I have just returned to Marbella from a two week trip to London, Northampton and Nottingham, England, and boy is it good to be back. I have lived in Spain for 15 years, but still enjoy a trip back to the old country at least once a year to stock up on M & S goodies, a bit of culture and even a trip (or 12) to the country pubs around Nottinghamshire where my father lives.

We arrived at Luton Airport in mid-June and stayed in Hertford for a night where we visited family.  June really does show England at its best (except when it´s pouring with rain of course), and the fields full of yellow rape, the scenery and greenery around Hertford are among the best in England.  After a night in this very English town, staying at the beautiful Salisbury Arms in the High Street, we set off early the next day for ´The Smoke´.

After successfully navigating London´s underground system, (you can tell I am from up north, as the underground always sends me spiralling into a state of panic and confusion), we arrived at Victoria.  Having booked tickets 6 months previously to see Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre, more panic ensued when my partner realised she had lost the tickets between Hertford and London (or Spain and London, which somewhat limited our search options).  With 5 hours to go before the show, luckily we had the number of the ticket agency still with us which, after being put on hold for 30 minutes, managed to re-issue tickets directly to the theatre for us to pick up before the show.

First problem solved, we traipsed the streets around Victoria in search of The Georgian House Hotel, which we duly found some 40 minutes later.  Nestled in the back streets of Victoria, our small but sweet hotel was welcoming and comfortable and had the cheekiest Aussie receptionist in London.

After unpacking and showering, my partner discovered another pocket in her suitcase and guess what?? Yes – the theatre tickets were in there all along.  Now although she insists she had never seen this ´hidden pocket´ in the case before, she had to confess it unlikely that the tickets had flown in there on their own.  So now we had 4 tickets for Billy Elliot (albeit for the same two seats).
After meeting a couple of friends in Victoria for pre-theatre drinks, it dawned on me that you can actually have a good time in London without spending shed-loads of money.  Ok – I realise you won´t eat in the best West End restaurants or drink in the plush hotel bars on a budget, but there are some great meal deals and half price happy hours to suit all pockets.  We met up at 4pm and managed to navigate our way round three pubs and a cocktail bar, all serving half price drinks.
Pub meals and bar snacks are available all day, and such is the competition in London, that everyone seems to be trying to out-price each other (offers of two main meals for 7.99 was quite common).   You´re not going to get Lobster Thermidor and a bottle of Cristal champagne for that but London on a budget really can be done.  London prices remind me a lot of Marbella and Puerto Banus prices – you can spend a fortune or live on a shoestring –depending on where you choose to eat and drink.

We ate the next day in a swish bar/brasserie that was offering any gourmet salad plus a glass of wine for just 5 pounds sterling.  Obviously we had a bottle of wine which made it more expensive but hey, the food was cheap! Our hotel cost 89 pounds per night including full English or Continental breakfast.

After staggering into the theatre after a couple of hour´s speed-drinking (well we were on holiday after all), we had the most amazing seats at the front of the upper dress circle.  TIP – If you order a glass of wine at the interval, it will cost you at least 5 pounds a glass!  The show was fantastic.  I had wanted to see Billy Elliot for a long time, after first seeing the film many years ago.  The story struck a chord with me, being from a mining area in the north of England, and it really bought back memories of the 1984 miner´s strike.  The dancing was electric and the show was beautifully performed throughout, and the sets were amazing. There were plenty of tears, both happy and sad, so remember your Kleenex if you go to see Billy Elliot.  I think the show finishes next March/April, so if the chance to go, you need to book soon.

Next day, after a great breakfast at the hotel, we trooped off early to the Trooping of The Colour at Buckingham Palace.  To celebrate the Queen´s official birthday, her regiments and guards march along the mall to Horse Guard´s Parade.  The Irish Guards received the Colour this year, and were led by their mascot, an Irish Wolf Hound.  The music, the pageantry and pomp and ceremony surrounding Trooping the Colour is wonderful.  We arrived at the Mall at about 8.30am, which was a good two and a half hours before the Queen was due, and had a fabulous view of the whole proceedings.  Two hundred and fifty horses were involved in the parade, and some of Europe´s finest soldiers and horsemen.  Old British warplanes and The Red Arrows soared overhead at the end of the processions, as the Queen and family took the salute from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Tired and footsore, we retreated to the local pub – ´Bag of Nails´ – just up the road from the Palace.  After a couple of refreshing beers, we set off to see the Princess Diana Memorial in Hyde Park.  After another afternoon of sight-seeing and navigating the increasingly-busy underground system (with trepidation), we arrived safely back at the Georgian House for a well-earned siesta.
Next day we drove back up to Hertford for a night and then on to Nottingham, where my father lives.  After visiting Robin Hood´s tree (yes really), we took a river trip down the Trent with my old friend, Mark who lives on a narrow-boat.  The barbecue was predictably rained-off but we managed to sail down the river past some of the most picturesque villages in Notts.  No river trip is complete without a few glasses of real ale in the country pubs en route, and the sun did manage to peek through after an hour or two.  Sitting on the river bank with the swans gliding past and the sun shining, reminded me of everything that was good about England – until we went to pay the bill.  When wine get so expensive?  Four quid a glass for some old plonk that had probably been open a week!!  Nottingham was starting to prove more expensive than London, Marbella and Puerto Banus.

