Last weekend it was culture on the Balcon and this weekend just past it was the turn of sport to take the spotlight. More specifically, athletics, with members from clubs across the Malaga province coming to take part in the Carrera Urbana Feria de Nerja. This event is now in its 43rd year, raises money for a leukaemia charity and has a set of road races, varying in length from 1km to 10kms and a ‘marcha’ – walking race of the heel toe variety as seen in the Olympics – also of various lengths and for different age groups.

The stage was erected the day before and blue lines were painted on various roads to indicate the route, but everything else appeared on Sunday morning. Like all aspects of Spanish life, children are involved from a young age and lots of the participants were juniors, some not possessed of what you might think as an athletic build. In other words, even kids who were quite chunky were out there taking part and seemingly enjoying it. The seniors races were a real mix of serious athletes and others who were clearly in it for the fun including one lady in a blue glittery tutu and a unicorn horn headband and another running with her dog! The Balcon was the start and end of the race, and with motorcycle outriders, an excitable commentator, music from a live band and lots of family and club groupings, the whole area thronged with activity. One of the races was sponsored by a fruit company – their freebies of little pots of chopped mango were very popular! Having wandered around we managed to get a seat for a drink at the Balcon Hotel – good view, sunshine, beer – not quite the Holy Trinity but it’s good for us!

The road race is the first event of the Feria, which doesn’t get properly underway until Wednesday. The fairground has been under construction for a few days and the gateway is in place, ready for its illumination on the first night of Feria. Talking illuminations, the decorative lights across the streets have been erected, replacing the shade canopies. Surely that must mark the end of summer here? Difficult to think that when the temperature is still in the mid to high twenties and it’s wall to wall sunshine!

Good news on the boiler front – our plumber is coming next Monday to install the better boiler we decided on and fix it properly to the wall. On the other hand, our UK builder who is doing work on our roof whilst we are away called today with not so great news. It appears that many of the tiles on the front of our roof are shot and held together with mastic, so there’s some serious retiling needed. Might as well do it while there is scaffolding up and after all, it’s only money! Gulp!!