OK – I admit it – I never actually received an invitation to join the Velascos on holiday – I more or less just showed up. Or, more 
accurately, my Christmas present to the family was to come to Spain and treat them to dinner at a Michelin star restaurant in Malaga. In my defence, the offer had some historical context. After Alethea was born, the Velascos and I started a tradition: I sleep over on Easter Eve and spend Easter Sunday with the family to enjoy the annual Easter egg hunt. As the girls have grown older, the focus has shifted to activities like making chocolate cheesecake, watching movies, playing games, and eating good food (always a favourite activity). In any case, it seemed like a great idea to join them for a week of theirthree month sabbatical. But was it?
accurately, my Christmas present to the family was to come to Spain and treat them to dinner at a Michelin star restaurant in Malaga. In my defence, the offer had some historical context. After Alethea was born, the Velascos and I started a tradition: I sleep over on Easter Eve and spend Easter Sunday with the family to enjoy the annual Easter egg hunt. As the girls have grown older, the focus has shifted to activities like making chocolate cheesecake, watching movies, playing games, and eating good food (always a favourite activity). In any case, it seemed like a great idea to join them for a week of theirthree month sabbatical. But was it?
The Arrival
We all arrived in Malaga on April 1 (no joke) – me by plane, the Velafamily by train. They waited for me in their VW minivan at the train station and off we went to Las Columnas – the beautiful Spanish colonial home overlooking the Mediterranean. It is a magical place. On the way to the house, stories of Velasco vacation adventures tumbled from everyone’s lips (sometimes all at the same time!) It is clear they have had a marvellous time so far. The girls and Veladad are all exquisitely tanned – Mom, not so much. They are all still friendly to one another – a good sign! So on to becoming a bad influence …
The bad influences
– trying to convince the girls that the swimming pool was, in fact, a heated pool and that their Dad ‘switched on’ the heat after their first cold plunge.
– successfully teaching the girls “I’m a pleasant mother pheasant plucker” and other potentially inappropriate tongue twisters
– whining about needing wine
And some not entirely bad influences:
– treating theVelafamily to a Michelin star restaurant meal (sea urchin with green apple foam, veal sweetbreads, curried stingray etc).Aly’s birthday cake
Interesting, but not something we feel compelled to repeat.
– shopping spree at El Corte Ingles, rounded out by refreshments – a good time was had by all!
How I was influenced– learned how to make cake ‘hard boiled’ eggs– able to join Aly’s 12th birthday celebration– helped girls make chocolate cheesecake– a visit to Alhambra– watched The Untold Story of a The Sound of Music with Velafamily– learned about Minecraft (pouring molten lava on unsuspecting virtual villagers, shearing green sheep)– learned to play Candyman– ate chicken piccata made with lemons from lemon tree in backyard– watched whipped cream get shot directly into eager mouths– spent some quality time with each Velasco and had some serious / some silly conversations– experienced the joy of watching the girls transforming into global citizens
– marvelled again at my good fortune for having these great people in my life.
Thank you Velafamily, for letting me crash your sabbatical!