Explanation…

Just in case any of you wonder what has happened to me over the next few weeks, let me explain… My husband and I live in Spain, but each year around Christmas time we fly back to England to spend time with our 4 sons and their families, and to catch up with old friends.

This year we will be there a little longer than usual, almost all of December and January. I do not take our laptop with us when we go, and do not have lots of spare time when we are there, so I am expecting my blogs will lapse till we return..

I shall miss the input from those of you I have been privileged to ‘follow’, but I shall look forward to attaching up on our return.

So my I wish you all a very happy ‘holiday season’, which would not exist had Jesus’ birth not been celebrated at this time over the centuries!!

Regards

Meg

LIFE MUSINGS

We throb and thrust, digging into the serried swell.
Around us no friendly blink of light,
No solid peak of land,
No star to steer by.

As we surge onwards, we create turbulence,
Which turns into froth and bubble,
Then dies away into
Non-existence.

Do we wander aimlessly on the rolling tide?
Or are we compass-driven?
Is our aim the destination?
Or the journey?

Can we encompass both?

Strangers in Cadiar 20

The summer of 2009 was incredibly hot with high humidity levels. This made it difficult to work much during the middle of the day. We used to stop around 2 o’clock, eat and then have a siesta until about 5. We would then work until 7 or 8 and finish for the day. Because is was SO hot, children could not play outside in the sun. Often the Spanish would eat their evening meal around 10pm then the children would come out onto the streets to play. We started to eat later, and often would read or watch a film until midnight before retiring for the night. As we lay dozing to sleep we often heard the patter of children’s feet running down the street as they would be going home to bed!

September 2009
Well, autumn has come. About a week ago temperatures started to drop, now running in the low 20s in the day, around 14 at night, and on Sunday we had our first spatter of rain. On Monday afternoon we had our first big storm. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled and crashed for a couple of hours, near and far. During that time we had about 20 mins torrential rain and hailstones. Yesterday afternoon we had the clouds and a bit of rain, but a beautiful sunset. Today seems to be dry so far (5.30pm).
We seem to be having dry sunny mornings (morning finishes here at 2pm) with possibly wet afternoons (which end at 8pm) followed by dry evenings.
As far as the house is concerned, Billy is doing a marvellous job in the guest bedroom. The front wall was a peculiar shape, tapering from a solid, thick base, to about 2” thick at the top. It is now thick all the way, and Billy has plastered it. It looks amazing. So different.
We now have the kitchen units ready to install in the middle room (kitchen) where he has built a vestibule to separate the kitchen and bathroom (very British!). Again, this is impressive. He really can hold his head up in the company of any of the Spanish workforce. But then, we are not surprised, are we?!!
I have been painting again – preparing the vestibule door for gloss, and sanding the stained doors for their coat of varnish. All in due time. I am now varnishing the beams in the guest bedroom which Billy has stripped. I have also emulsioned the rear wall of the stairs and our quiet corner. But you need to come and see if you want to know the colour…. 🙂 For those who cannot come, it is bright, golden yellow!!

You will be riveted, I know, to hear that Billy is back into socks. ‘What!?’ you say.
Well, when it gets hot we stop wearing them. All summer Billy has marvelled that he was not wearing socks, but ‘could not feel his feet’ as in, they were not cold. That season has now passed, as of, I think, last Monday. He does not wear them all day yet, but the rot has set in…. I am now into long trousers and a long sleeved top of an evening if we go out.

Tomorrow evening we go to sign up for the Spanish adult school classes which start soon. Apparently they will teach us to read, write and figure in Spanish. These classes were started for the adult illiterates from the Franco era. Most of those can now read, etc, so they have extended the service to other adults, including any interested Brits… sounds like fun as well as educational.

It is now tomorrow. Have been checking. Will finish now as I need to walk up to Paco’s, the builders’ merchants to get some angle beading so Billy can keep working.

