Mallorca here we come

[Baz Faz]

We have a week in Port de Soller on the north west coast. This is our first time in Mallorca and We know litle about it except that in some places there are a lot of drunken Brits. I hope we escape them.

Right. Laptop to be packed away. Taxi coming.

[auntieannie]

Have fun, mr and mrs Faz

[tzarine]

buen viaje

[Baz Faz]

Port de Soller is lovely. Our room has a small terrace looking out over the harbour. Traffic has been banned so it is peaceful and we can walk directly on to the beach. We had breakfast at a table under a palm tree and Mrs Faz enjoyed a glass of cava (which she disguied with some orange juice to make a Buck's Fizz). She has gone for a walk (a swim afterwards). I have proofs to read,

[Baz Faz]

Mrs Faz has returned and reported her camera has stopped working because it is too hot.

[OnlyMark]

How did you get there from the airport? Normal bus?

I presume Mrs Faz knows the following - "The bay and the estuary of the river which comes to an end here attract little egrets, Muscovy ducks, huge flocks of herring gulls, greylag geese and mallard ducks. The diversity of breeds in the duck and geese population suggests that most of the original birds had escaped from captivity."

[Baz Faz]

Mark, because of my foot we didn't catch a bus (or 2) but took a taxi (60€).

The river does indeed come to an end here. There is just a murky channel and I'm not sure that it isn't sea water. The only waterbirds visible are mallards.

Mrs Faz has gone for a walk round the harbour to the lighthouse. I am confined to our room checking galley proofs. I have almost finished Cold War, my first published novel. It was published in 1978 (I think) and I haven't read it since then so I find it interesting. In the UK it was first published by Faber, then Collins and finally Ostara (in the USA by Scribners). In theory there should be no need for me to check anything but strangely enough I have come across a couple of errors. They are very minor (like using by instead of but). I wonder why proof readers and editors have never picked them up.

Mrs Faz worries that I am working instead of having a holiday but I find it great. There are no distractions. I don't have to shop or cook or go to the allotment or answer the phone or see who is at the front door or stop and chat to people when I step outside.

Right. To work.

[OnlyMark]

I've still got good feet but I'm done with buses. It'd be a taxi for me.

[Baz Faz]

Today we went from the Port de Soller to the town of Soller, about 3 km inland. There is an old wooden tram connecting the two places. It used to be locals who used the tram; now it is only visitors. We liked Soller town which has some nice buildings and a sense of being in Spain. The port where we staying is charming but honestly it could be elsewhere in Spain or in Italy or Greece. We were going to take a taxi back. If there are two of you the taxi is cheaper than the tram. We went to the station (where the taxi stand is) and there was a taxi. There was no driver. So when a tram arived we took that and a man was made to get up so I (with my cane) could have a seat. The station at Soller is very interesting. It has a gallery of Miro paintings and another gallery of Picasso ceramics. Both are free. We had a picnic lunch on a wall outside the church. Mrs Faz had a tuna sandwhich; I had a Serrano ham sandwich. In the bottom of the paper bags were potato crisps and a twist of foil with olives. Deliicious. And when we returned to our hotel we found a bottle of Cava sparkling wine (because it is Mrs Faz's birthday) in our bedroom.

[auntieannie]

And a very happy birthday to mrs Faz

[Baz Faz]

Last night we had dinner at our hotel. After a couple of small starters we enjoyed a large sea bass which had been grilled and one fillet separated (which was useful as Mrs Faz does not like dealing with fish bones). At the end of the meal Mrs Faz was given a small cake with a candle for her to blow out.

Now she has gone for a walk before it gets too hot. I shall be working. Yesterday I was emailed two covers for me to choose between for the first of my five Cody books that will be republished.

Now it is back to checking the galley proof of Big Bear, Little Bear. Since this was published in 1981 (I think) by Faber, then republished by Collins, Ostara and Scribners you'd think there would be no errors. I mean, it would have been seen by proof readers and editors at all these publishing houses. Yet what did I find? Someone described as a fink. It should be link, not at all the same.

Right, I have opened the door to our balcony. A little breeze is blowing in. I can hear voices from the beach in front of the hotel. No sounds of traffic as a wise council has closed the road to everthing except bicycles.

To work.