I decided it was time to scan some photos of my time in Spain, and make a montage for 'posterity'.
I moan about how 'hard' life is, and forget how lucky I have been, just because the 'end' is harder than I ever hoped or planned. When I look back on these times, I suddenly feel very humble, and grateful too.
Before I met Ellie.
ENTERTAINING FOLKS:1987.
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img005.jpg)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img006.jpg)
Ellie, Chippie, and the best inlaws a man could ever ask for
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/wink.gif)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img017.jpg)
Thank you, Ma and Pa, for taking me as your son, and entrusting the future of your beautiful daughter in my hands. I am forever grateful, and miss you so much.
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img016.jpg)
Yes, this Lady came into my life, and made me the happiest man on earth
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/wink.gif)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img011.jpg)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img010.jpg)
Me. on the same day her photos were taken
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/biggrin.gif)
( I was 43 then
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/smiley_wtf.gif)
)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img012.jpg)
Doing this, made it possible to buy our first home together,
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img004.jpg)
and here we are on the balcony of our apartment in Cap Salou:
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img007_1.jpg)
Our apartment didn't have a kitchen, so I built this one for Ellie:
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img018.jpg)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img019.jpg)
And then we were married
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/smile.gif)
Happiest day of my entire life
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/wink.gif)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img002_1.jpg)
My best man whom, I am sad to say, has drunk his life away..Lord alone knows where he is...somewhere in Australia, so I hear. I miss him
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/frown.gif)
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img003.jpg)
Five years later, we sold the apartment, and bought this un-lived-in chalet:
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/house.JPG)
The living room as it was when we moved in:
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img013.jpg)
The balcony which was outside the end of the living room above:
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img015.jpg)
And the kitchen, also as it was on day 1.
![](https://images.fiero.nl/2010/img014.jpg)
And now, 10 years on, I have rebuilt almost everything, and Ellie has made it into the most beautiful home for us and our doggies
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/wink.gif)
God how lucky I have been, and still am.
Thanks for sharing this journey with me. Feeling a bit nostalgic right now, seeing how the World is going, and how much we have managed on very little money. It CAN be done, if you love somebody enough
![](https://www.fiero.nl/forum/smilies/smiley_thumbsup.gif)
Nick
[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 10-31-2010).]