply cannot be missed.

Our reaction to this is to cancel all outstanding orders with Amazon and a vow to never place an order with them again. What is the point when the company who deliver their orders in Spain have such a bad reputation when it comes to delivering to our village. I understand from numerous chat sites that many more people living in rural locations are having the same problem. Though I do have to state at this point, when we lived in Torrevieja they were the only ones who actually delivered to our flat – all the others? Well we had to collect; but at least we got them one way or another and on time.

One of my Christmas presents actually arrived nearly one month after ordering, perhaps this wasn´t the fault of Amazon as the order was fulfilled by another company.

Which is why I am surprised that they just will not deliver one single parcel to us; they normally leave it at the bar on the main street. Trouble is – if we don´t have tracking – we don´t know it has been left there! Does this seem a little silly? They have our phone number why not just give us a call and tell us its there.

So now we have happy Christmas in the middle of January! Tad ironic?