My first post in a little while, I know. Sorry to those that follow my mad ramblings.
I have to turn over two new leaves this new year! The first is to make sure I post more often again (although many will understand my lack of enthusiasm in 2012), my second is to revert back to the straight and narrow!
Just before Christmas, I robbed somebody.
I didn't mean to. I went into the tobacconists, to buy a pack of tobacco for Ed. I paid for it (of course) then went to leave. As I was going out, I spotted an 'English' paper on the shelf. A-ha! Hadn't seen one for ages. I picked it up and left the shop. When I got home, I showed Ed the paper. "Look, the free paper was in the shop". "That's not the free one" he told me. The free one was no longer being published. I should have paid for this one.
I felt guilty all Christmas, but today I put things right. I went back to the shop and explained (in Spanish) how I had stolen a paper before Christmas. The two assistants were very confused and both thought that they had misunderstood me. I had to explain again in greater detail, then they both laughed and asked for the 1.95 euros. Apparently, the free paper hasn't been around for ages. I apologised again, but they didn't mind, as it was obviously a genuine mistake and I had owned up.
At least I can go in there again with a clear conscience. It is the only shop in town where I can top up my phone!
About Us
- Brigitte and Eddie Bramley
- Spain
- Now living in l'Olleria, south of Valencia
Friday, 4 January 2013
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Pou Clar
While the pool was still being finished off, the lads wanted to go to the ponds at Pou Clar. After the terribly dry summer have had, I wasn't certain that the water would be ok to swim in.
A quick visit with Faz and Tim soon proved that it was ok. There is still spring water comming out of the mountains and people still swimming in the pools. Needless to say, it was very cold, but they are a hardy bunch.
A quick visit with Faz and Tim soon proved that it was ok. There is still spring water comming out of the mountains and people still swimming in the pools. Needless to say, it was very cold, but they are a hardy bunch.
Pub Uni-K
The lads decided on a night out in town, but, as it was Sunday night, lots of the places were shut.
We popped into one pub Uni-K and Tim, the landlord was good enough to ring another bar for us, to see if they were still serving food. After a swift drink, we went off to the Park Bar. It was very quiet, so I checked if we could order some burgers. As it happened, that was pretty much all he was serving! We also ordered a couple of plates of chips along with our drinks.
As Ed and I knew, when the burgers arrived, everyone was very impressed. They do a mean burger. The usual lettuce, tomato etc, but this time, also with bacon, cheese, and a fried egg. The burger itself is not a processed thing from the supermarket either! (In fact, the lads were so impressed, they had another one on their last day too.)
After eating, we all bimbled back to the Uni-K for another drink. As we were the only ones in there, I tried to get the lads to sing on the karioke. Thye wouldn't. However, to my amusement, Sweeny Todd was on the TV and they all knew all of the words to the songs. Tim changed the sound over, and he, John, Ed and I were somewhat amused to see these 4 lads singing along to a gruesome musical. However, the novelty soon wore off, so instead, we all went off to play table football and darts! Living the high life eh?
We popped into one pub Uni-K and Tim, the landlord was good enough to ring another bar for us, to see if they were still serving food. After a swift drink, we went off to the Park Bar. It was very quiet, so I checked if we could order some burgers. As it happened, that was pretty much all he was serving! We also ordered a couple of plates of chips along with our drinks.
As Ed and I knew, when the burgers arrived, everyone was very impressed. They do a mean burger. The usual lettuce, tomato etc, but this time, also with bacon, cheese, and a fried egg. The burger itself is not a processed thing from the supermarket either! (In fact, the lads were so impressed, they had another one on their last day too.)
After eating, we all bimbled back to the Uni-K for another drink. As we were the only ones in there, I tried to get the lads to sing on the karioke. Thye wouldn't. However, to my amusement, Sweeny Todd was on the TV and they all knew all of the words to the songs. Tim changed the sound over, and he, John, Ed and I were somewhat amused to see these 4 lads singing along to a gruesome musical. However, the novelty soon wore off, so instead, we all went off to play table football and darts! Living the high life eh?
Everybody In The Pool
Tim and his 3 friends arrived in September. Tim's first words to me, "I've got a surprise for you" (which was my new laptop), were turned back on him. "I've got a surprise for you" as I walked him around to the back of the house, to see the nearly finished pool.
All of them were thrilled. Ed apologised for not having been able to finish it, but they couldn't have been happier. Within no time at all, they were stripped off and in the pool, cleaning the excess grout off, while Ed continued tiling the steps. The next day, they started with the grouting and what a difference it made. 5 people grouting, while Ed finished off, was perfect. All I had to do, was feed them and supply beer!
