I took this picture this morning at breakfast while Mel went to get her muesli, oatmeal, yoghurt, fruit and as many other healthy options as she can fill her bucket with. I waited for less healthy stuff to arrive. Figuring: I’ve got all year to diet and sort out any heart issues, vein blockages, arterial difficulties. Oh! All year is the next 15 hours. So I just clicked my camera to upset a friend in England with whom messaging was occurring. Just to cause him some grief. Because I’m a bad and horrible person, through and through. And then I looked at the picture and, even though I know none of the people in it and, have no desire to meet them, it is a lovely photo, evocative of the total vibe here. Although being ‘new years’ here, (and possibly there) that vibe is shattered by the constant Hispano-Techno music blaring out of the PA. I invented that type of music. It’s loud, fast techno with words in Spanish. Or possibly ‘Techs-Mex’. Shame you can’t share it. Goes like this: “BOOM!!BOOM!!BOOM!!BESSA-ME-MUCHO-BOOM!!BOOM!!BOOM!!DES-PACITO…” rinse and repeat.

The party started at breakfast. As I was finishing my 3rd latte of the morning, those around me were in margeritaville, sipping mimosas or having vodka shots with their pancakes. And why not? You’re only 24 stone overweight, why not load up on beer at 9am?

By the time ‘water aerobics’ started at 12, there were 50 drunk North Americans in the pool splashing round. It was fun. But everything is fun here. Maybe I should rethink the timeshare plan. The I could come next year and probably save at least $5 on the total cost! And just for an investment of 20k. Looking better value all the time. 4000 more trips and I’d break even!!!

The worst part is, even with all the gloating and sending photos like this around to upset those in damp, dark, dismal London, we’re going home tomorrow. Noooooo…
Mel better get up to speed on spicy margaritas or there’ll be trouble.

Happy New Year all, may it bring happiness joy and (you have to say, even though no-one’s assassinated Putin yet), peace.

A xxxx