Just a very quick post from a very sunny UK to wish all the lovely followers of my blog a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
I have met so many fabulous new people through my blog and I really appreciate all the comments you have made throughout the year. During the last couple of weeks there have been quite a few new followers, and I would like to thank you for your support.
I have spent the last three weeks with my daughter and brand new grand daughter, Sophia Alice. Sophia arrived four weeks early so it was a bit of a rush to get over here from Spain – I had anticipated arriving today (Christmas Eve) together with David, who I have just picked up from the airport.
It has been a privilege to be here to welcome Sophia into the world. My time here has involved a great deal of role play, with me being Mikey and Mikey being Daddy. He never stops talking for a moment, unless he is asleep, and I have to say I have found the constant chatter rather exhausting, coming from such a quiet home life. But I wouldn’t have missed this time for the world.
Baby Sophia, just a few hours old, so tiny at 5 lbs 7 oz.
Snuggled up in the blanket that I made for her
The new year will see me walking much more to prepare for my next big adventure – walking the camino Mozarabe from Málaga. There are quite a few kilos that need to be shed and a healthy lifestyle to be resumed – the usual start to the new year then!
I have just received this lovely camino Christmas greeting from my pilgrim friend from Lisbon, Aurelio Simoes that I would like to share with pilgrims past and future and with all my friends, new and old. Thanks for your interest in my blog and I hope you stay on board for the next camino.
Trepidatious traveller - camino blog 
Hi Maggie and best wishes to you too. I am a future Pilgrim and have SO appreciated all the effort you have put into your blog. It is more than I could have hoped for – very informative, entertaining, loaded with beautiful pictures and has me in awe of your tenacious spirit. Wishing you another wonderful walk in 2015. I will be following every step of your way. My walk shall be the Portuguese Camino (on my own) the second week of May – very similar to your own this year. My training will begin in January as well. I’ve never been to Europe so really looking forward to this adventure. Hopefully won’t be lost in the Eucalyptus Forests for too long. Kindest regards to you and your family. Lovely new grandchild too.
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Hi Sandy. Thanks so much for your lovely comment and I’m very glad that you have found my blog useful. I’ve just popped over to your blog and signed up and am looking forward to following your progress.
I shall be interested to know how you find the Portuguese route. What made you decide to take this route as your first camino. Will you be blogging as you go?
May be when I’ve caught up with all your posts I might find the answers to my questions. Good luck with your training and planning and very best wishes for the coming year.
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Happy Christmas and wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2015.
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Thanks Jack and more of the same back to you. Have just followed your blog and am looking forward reading your posts.
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What a frothy concoction that blanket is! cute photo! When are you going to walk?
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I shall walk in spring again Clare. Maybe a week with a friend in March on a lonely stretch and then I shall restart mid April. Nothing definite yet, except that I will walk. No travel bookings are required because I am walking from home.
How about you, are you caminoing again?
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Yes, I certainly plan to do some walking. A week or so ago I gave in to the nagging voice, printed out the 44-stage guide to VdlP from Sevilla, and drew a line on a map of Spain. Several things beyond my control have to fall into place first, but I might have an opportunity from about April 20. Otherwise I’ll plan either VdlP or the Frances in the fall. My walk this year gave me confidence in my fitness, my Spanish, and in the fact that I don’t need the security of a constant camino family, so the Camino de la Plata seems an obvious choice. Also, if not now, then when?
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Absolutely Clare, and if not you, then who? If you walk the VdlP in April, it is possible that we may coincide. Wouldn’t that be lovely.
Walking the CP gave me a lot of confidence. Just trying to shed some winter weight now and get back into shape. Suddenly April doesn’t seem so far away!
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Wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy New Year. I am still waiting for my first grandchild, but hope springs eternal.
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Thanks Bill, I do love receiving your messages. I wish you and your family a wonderful year in 2015 and who knows – it could be the year of the first grandchild. Please pass my very best wishes to Julian.
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Best wishes to you and your family from Another Walker in Portugal.
Happy Christmas and a new year full of wonderment and contentment. Martin
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Thanks Martin for your lovely message. I took your advice (I am sure it was your advice) and have planted some aloe vera barbadensis. They took a bit of a battering in very strong winds whilst I was in the UK, but I am hoping they will recover. Thanks for the info.
Wishing you and Beth a wonderful year – are you planning another camino?
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Seasons Greetings from very sunny (and hot) Sydney, Australia. Love your posts. Have acquired much info from you for our April Camino. Cheers to you and your family. Tess
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Hello Tess. Many thanks for your comment and I am very glad the blog had been helpful. Are you taking the camino Frances? Is it your first camino?
I’m now back in a very sunny Spain, where the weather is absolutely glorious. Lots of walking shall be going on in the coming weeks.
All the best for 2015
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happy Christmas Maggie and David. Lianna says neigh!!
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Merry Christmas, Maggie (and David, of course). xx
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Hello Maggie
If you are still in the UK (Bristol I guess) when I get back from Edinburgh on 1 Jan, come and say hello!
Love
Marian
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Hi Marian, I returned to Spain on 1 January, so our paths couldn’t cross on this occasion. Many thanks for keeping me updated with family news, I do enjoy receiving your mails. I hope 2015 will be a happier year for you and Anna.
Much love xx
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Congratulations with your new grand daughter. May you enjoy spending many happy hours with her. My wishes for you, an enjoyable camino in 2015 and many more beautiful photos. BOM CAMINO.
Happy New Year
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Thank you so much Johanna. I’ve already had a few months’ worth of cuddles, which will have to last me until my next visit.
Do you have another camino planned for this year?
Thanks for your company during the past year and I look forward to more conversations in the future. All the very best for 2015.
Maggie
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