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 .
Day two
What a beautiful day! Cold this morning but bright sun today.
Started cutting up some pallets for the spaga which heats the kitchen end of the house and we can cook in its oven and on its 2 hobs. Plenty of solar electric so have used the electric table saw.I have also worked on the new duck / goose house.
Had quite a surprise today when Wanda ,the magpie duck that as a duckling just wandered into the paddock,past all the animals and settled in the stable block,and has been with us now for 10 months. She did not come out of her sleeping quarters and I feared the worst. But when I went in she was sat on 10 eggs! Perfect for Yorkshire puddings.
I am a bit late today and Lola,one of the goats is asking to be milked so will have to go.
Started cutting up some pallets for the spaga which heats the kitchen end of the house and we can cook in its oven and on its 2 hobs. Plenty of solar electric so have used the electric table saw.I have also worked on the new duck / goose house.
Had quite a surprise today when Wanda ,the magpie duck that as a duckling just wandered into the paddock,past all the animals and settled in the stable block,and has been with us now for 10 months. She did not come out of her sleeping quarters and I feared the worst. But when I went in she was sat on 10 eggs! Perfect for Yorkshire puddings.
I am a bit late today and Lola,one of the goats is asking to be milked so will have to go.
continuing our journey we got to the tunnel well in time for the first train of the day.
We did not reckon with customs. The gentleman came over and pulled us to one side because of the animals.He then asked us to empty the van,which had taken a good week to pack. We pointed out the problems this would cause. After some considerable time and Tasha baring her teeth, Tasha was our faithful German Shepherd. In the end Tasha won the day! And we made the train with a few minutes to spare.
To be continued ....
We did not reckon with customs. The gentleman came over and pulled us to one side because of the animals.He then asked us to empty the van,which had taken a good week to pack. We pointed out the problems this would cause. After some considerable time and Tasha baring her teeth, Tasha was our faithful German Shepherd. In the end Tasha won the day! And we made the train with a few minutes to spare.
To be continued ....
Day 1
Had a nice morning at the local rastro, lovely English breakfast, a weekly treat.
Then onto Alcoy to pick up meal worms for max.
Got up to a nice sunrise this morning at 7.30 but really cold, minus 4, took the 5 dogs out, let the 3 cats out, but they returned very quickly.
Then fed the 2 donkeys and 4 goats. Let out and fed the pig. Let out the one remaining
chicken called lucky. then out came the 2 ducks and the goose.
How we acquired this collection will be told as the story unfolds.
For the rest of the day I hope to do some work on the new duck/goose house.
Then onto Alcoy to pick up meal worms for max.
Got up to a nice sunrise this morning at 7.30 but really cold, minus 4, took the 5 dogs out, let the 3 cats out, but they returned very quickly.
Then fed the 2 donkeys and 4 goats. Let out and fed the pig. Let out the one remaining
chicken called lucky. then out came the 2 ducks and the goose.
How we acquired this collection will be told as the story unfolds.
For the rest of the day I hope to do some work on the new duck/goose house.
We came to Spain over 8 years ago.
We bought a run down casita with an olive grove overlooking a small lake, and surrounded by mountains. Buying an Iveco van was the start of our adventure.
We bought a run down casita with an olive grove overlooking a small lake, and surrounded by mountains. Buying an Iveco van was the start of our adventure.
Selling our house in England and clearing the mortgage, saying goodbye to our family and friends and we were off.
Loaded with our possessions, 2 dogs,1 cat,and Polly the parrot, we set off on the journey
down to the channel tunnel.
Loaded with our possessions, 2 dogs,1 cat,and Polly the parrot, we set off on the journey
down to the channel tunnel.
To be continued.......
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