From mid-July to late August the island is crowded with visitors, so when Roger has retired we plan to rearrange our visits, going there in June, early July and September. Whenever we go, we know the weather will be hot and sunny. Very occasionally there is a storm, wind or rain; then we find somewhere to write the postcards until the sun comes out again.

Initially, we stayed in Es Pujols before testing out Es Calo and finally choosing Talaya Bungalows on Platja de Migjorn. We like it because it’s quiet, peaceful and out of the way. The apartment has a lovely view of the sea framed by trees. Having an apartment with a bedroom, bathroom, sitting room/kitchen and balcony is luxurious for us.

John Astbury – of Astbury Formentera – knows us by name, as does his small team. They cheerfully go out of their way to make us welcome and put themselves out to make life easy and convenient.

When we first get there, Roger goes to the local supermarket – we have a shopping list prepared before we leave England – while I unpack. After that, our daily routine starts with me packing the beach bag and applying factor 20 sun lotion.

Although we love Illetes beach, we no longer spend our days there. Most of the tourists who also like it come from Italy, and they seem to prefer the two beds-one umbrella format. We go to Canyes beach, which is quieter.

Whichever beach we go to – and there are so many to choose from – we feel entirely comfortable with the clothes-no clothes options. We drive to the beach and set up camp; we have six sun umbrellas!

Roger sunbathes, swims and snorkels. I read, sunbathing only in the second week for half-an-hour at the beginning and end of the day. We talk to the friends we see on the beach every year. We drive home at 7pm, shower, and eat at home or go out for dinner, either on our own or with friends.

Our first evening is always spent at the Capri restaurant in Es Pujols, where we have paella; that’s our tradition. We like it because we see the same people there year after year. The waiters are professional, hard-working, smartly dressed and helpful. The food is excellent – flavoursome, freshly prepared and carefully served.

We also like La Tortuga, near Ca Mari, where Roger generally chooses the pork with apples and I have the lamb, but almost all of the other restaurants on the island are good, too. If I can manage it, I have my dessert at the waffle bar in Es Pujols. The waffles are made while you wait with fresh batter. Fruit is delicious, tasting so much better than it does in England.

Over the years we’ve explored the local museum, the underground caves, the markets at Es Pujols and El Pilar, and the capital, Sant Francesc. We regularly take a leisurely drive at night to the lighthouse at La Mola. That’s still an eerie experience, driving down the long straight road under the beams of the lighthouse.

Homes were cheap on Formentera many years ago, when we thought about buying an apartment there. But to do it now, we’d need to be millionaires. And to justify the cost, we’d need to spend longer than three weeks in every year on the island.