December!!
After the tremendous floods at the end of November, we have just been treated to a fantastic week of cloud-free days, with solar power literally oozing out of our batteries. Continue reading
Rain from last week
Having had no rain all summer, it decided to pay us pay in spades. Continue reading
Winter has arrived
After seven long months without rain, and with a four month period in the middle where the temperature did not drop below 30ºC all day, winter has finally arrived.
We had 25 litres of rain (per square metre) on Saturday and it blew a gale on Saturday night, and finally died down Sunday evening.
Which is a shame as the majority of the olives that have made it thus far are now on the floor, and can only be rolled up and sold to the co-operative. It has been a poor year, with no rain for the trees all summer – they need a good downpour at least once or twice over the summer, otherwise they do not grow into a worthwhile size.
No oil this year – we had already decided that there were not enough, and we hope to have sufficient oil for the coming year to fill our culinary needs.
It remains to be seen whether we have enough firewood cut and dried – we have cleaned out the chimney and lit the stove a couple of times, but yesterday was the first time we really wanted the fire lit.
A huge vat of beef stew gently simmering on the stove all afternoon finally drove us to eating it early (by Spanish standards) and as there was no power available (no sun all weekend) then we all retired early, replete and ready to face the next day’s tribulations.
After Coffee Drinks Choice et al…
Last weekend we were invited to a fiesta - the usual Catalan overindulgence of a superb paella, bbq and postres (puddings) and we have been to a few so we knew what to expect.
A lot of food, a fair bit (but not too much) to drink – but I was unprepared for what is obviously another part of my Catalan education.
To start with – whilst the paella is being prepared – a cold beer or two, although there are some that beg to differ. As the paella is served, you must partake in a glass of vermut and siphon (martini & soda).
You may then move onto your preferred red or white wine, before rounding off the meal (after the puddings) with a coffee.
It was a long afternoon – and the men had started off a lively debate on the Civil War, in which I was not involved. As I had had enough to drink, and did not fancy the half-pint tumblers of whiskey and Fanta that were on offer, I stupidly helped myself to a small glass of red wine, adding a snort of soda to it.
Bugger me – I was then harangued for some 45 minutes by three individuals as to my folly. Once the coffee has been served, NEVER drink wine afterwards or I will be sure to have a bad head. Did I not like the whiskey? Was it not good enough? Did I prefer something else?
They take their food and drink seriously here, and fair play to them, but sometimes a simple slip should be brushed under the carpet. Oh No. 45 bloody minutes later, I got away with it, promising never to do it again.
My master plan for the next fiesta – don’t drink any coffee!