All Change?

With today's forecast similar to yesterday's (rain and more rain) we decided to tough it out and see whether there was another dramatic change mid-afternoon. Sure enough, as the day progressed, the local forecast changed to some sunshine which, although nowhere near as strong as the day before, did make it much more bearable.

As the week has progressed, most of the Saga louts that were here have been replaced by younger couples and families, which has also meant that there are other children here and by 4pm, all of the kids were in the pool, splashing, swimming and playing. It's great that kids just get on with it regardless and will eventually amuse themselves, whatever the circumstances.

Megan has espied some BOYS and the girls generally have a fascination with the hotel bar and restaurant staff who all seem to have names that resemble Mexican food. Brito, Nacho... I'm just waiting for Tortilla and Quesadilla to turn up!

As it approaches the weekend, the hotel have started on laying some entertainment and around 5:30 an ageing guy with dyed black hair who looked like a rather overweight Sylvester Stallone started lugging speakers and instruments up the steps. Being a musician myself, I know what that's like so we helped him out a bit and got chatting. His name was Carlos Alberto (also the name of the Brazilian captain of the World Cup winning side of 1970 and his promo picture was about as old) and he had been in bands but was now a solo artist and this was his living. I explained I was a musician too and he gave me his Fender Stratocaster guitar to have a play with. I have to say it was one of the nicest I've ever played, with a really nice action and beautiful balance. He said if I wanted to get up and do a few songs later on that would be fine.

He'd set up underneath the TV and was competing with the Liverpool v Anzhi Makhachkala Europa League match which was always going to be an issue with several guests from the North West in attendance. I think Liverpool scored halfway through his version of "Rhinestone Cowboy" and the cheer that went up was bigger than anything he received. To be fair he was Portuguese, trying to sing in a foreign language, which must be very difficult. Hearing the words of a song sung in English for us is tricky so for non-English people it must be murder, although I'm not sure that singing "Reet Petite" as "Deet Deet Deet" was the best he could have done. However, I'm sure Spaniards must giggle when they hear me attempt "La Bamba" and I'm also sure that he is very good in his native tongue.

Towards the end of his second set he invited me up and anyone who knows me will probably be able to guess the songs I performed - American Pie, Wonderwall and Breakfast at Tiffany's - which all went down a storm and rather killed the evening for him unfortunately. Ok, the Liverpool game also finished so it wasn't all down to me, but a thought did occur to me that if that was his living, a semi-decent English musician must be able to do pretty well in holiday resorts. I don't know why there aren't more out here really.

Anyway, with two days left the forecast is now for some sunshine after some overnight rain, scheduled to stop at about 06:00 am. We'll see.