At the end of Windmill Street

Today, at about 4.30, I called the removals people. My possessions leave the UK on the10th June; I leave soon after, for my new home in Spain.

 I wonder if I'll sleep better having taken that step?  I doubt it - it's all incredibly stressful at present, and the house move is just an exta thing. I am looking forward to the drive across Europe, top down, sun in my hair, in mid June.  A new life. But first, the old one to attend to.

I keep waking in the early hours worrying. It's a big step, leaving UK for good. I know it's right for me, I've never been "English" British, and I deserve my place in the sun. So I have to speak Spanish? So? So I have to learn. I can.

But there's just so much baggage, and the details haunt me in the small hours. I wake at 4.30, worrying about how to buy a ticket from Madrid to Beijing, how to get to Madrid, how to live, manage the transition. I then toss and turn for an hour, fall fitfully asleep, wake tired each day for work, tiredness making it a stressful job.

This summer looks hell. I have to get through it somehow. I can, but it's a bit scary.

Mid May: Leave China, arrive UK

Go to Isle of Man, do presentation

Later May: Go back to UK, sort out mail and stuff

Visit favourite aunt and AP

End May: Go Holland, do training course

Early June: Return UK, empty house, send stuff off

Mid June: Drive to Spain

Open House, receive possessions

Bank, utilities, etc. in halting Spanish

End June: Go Holland, training

Early July: Go England (now with no home)

Early july: Return Spain, cloise up new home

Early July: Return China

Mid July on: prepare for massive training course.

Sometime: get back to UK for Daughter's graduation, no UK house, no UK car .....

All the while managing a complex training programme across the world by internet and mobile phone

So yes, I wake up worrying. Next year Escamillo, I will be OK.

Cuevas do San Marco is in the north of the region of Antequera, the nearest large town. Antequera itself is tucked behind the first range of mountains between Malaga and the interior, and dominated by a Moorish fort of fine proportions. Antequra region is a large plain of rich soil, and is surrounded by olive trees and cereal crops. At over 800 square kilometers, Antequra is the biggest municipality in the province of Malaga, bordering the province of Cordoba to the north, next to El Torcal mountain range, and altogether one of the most beautiful rural areas in all of Andalucía.

The municipality of Cuevas is in the country along the banks of the River Genil some 30 kilometers from Antequera, about 50 miles from the Costa del Sol which starts to the south of Malaga, the nearest large airport. Granada and Cordoba are within an hour or so on excellent roads, Seville less than two hours.

Cuevas itself is a working Spanish town, not a tourist trap, but nice enough for all that. It boasts a good selection of restaurants and bars, and has a fair range of shops and banks, as well as the facilities you expect of a small town in Spain. And naturally, there is a market.

And from Monday, it is the location of Las Torres del Beachhutman., at the end of Windmill Street. Oddly, in his teens, Beachhutman lived in Windmill Street in Lija, Malta.

Feels like coming home.

I didn't want land. I didn't want a garden. I didn't want a detached house. Both because I am going to be away from home for longish periods (detached, isolated, country houses are vulnerable, and gardens grow) and because of the maintenance costs. This is long term planning; it has to be a low cost house to run when I am earning less - or nothing.

So Windmill street was perfect. As you see, it is deep in a Spanish town, and not the sort of road that gets a lot of passing traffic !

Yes, untidy with aerials and wires, it's a living town. And built for cool, temperatures in the summer are often 40 C, but it doesn't freeze at nights even in winter. The one major concession to hot summer nights that I had to have was the roof terrace. OK, from the roof you basically get a view of roofs to the north, albeit pretty Spanish roofs:

In the middle distance you can see the low hills of the country around the town, pocked with tens of thousands of olive and almond trees. Yes, I have already planned the paintings! To the south (ish), is the view up the hill into town, and out past it to the high hill of Sierra de Malhombre:

But the joy of the roof - fully equipped with barbeque, naturally - is the studio that opens on to it. Here is my studio, study, and third bedroom.

Actually, I think it may be my bedroom. The master bedroom below is the size of the roof terrace, cool, and opens onto the Calle. Outside town, apart from the olive groves, is the huge lake reservoir of Lake Iznajar, seen below at quite low water.

And yes, a golf course is coming to Cuevas - although the nearest one is only 20 km away at present. While I don't do golf - cries of "Yet!" are ignored - I do do birding. A short drive away is Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, home to Europe's second largest breeding colony of Flamingos.

All I really need to make it perfect is a boat.......

I also know very well that since I will be away for longish periods, the house will be empty, unless......

Unless I let it out. But I don't want to "let it out". From June it is my home - our home, not a holiday home. I can't play that game of booking my own weeks in my own house, as some letting owners do. Only people known to me through work or recommended by friends will be invited. I reserve the right to say no.

But I would like people to use it. First because that way the post doesn't pile up, and bills can be handled. So I'll find a way. Maybe pals here can help me formulate some ground rules? Here is what I have in mind.

• It isn't free; A small euro cash per day payment is to be left with a local contact or in another way. No cheques, no cards, no bank transfers. This fund will deal with local bills and the insurance on the property and contents.

• Leave the place as you would wish to arrive at it. On day of departure, linen and towels must be laundered, beds must be made, fridge must be emptied, kitchen and bathroom must be cleaned.
• Breakages to fittings (mirrorrs, cupboard doors, tiles, and so on) , equipment, (microwave, kettles, etc,) must be replaced or agreed contribution made after visit.
• If it's locked, leave it locked.
• Needless to say you don't "lose" stuff like cutlery, towels, plates, by taking it out of the house on picnics!
• Broadband use is included in rental, but must not be used to download music, video, or peer-to-peer files.
• Windows and doors to be secured on leaving, and key returned to .....

I want it to be a nice place for my friends to use when I am not there. But a few "agreements"seem sensible.

Don't they?