We did sign up for the Spanish class. It is going to be tough! Veronica, who is the teacher, has told us we may not speak to one another in class in English – unless, maybe to ask for the translation of a word… She has a great zest for living and is attacking the challenge of foreign students with gusto. We just feel out of our depths – but determined to hang in there!

LOVE THAT LASTS

It was a beautiful and sunlit day.
That saw me walk among the lilies fair.
My heart and mind had gone so far away
As I thought deeply on our love so rare;
I thought about my Love and all he meant
To me, as he has done these many years.
I with my inner eye could see him bent
With kind concern to help me dry my tears.

I saw him full of youthful hope and strength,
Daring and doing all to win my hand.
I looked upon him, wiser now at length
But still prepared to offer me the land
On which I stood, if I should wish it so.
He would go out and strive to bring it back,
To lay it at my work-hard feet, I know,
If that was all in which I found a lack.

But what care I for things, for wealth?
I have the love of one who knows me through.
We have our family, our friends, our health
What more could I require of him to do?
That silent day took song and loud proclaimed
The joy of long-lived love and friendship true;
Flying above all lovers’ names so named,
The banner of our love still brighter grew.

Strangers in Cadiar 19

On our return, Chas told us a couple had been to our house a couple of times, and he had told them when we would return. A few days later Donald and Adrienne turned up, and that began a season when we saw quite a lot of them. They were new to Spain and to Cadiar and the surrounding area so we took time off to show them round and introduce then to the life and lifestyle

August 2009
Hello everyone. I have just realised this is ‘Newsletter 12’ so I have been doing this for almost a year. At that point, everywhere was in chaos, we were living in Pepe’s aunt’s apartment, and working very, very hard. Well, some things don’t change – the work is still there, but I know we are not working as hard…
I think since we moved into our own apartment and made the middle floor habitable for visitors, we have eased off a bit. It is also summer, when it is VERY hot, so it is more pleasant to work only in the mornings and maybe an hour in the evening instead of having to keep at it irrespective.
About a fortnight ago we had the excitement of a fire on the hillside below and on the opposite side of the valley from Berchules, which we can see from our terrace. We watched the spotter plane circle, then the helicopters with their suspended buckets ferrying water to douse the flames. It was the third day before it was completely out. Fortunately it was restricted to one hillside, but it was only a couple of km away!!
Otherwise, we have seen a big change in the house. Billy finished the wall round the stairway to our apartment and the plasterers came and did both sides of it, and down the stairs to the middle floor. Very exciting for us… Billy has also finished the tiling in the bathroom, so now the only major thing we need in our apartment is the shower screen. Chas is due back from England on 21st, so we hope to get it one day that week.
Meanwhile, Billy has started sanding back the roof beams in the middle apt. He hopes to finish them this incoming week.
And what have I been doing? We went to Roquetas last Monday and bought the units for the turret, so I have erected them so Billy can fit the double sink to it. I am enjoying having the use of my washing machine, and soon my spin dryer will be up there too, with my iron and board, so I can iron on the terrace…
Billy also has welded up the frame for the canopy over part of the terrace, we covered it in ‘cana’ (bamboo) and I stitched an awning to go up under it to make it completely sun-proof… Oh, and I was allowed to grout most of the wall tiles in the bathroom.
I also had a ‘vestibule sale’ yesterday on Friday. I managed to get rid of some stuff and made some money, so I might do it again in a couple of months…

