A postcard from Spain

I would have liked to hop on a plane to Malaga then drive up into the Andalucian mountains and buy a real postcard from Ronda, but you know how it is... Real life does have this habit of getting in the way of art sometimes.

Besides, there's plenty of Spain to be had in England's green and pleasant (damp and dreary) land if you put your mind to it. Music is great transportation. I slipped on some flamenco passion and before I knew it I was peering over the shoulder of my character X as she wrote her first message to the equally mysterious Y while sitting in a window alcove of a 17th century hotel in Andalucia.

What was she writing and to whom?

If you missed the beginning of their journey last week then you can revisit their story here and on Darcy's blog where over fifty similar stories began their first chapters last week.

Viva Espana

Well, I've been back a week already and I'm sure you're all sick of the sight of all the Madrid images I've skillfully manipulated and tweaked.... images that capture the heat and magic of the Spanish capital and fill your senses with flavour and scent.

What? You've missed them? Surely not... Has Blogger been playing up again?

OK, I confess, I have been a bit tardy. What can I say? It's not laziness I can assure. I'm just swamped with the life of the entrepreneur, and believe me that is an exciting, if hectic place to be. I seem to have come through something of an epiphany in the past few months. I have so much more belief in myself, determination and ambition. I'm growing more than I did in teenage growth spurt (I always was a bit of a late developer!).

I have much more to say on the subject, but that is for another post... I have another chapter of a business book I need to go and read right now!

But, before I shoot off, I must share that this week I am hosting the Inspiration Avenue Challenge. Naturally, my thoughts turned to Spain for our theme, seeing as I still felt that country's rays on my skin and tasted the Sangria. Unfortunately, with time not being on my side, all I managed was a background! It was supposed to have a painting of my own of a flamenco dancer, but I had to borrow a couple and have a play in PhotoShop instead. One is a painting by the talented Mai Griffin and the other a photograph from unknown source. Good old PhotoShop eh?

Below is my background - if you enlarge and save for the high res version, you are welcome to have a play and share what you come up with - just come back here and pop in a link to your creation!

Next week I might just get around to sharing some photos! Oh and did I mention that I bumped into some pop stars while I was out there.... Every teenage girl's dream to turn a corner and find yourself surrounded by The Wanted. If only it had been Take That.... ahh.....