Extreme Weather and other February Matters

2026 in Andalucía started with some very extreme weather conditions, with storms and flooding, and very strong winds.

We were very lucky where we live in the eastern end of Andalucía, for some areas in the west had serious flooding requiring evacuation. The

The back-to-back storms of Leonardo and Marta resulted in high winds, with gusts of over 100km/h, causing fallen trees, damaged infrastructure and creating hazardous conditions.  Schools in our area were closed, and many events were postponed, and the chaos that the weather caused was far reaching. For many days I could not walk Luca, it was literally too dangerous!

Similarly, after the thrashing rain there were inevitably some leaks. However, it was too dangerous for John to go up on the roof and repair the leaks. Getting up on our roof is dangerous enough in the most ideal conditions, for there is nowhere to stand safely, except on the sloping roof itself. Add to that some very dangerous gusting winds, we just had to hope that there would be no more rain until he had a chance to finally get up there. Even so, he had to do the job in two parts, hastily retreating down the ladder as the winds got stronger.

For weeks I was unable to hang the washing out to dry. Although this may seem a minor inconvenience, it is a very rare occurrence here in Spain. I am used to jeans drying in thirty minutes! To have the airer inside, near the pellet burner week after week, was frustrating. Eventually, I worked out that, when the wind was in a certain direction, a few degrees different made it impossible, I could put the airer out on the front patio, where the house provided shelter from the wind, and finally I could dry my clothes in the Spanish sun again. Last week was the first time for ages that I hung the clothes to dry on the washing line in the back patio.

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Some dear friends of ours, who have been partners for many years, decided to marry. Their wedding in Gibraltar was a very private affair, but as I had written in book 3 about a wedding in Gibraltar, I could envisage each step they took.

They decided to have a wedding celebration about a month later, and we were looking forward to celebrating with them. However, it was not to be!

Somehow, I contracted a nasty virus, whether John brought it home from work, or someone sneezed near me, I do not know, I just know that everyone is complaining about this nasty virus. However, my breathing was getting worse, and I was wheezing like an old grampus, whatever that is!

At the doctors I was immediately given an injection, in my backside, and put on a nebuliser. Five medications were prescribed and I was sent home to rest and recuperate, no wedding celebration for me!

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Now, finally, a little news about book four. I am writing it, not at the moment, this blog is about the most I can manage, as I need to get on that sofa and rest. But book four is taking shape and I have written at least one fifth of it, and I am looking forward to finishing it, as I think it is a good one!

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So, dear friends, keep happy and healthy and I hope this winter is being kind to you, wherever you are.