Tour of Western Spain 9

Thursday, 9th/Friday, 10th 9.25am Yesterday we left after breakfast aiming for Avila. As we were driving through the plains on a flat road with no traffic to be seen, a gust hit Jemima as if a big heavy lorry had passed us going at speed. It moved the motor home with it’s force but Billy corrected automatically, then we looked at one another and said,’ where did that come from?’
We had lunch tucked off the road under some trees then carried on to La Tiemblo. As we drove towards the village we went down a wide road with service roads on either side, and each of those had large parking bays along its length. It was very quiet. There was a garage at one point but few houses further out so we decided we would eat supper and then move out of the town.
We had a good walk round, looking at the two churches and the in-town monastery, which has to be unusual. We eventually ate at a restaurant near where we had parked Jemima, and slowly over a time came to realise what we were seeing. The whole town (well, it felt like the whole town) was turning out after 10pm to ‘paseo’ up to the roundabout on the edge of town, choose one of the many benches that lined the route, and sit there and chat until ready to go home!At 10 minutes to 12 some were still turning up, although many had left. In desperation we boarded Jemima, drove out, round the roundabout and back in to the garage beside which we had noted some vacant land. We parked up, went to bed and waited for the chatter to subside, which it eventually did, probably around half past 12. We were just dropping off when we heard a car pull into the forecourt of the garage. It was the Guardia(police). They switched off their lights and we waited. Some time later, they re-started their engine and left. No problem.
A man came to open the garage around 6 so we knew there would be no peace from then on. We had our breakfast and left. We are now in a lay by south of Toledo. We have had a cup of tea and Billy is asleep. I might join him…
5.00pm. Drove on to near Orgaz where we had coffee in the Posada de la Caleta, a beautiful hotel-restaurant-cafe-bar. Later, in the heat of the day, we stopped, tucked under the trees in the municipal car park on the edge of Malacon, next to the cemetery. I slept, we ate, Billy sat in the shade under a tree and read while I washed a few pots and some clothes, then I went and sketched in the cemetery. It is now 5.10pm. Billy is having a last 5 mins with his book while I get Jemima ready to roll!
10.30pm. Drove on to a place called Daimiel off the A42. Billy has decided he wants no more hills and trunk roads so tomorrow we hit the A4/E5 and should be home by Sunday. We parked outside a beautiful church with monastery attached (Religiosos Passionatas?) At some point they had laid out a bit of road ‘Camino de los Cruces’ We caught the end of the mass in the church, sat in the shade among the flowerbeds, then had dinner. By then we had realised the side road on which we were parked was frequented by boy racers with loud radios, so we moved along a bit to where it is quiet. We watched an amazing sunset, then rang John to wish him happy birthday.
Sat, 11th 1.45pm. After a short time there was music blaring again where we parked – and a barking dog – so we moved on. It was dark and signs were ambiguous, so we ended up on a huge industrial estate, at the end of a parking strip next to some units for sale or rent. I think Jemima likes being with her big cousins!We had a good sleep and set off this morning around 9.30. We are now parked beside a garage/restaurant/cafe about 20km south of Jaen.
5.50pm. We have stopped at the dam, Presa de Rules. Billy is asleep and I am relaxing. I am so glad to be back on ‘home territory’.

