Am currently 'trapped' in my kitchen as the plasterers have now moved on the hallway and I'm cut off from the outside world by scaffolding and plastic sheeting. The hall is the last room to do but it is probably the largest, highest and most complicated as the ceiling is currently wooden beams and cane. There is dust everywhere!
It has given me the opportunity though to thoroughly clean the kitchen in preparation for the weekend arrivals. This has involved opening the fridge for the first time since it was switched off 2 weeks ago (due to the power issues). I think its fair to say that NASA could have saved millions if they'd gone to my fridge instead of Mars in their search for alien life-forms...
Hot news today is that my Tempranillo grapes (due Friday) are apparently arriving TODAY as bad weather is predicted for Friday which would preclude any harvesting. Luckily, all is ready for their arrival. Now means though that as they have to 'sit' for 5 days before pressing (in order to let the skins colour the juice), it will now be pressing day on Monday. Should be an interesting first full day for my visitors!. In the meantime I know I have to keep agitating the grapes so I might be taking my shoes and socks off!
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Monday, 15 October 2012
Manic Monday
So, if you've kept up, Monday's list consisted of:
a) the builders coming back to finish off
b) the plasterers arriving to do the inside of the house
c) delivery of my powered barrow
d) the solar engineer arriving to replace my batteries
My slight pessimism about all this coming off was not misplaced. The element which failed was the 'solar system' one (the only one that involved an Englishman!). Despite having paid the suppliers 10 days ago, the solar engineer was informed yesterday morning that the batteries I wanted were not in stock. Why it took until 9am yesterday for this to be 'discovered' remains a mystery but the bottom line is that I would have to wait another 2-3 weeks for replacement batteries of the same size as my current ones or pay more to get high capacity batteries that are in stock. Given the impending arrival of visitors, Mr Hobson came in to play so yet more money to fork out (although a 50% discount on the increased price has been negotiated). Oh, and the new batteries won't fit in their current home so carpentry involved... Hopefully all will be well on Thursday when they are installed. The Spanish use the same verb for 'wait' and 'hope' (esperar) which sometimes seems very appropriate out here!
The builders have finished. Was quite 'emotional' saying goodbye to Nene and Jesus as I've enjoyed their company And our lunch-break chats(Pepe will be returning later in the week with safety glass for my new skylights) but will be hopefully getting together with them one evening next week for a drink and tapas.
The plasterers are AMAZING. They managed to do the bathroom, utility room and the small downstairs bedroom in one day. The master bedroom is due to be done today with the hallway following tomorrow and then they're done! As it has to be left to dry for a month, indoor painting is off the agenda for next week when I have willing hands so it's likely (weather permitting) to be outdoor painting of the new terrace.
Looking good for all the decks to be cleared before LouLou the Cleaner arrives on Friday. Not sure she knows what she's let herself in for.
The powered barrow arrived lunchtime and I'm delighted with it. It is going to save me SO much effort carting stuff around. Various test drives have been performed (including a quick blast up my nearest field) and completed successfully. Haven't filled it with 4.5 tonnes yet (!); guess the handling performance may be somewhat different to when empty!
The wine room and the bodega are all clean now. Note to self: check that the wine room floor is sealed before applying copious quantities of water otherwise you might get a flood downstairs in the master bedroom. NOte to readers: Change 'might' in above sentence to 'will'! (Thank God for the wet & dry vac!) All is now pretty much ready for the arrival of the Tempranillo grapes on Friday and those from my harvest next week. Starting to get a bit excited...
Dashed in to Torvizcon late yesterday as the pharmacy had phoned my neighbour to say there was lots of post for me (thank you Susie). It included my new tax disc for the van and a lovely long letter from Pam bringing me up to speed on all the news from Stapleton.
(Woke up again to snow on the mountains this morning. Although no rain here, they must have had cloud sitting on them overnight.)
Apologies for lack of recent photos; will rectify soon!
a) the builders coming back to finish off
b) the plasterers arriving to do the inside of the house
c) delivery of my powered barrow
d) the solar engineer arriving to replace my batteries
My slight pessimism about all this coming off was not misplaced. The element which failed was the 'solar system' one (the only one that involved an Englishman!). Despite having paid the suppliers 10 days ago, the solar engineer was informed yesterday morning that the batteries I wanted were not in stock. Why it took until 9am yesterday for this to be 'discovered' remains a mystery but the bottom line is that I would have to wait another 2-3 weeks for replacement batteries of the same size as my current ones or pay more to get high capacity batteries that are in stock. Given the impending arrival of visitors, Mr Hobson came in to play so yet more money to fork out (although a 50% discount on the increased price has been negotiated). Oh, and the new batteries won't fit in their current home so carpentry involved... Hopefully all will be well on Thursday when they are installed. The Spanish use the same verb for 'wait' and 'hope' (esperar) which sometimes seems very appropriate out here!
