As we draw closer to the end of 2009 our thoughts turn to the past year and WOW what a year it has been. It all began with a party and the celebration of my 40th birthday, most enjoyable and lovely to spend with so many friends and family members, thank you. How apt that at the point of ‘life beginning when your 40′ we then spent 9 months travelling Latin America and finding out more about life.
A huge change in lifestyle, budget and thought processes. Leaving the UK and our families and friends, especially Gemma and Kirstie to taste more of what the world has to offer is a big leap and not one that too many would dare.
The leap worked for us and highlights of our travels have to include; Flying around Christo in a helicopter
and Carnival, Rio. Discovering Argentina in March with its culture and magnificent natural beauty spots of Iguazu Falls, the gigantic glacier of Puerto Moreno and the lake district of Bariloche, a cross between Canada and Switzerland – all educational and revealing. We liked Argentina so much we spent 3 months there and thoroughly recommend the country to anyone thinking of visiting South America.
Exploring the vastness of the rest of S. A, Toby eventually wound down from work, as he’s known it for the past 20 years of his life and started relaxing into a more chilled and steady pace. It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet new friends along the way who were also experiencing lifestyle changes and expanding their minds. Duncan and Dorothy in their 60′s were a great inspiration, living on a sail boat and travelling to wherever they fancied in the world, something they had both been doing for the past 15 years already!
July, our visit to Peru and the amazing Machu Picchu was another milestone for us in 2009. A truly special place and spectacular sight. It was here that we both decided to change our travelling plans and settle in Ibiza one year early!
September and our return to the UK briefly for Gemma and Stew’s wedding. A fantastic day and a special moment – my eldest daughter married already, next it will be grandchildren! It was lovely spending time with family and friends, just like we’d never been away.
October and with the cold weather drawing in we flee to the warmth of Ibiza, our new home. Having arranged car and home in one very quick week we settle into new home life, enjoying the weather, beaches and countryside and yet another change of lifestyle!
The end of 2009 already and our first guest – Toby’s brother Francis, his visit overlapped with ours to London so we swapped places and left Francis to fend for himself. Little did we know that he would be fending off the rain as it poured in on him through the roof as he lay sleeping, sorry! Our brief visit back to the UK mid December exposed us to some seriously cold weather and snow!
It was great to be looked after by Sheila and Alan, as always, catch up with friends and we spent a fab day in London eating, shopping, theatrering and eating again for Kirstie’s birthday. Sorry to those we couldn’t get to visit, better luck next time.
Returning back home we discovered they’d been masses of rain and a small tornado that had hit the island destroying our terrace table (as well as the leaking water through the roof) so we conveniently missed the whole thing! Having spent a few days in London in the snow, all wrapped up, christmas decorations and lights everywhere we felt it was time to put our own festive tinsel up. Toby went out into the forest to select a gratis tree whilst I strung our homemade decorations and made a fairy for the top.
As we approach the end of the first decade of the 2000′s my thoughts project to 2010 and another new year and this time a new decade… what will 2010 have in store for us?
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Seasons greetings and love to you where ever you are in the world.
Belinda and Toby. x