Tour of Western Spain 8

Monday, 6th/Tues, 7th 7.30 am. Yesterday after breakfast we went across the road to the La Scala Hotel and had cafe con leche , with complimentary cake, then drove into Padron to catch the 11.03 train to Santiago. It was quite cool, the coldest we have been on this holiday and for quite some weeks before that! We walked up from Santiago station along the Rua des Horreos to the Plaza de Galicia then took left and meandered our way into the old town or ‘monument zone’ as it was sign-posted. We went to look at the Cathedral but it was closed for mass so we wandered on and found the ‘Monastery of San Martin Pinato‘. We paid our 1.50 euro each entry fee and must have spent the best part of an hour looking round. Installed in it are the renovated old choir stalls from the Cathedral. Amazing workmanship. The blurb also clearly demonstrated the position of the monastery as a centre of learning, containing many books and latterly a centre for the sciences, especially medicine.
After that, we found a nice cafe in the Plaza de Fonte Sec and had a leisurely lunch before going back to explore the Cathedral.
We caught the 4.20 back to Padron, then drove to ‘our’ lorry park for a rest before deciding to take little drive further down the road. We crossed a broad river at Pontecesures and, discovering there were children racing canoes on it, we parked up and watched till all the races had finished. It appeared to be different canoeing clubs from the area. We drove back, ate, had a drink in the hotel and so to bed.
Tues 10.15pm. Once again it was overcast and grey when we travelled into Santiago although it improves a little later. We met Sue and Carlo as arranged, walked to the cafe we had found yesterday and spent our time with them eating bocadillos and drinking wine. It was good to see them both looking so fit and to catch up with all their news. As before, we caught the 4.20 back to Padron, then simply piled into Jemima and set off down the autovia in the direction of home – some distance and a few days away…
Some sections were quite busy, but we drove into the lorry park at A Caniza at 7pm. We did some shopping in the town then went into the cafe for Menu del Dia, which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Wed, 8th 9.10pm. The wind got up last night and we were glad to be tucked in among the lorries. We left on the autovia to A Gudina where we came off and had coffee and cobs in Meson Erosa, a really nice coffee bar/restaurant at the big Repsol garage. We continued on the A55 to join the N631 cutting off the corner through Benavente. We stopped off in the pine woods and had an hour’s rest then carried on to join the autovia round Zamora. We came off onto the N630 as soon as we could and stopped in Coralles, the first village we encountered. We are parked in a field which had been cobbled in a previous life, so have excellent hard standing. We walked through the very neat and clean village, appreciating the different nuances of architecture from our own in Cadiar.

Incredible

Basilica of the Sagrada Familia
BARCELONA

We went with expectation.

As we approached, we marvelled
at the spirit of the human
who round each tower clearly
wrote ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’,
and higher yet, where mortal
could not scry out the writing,
he wrote more words and praises
that make the angels worship.

Within, the tall, slim pillars
reach up with outstretched branches,
a canopy of praises
to Him who made the real trees
and flowers on which this artist
had based ambitious project.

The stillness of the forest
imbues the whole if for one
fleeting , breath-drawn instant you
blank out the throng’s low murmur.
The constant movement feels more
like quivering of reeds and
shake of brush and bracken
than the tread of human feet on
the smooth and shiny marble.

Then suddenly the south wall
is glowing incandescent,
each stained glass window flaming
while colours stream in softest greens
and shining gold and orange,
gilding each waiting pillar
to a different, radiant tone.
And on the floor the colours
blend low and soft and subtle as
people, touched by glory,
walk slowly through this wonder,
with mouth and heart aquiver.

How can one not praise God, Creator,
for all that He has made and sees as good –
the riven stone, its different strength and colours;
the dye-stained glass, its many tones and textures;
the human hands and minds to make it so;
and that one man, the architect whose vision
has been picked up and shouldered by those others,
creating year on year and stone on stone
a masterpiece – and still, to those who see
and understand, all to His glory!!

