It's rather strange that this is our first "proper" Monday. Normally Mondays are our rest day. Horses are walked or hacked out, riders have the chance to unwind and we explore the local countryside or lounge around our courtyard reading trashy novels.

Last Monday, if you remember, was a competition day after the Saturday washout so we missed out and todays challenge is to make up for it.

Part of the joy of renting a house in the white town on the hill behind the showground is the slice of Spanish life that you get the chance to experience. There is a supermarket where you will meet every Sunshiner Tourer staying in Vejer de la Frontera and loads of tiny specalist food shops; bakers, pork/sausage/beef butchers, fruit & veg and fishmongers where you can try out your Spanish and buy delicious ingredients with very few food miles.

So having got food for supper this evening with Kevin Sparrow orgainised we spent a few hours wandering around the old town peering around open doorways into hallways and courtyards decorated with wonderful blue and white tiles. So if you are thinking of coming to the Montenmedio and don't fancy a hotel then we can highly recommend the holiday house experience.

One of the things that strikes you about the Sunshine Tour is the friendly atmosphere. Part of this is due to the relaxed pace of life here and part due to the fact that horses and family are central to every Spaniard's heart.

Looking through the list of competitors you also see that it is very much a family affair - the Eilbergs, the Huttons, the Rawlins, the Stumpf sisters, the Barbancon sisters, the Galiza Mendes', the Lewis' and quite a few husband and wife teams.

Well time to open the wine, put the supper on and get Kevin up to speed on the news and the parking photo shot that he missed on Sunday..............