What weather! What skies! What lovely mornings and pretty sunsets on the terrace! And what of the “new pair of legs”? Well, they don’t belong to me (although my happy feet can be seen lolling on a chair in the photographs). No, the new legs to which I refer have come all the way from Australia (although mine also have come from Australia – just not recently); you might recognise that they are Roland’s. Our old friend wasn’t joking when he promised to bring the sunshine with him. And the people jetting off to other climes will be missing out on our perfect English summer.

Actually, yesterday’s gorge walk bore not the slightest similarity to the Australian horror film called “Wolf Creek”. Indeed, it was a pleasant walk from the pretty white village of Frigiliana, up in the mountains, down to Nerja by the sea (where we are staying). We walked over heart-shaped rocks on the riverbed and clambered up higher paths to avoid the larger boulders and the dangerous outcrops of rocks that would carry a waterfall in the wet season; and we didn’t meet any murderous madmen – just a concerned Dutch couple who warned that Chris and Geoff wouldn’t be able to go on or get back if they continued their course down the rocky gorge.

Down on the road running along the edge of the lower part of the riverbed we reached an almond grove, and we were admiring the vine-covered entrance when a ferocious dog appeared from behind the gate and barked menacingly at us.

“Woof Creek” said my husband with a smile.

I laughed whilst Geoff looked a bit nonplussed – my brother-in-law may not have heard of “Wolf Creek”, or simply, he may not have heard at all  as he is a tad deaf!  Meanwhile the chihuahua continued to bark until we were out of sight!

As yet we haven’t had the opportunity to “Chat a matador” but we have chat a harpist on the Balcon de Europa, (Nerja, Southern Spain), also a wonderful singer (we now have two of his romantic CDs!); and we’ve tried on hats (for fun), replaced my stolen pink knapsack (the thieves must have been disappointed to find only my jacket and jumper inside!), and replaced my old jacket and jumper with more glamorous Spanish ones!

We chatted some fat cats lazing on the Balcon, also a gorgeous little dog that was happy to dance on its hind legs for us. And we happy – like everyone else here (except for the thieves with my old knapsack!) – because it is warm, sunny and beautiful here whilst it is cold and wintry at home. In case you are wondering, “we” are my sister Mary and her husband Geoff, Chris (my better half) and me.

Have you ever been to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland? Have you ever been to my friend Lorelle’s house at Buddina? If your answer to those questions is “No” and “No”, then you should and could – it’s beautiful here and Lorelle does Airbnb so you can book online… just not for the next two weeks because I’m here house-sitting with Stefan, another of Lorelle’s friends, while she is away. A lovely German girl called Katrin is with us for a few days and we’re all doing our own thing.

My “thing” is waking early and going for a long walk or cycle ride along the path that runs parallel, but higher than, the beach; of course it gets hot so I come back for a swim in our pool; then after lunch, what could be nicer than an hour or so spent at Kawana Shopping Centre? Shopping? Well, yes, that too, but the main reason most people go to the shopping centre is for a cool down in wonderfully air conditioned surroundings (one step through the door and we all go “Ah”). You get hot again as soon as you step out and go to the car park so the pool is most welcoming after “shopping”. Then it’s time for another walk along the beach before dinner, and I delight in seeing the happy faces of the people coming off the beach – the swimmers, surfers, kite-flyers and sun bathers – or the families on bikes, or the singletons keeping fit. An added pleasure comes from taking Chris with me on my walks – on the phone!

Tomorrow morning you’ll be able to find me on the calmer estuary side of Point Cartwright – fishing! I guess it sounds like a holiday. What about work? Painting? Writing? Yes, yes, yes, I know. All the gear is out on the verandah waiting… just for a few days while I enjoy feeling like being on holiday.