Tour of Western Spain 7

Sat, 4th 5pm. Had a peaceful night as usual, Set off after breakfast, went to Eroski and bought a charger for my mobile, called at the station for info re trains into and around Santiago, to discover they are run by different companies. Apparently the northern line is run by FEVE not RENFE…
then we set off to A Catedrais, 10 km west. It is named for a cathedral because many of the rocky outcrops have been worn away by the waves to create great stone arches reminiscent of a catherdal. We got there a bit late as the tide was coming in, but it was very interesting. We motored back on the narrow coast road, stopping just before Rinlo. We parked on the cliff top and had lunch. Billy went exploring possible fishing sites and found an old marine installation which we think may have been a submarine pen from the last war, and he had a go at fishing there. Especially interesting as Spain was supposedly neutral in the last war…. reading it up, I found that Franco had agreed in the years leading up to the war to allow Germany to ‘try out’ its submarines in Spanish waters….
We returned to Arnao around 3.30 and went on the beach for an hour. Now Billy is sunbathing on the grass while I write.
Sunday, 5th 12.20pm. Went to look around Figueras last evening. A bit seedy and run-down, like so many places round here. There is not a lot of work, and not a large tourist industry at all. We went back into Ribadeo to eat, then we returned to Arnao in time to watch the sun set. Later, as we were getting ready for bed at 11.30, the music began! Somewhere in the area, a fiesta was happening…..
At 1.45am we got up, threw on some clothes, drove to the car park full of motor homes we had seen at A Catedras the previous morning, parked up and went back to bed – bliss!
This morning we rose after 8, and set off on the road to Santiago. It was raining heavily when we left the coast but it has improved steadily and although it is still a bit misty in the distance and there are times of fine rain, we can feel the sun through the clouds. We have just come off the NV1 Lugo to A Coruna autovia back onto the N362 Ribadeo to Santiago and have stopped in a lay by for a break. Billy is asleep so I am catching up with my journal!
9.35pm. We drove on following the ring-road round the south of Santiago onto the N550 to Padron without any difficulties. The weather had been very misty – we needed fog lights at one point – but slowly improved as we neared Santiago. We noted a lorry park on the outskirts of Padron, but continued in to find the station with times of trains for the morning. At the moment we are in the lorry park ready for the night.

Tour of Western Spain 6

Thu, 2nd 8.20am. We have had our morning cuppa and I am writing this while his lordship dozes. This morning is overcast, but not raining. It was a bit like this yesterday morning so we will hope it clears by mid-day.
6.50pm. We went into Ribadeo this morning to the tourist office. We found out there is an internet cafe on the square so we checked our emails and had a browse round the shops. It did not rain and by 1 o’clock it was warm through the clouds so we came back to the cliff top and ate our lunch at one of the picnic tables. We read for a bit, enjoying the peace and quiet, then Billy went for a doze and I played around with my paints. Around 5 we went down to the beach, paddled along and back had an ice cream and pottered around.
11pm. What an evening! We went into Ribadeo fairly early intending to have a quiet drink then look around for somewhere to eat. We found a nice cafe bar and had a glass of white wine. Across the way was an ATM so Billy thought he would withdraw some money. It was a Telebanco dispenser so would only offer us 140 euros, and for that they wanted 6 euros commission so Billy cancelled the transaction and we found a different dispenser. Again they would only offer us 140 euros and wanted over 4 euros. We could not understand this as we had never up to this point had to pay any commission. Eventually we found a proper bank with a machine and tried again, to be told we did not have enough funds available to withdraw any. This put us in a total panic as we knew we should have more than enough in that account. We got a printout which said ‘Disp debito’ 300 euros; amount available ; 20 euros. There happened to be a patrol car with a couple of Guardia in it and we spoke to the, They explained that 300 was what we had available, 20 euros was what we could withdraw now. This was a huge relief, but we still could not understand our inability to withdraw more than 20 euros. We eventually saw a Servired where we requested a statement of ‘last actions’. This showed 2 withdrawals of 140 euros each at the 2 cashpoints. We will check our balance again in the morning and hope the two banks have put our money back,,,
After all that we did not feel like eating out so drove back to the cliff top. Beans on toast for Billy and toast and marmalade for me!
Friday, 3rd 11.25pm. We went into Ribadeo after breakfast, checked our balance and everything is OK We had coffee and tostada in one of the cafes (relief eating!) then walked down to the harbour and back up. I bought a little denim skirt in the sales for Nicolette.
When we got back to the cliff top I washed some more bedding and towels and we had lunch. I had a nap while Billy read and sun-bathed. Later we walked out on the road across the headland and back on the cliff path round it. On the way we passed a rifle shooting range in full swing, and a grass landing strip for light aircraft. We saw a couple of planes land there.We changes into smarter clothes and went to have a look at Castrapol on the other side of the estuary from Ribadeo. There was not a lot there so we returned to Ribadeo, found a pizzeria and ate there. Now we are settled for the night. A bit noisier than usual – some youths around…