Notes from a small island ...

After the success of our long winter break early last year, we decided to do it again in 2018.  By 'success' I mean avoiding the cold, miserable, grey days that characterise much of January and February in northern England.

So we're back in the Canary Islands for the best part of two months, although staying on a different island to last year. 

Of all the many places I've ever been in the world, I think the Canaries have one of the very best winter climates.  We're around 5 degrees north of the Tropic of Cancer, and it's very mild - warm even - but without the high humidity of the tropics.   The sun's bright, the sea's crystal clear and at night we can see many more stars than at home, due to the clearer air and lower light pollution.

The local flora is stunning, even at this time of year.  It's just a very nice place to wander around.

flowering vine growing wild on scrubland - naturally, I took a cutting ....

We're staying in an hotel, so we get two meals a day prepared for us, the internet connection is excellent, if a little expensive, and more than sufficient for streaming and work purposes. 

So I'm able to work from here pretty much as usual.  Sitting on the terrace, I can put in a few hours in the early morning and the same again in the evening, without interfering with the rigours of rest and relaxation.   I don't have too much work on at the minute, but even the couple of smaller projects I'm dipping into should bring in enough cash to cover the costs of being out here.

There were several busy days before we left home, what with preparing PAYE, VAT and personal tax returns etc, and generally clearing the decks before we travelled, but now we're here there's very little to stress us out.

I've been catching up on reading the financial news and blogs etc.  The markets are off to a flying start in 2018 - I just hope it all doesn't end in tears later in the year.

Anyway, that's enough for now - there's some serious dossing around to be done ...