You may remember a while back that I mentioned that Ian had seen a stork. Well since then this 'stork' appear to have become invisable and even Ian was wondering whether it was a figment of his imagination - either that or it was one of his pigeon spotting episodes.
Well this morning on the way to the hospital we were having another of our debates about storks and when we will see them again - and lo and behold there was a loan stork say on top of a nest on the way to Llerena. We couldn't see any others so wondered if this was a stork on a reccie - checking out the best nest to return to. However when we returned to the village there were three storks sat back on their nests on top of the church. These must have returned overnight.
It will be interesting to see when the others return. They will have gone for almost exactly 4 months. They disappeared when I was in hospital which was the first week in August - and they appear to be returning now. How interesting. I'd love to know where they have been, how they know which nests to return to etc
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Tibs helps me with my spinning
I thought this was quite cute as Tibs was snuggling up in the fleece. However this soon wore off as it turned into a game. Well several games actually. There was the batting bits of fleece all over the workshop game, followed closely by the hanging onto the end of the fleece. All in all it became a bit annoying and kittens were banned from the workshop for the evening.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition
Llerena was an important town during the Spanish Inquisition and in 1485, one of the 8 tribunals was set up here. Many dissenters, non believers and people suspected of witchcraft would be bought here for trial and often this would entail torcher in the chambers under the court.
I wonder why, as whilst having my leg and toes being bent in unusual directions during physio in a room in the basement of Llerena hospital, this interesting part of local history sprung to mind.
For more information about the Spanish Inquisition I urge you to revisit Monty Python (NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.), or failing that wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spanish_Inquisition_(Monty_Python)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition
Yesterday it was extremely windy, I don't think we had any wind damage, but all of our plastic chairs ended up the other end of the yard. It's not cold - but I am still glad of my gas fire.
We've been working more on 10kgi with a view to having a mini launch next week following on from our friends and family feedback. The mini-launch is going to be an advent event - great Idea for each of the 24 days before Christmas. Nothing like setting a tarket like that to ensure the blanking of minds! I've also been doing some spinning as this is good excercise for my ankle. In the physio room then have a treddle machine where people flex their ankles.
The dogs (led by Basil) excelled themselves in naughtiness, breaking into the kitchen cupboard and spreading a bag of flour around the floor. They all denied this - however with flour encrusted noses the evidence was pretty strong.
I wonder why, as whilst having my leg and toes being bent in unusual directions during physio in a room in the basement of Llerena hospital, this interesting part of local history sprung to mind.
For more information about the Spanish Inquisition I urge you to revisit Monty Python (NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.), or failing that wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spanish_Inquisition_(Monty_Python)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition
Yesterday it was extremely windy, I don't think we had any wind damage, but all of our plastic chairs ended up the other end of the yard. It's not cold - but I am still glad of my gas fire.
We've been working more on 10kgi with a view to having a mini launch next week following on from our friends and family feedback. The mini-launch is going to be an advent event - great Idea for each of the 24 days before Christmas. Nothing like setting a tarket like that to ensure the blanking of minds! I've also been doing some spinning as this is good excercise for my ankle. In the physio room then have a treddle machine where people flex their ankles.
The dogs (led by Basil) excelled themselves in naughtiness, breaking into the kitchen cupboard and spreading a bag of flour around the floor. They all denied this - however with flour encrusted noses the evidence was pretty strong.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Leg Pulling
I am having daily physio, starting at 8 in the morning. This is consisting of excercise, massage and what appears to be leg pulling. The excercise is fine, the massage isn't quite the relaxing peaceful massage that I would hope for, and indeed yesterday when looking for the muscles in the back of my leg it was a tad painful. The leg pulling is because my right leg appears to have shrunk slightly, and there is quite a lot of emphasis in straightening the foot out as it curls slightly over to the right. None of this is anything to worry about, but allows for plenty of literal leg pulling.
I have crumbled and have bought a gas fire for my workshop. I was hoping to wait until the new year, however as I am not particulary mobile I do feel the cold at the moment. Although it is warm outside during the day, my workshop is distinctly chilly and I have been huddled under a blanket which hampers my work slightly. During the summer we welcomed the small windows as it kept things cool - however now we are thinking again about large picture windows which would allow the sun to take the chill off the rooms. Of course had we done this last year then we would have turned the house into an oven, well actually more like a kiln. The key would be to have large windows which can be narrowed using blinds or something during the summer.
