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Early in December (8^th) we had yet another

Bank Holiday...

and it may be no surprise to know that it does make us self sufficient in the fruit but given that we only really use it in sauce for roast duck that is hardly a great achievement.

Early on we decorated for Christmas which may sound a bit of a chore, but in our case involves buying ½ a dozen Poinsettias which afford delightful Christmassy colours.

however, she has nothing worthy.

she kneels by the roadside and protests that they are far from desirable but gathers the handful and makes her way to a small chapel where she places her offering on the alter.  

The moment she does they burst into the blooms of brilliant Poinsettias

and her sorrow  turns to joy...

The Mexicans therefore renamed it Flor de Noche  Buena (the Christmas Eve flower) . 

Perhaps less romantic is the fact that they are native to Mexico ~ and were used by the Aztecs both for medicinal purposes and making dye. 

This one had a selection of mixed Christmas music and comic sketches.

SEAFARING GINGER CAT ... (click for full story...)

Sandi, a ginger Tom, was discovered by staff on the Pride of Bilbao having stowed away from Portsmouth.  The vet was able to tell from an embedded micro chip that he was registered in the UK and the crew vowed to give him a luxurious trip home. 

On the return journey he was fed a special menu of salmon, chicken and milk and had had an en suite cabin which usually costs 266 pounds.

During the journey he was visited hourly to give him a stroke and to ensure he remained comfortable. 

Back home retired business man Tim Austen the owner said he was delighted to be reunited with Sandi; as he and his wife live 11 miles from Portsmouth it is suspected that Sandi stowed away in a lorry, probably for the warmth.

No such adventures in our pussy cat department where relaxation and use of the Jacuzzi took priority as you can see in the photograph.  

It is a 5 seater Jacuzzi so there is room for more.

from top: Zoo-Zoo, Smokey and Choo-Choo

take it easy in the sun ...

The middle of the month Spain experienced appalling weather with road and rail transport disrupted by snow and the cancellation of many flights. 

Where the snow fell as rain, essentially to the west of us, significant flooding was experienced.

I suppose an English translation would be “All-in Stew” ...

but here in Spain they go further than I have ever known in England,  with fat pork, beef, the odd chicken leg

and sausages 

all going in the pot at the same time along with a selection of root  vegetables   

and celery...            

As with so many Spanish dishes there is no set recipe, it depends what you have got on the day.   The meat and vegetable mix is readily available from supermarkets, market stalls etc., whilst the sausages come from the local butcher. 

We particularly like our butcher’s sausages although they do cost about 3 pounds per pound, having said that, unlike English sausages they are 100% pork  with the meat etc. visible, as it is course cut from proper meat as opposed to skin, bone and ground up rubbish which is often the case at the lower end of the market.

Just before Christmas our next door neighbour was unfortunately taken to hospital where he received the usual Spanish treatment of clean pyjamas, a cosmetics pack and enjoyed his first hospital meal freshly cooked in the hospital kitchen...  Each day clean pyjamas are issued, bedding is changed and the ward is twice cleaned by professional cleaners – and do you know what? – they have never heard of MRSA and the like.  

He has been kept in over the holiday period and on Christmas Eve was surprised to receive a gold gift bag containing a champagne flute, half a bottle of Cava (Spanish Champagne) and a bag of sweets. 

This is obviously standard issue for all patients ...

and was followed up on New Year´s Eve by a similar ration,

but this time, instead of sweets,  twelve grapes for eating one at a time ~ as the clock struck the midnight hour. 

Christmas was very quiet for us; the weather was very kind  as you can see  from the photograph,

a mite different from that experienced in northern Europe or indeed in northern Spain for that matter. 

Hopefully we are now back to normal ...

 ... and I will endeavour to produce January's newsletter on time !

Sue says remember to click for more in her

Spanish Garden: pages

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DIARY DAYS IN SPAIN