First thing , coffee served as usual to Linda in bed . Then onto the other animals .
The 2 ducks and goose went into their new house last night with a running battle plus our one chicken , lucky , so I was keen to see if they had been fighting . Everyone was o.k. and wanda had left me an egg . Fed the two donkeys and the 4 goats and george the pig .
Then to the feed merchants to collect some fodder . Went to go in the old english estate car but it would not start and had to go in the small spanish car .
Back home and Linda had risen and had started her preparing for a mornings rastro .
Milked lola the goat in the beautiful sunshine . Plenty of solar so started the washing machine . Off to the rastro for my English breakfast and Linda's low calorie bacon and mushroom bap . We pick up a couple of second hand books and because I keep breaking them some new tumblers . A few England items , Gregg's sausage rolls , a sliced loaf , some flavoured baked beans and a pack of hot cross buns plus 2 pieces of home made coffee/walnut cake for
tea .
Back home we hung the washing out and it was dry before tea . I continued with the run for the fowls plus sawing some firewood as we still need a fire from 4 p.m.
Sunday was the same and boringly I did the same things but we went to the local market and had coffee with friends . Nearly finished the run and just have to treat the wood and cover any open wood with chicken wire to stop the donkeys chewing it . The donkeys have started losing their winter coats so I gave them a quick brush . Ah well more tomorrow and I will continue the story of our journey and arrival .
Monday, 2 March 2015
A medical first
The weather is still good but very windy . They are forecasting 26 for Monday .
The week started with Linda wanting medical attention . Here in our village we have a doctors surgery every monday and thursday mornings. You first go along and put your name on the mornings list , and usually the doctor sees only 15 patients but never turns any one away .
Other mornings you can go to another village the doctor is at or go to Muro the nearest town about 8 kilometers away , where there is a 24 hour emergency centre , and if needed at Alcoy is an A and E .
Our doctor is a lady doctor and speaks perfect English .
Well on Monday in the village they opened our brand new surgery , along we went but as typical the telephone company had not connected the telephone or the internet . The doctor under difficult circumstances managed to see nearly everyone but as Linda could wait we decided to go back on Thursday. Linda has a painful shoulder and was prescribed anti inflammation capsules and is starting to feel better . I had a few years ago prostrate cancer and my treatment was first class .
Today as usual I go to the village for fresh bread and a coffee and tostada , having first seeing to all the animals .Linda was in bed , but decided to wash her hair as we where going to town and on coming through to the lounge realised all the animals had broken into the garden . BY the time she had rounded up 4 goats 2 donkeys and a pig she had at least let the wind and sun dry her hair . happy days !
The week started with Linda wanting medical attention . Here in our village we have a doctors surgery every monday and thursday mornings. You first go along and put your name on the mornings list , and usually the doctor sees only 15 patients but never turns any one away .
Other mornings you can go to another village the doctor is at or go to Muro the nearest town about 8 kilometers away , where there is a 24 hour emergency centre , and if needed at Alcoy is an A and E .
Our doctor is a lady doctor and speaks perfect English .
Well on Monday in the village they opened our brand new surgery , along we went but as typical the telephone company had not connected the telephone or the internet . The doctor under difficult circumstances managed to see nearly everyone but as Linda could wait we decided to go back on Thursday. Linda has a painful shoulder and was prescribed anti inflammation capsules and is starting to feel better . I had a few years ago prostrate cancer and my treatment was first class .
Today as usual I go to the village for fresh bread and a coffee and tostada , having first seeing to all the animals .Linda was in bed , but decided to wash her hair as we where going to town and on coming through to the lounge realised all the animals had broken into the garden . BY the time she had rounded up 4 goats 2 donkeys and a pig she had at least let the wind and sun dry her hair . happy days !
Spring ?
The weather has warmed up over the last 2 days , and this is making things really grow after all the rain . Now is the time for pruning the olive trees .
When we first came here 9 years ago the locals gave me instructions on how to prune . The gist of it was to make the tree shaped like a crinoline skirt , not too high , with the centre left clear to allow the air to flow through the tree . But now with the many machines available for picking they tend to keep the shape slim and not bother too much about the height . But as I pick by hand and stick to the original shape . Any thick prunings are used for firewood and burn very well . Any shoots from the base and the trunk are trimmed off and it is usual to use a sharp axe as you do not want to leave a nodule that can regrow .
In the meantime the almonds are breaking into blossom . Some white and some pink . The pink are the commercially grown trees and the lower slopes of the mountains now have a pink hue and give the valley a beautiful setting .
Meanwhile the animals are happier but I still have not finished the new chicken run . Always something to do .