I washed one of my last fleeces and needless to say this was the signal for the weather to turn - not cold but overcast. However not the hot and windy weather that had it dry in no time. So wet-sheepy smell again in the workshop.
I have crumbled and have bought a gas fire for my workshop. I was hoping to wait until the new year, however as I am not particulary mobile I do feel the cold at the moment. Although it is warm outside during the day, my workshop is distinctly chilly and I have been huddled under a blanket which hampers my work slightly. During the summer we welcomed the small windows as it kept things cool - however now we are thinking again about large picture windows which would allow the sun to take the chill off the rooms. Of course had we done this last year then we would have turned the house into an oven, well actually more like a kiln. The key would be to have large windows which can be narrowed using blinds or something during the summer.
I washed one of my last fleeces and needless to say this was the signal for the weather to turn - not cold but overcast. However not the hot and windy weather that had it dry in no time. So wet-sheepy smell again in the workshop.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Rehab
Today I had my first Physio or Rehab session at the hospital. I had a phone call yesterday which was a tad confusing as I was expecting one about an x-ray – however we finally established that it was for rehabilitation and at 8 o clock this morning I reported to the rehab centre. I was prodded, probed, poked around and yet did not feel any pain, at the worst it was a little uncomfortable. They kept telling me to relax which was very difficult as I wasn’t sure if it would hurt when they were bending my ankle. I didn’t like it when they prodded around the pins and plates, I was aware of the sensation which made me feel a little funny.
After an hour and a half we left the hospital and Ian congratulated me on visiting the hospital without crying. He said that was a first. Quite frankly from time to time I do wonder about his sensitivity.
Dookems has recovered from his operation and certainly seems a lot happier. He is quite cuddly and seems to enjoy getting on a lap for a cuddle - normally when we are trying to do something else.
I've been doing some spinning and have thought about spinning some Herdie fleece to make a good strong working jumper. After an afternoon of spinning I plied and washed what I had done and miserably measured the 12 metres which I had managed to produce. The industrial revelution happened for a reason. However I will continue spinning - I have been slow as I am using my left leg on the treddle, once I can use my right leg I will be a lot faster I am sure.
One thing I have really wanted to do is to watch the storks return. I am fascinated by these big ungainly birds who nest in huge bathtub like nests in the most impractical of positions. They disappeared when I was in hospital the first time and we’ve been wondering where they have gone and when they will come back. Do they return to their original nests, are they the same as swans and remain in couples, what do the young do or do the oldies not make it back from wherever they go and the young take the nests…. Ian said he saw a stork on top of the church, but only one and we’ve seen no more. So I wonder what this one did – did he leave a couple of days early to get the pick of the nests?
Needless to say not having any guests the weather has been glorious. It has been lovely during the day, although cold at night. However that has now changed and it rained in buckets overnight. I woke up thinking that someone had left the shower on in the bedroom which would have been quite remarkable seeing we don’t have a shower in the bedroom – anyway, it was the sound of the rain outside. There are rivers again where before there were ditches.
Ian has been working on a new website for a local english estate agent. This is now 'live' and can be viewed at www.crownpropertyspain.com. It looks good.
After an hour and a half we left the hospital and Ian congratulated me on visiting the hospital without crying. He said that was a first. Quite frankly from time to time I do wonder about his sensitivity.
Dookems has recovered from his operation and certainly seems a lot happier. He is quite cuddly and seems to enjoy getting on a lap for a cuddle - normally when we are trying to do something else.
I've been doing some spinning and have thought about spinning some Herdie fleece to make a good strong working jumper. After an afternoon of spinning I plied and washed what I had done and miserably measured the 12 metres which I had managed to produce. The industrial revelution happened for a reason. However I will continue spinning - I have been slow as I am using my left leg on the treddle, once I can use my right leg I will be a lot faster I am sure.
One thing I have really wanted to do is to watch the storks return. I am fascinated by these big ungainly birds who nest in huge bathtub like nests in the most impractical of positions. They disappeared when I was in hospital the first time and we’ve been wondering where they have gone and when they will come back. Do they return to their original nests, are they the same as swans and remain in couples, what do the young do or do the oldies not make it back from wherever they go and the young take the nests…. Ian said he saw a stork on top of the church, but only one and we’ve seen no more. So I wonder what this one did – did he leave a couple of days early to get the pick of the nests?
