OUR REGULAR NEWS FEATURE FROM

SUNNY SPAIN    

January  2010

The New Year exploded upon us with the usual

New Year´s Day Bank Holiday.

Four days later on the 5^th, the Eve of the Day of the Kings, we celebrated Susan´s birthday and the usual procession of farm carts and children hurled their presents of sweets into the garden. 

She really does appreciate the fact that her birthday is at long last properly recognised !

Following the bank holiday we had four dull and dank days one of which had prolonged rain. 

We felt sorry for Zoo Zoo who is still very much our outside cat

and so built him a little tent

 ... as shown... 

Happily Sue had just bought a scarf, the label of which provided an ideal sign for his new residence.  He has really taken to  his new property although only when it is raining,

the rest of the time he prefers a coconut mat out in the open next to the Bamboo...

Still on cats ...

The Bandit is busy enjoying (if that is the right word) the sex season which has just begun.

He dashes in for a quick meal in various states of disarray and we wonder every morning whether this time it will be limping, bleeding, scratched eyes etc...... 

              Are women really worth it?

ZOO ZOO

certainly doesn’t think so, for despite retaining all the necessary equipment he shows no inclination to go courting,

preferring to spend his time gazing admiringly at his close friend Smokey

(strictly entre nous we think he might be a bit “gay”!)

Our robin redbreast has reappeared

 and the skies are still packed with wagtails and of course the ubiquitous Magpies. 

On the subject of wildlife we have been particularly plagued this year with Pine Processionary Caterpillars coming out of the pine trees in greater than average numbers. 

Nasty little blighters they can be dangerous to animals and indeed to humans and if you plan on visiting Spain in the early part of the year I suggest you Google the subject

   ...and what ever you do, do not camp in that pretty pine wood!

And then we will be able to cease dressing like an onion with layer after layer of clothing.  The problem at this time of year is that the peak temperatures during the day can hit into the 30s but with the sun being so low in the sky and weak, the shadows are long and the cold quite striking perhaps 20 degrees below the sunshine temperature.  

Hence, clothes have to be suitable for a quick change artist with few, if any, over the head style pullovers. 

Whilst we have enjoyed the opportunity to eat traditional favourites such as brown stew and dumplings etc

      ...the appeal wears off quite rapidly. 

Even with the seasonal delicacy of fresh peas and although peas freeze exceptionally well there really is no substitute for freshly podded,

even though the shelling can seem a bit tedious.  ! 

However, I have found a way around this!  for you can take a pound or two of peas, leave them for half a hour or so, come back and you will find them all freshly podded and ready to go..... this device is not exclusive to Spain ...

indeed I bought mine in England -

On the subject of fresh food, it maybe that you have discovered the extremely cheap palatable fish, the Panga. 

By all means continue if price is your only criterion that is your affair.  We have read disturbing reports in the local press regarding this fish and having Googled the subject have decided firmly against it.  The choice is yours .......

If you look up Nisperos in a Spanish/English dictionary it will tell you a Medlar, however, this is not true for although I have never eaten an English Medlar I am told they have to be half rotten before they are edible. 

This is certainly not true of the Nisperos. 

On the archaeological front new discoveries are being made in the region and it is now proposed that Andalucia could be the home of the legendary lost city of Atlantis. 

In our neighbouring province to the north of us the remains of a Moorish city have been discovered in the course of excavation for a new underground car park with the result that work has now ceased and the site is to be preserved and a new organisation, the

Foundation for Mediaeval Murcia, 

is to be set up to oversee what is now a heritage site

[Some of you may know what I am talking about but I must admit I haven’t the faintest idea!  ]

Evidently an event which will attract millions is the Arctic Monkeys supported by Light Speed Champion and Fuzzy White Casters who are performing a free concert in Valencia on February the 13th.

Call me old fashioned, but my idea of modern music sort of died with the demise of Wizard,

the Rubettes, Buffy St Marie  et al. 

So far this winter we have been very lucky with regard the weather.  Elsewhere in the province heavy rainfall has closed schools and provoked landslides; although we have had a bit of rain it has not been excessive.

The end of the month saw a further solid day's rain albeit falling at a kindly rate which soaked in to the ground quite readily.   It is now officially stated that our prolonged drought is over after about 5/6 years.

One positive side of the inclement weather has been that the Sierra Navada has had an early start to the snow season and modern technology guarantees snow all season with artificial snow machines

and the resort has been judged to have the best groomed snow in Europe. 

Despite this and the extensive facilities available it is seldom mentioned in British skiing reports, but if you are keen on a holiday on the piste it is well worth examining. 

I personally wouldn't dream of paying money to get bloody cold and perhaps end up breaking a leg,

Like the British “climber” who was reported to have gone for a walk in the Sierra Navada and failed to return, thus his wife called the Guardia Civil who sent out search teams who spent two days scouring the region in a rescue effort hampered by heavy snow fall, high winds and poor visibility. 

However we have also experienced some snow in the area on the high ground as can be seen in the photograph where the high point slightly left of centre known as The Teta de la Bruja (Literally the Witche´s Tit) had significant falls, although these rapidly melted and fuelled  the arroyos to present some problems for the ramblas in the area where the dried river beds (most of the time anyway) are commonly used as roads, car park, football pitches etc..... 

Sue and her friend Maggie normally

walk to the Saturday market in the pueblo

but on one occasion toward the end of the month had to curtail their trip and return home to jump in the car, as their way was impassable

due to the width and depth of water they encounter. 

and the verges covered in wild geraniums. 

There is always something to brighten a cold day...

Sue says remember to click for more in her

Spanish Garden pages

REMEMBER! To find a DIARY MONTH from our Newsletter,  just click

DIARY DAYS IN SPAIN