The builders have finished. Was quite 'emotional' saying goodbye to Nene and Jesus as I've enjoyed their company And our lunch-break chats(Pepe will be returning later in the week with safety glass for my new skylights) but will be hopefully getting together with them one evening next week for a drink and tapas.
The plasterers are AMAZING. They managed to do the bathroom, utility room and the small downstairs bedroom in one day. The master bedroom is due to be done today with the hallway following tomorrow and then they're done! As it has to be left to dry for a month, indoor painting is off the agenda for next week when I have willing hands so it's likely (weather permitting) to be outdoor painting of the new terrace.
Looking good for all the decks to be cleared before LouLou the Cleaner arrives on Friday. Not sure she knows what she's let herself in for.
The powered barrow arrived lunchtime and I'm delighted with it. It is going to save me SO much effort carting stuff around. Various test drives have been performed (including a quick blast up my nearest field) and completed successfully. Haven't filled it with 4.5 tonnes yet (!); guess the handling performance may be somewhat different to when empty!
The wine room and the bodega are all clean now. Note to self: check that the wine room floor is sealed before applying copious quantities of water otherwise you might get a flood downstairs in the master bedroom. NOte to readers: Change 'might' in above sentence to 'will'! (Thank God for the wet & dry vac!) All is now pretty much ready for the arrival of the Tempranillo grapes on Friday and those from my harvest next week. Starting to get a bit excited...
Dashed in to Torvizcon late yesterday as the pharmacy had phoned my neighbour to say there was lots of post for me (thank you Susie). It included my new tax disc for the van and a lovely long letter from Pam bringing me up to speed on all the news from Stapleton.
(Woke up again to snow on the mountains this morning. Although no rain here, they must have had cloud sitting on them overnight.)
Apologies for lack of recent photos; will rectify soon!
Saturday, 13 October 2012
Anyone for wine?
Went for a jaunt earlier up the track'
with my neighbour Jose' to visit a neighbouring farmer (Antonio) on his vineyard.
Now I'm contemplating how much work I have to do to prepare for the 600kg of Tempranillo grapes that will be arriving on Friday lunchtime!
just like these ones...
just like these ones...
Making red wine was not in my original Year 1 plans but I'm taking the view that life is too short and I just need to get on with it. So, come the end of the year, I'll have 400 litres of red wine to sell/barter. Was thinking of advertising an 'early bird offer'!...how does '£2.50 a litre, collection only sound'???? Perhaps I just need to offer 'drink all you like' holidays...that might work.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Another holiday!!
Today is the Fiesta Nacional de Espana (Spanish National Day). With the local holidays, that's the fourth fiesta day in the last eight! So all is quiet and the interminable rumble of the cement mixer has ceased until Monday (although the generator will be on later this afternoon as I've loads of washing catch up on).
Yesterday was a l..o..n..g day away from the cortijo. Having arranged to pick up from Orgiva a (very) cheap wet & dry vacuum cleaner (found on the aply-named 'Second hand tat in La Alpujarra' Facebook page), I got a call from the shop in Lanjaron with the news that the tracked barrows
(remember this from a previous post nearly 3 weeks ago
)were due that afternoon.
So having handed over my 20 euros for the vac (ideal for the pre-grape harvest cleanout that is under way), I found myself with 5 hours to kill as the alternative (come home and go back) would have meant nearly 2 hours driving. Given my push to remediate my 'overslim' physique, I went for a 3-course lunch with wine and coffee (all for a tenner) in Orgiva and then drove to Lanjaron and has a short snooze parked up overlooking a lovely gorge. Arriving at the shop at 5.15, I was told that the owner wouldn't be there for 20 inutes and perhaps I'd like to go for a coffee in the bar next door. This I did and found that the tab was being picked up by the shop.