More tomorrow .
When we first came here 9 years ago the locals gave me instructions on how to prune . The gist of it was to make the tree shaped like a crinoline skirt , not too high , with the centre left clear to allow the air to flow through the tree . But now with the many machines available for picking they tend to keep the shape slim and not bother too much about the height . But as I pick by hand and stick to the original shape . Any thick prunings are used for firewood and burn very well . Any shoots from the base and the trunk are trimmed off and it is usual to use a sharp axe as you do not want to leave a nodule that can regrow .
In the meantime the almonds are breaking into blossom . Some white and some pink . The pink are the commercially grown trees and the lower slopes of the mountains now have a pink hue and give the valley a beautiful setting .
Meanwhile the animals are happier but I still have not finished the new chicken run . Always something to do .
More tomorrow .
A lost week
Had a great meal at the bar/restaurant in the village . It was many tapas type courses but very different to the normal tapas very filling and things you would not choose . A real success .
The next day the weather changed . We normally have a bad week in February and this was it .
Rain every day , ending with a thunder storm and high winds yesterday , Saturday . So all week its been keeping the animals fed and dry , and keep the firewood coming . The 5 dogs have kept Linda busy with wet and muddy paws .
We have been watching , on the memory stick , the first series of House of Cards , excellent series , but do you want Kevin Spacey , Frank Underwood , to succeed ?
Today is cloudy with sun and the solar panels are soaking it in . The animals can relax on dry land and we all feel better . Wanda is still laying and egg a day and keeping us guessing were she lays it . Its like easter every day . Hunt the egg . Lola the goat is still producing a litre of milk a day but is very fussy about when I milk her and the dogs must not be wandering about , and not raining , women !
Hopefully back to normal tomorrow .
The next day the weather changed . We normally have a bad week in February and this was it .
Rain every day , ending with a thunder storm and high winds yesterday , Saturday . So all week its been keeping the animals fed and dry , and keep the firewood coming . The 5 dogs have kept Linda busy with wet and muddy paws .
We have been watching , on the memory stick , the first series of House of Cards , excellent series , but do you want Kevin Spacey , Frank Underwood , to succeed ?
Today is cloudy with sun and the solar panels are soaking it in . The animals can relax on dry land and we all feel better . Wanda is still laying and egg a day and keeping us guessing were she lays it . Its like easter every day . Hunt the egg . Lola the goat is still producing a litre of milk a day but is very fussy about when I milk her and the dogs must not be wandering about , and not raining , women !
Hopefully back to normal tomorrow .
Valentines Day
The weather is warming up a few degrees . No frost in the mornings , but we are getting cloudy and rainy days with sunshine , and when the sun is out the temperature is great . Like an English day in June . The house inside is cold it,s all the concrete they use in the construction . This means I still spend an hour a day sourcing free wood and cutting it up for the fires .
Rastro this morning for that once a week treat of my full breakfast , Linda has bacon and mushroom bap to accommodate her diet requirements with a mug of hot chocolate .
We can buy a lot of second hand goods .Today Linda bought 2 bedside lamps very pretty . Just what we needed . There is an English goods shop as well . You pay a little bit more but it saves going to Benidorm just for the odd jar of branston , crumpets , sliced bread , and greggs sausage rolls .
Inthe afternoon I carried on with building the new chicken run withe the help of 2 donkeys 4 goats and a pig . George the pig is a little under the weather today though , and is sleeping a lot .
Tonight we are going to the local bar for a valentines dinner 30 euros a couple including all you can drink in beer and wine . Tell you more tomorrow .
Rastro this morning for that once a week treat of my full breakfast , Linda has bacon and mushroom bap to accommodate her diet requirements with a mug of hot chocolate .
We can buy a lot of second hand goods .Today Linda bought 2 bedside lamps very pretty . Just what we needed . There is an English goods shop as well . You pay a little bit more but it saves going to Benidorm just for the odd jar of branston , crumpets , sliced bread , and greggs sausage rolls .
Inthe afternoon I carried on with building the new chicken run withe the help of 2 donkeys 4 goats and a pig . George the pig is a little under the weather today though , and is sleeping a lot .
Tonight we are going to the local bar for a valentines dinner 30 euros a couple including all you can drink in beer and wine . Tell you more tomorrow .
The next three days
The first day was a shopping morning and overcast so apart from cleaning the stables I did now,t .
The next day it rained all day . Serviced the generators as we were going to need them later .
The next day it rained all day . Serviced the generators as we were going to need them later .
Today is wall to wall blue sky . What a difference . Shopping this morning and coffee with friends . Mucking out this afternoon and I now put the manure on the edge of our land and put a sign next to it saying gratis {free } . Since then it goes quite quickly .
