Irrigation by torchlight Rodney's birthday, 19 September, we were up at 4.30 am! We could draw water from the azeicia between 5.00 and 6.00 am. It was dark. These days it doesn't get light until around 7.30 am. The stars were amazing but there was no moon. Miguel came up from Lanjaron the previous evening and was well prepared with a miner's lamp strapped to his head. Given that it's September, when the water came there was lots. Quite often at this time of year there's not much. First we filled our domestic water tank, then our irrigation tank. That didn't take long and they are now full to the brim. Then we set about irrigating the trees which was quite fun by our feeble torchlight - I held the torch and Rodney cleared out the ditches. As usual we got pretty wet and the water was COLD but we did manage to stay on the terraces and not fall off! By 6 am we were all done. after a shower and breakfast I fell asleep on the sofa. The water came just at the right time as we had just completed the summer pruning. Quite a different birthday. Neither of us had a lot of energy for celebrating but Rodney had a Happy Birthday nonetheless. More on that later.

The first chill of autumn The first hint of autumn in the air was an excuse to try out the fireplace. Dry chestnut wood burns well and we have plenty of that. We soon had a merry blaze going. Another month and we'll be roasting chestnuts. Next, we'll try out the 'horno', the outside oven. Meantime we're doing some late summer pruning. This morning we planted four year-old almond trees that Miguel grew from seed.

Anniversary in Antequera The andalucian pueblo blanco of Antequera is a town of dolmens, churches, convents, monasteries and tapas bars on the edge of a wide fertile plain. Opening hours for the sights on Sundays are from 11 am to 2 pm. Setting out early from the cortijo we made the Neolithic dolmens and, just, the municipal museum whose treasure is the first century Roman bronze Efigio. Then, after a leisurely lunch in the plaza across from our hotel, in the quiet siesta hours we followed a route through the town taking in various palaces, churches, convents, the arab castillo and the steep winding streets with glimpses of views over the plain. Wrought iron balcons and windows shuttered against the afternoon heat everywhere.

Lost of restoration too.

The wide open veja beyond the town.

View from the walls of the arab castle.

The wooden doors of the palaces enclose green courtyards.

View from the balcony of our hotel - a restored palace. In the evening the plazas come to life. Waiters set out the tables for tapas.

View from the hotel room in the morning.

Our breakfast in the courtyard of the hotel.

Their breakfast. Also staying at the hotel was a group of four Spanish couples. The men and women breakfasted at separate tables. The mens' breakfast - San Miguel beers and jamon rolls.

September, a perfect month The crowds are thinning on the beach in Salobrena, and the mornings and evenings are delightfully cool. The builders are in the Venus apartment and we are up at the cortijo. Building work is well under way. The debris from the planters on the terrace, living room, the old tiling from the terrace, the built-in breakfast bar and seating filled a skip! The new tiling on the terrace is now three-quarters complete. The living room is being replastered where the breakfast bar and built in seats have been taken out. And the kitchen is - coming along. Yesterday we went along with Bob the Builder to choose the granite worktop. Up at the cortijo there is almost a hint of autumn in the air, especially as the walnut and chestnut trees near the house lost most of their leaves in the gales a week or so ago. In the evenings the air is crisp. No longer do we take a 'Bali-style' outside bathe from our solar shower in the evenings. Our neighbour invited us to pick his tomatoes while he away in Galicia for a week on vacation. Sun-warmed cherry, plum and marmande tomatoes straight from the vine with our pot basil are wonderful! Lunch . . . . . . with a view Breakfast. And a little work! Last week we hired a 'man with a van' to bring up the larger boxes form the garage - chest, bookcases and the grandfather clock. Today I unpacked the clock from its crate. It seems at home here and is ticking away merrily. During the move it shed a couple of pieces of wood, we haven't discovered where yet, but it's working nonetheless.