I've started a 'joke of the week' page at Marchena35. This was the first week, it made me smile and Ian groan...
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Rain!
We had rain today - must be the first rain for 6 months. We knew it was coming as we went to Pepes at lunch time and he had the news on, and the top story was rain! The news featured outside broadcasts from all over Extremadura with people stood out in the rain with umbrellas. Admittedly, the rain looked a little light in some places and the umbrella was probably for show rather than proper use, however it helped to build the atmosphere. And then on the weather forecast it showed rain for all of Extremadura - except our bit!! However this afternoon it clouded over and we had a bit of rain. Not a lot, not enough to give the garden a good soaking or to form puddles - but at least it will have washed some of the dust away.
However, I think proper rain is forecast for tomorrow...
However, I think proper rain is forecast for tomorrow...
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Cheese Feast
We're just coming to the end of a mammoth cheese feast which we started for Ian's birthday. In fact, we started the weekend before his birthday, having bought a number of different cheeses, including our favourite torta cheese. We bought some nice red wine too, and had some biscuits instead of bread a couple of nights and have had some very nice meals.
While it is quite expensive to buy, it does work out relatively reasonable over the course of a few meals and it is quite a treat.
We've also been playing padrones roulette. Padrones are a type of pepper grown in north Spain and one in ten is supposed to be hot. We bought a tub of them and Ian found one hot one, and we had about 24, so I guess our odds were a little disappointing. They are often served as tapas.
Pixie training is coming along ok. The biggest challenge is getting her to come, as she starts doing a little dance which is part 'yes, I'm coming to you now' and part 'but I don't want to so I am going to run away'. She is so small and fast that getting her to sit on command has been very important as otherwise she is neigh on impossible to catch. She does a lovely little sit, all pert and pretty, before she has her food - however she has just this week started to do a really odd thing when she sits at other times. Instead of sitting nicely, she flings herself onto the ground, facefirst, spreadeagled on the floor. Looking like she has been dropped by an overhead stork. Generally she gets picked up when she is told to sit, so I don't know if this is her way of getting ready to be picked up, but it is definitely odd. Talking of odd, Bentley who is a very odd dog anyway, out-odded himself last week by trying to squeeze into the tiny puppy bed we bought Herbie.
Tinkerbelle has been in season and as Herbie hasn't been neutered we've had to make sure they are kept separate. It is easy as they are both small, and if Tinkerbelle is on a chair, poor little Herbie can't jump up there. Mind you, he has been spending a lot of time following Tinkerbelle and this is giving him much better exercise then I ever could! He almost runs now, which is funny to see.
While it is quite expensive to buy, it does work out relatively reasonable over the course of a few meals and it is quite a treat.
We've also been playing padrones roulette. Padrones are a type of pepper grown in north Spain and one in ten is supposed to be hot. We bought a tub of them and Ian found one hot one, and we had about 24, so I guess our odds were a little disappointing. They are often served as tapas.
Pixie training is coming along ok. The biggest challenge is getting her to come, as she starts doing a little dance which is part 'yes, I'm coming to you now' and part 'but I don't want to so I am going to run away'. She is so small and fast that getting her to sit on command has been very important as otherwise she is neigh on impossible to catch. She does a lovely little sit, all pert and pretty, before she has her food - however she has just this week started to do a really odd thing when she sits at other times. Instead of sitting nicely, she flings herself onto the ground, facefirst, spreadeagled on the floor. Looking like she has been dropped by an overhead stork. Generally she gets picked up when she is told to sit, so I don't know if this is her way of getting ready to be picked up, but it is definitely odd. Talking of odd, Bentley who is a very odd dog anyway, out-odded himself last week by trying to squeeze into the tiny puppy bed we bought Herbie.
Tinkerbelle has been in season and as Herbie hasn't been neutered we've had to make sure they are kept separate. It is easy as they are both small, and if Tinkerbelle is on a chair, poor little Herbie can't jump up there. Mind you, he has been spending a lot of time following Tinkerbelle and this is giving him much better exercise then I ever could! He almost runs now, which is funny to see.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Every Year, The Same Question
Every year, on the third Sunday of September, we find ourselves asking the same question. "What time does the procession carrying the virgin pass through the square?"
Every year we struggle trying to remember what time it happened last year.
Every year we fail to remember and have to pluck a time out of the air and then find ourselves waiting for an hour or two until it passes by. This year we were only an hour early, which is quite good by our standards.
As we sat waiting, we determined that we would make a note on the blog of the time so that we could look back next year and use it as a reference. I clearly remember us saying the same thing last year, but upon checking last year's entry this morning, it became apparent that it was an idea that we failed to follow through on.
So this year, here it is. The procession came through the square at pretty well bang on 2pm - ish!
Leading the way this year was Fran, one of Kate's students.
Once more they failed to add to the spectacle by dropping the virgin, so I was reduced to photographing it at a jaunty angle to give the impression of impending doom.
Every year we struggle trying to remember what time it happened last year.
Every year we fail to remember and have to pluck a time out of the air and then find ourselves waiting for an hour or two until it passes by. This year we were only an hour early, which is quite good by our standards.
As we sat waiting, we determined that we would make a note on the blog of the time so that we could look back next year and use it as a reference. I clearly remember us saying the same thing last year, but upon checking last year's entry this morning, it became apparent that it was an idea that we failed to follow through on.
