SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!

Yes, we have SNOW!!!
It may be causing accidents and traffic delays here and huge huge problems in London (lots more snow there).... but we're just enjoying the beautiful whiteness of it all...
at the moment there's snow on the ground, has recently snowed and before that, it rained.... so it could be a bit of a mess today.... but here are some snaps from yesterday.. :)
A very stark comparison to the recent heat of Melbourne ...

Our tree, the park etc..









A very Christmassy log...









Ivan coming home in the snow...
and... Out in the snow last night

......

and... just for fun, some great snaps of the deep deep snow and creativity in London...

And for completeless sake... the rest of the photos from Spain.
why not..? They're of the snow too anyway

-Driving back to Madrid (from Oviedo) through the beautiful mountains...

The most beautiful petrol station in the world?

Coming soon: 2 Peas in a pod?: Ivan and his identical twin... Stay tuned....

Spain- Part II (Madrid, Avila, Tapia)

As promised, part II of holiday snaps from Spain. They're a little mixed up but we know you don't care.. Seems like a very long time ago now...

1st up Madrid and Avila (walled city outside Madrid)

-With Fi at Madrid's Plaza Mayor

-Wine and awesome sizzling prawns at the traditional 'La casa del Abuelo' Bar in Madrid .. mmm Excellent! :) and.. it's been around since 1906! so so yum. a must if you're in Madrid. http://www.lacasadelabuelo.es/index.htm
- Dinner with Madrid friend Angela

-Creepy door handle in Avila...

-It's her house ... (Santa Teresa de Avila)
-Big door for Ivan, little door for Elena... an interesting idea for our next home? maybe even with our own custom made tile painting on the wall ..'Esta es nuestra casa' ?? and creepy door handle??

...

- Avila: walking around the walls... quite terrific!

- Locals chatting outside the wall (very cliche, I know)

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Up next - Beautiful Tapia on the north west coast of Spain...
5 relaxing brilliant winter days (3 sunny) at Elena's parents' holiday house.

-Port of Tapia by day, by dusk, by night (nice work little camera!)
-The Local Beach

- At the family 'home', in our element (our home away from home away from home)

- Nearby village of Viavelez... just so pretty

oh no!!! where did Elena go.?

-NYE in Tapia...
It seems to be some sort of very sad local tradition to finish up NYE night at the really bad disco... with complimentary party accessories included in the exhorbitant entry fee.

but then again.... the place wasn't exactly buzzing.... perhaps just a very sad family tradition?

Who knows? But... it is the only photos we have...

- Ivan and new found buddy Nano (Elena's cousin's fiancee)

NB: Elena taking photos at 5am, so officially still awake! a new record?

nb: sometimes the formatting is a nightmare..

Christmas, family, Spain

As most of you probably know, we have spent the last couple of weeks in Spain catching up with Elena’s extended family.

1st -a few nights in Madrid with Elena's sister Fi (still waiting on some photos, so will post these up later..)... then up to Oviedo in the north of Spain for 5 days including Christmas... then another 5 days in Elena's family home in Tapia on the north coast... all in all 2 glorious weeks.

But for now, here are some photos of our stay in Oviedo.

For your reference- This is where Oviedo and Tapia are :

View Larger Map

Some Snaps:

View from our guesthouse (curtesy of Elena's v. generous cousin Cris),

Lunch is served at abuela's house : The classic dish of fried egg, served on rice with chorizo stuffing (picadillo)...mmmmmm

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In Oviedo with Family...
After lunch photo (with Blanqui, Pepa, Alfonso, Abuela & Alfonso)

Christmas day lunch (with little Lucas, Alex, Isa, Blanqui, Cris, Paloma, Pablo (some missing from photo)

Christmas eve dinner (with Paty, Emili0 & Nacho (some missing from photo)
A foggy late night walk to the guesthouse

With Alfonso
With paty, Nacho and little Luna

Off exploring nearby
Off to see the Asturian bear and go for a walk with Elena's cousin Jesus. The bear normally lives in a big wildlife reserve, not normally behind a fence... so it's not really as sad as it looks here.. :)

Tune in soon for more photos from our stay in Tapia, New years, some snow!!! and Madrid.