Growing up August was family holiday time. In Wales the first two weeks in August was traditionally holiday fortnight. Though it may have been the last week of July and the first week of August ~ also known as miners fortnight when the mines closed down completely and the pit ponies were put out to grass for their summer holidays. Factories closed down as well. Generally growing up that was when we took the family holiday.

Now I’m retired every week is a holiday. Well. A holiday of sorts.

It’s been a funny old summer. We haven’t travelled very far, with both of us recuperating from various health issues.

I haven’t been hugely mobile which has been annoyingly restrictive and has meant no overseas trips. That is until now. To be fair trips have largely been limited to hospital, consultant , physio and chiropractor. Don’t even ask about A&E.

It’s been over 3 months since we were last in Spain. For months I’ve been in pain from a prolapse disc and walking hasn’t been easy. And despite my vanity I succumbed to a walking stick. Of course it had to be a flowery one.

The consultant and the physio said that they were surprised I wasn’t in more pain. Ha. More pain. Whilst the pain has now subsided to an manageable level, I had to tell them that was enough. So it’s been a mad old summer. And one we missed in Spain.

Not that I wouldn’t have been complaining if we had been able to travel. The heat here has been hideous ~ and there have been enough people complaining.

But we are back. It’s September.

As Tom said ‘ the old town looks the same ‘ but it has changed a bit. The roundabout that’s actually a roundabout has had structures and a water feature added and a welcome to Competa sign.

There’s been a fake house put up where I believe the donkey will be placed. Not a real one. The real one is on the other side of the valley. Braying daily. ( the donkey has in fact now returned)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I bloody love this place. I still get that buzz of excitement when I arrive at the gate. Still grumble ‘ which key is it’ on the set of jail size keychain. Still think that path needs a sweep.

The windey path does need a sweep but the plants look like they have survived remarkably well during the heat wave.

Yes. They do get a bit of water but not from the irrigation system which has been turned off. Friends check the house and water for us amongst a whole raft of other things. We would be lost without them.

Back to the irrigation – A tree rat ~ like a squirel ~ chewed one of the plastic pipes in the garden and bearing in mind the irrigation came on only for a very short time at night it resulted in us having a hideous water bill.

More for one quarter than we pay in 3/4 years ~ total.

The gardener knew we were arriving and had been in and had cut the hedge. Had shaped the olive tree and had cut the roundabout that’s not a roundabout as well as the rear banks. None of which I am safe to do these days. I’d end up rolling down the hill to the main road and beyond. Not a pretty sight. Me. Not the banks as they look great.

Can I just say the gardener isn’t in daily or weekly and does the jobs I can’t. His knowledge is brilliant and he knows the plants that should and will grow well.

When we moved in the path was a stunning lavender path which was coming to the end of its days. I tried hard to keep it but it had had its day. The problem was that it hadn’t been cut back regularly and you can’t cut back into old wood. Though I tried.

I replanted. It didn’t work so I’ve planted grasses along with creeping rosemary which is fantastic. Thanks to seeing posts from Pepperpot herbs who sell it in the Uk and from whom I have bought some for Somerset.

A few years ago I asked for the olive tree to be pruned. When asked whether I wanted it pruned for olives or looks I said both. Which whilst typical for me it was the wrong answer. It could be one or the other.

We did get a decent crop of olives which when black I would pick, prick and dry salt them. That’s if we were here ~ and it’s a tedious job.

Otherwise they would just drop and make a mess. So shape it was.

Am I happy. You bet I am. It’s now really taking shape. Pun intended.

You can now get a strong whiff of curry as you walk up the path past the olive tree. I planted three curry plants under the olive in the raised circular bed and have quickly tidied them up ~ but my attempt at topiary is rough. Just don’t ask me to trim your hair.

There’s obviously been a bit of calima ~ winds and red dust blown over the tables and chairs. Adds ‘ a clean’ to my list.

The agapanthus are over and the seed heads heavy. Some have seed heads. Some don’t. I’m sure someone will tell me why.

Just like the oleander. Some have spectacular long seed heads which when open are fluffy. That’s the correct technical term. Right?

I love the foxtail agave which I’ve mentioned once or twice before. It’s a plant that keeps on giving. Young plants have grown alongside which have been replanted elsewhere in the garden. Once the agave flowers the plant dies. This one is over ten years old and I’m hoping it doesn’t flower.

The plumeria/frangipani has flowered well again, I know I haven’t been here but I get photos of what’s flowering. Both are still in flower. . The yellow has a better scent ~ as long as you stick your nose up close. But the colours zing.

I smile when I look at many of the plants growing in the garden. This is one of them and I have grown it as an indoor plant. The waxy white flowers of the stephanotis. Not enough flowers for a bridal bouquet so Ian fear not. It’s in a large pot, a bit woody but has been flowering for over 8 years. Not continually obviously.

Another plant growing outside is a Swiss cheese plant. In Olden days – my childhood – popular indoor plants included the rubber plant , the Swiss cheese plant and a purple tradescantia. We have the latter two growing in the Mediterranean garden in Cómpeta. I never liked them indoors but they are tolerated in the garden. Unlike the clivia which was an indoor plant in my office which I loved in a pot so I and am happy to have a dozen in the gate bed.

We have 4 different jasmine dotted around the garden. This one is sambac ~ highly scented and one that is used in perfume and tea ~ an evergreen which is grown in a large pot. We also have jasmine azoricum ~ a lemon scented jasmine rambling over some black railings. It is a bit woody but a great scent. There’s a scraggy white one which I’m not sure of its name but it springs up everywhere.

One that’s in so many gardens here and in the uk ~ the star jasmine the one I can’t spell without copying it. Trachelospermum jasminoides which is ok in this garden but not a mad grower.

I’d forgotten the yellow winter jasmine which grows like fury. But it is a harsh yellow with no scent. I know. I want everything. Colour. Shape perpetual flowing and importantly scent. Fickle. Me. Yes.

I have seen a really lovely yellow with much larger flowers growing furiously down a wall in the village. I might borrow a cutting next time I pass.

This aeoniun was a broken limb from one I have in a pot. Shoved in the ground hoping for the best and ignored. It has, along with a few others taken off. It always reminds me of aliens. I have no idea why.

I’d forgotten about this. Planted in what I call mozzie avenue at the side of the house it’s another straggly plant but has such a beautiful flower. I had to recheck it’s name.~ Grewia occidentalis a shrubby plant that can be grown as a shrub or a small tree. Really pretty purple flowers. My friend Google tells me it beats fruits and it’s common name is Cross berry. Who knew? I didn’t. I’m shallow. I just liked its look.

I’d like to say that’s it’s not all been gardening or house stuff. Or paying bills.

But unusually we haven’t been off the mountain the whole time we have been this visit.

Am I complaining. Never. It’s been lovely catching up with our Spanish friends and catching up on the news of the last 3 months. It won’t be as long until the next trip. Dates and Tickets booked.

But first is a visit to Madrid.

Back home to Somerset to a log fire, long trousers and no mozzies.