A look at 2018

Our year has been mixed. In early January, I performed a graceful pirouette on the eight steps outside our apartment I have safely descended thousands of times, and ended up in hospital. I now have a titanium plate in my ankle to add to the various hardware located in my body. (Fun in airports). I was immobile for the whole spring migration season, which was frustrating.

Juani’s health has been delicate all year, and she is not really up to a lot of travelling. We did, however, get to England in September to enjoy the splendid wedding of niece Emily and Tom, at Cambridge. It was my first visit to my native land for three years, and I was shocked to find an overcrowded, divided, sad nation, worrying itself silly over the idiotic and unnecessary business of Brexit.

Back home, I’m glad to say that family matters are looking up, with eldest son Emilio back from a worrying six months in Afghanistan.

Granddaughters Conchita and Noelia have both graduated, and Marta is the next to go to university. Little Aizkoa is a bundle of fun, and Iñaki and Unai are constants in our life. Johanna now has work, which has improved – if complicated her lot. Laly copes wonderfully with her MS.

I still find time to get out birding once or twice a week, and write my column in the local rag. I also get to the bar whenever Real Madrid are on the telly, and follow their mixed fortunes (currently poor) as avidly as those of Donny Rovers (not doing too badly) and Yorkshire cricket (could be worse): Sad, or what?

The photograph is of (almost – Juan’s wife Carmen was in the loo!) all the family at Juani’s 76th.