Not quite a washout

With the skies appearing to be determined to dump as much water as they can on this part of the world, the planned activities for the week have been curtailed. Having tried it, I speak with authority when I say that being stuck on a hill 3000' feet up in driving rain with a gale blowing trying to look through your to peer through misted glasses and make sure that you cut off all the dead vine twigs and only leave 2 buds on the live ones (and NOT lop off something you shouldn't) is not easy.

The weather has also hampered wood collection with the result that stocks of dry almond logs have run dangerously low. Following a conversation with my neighbour Jose yesterday, I ordered a trailer-load of olive wood (the best for fires) from his nephew Antonio for delivery today. Short of cash, I went to the bank in to Cadiar first thing giving Jose a lift. The original purpose of his trip was to get a photocopy made in the newsagents. Of course, we actually came back with a sack of oats, two of potatoes, some canary seed, a bag of sardinbes plus some anchovies! This is relatively normal though. Not having a car, my neighbours make the most of any opportunities for free carriage. Again, as is normal, we took a coffee before our return and I received an invite to lunch (always taken at 2).

Antonio arrived at 1 and a hurried unloading of the wood was made in to the stable. Arriving for lunch, I was greeted by Jose's sister (with whom Antonio lodges) so it was 6 of us that sat down to lunch. The said sardines and anchovies made a reappearance (cooked) along with wild boar chorizo, salad and migas (breadcrumbs cooked in a vegetable stock and then fried). Although very simple, it was a very delicious lunch. With freshly picked oranges for dessert, lunch extended out until 4 pm and turned what looked like being an entire washout into quite a pleasant day. I even managed to explain (and be understood) about my past life as a fishery officer and recount the tales of drinking whisky at 7am with the skippers of the boats in Aberdeen.

Here's hoping the weather improves soon as scraping the 7 layers of 'stuff' off the hallway walls isn't doing my sanity any good.