The man on the next grove to us is pruning his olive trees . Then with an axe he gets all the firewood he can from it this leaves small prunings which he will burn or shred . I asked him if I could have some for the animals and he said yes and helped me throw them over the fence into the paddock . So they are all munching happily .
Yesterday we called at the animal feed warehouse , and bought a bale of alfalfa and mixed horse food . I have old paella dishes scattered about and this allows everyone to get a share.
I try and give a mixed diet and will explain later .
Bought the wife a plant for valentines day , tomorrow .Plus we saw and bought a small white vase but with artificial lily of the valley in it . My mother's favourite .
The man on the next grove to us is pruning his olive trees . Then with an axe he gets all the firewood he can from it this leaves small prunings which he will burn or shred . I asked him if I could have some for the animals and he said yes and helped me throw them over the fence into the paddock . So they are all munching happily .
Yesterday we called at the animal feed warehouse , and bought a bale of alfalfa and mixed horse food . I have old paella dishes scattered about and this allows everyone to get a share.
I try and give a mixed diet and will explain later .
Bought the wife a plant for valentines day , tomorrow .Plus we saw and bought a small white vase but with artificial lily of the valley in it . My mother's favourite .
Back to the journey .
We rang our son in England and he told us to waggle the wires under the dash board . We did this and off we went . Very technical .
The first peage was Reims , and we arrived at 13.00 hrs and paid 27 euros . From then on we only stopped the engine at diesel and sleep stops . When we stopped for coffee and wees we took it in turns and kept the engine running . Through France we travelled , all night and all day , with 4 hour driving stints and with two hour sleep stops and animal walks . Crossing our fingers every time we started the engine . Then at last the Spanish border came into view .
The first peage was Reims , and we arrived at 13.00 hrs and paid 27 euros . From then on we only stopped the engine at diesel and sleep stops . When we stopped for coffee and wees we took it in turns and kept the engine running . Through France we travelled , all night and all day , with 4 hour driving stints and with two hour sleep stops and animal walks . Crossing our fingers every time we started the engine . Then at last the Spanish border came into view .
Day three and four
What a crap day was day 3 . Drizzle nearly all day .
The goats do not have an undercoat so will not venture out in the rain .
I always wanted to keep goats , and we thought they would help to keep the land tidy . But did you know goats would rather eat bushes and trees ? We did not .
Anyway by asking at the animal feed store we found a breeder who kept goats for their milk and needed homes for his surplus young . We purchased 2 female goats about three weeks old . Sisters . More about them later . Anyway looking after the animals , keeping them dry , and feeding them is difficult but well worth it .
Day 4 we got up to sunshine and mist .
The animals were a lot happier . We went into the village for post and fresh bread and then called at our friends for coffee.
When we got back , fed the dogs , then fed and checked the other animals and low and behold Wanda was in the pig sty , sat next to the pig , George , and kindly laid another egg .
Plenty of solar energy today and those pallets are keeping us warm .
The goats do not have an undercoat so will not venture out in the rain .
I always wanted to keep goats , and we thought they would help to keep the land tidy . But did you know goats would rather eat bushes and trees ? We did not .
Anyway by asking at the animal feed store we found a breeder who kept goats for their milk and needed homes for his surplus young . We purchased 2 female goats about three weeks old . Sisters . More about them later . Anyway looking after the animals , keeping them dry , and feeding them is difficult but well worth it .
Day 4 we got up to sunshine and mist .
The animals were a lot happier . We went into the village for post and fresh bread and then called at our friends for coffee.
When we got back , fed the dogs , then fed and checked the other animals and low and behold Wanda was in the pig sty , sat next to the pig , George , and kindly laid another egg .
Plenty of solar energy today and those pallets are keeping us warm .
Our journey continued .
Finally on the train we looked a right sight . Like refugees .
We did not realise that so many people would wander up and down the train and every time they went passed us Tasha barked . Happy days . We had no trouble at the French border and were soon on or way . We planned to use the motorways all the way to Spain . Costly but more direct . But we had a problem . A faulty immobilizer . We also decided to do 4 hour stints and at our first stop the van would not start . Hey Ho !
May the force be with you . It wasn't with us .
We did not realise that so many people would wander up and down the train and every time they went passed us Tasha barked . Happy days . We had no trouble at the French border and were soon on or way . We planned to use the motorways all the way to Spain . Costly but more direct . But we had a problem . A faulty immobilizer . We also decided to do 4 hour stints and at our first stop the van would not start . Hey Ho !
May the force be with you . It wasn't with us .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)