Within a few days, the pool was finished off and we started to fill it. Our next door neighbour supplied us with the chemicals needed to keep it clean. I supplied the lads with lilo's.
Needless to say, they soon went to the shop and bought other pool toys to play with.
All of them were thrilled. Ed apologised for not having been able to finish it, but they couldn't have been happier. Within no time at all, they were stripped off and in the pool, cleaning the excess grout off, while Ed continued tiling the steps. The next day, they started with the grouting and what a difference it made. 5 people grouting, while Ed finished off, was perfect. All I had to do, was feed them and supply beer!
Within a few days, the pool was finished off and we started to fill it. Our next door neighbour supplied us with the chemicals needed to keep it clean. I supplied the lads with lilo's.
Needless to say, they soon went to the shop and bought other pool toys to play with.
Chip Chop
At the back of the poolhouse, was a youngish pine tree. However, as is the way with trees, it has continued to grow, and was now on its way to causing a problem with the power and phone lines to the laboratory at the back of us. Even though the laboratory is for sale, it is most unlikely to sell. The house itself is in a terrible state of repair, and needs taking down, and the lab itself is really not much more than a block, which is of no use to anyone. Anybody wanting a building project can easily find something nicer in a better spot, and anybody wanting a building to run a business from would find hundreds of them available.
So - the time came to chop the tree down. Ed sent John up with a handsaw, and bit by bit, John took down the branches above the cables.
Ed thought he was taking too long, so he started cutting the tree down, with John still up it, to make him hurry up.
So - the time came to chop the tree down. Ed sent John up with a handsaw, and bit by bit, John took down the branches above the cables.
Ed thought he was taking too long, so he started cutting the tree down, with John still up it, to make him hurry up.
Ambassador
The Moors and Christians each have an Ambssador. This year, the Moor Ambassador was the brother of my previous spanish teacher, Marie-Jose.
The ambassador is responsible for the float that they have as well as having to learn the poem that is performed during the storming of the castle, both in the daytime and in the evening. When we saw her, she had been practicing with him every night, as he learned his lines.
At the front of their parent's house, Marie-Jose had painted the symbol of their particular Fila (Brotherhood) and had hung bunting all accross the street. Their mum is lovely and I'm sure she would have had great fun with all of the pomp and ceremony, but apparently their dad is quite retiring, and was terribly embarrassed by the whole thing.
Different paintings like this can be seen all around the town, for those with a special place in the events - the festival queens, different ambassadors and such like. The artists (family) just put railings around the front of their houses to stop the cars running them over, then simply paint the streets. Depending on the location, the paintings may last a few years, or may be worn out quite quickly.
The ambassador is responsible for the float that they have as well as having to learn the poem that is performed during the storming of the castle, both in the daytime and in the evening. When we saw her, she had been practicing with him every night, as he learned his lines.
At the front of their parent's house, Marie-Jose had painted the symbol of their particular Fila (Brotherhood) and had hung bunting all accross the street. Their mum is lovely and I'm sure she would have had great fun with all of the pomp and ceremony, but apparently their dad is quite retiring, and was terribly embarrassed by the whole thing.
Different paintings like this can be seen all around the town, for those with a special place in the events - the festival queens, different ambassadors and such like. The artists (family) just put railings around the front of their houses to stop the cars running them over, then simply paint the streets. Depending on the location, the paintings may last a few years, or may be worn out quite quickly.
Nature's Handiwork
We had to go to Javea early in the morning, the day after the rains that put paid to the paella competition.
The rising morning mists on the way were spectacular. The little digital camera we have is fine most of the time, but I did wish I had something mush more decent on this particular occasion.
Later, having attended the appointment in Javea, we went to the beach - which was shut! It was still very stormy, so the red flags were flying.
We found a lovely little bar that did a superb english breakfast. For us, it was rather funny to hear english voices all around - especially since most of them seemed to be from Essex! This is when it bring it home to me, that we moved to Spain for a peaceful life - I'm sure we wouldn't have found it, had we moved to somehwere near the sea.
The rising morning mists on the way were spectacular. The little digital camera we have is fine most of the time, but I did wish I had something mush more decent on this particular occasion.
Later, having attended the appointment in Javea, we went to the beach - which was shut! It was still very stormy, so the red flags were flying.
We found a lovely little bar that did a superb english breakfast. For us, it was rather funny to hear english voices all around - especially since most of them seemed to be from Essex! This is when it bring it home to me, that we moved to Spain for a peaceful life - I'm sure we wouldn't have found it, had we moved to somehwere near the sea.
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