It says a lot that it’s 11am and I’ve only just crawled out of bed. I’m shattered!

Yesterday was just chaotic. Had a lovely chat and breakfast with Stephenie and Elizabeth before setting out to tackle the mayhem of the journey back. Very nice to meet you both properly! Got to Barajas Airport with bags of time to spare, only to find out that the flight had been delayed and I was likely to miss my train connection back up to York in the UK. Cue much groaning and banging of head off the wall.

Half an hour later, back breaking due to overladen rucksack (am sooo glad they don’t weigh hand luggage!) and we were on board. Madrid is unlike any airport I’ve ever been to - you have a lovely 15 minute drive before you reach the end of the runway! Gatwick came up trumps though. 20 minutes after landing, I’m cleared through customs, have collected my baggage and am running like mad to cross London. Not just trying to cross London at manic speeds, but trying to do it… in rush hour.

I wouldn’t recommend it.

However, with a couple of heavy bags and some serious barrelling through the crowds, I sprinted down the platform and JUST made it onto the train before the whistle blew. Spent the remainder of the journey talking to a couple newly back from NZ, until a bunch of my students got on at Doncaster. Kids are funny when you bump into them out of school - they either blank you completely and pretend they’re anywhere other than here, or they bounce across and want a chat. This lot were thankfully the latter type, and spent the rest of the journey grumbling that I could have squeezed them into my suitcase.

As if!

Welcome to the real world.

Last night I had the worst meal I’ve possibly ever had in my life. I ended up in a little Spanish restaurant (no surprises there, as I’m in Madrid) and found myself in a scene that wouldn’t have been out of place in Fawlty Towers. The waitress was female and had no moustache, but that’s where all differences end. She had an abrupt manner, a little Like Basil Fawlty. The menu was thrust at me, then she leaned over me with a note pad and pen tapping her foot (seriously!) until I’d made an order. She flounced back to the kitchen, re-emerging with a stale roll of bread, which she crashed down on the table so hard that the plate bounced. I didn’t dare complain! Even the fish I ate for dinner looked anxious.

Today’s been a lot of fun though. I did a lot of touristy things - Palacio Real and the Prado Museum. I still don’t like Goya. I don’t think I understand his paintings properly, and I was amused to see a terrible Rubens painting of the Duke of Lerma - it wouldn’t have been out of place as a 1950s movie poster with the way the horse looks - thus proving that even the greats can sometimes get it badly wrong. Always reassuring! Other than that, saw some awe inspiring Rembrants and Titians. Excellent stuff all round. If you want to see some pics, check out my photoblog. There are loads on there.

This evening was off to the FNAC and meeting up with Crepusculo-es.com again. Stephenie was doing a question and answer session and a book signing, and by somewhat scary arrangement, we got to perch on the side of the stage. Great for photo opportunities, but a bit scary to be up there. It was interesting seeing how they dealt with the English/Spanish language conflict - with the use of headphones for both audience and Stephenie to translate. It was a huge crowd, and the venue even had to take the seats out in order to fit everyone in.

So, in true fan-girly style, I got my book signed, have an apple and am now packing my case to come home. I’ve met some lovely people in my time here. Thanks very much to you all - and I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you all properly. You’ve all been brilliant!

Madrid is lovely, and I must have walked for absolutely miles. My feet are aching. However, I’ve had a really productive day - I’ve done all the touristy stuff and met up with Stephenie Meyer. She’s lovely and very entertaining to listen to:

Hopefully meeting up with her for a proper chat soon - would be fun to get to know her better; I liked her very much as a person.

I also met the Spanish equivalent to the Lexicon’s staff, and they’re great fun. Such good English and so very friendly. Thanks for looking after me, guys! I really appreciated it.

Considering I don’t speak a word of Spanish, I’m managing remarkably well in Madrid. I’m buying fruit in the local market, grinning idiotically when I don’t have a clue what people are saying to me, and I’ve even managed to get some tea to drink (which was a crisis this morning when I couldn’t find any. I never thought I’d be saying it, but God Bless Starbucks!) I’ve done the plazas and the cafe where Hemingway wrote. Tomorrow, I’m off to be cultured with Art and a visit to the royal palace. Life is soooo easy without the kids around - but I’m missing them. It’ll be good to get home too.

Thought you might like a picture for a change. This is the view from our kitchen window in the winter. I love the warm light coming from inside York Minster compared with the greyness of the sky around it. Gorgeous.

Click on it if you want to see a bigger version. I’m off to Madrid tomorrow, so more pics to follow as soon as I’ve settled in!