Needless to say not having any guests the weather has been glorious. It has been lovely during the day, although cold at night. However that has now changed and it rained in buckets overnight. I woke up thinking that someone had left the shower on in the bedroom which would have been quite remarkable seeing we don’t have a shower in the bedroom – anyway, it was the sound of the rain outside. There are rivers again where before there were ditches.
Ian has been working on a new website for a local english estate agent. This is now 'live' and can be viewed at www.crownpropertyspain.com. It looks good.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Cat-stration and mushrooms.
The weather is now a lot cooler and it has been quite rainy. A quick rummage in the wardrobe for fleeces and woollies ensued and of course the weather has picked up again. A good website to check weather here is this one http://www.inm.es/web/infmet/predi/locali/EXB.html.
We’ve just had our last visitors for the year so will start to get back into a routine again. I think that Ian will miss having people stay, as he uses this as an excuse to try out his meaty-cooking. I notice that there are still some revolting bits of offal in the fridge, plus a bottle of cooking sherry so I guess that it will be a day or so before he is embracing lentils once again.
Dookems had his operation on Monday – to neuter him. Obviously this is a tiny and insignificant operation and we took him in and the vet undertook the operation whilst we waited. Ian had to hold Dookes although he was sedated (Dookes that is – although I think Ian would have appreciated a slug of valium) and poor little Dooke’s ‘bits’ were chopped off. Ian went a little pale during this, and admittedly I was inspecting the vets wall charts so as to avoid too much nastiness – although I did feel a little queezy when I realised that the chart I was looking at was not simply an interesting how-to-tie-knots chart – but a best-knot-to-use-in-surgery chart which didn’t really help. Anyway, op over and Dookes was a bit wobbly Monday night but soon back to normal on Tuesday.
The kittens, Tibs and Fibs are now fully integrated with the rest of the household and are eating with Davy. Unfortunately they seem to have a bit of a windy problem – which I have not noticed with the others, and every time they jump, they make a little windy sound as they land. This wouldn’t be too bad if it wasn’t for the following whiff which is quite amazing for such small animals. I think this is a protest on being moved onto dry food. Hopefully it will stop soon.
It is mushroom time of year and Adelardo was telling us about the different forms of wild mushrooms. White stems good, pink ones bad. Get it wrong and you have 4 hours before kidney failure. So I was a little nervous when Tony offered us some mushrooms that he picked. One of them, a rather nasty black looking fungus was highly prized and was shown around the village as it was the first time for four years that one like this had been found. Ian went to Tony and Montes bar yesterday for a mushroom sampling session. When he later staggered home I was immediately struck by concern that he had eaten a pink stemed one – however he is still here so it was probably the beer!
We’ve just had our last visitors for the year so will start to get back into a routine again. I think that Ian will miss having people stay, as he uses this as an excuse to try out his meaty-cooking. I notice that there are still some revolting bits of offal in the fridge, plus a bottle of cooking sherry so I guess that it will be a day or so before he is embracing lentils once again.
Dookems had his operation on Monday – to neuter him. Obviously this is a tiny and insignificant operation and we took him in and the vet undertook the operation whilst we waited. Ian had to hold Dookes although he was sedated (Dookes that is – although I think Ian would have appreciated a slug of valium) and poor little Dooke’s ‘bits’ were chopped off. Ian went a little pale during this, and admittedly I was inspecting the vets wall charts so as to avoid too much nastiness – although I did feel a little queezy when I realised that the chart I was looking at was not simply an interesting how-to-tie-knots chart – but a best-knot-to-use-in-surgery chart which didn’t really help. Anyway, op over and Dookes was a bit wobbly Monday night but soon back to normal on Tuesday.
The kittens, Tibs and Fibs are now fully integrated with the rest of the household and are eating with Davy. Unfortunately they seem to have a bit of a windy problem – which I have not noticed with the others, and every time they jump, they make a little windy sound as they land. This wouldn’t be too bad if it wasn’t for the following whiff which is quite amazing for such small animals. I think this is a protest on being moved onto dry food. Hopefully it will stop soon.
It is mushroom time of year and Adelardo was telling us about the different forms of wild mushrooms. White stems good, pink ones bad. Get it wrong and you have 4 hours before kidney failure. So I was a little nervous when Tony offered us some mushrooms that he picked. One of them, a rather nasty black looking fungus was highly prized and was shown around the village as it was the first time for four years that one like this had been found. Ian went to Tony and Montes bar yesterday for a mushroom sampling session. When he later staggered home I was immediately struck by concern that he had eaten a pink stemed one – however he is still here so it was probably the beer!