So this year, here it is. The procession came through the square at pretty well bang on 2pm - ish!
Leading the way this year was Fran, one of Kate's students.
Once more they failed to add to the spectacle by dropping the virgin, so I was reduced to photographing it at a jaunty angle to give the impression of impending doom.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Once a Year
Once a year we confuse the animals by dragging them away from the comfy spots they have commandeered around the house, and frog marching them into Ian's office where we subject them to very loud music - for their own good.
The reason for this is that the start of the fiesta marked by rockets going off at midday, and while Bob is now happily immune to this, the others are upset by varying degrees. I'm not convinced that subjecting them to loud music while shut in Ian's office is that much more relaxing for them, however it does at least seem to stop them getting jumpy.
I don't know the history behind these rockets, I can only imagine that in years gone by it would have been to let people know that the fiesta is starting in - 12 hours. As the fiesta doesn't really start until well past midnight. Could it really have taken people more than 12 hours to put on their dancing shoes?
One of my favorite parts of the fiesta remains Sunday morning. The September fiesta is the fiesta of the village saint and as so there is a coilition-style marriage between the council (village) and the church (church). The council arranges the 'official' party side of the fiesta, which is from 12 midnight until 7 in the morning. And at 9 in the morning, the church arranges a parade by a band of drummers and pipers, which leisurely parades even the smallest lanes of the village. In case the fiesta goers aren't awake enough, the band stands on the corners and plays for several minutes to allow the slumberers to enjoy the vibrations of the drumming and piping music. I can't help feeling that the priest has a little chuckle at this.
The reason for this is that the start of the fiesta marked by rockets going off at midday, and while Bob is now happily immune to this, the others are upset by varying degrees. I'm not convinced that subjecting them to loud music while shut in Ian's office is that much more relaxing for them, however it does at least seem to stop them getting jumpy.
I don't know the history behind these rockets, I can only imagine that in years gone by it would have been to let people know that the fiesta is starting in - 12 hours. As the fiesta doesn't really start until well past midnight. Could it really have taken people more than 12 hours to put on their dancing shoes?
One of my favorite parts of the fiesta remains Sunday morning. The September fiesta is the fiesta of the village saint and as so there is a coilition-style marriage between the council (village) and the church (church). The council arranges the 'official' party side of the fiesta, which is from 12 midnight until 7 in the morning. And at 9 in the morning, the church arranges a parade by a band of drummers and pipers, which leisurely parades even the smallest lanes of the village. In case the fiesta goers aren't awake enough, the band stands on the corners and plays for several minutes to allow the slumberers to enjoy the vibrations of the drumming and piping music. I can't help feeling that the priest has a little chuckle at this.
Monday, September 10, 2012
More Treasure Hunt
They had to take a photo of themselves in front of 356,000 euros. This was the number on this sign behind them.
I did a surprisingly long bike ride yesterday. I spontaneous turn meant that I ended up taking a 10 km detour. Luckily it was a nice day for cycling and I was able to see little more of the countryside. At 50 km, this is the furthest I have cycled, and I was pleased to note that I could still walk this morning.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Barbeque
It has been the hottest and driest summer for 50 years. Hence the youngsters were drawn to the agricultural water tank after the barbaque. The water isn't drinkable, but it is fine for running in and out of if you are a 9 years old!
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Survivors!
We had a end of summer classes treasure hunt today. And lived to tell the tale. We had three teams who had to go round the village answering questions. To stop them getting completely lost we had some photo clues, so they had to identify places in photos, and say what door number or what colour something was (the photos were in black and white). For some reason, they decided that they had to run, which meant that I was then in fear of them passing out through heat and lack of water. The treasure hunt ended with a barbecue. They were surprisingly well behaved, and didn't demolish as much of the food as they normally do, however, by summer standards eating at two is a little early.
Ian was chef, and I don't think he poisoned anyone. We made a couple of ad-hoc barbacues as we don't have one. We chose a place by the park, which was quite good as we had to be careful of fires. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some rule or other about having fires at the moment, but we were very near the pilar and the barbecues themselves were on a stone bench, so we weren't too much of a fire risk.
As I had teams and I knew they would arrive at different times, I gave them bits of newspaper, some brown wool, silver foil and cardboard to make themselves pirate costumes from. I am not sure that they were the most convincing pirates, however it did keep them quiet for a few minutes, while we panicked that the barbecue wouldn't light.
Ian was chef, and I don't think he poisoned anyone. We made a couple of ad-hoc barbacues as we don't have one. We chose a place by the park, which was quite good as we had to be careful of fires. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some rule or other about having fires at the moment, but we were very near the pilar and the barbecues themselves were on a stone bench, so we weren't too much of a fire risk.
As I had teams and I knew they would arrive at different times, I gave them bits of newspaper, some brown wool, silver foil and cardboard to make themselves pirate costumes from. I am not sure that they were the most convincing pirates, however it did keep them quiet for a few minutes, while we panicked that the barbecue wouldn't light.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
A trip to the fitness park...
and yes, I did have a go, however grasping onto Ian for dear life meant that he was unable to take photographic evidence (balancing on a strand of rope, a few inches from the ground was surprisingly difficult ).
Emma, Hattie and Ed trying out the equipment in the fitness park.