After a few days relaxing and enjoying life in the Midlands, and after a long-promised trip to Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak (yes that is Robin Hood´s tree), we met up with friends in Nottingham city centre to watch the British Lions v South Africa Rugby Test –what  a match!  We almost did it guys – losing just 26-21 at the end of the day.  We then ambled down to The Trip to Jerusalem, which is the oldest inn in England – dating back to 1189 AD and is built into the castle walls.  Notice my historical tours of Notts always end up in the pub!!

So last Sunday saw me leaving for East Midlands Airport and my flight back to Malaga.  I had checked in online for two reasons.  Firstly, apparently if you don´t check in online with Ryanair you have to pay 40 pounds at the airport, and secondly I was under the impression it would speed things up.  Friends had told me that if you check in online, you will glide through the check-in process and not have to be at the airport so early. Wrong!! We arrived about 90 minutes before the plane was due to take off and then waited in the online check-in queue for nearly an hour. Luckily I weighed my case when I arrived at the airport and it was 2kg overweight (you are only allowed 15kg with Ryanair).  My rucksack was 4kg below the limit (you are allowed 10kg for hand luggage) so I had to transfer 2kg worth of clothes from case to cabin bag. (Irritating but a fact of Ryanair life).

Having lost my watch a week before, I wasn´t overly concerned as I thought I had plenty of time to whizz through the queue.  After buying a few magazines, newspapers and a bottle of water airside, I was leisurely looking at the flight TV monitor to discover my Malaga flight was already boarding.  Yikes!  So I rushed to the boarding gate only to be told that the plastic bag of magazines, newspapers and soft drinks had to go inside my rucksack or it would have to be left at the gate.  Very irritated by now, I tried every way to stuff the reading material and bottles of water into my bag to no avail, as it was already full of clothes which were too heavy for my case.  What difference does it make?  I mean if you are carrying so many kilos in a bag and so many kilos in your case, it all goes on the plane doesn´t it??

Hot and harassed I took my cramped seat on the plane.  Engrossed in my magazine, the drinks trolley came round and I was informed that spirits were two for one, so if I ordered a vodka and tonic, for example I would get double bubble for my 5 pounds 50, and receive a second vodka absolutely free. ´Ok great, I´ll have one thanks, and an extra tonic´.  ´That will be 9 pounds 10p madam´. What??  Why?? Well the offer is for spirit only, for two tonics we charge 3.60. (Of course – silly me!!!!)

Why do budget airlines insist on making life so miserable for travellers?   Massive queues, even when you have bothered to check in online, rip-off prices and misinformation from the minute you book.  And hey, a little bird tells me that from October, Ryanair will also be asking you to print your own baggage tags at home.  What next?  Perhaps we could fly the planes too?  All money-saving measures for Ryanair, but do we really see it reflected in the prices they charge? I don´t think so.

So all in all, a wonderful trip back to Blighty, but wow am I glad to be home. The first thing I did when I arrived (after hugging my scruffy little dog, Barney of course) was go for a swim in the sea.  There is nothing quite like a long walk down the paseo in Marbella, followed by a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean to make you appreciate living here.  My favourite walk is between Marbella and Puerto Banus, along the extended promenade where the sea laps the shore.

Summer is now upon us and there´s no better time to visit the beach clubs and beach bars on the Costa del Sol in Marbella and Puerto Banus.  Part of my heart will always be in England but Andalucia is one of the best places to live in the world.  Not only are we blessed with 320 days of sunshine every year, but the beaches, the Sierras and the beautiful cities, such as Seville and Cordoba are only a short drive away from the coast.  The Costa del Sol, including Marbella and Puerto Banus offer visitors everything and I for one, feel blessed to live in this tiny slice of paradise.