Easy like Sunday morning

I love Sunday mornings. Sitting on my terrace drinking fresh coffee, with the sun shining through the trees on the golf course and the sound of the water cascading down through fountains outside - sheer bliss. Sunday is a day for being selfish. A day for doing exactly what you want - having a lay in and not feeling guilty, reading the Sunday papers or enjoying a few drinks before lunch at the local. I like to walk Barney on Cabopino Beach after breakfast (Barney is the dog, not the husband), go home for a shower and then either cook for friends at home or enjoy some of the fantastic local restaurants. A particular favourite is the excellent Santiago del Calvario Restaurant in Alhaurin el Grande. Elegant and welcoming with ornate Moroccan decor and superb food, this is something of a Sunday treat par excellence. Boasting an innovative menu with home-made delights including chicken liver terrine, the best roast beef you will eat in Spain and some deliciously naughty desserts, Santiago´s is a jewel among inland restaurants. What I love about living in Andalucia is the diversity of things to do when you are not working. Whether you are a lover of the countryside, a golf enthusiast (yawn), a footie fan (yes), or simply an afficionado of fine food, wine and good company (that´s me), you won´t find a better region in Europe to put down roots. So with that in mind, I am just going to half prepare lunch, and stroll over to the park for a few ´liveners´ (as my dad refers to them) before the rest of the family arrive for their Sunday roast. As long as the sun keeps shining, Autumn is the best time of year in Spain - and I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else. Santiago del Calvario is situated in Alhaurin el Grande. Telephone for reservations - 95 211 2602.