When the owner arrived I had an opportunity to drive the barrow and it was immediately plain that it is going to be my saviour on the farm. With the ability to carry 4500kg and deal with severe slopes, it will save so much time & effort shifting crops, stone & wood around the place (plus it will be able to pull me up the hills!). It's narrow enough to get through the door of my workshop but the sides can be pulled out to accommodate larger loads. Looks like I should also be able to attach a tow bar which may allow me to attach a harrow for 'stimulating' the soil here without ploughing which I am trying to avoid.
I stopped in Orgiva to re-stock with food and then had a drive in the twilight back to the cortijo arriving just as dark fell. Too dark to see what the builders had achieved that day so that 'excitement' awaited me this morning.
Due to the bank holidays, getting the cash for the barrow (as card won't do...) is proving problematic so not sure whether it will come Saturday (ideal) or Monday morning.
The latter is not ideal as:
a) the builders will be back to continue finishing off (nearly there!; pictures to come)
b) the plasterers arrive to do the inside of the house
c) the solar engineer arrives to replace my batteries etc
As you can see, it's going to be a busy start to next week! The cleaner is booked for Friday & Saturday as my first major influx of guests (Dad, Elsie & Adam) arrives next Sunday. With other friends arriving in the south of Spain at the same time, it looks like (in terms of help around the place) I'll be going from feast to famine. There's plenty for them to do though!
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
The Bird List
The list of bird species increases (though not going to bore you with it just yet!).
Saw some Long-Tailed Tits today which took me back to watching them from my terrace in Bristol flitting through the treetops.
No pictures of them as I was coming up the hill in the van at the time but here's a photo of a Spotted Flycatcher taken from higher up on my land on Saturday.
PS. In case you didn't know, if you click on any of the pictures in the blog then you'll be shown a bigger version of the picture
Saw some Long-Tailed Tits today which took me back to watching them from my terrace in Bristol flitting through the treetops.
No pictures of them as I was coming up the hill in the van at the time but here's a photo of a Spotted Flycatcher taken from higher up on my land on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 October 2012
Colours of the Fiesta - Part2
Colours of the bullfight...
Bullring - Sky
Matador Cape 1 - Matador Cape 2
Matador Cape 3 - Matador Cape 4
Horse - Bull
Colours of the Fiesta - Part 1
A number of women & girls wore traditional Andalucian dresses to the Fiesta today in Cadiar.
Normal service has resumed
I'm now reconnected which is a relief. Unlikely to be much posting happening today however as I have to prepare for a visit to the local fiesta in Cadiar. While the various activities go on over the weekend, the fountain in the centre of town spews free wine. I suspect the local pharmacia has a busy time when it's over. Am going to err on the side of caution and park the van up in town and sleep in it tonight.
With some trepidation, I'm going to my first bullfight at 5pm. Despite my extensive travels in Spain I've always managed to arrive in places 2 days ahead or behind a bullfight so, with one on my dorrstep, I'm determined to go and observe. I'll report back (and try not to sound like |Hemingway).
With some trepidation, I'm going to my first bullfight at 5pm. Despite my extensive travels in Spain I've always managed to arrive in places 2 days ahead or behind a bullfight so, with one on my dorrstep, I'm determined to go and observe. I'll report back (and try not to sound like |Hemingway).
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Hace sol
It's a very sunny, calm day here today (as was yesterday).
The roof situation has MUCH improved and, while it won't be completely level to allow for drainage, it is looking a lot better than over the weekend.
Yesterday a spaceman (well that's what he looked like in all his protective gear), came and sprayed insulating foam over the whole roof and then work started on another layer of concrete.
The waterproof membrane goes on tomorrow hopefully. We're nearly there; work may just creep into w/c 15th October but that allows time for a clean-up before the visitors start arriving.
The power situation is manageable (i.e. I don't have to go to bed at 8.30 and wear a head-torch to read!) pending the decision on what to do and whether a replacement of the batteries is necessary.
Will try and post a bit more while the sun is shining and giving me enough juice to run the internet connection.
Wiring is being disconnected Thursday & Friday so will be offline and without phone until they are reconnected (hopefully, that will be Saturday); normal service will resume thereafter.
The roof situation has MUCH improved and, while it won't be completely level to allow for drainage, it is looking a lot better than over the weekend.
Yesterday a spaceman (well that's what he looked like in all his protective gear), came and sprayed insulating foam over the whole roof and then work started on another layer of concrete.
The power situation is manageable (i.e. I don't have to go to bed at 8.30 and wear a head-torch to read!) pending the decision on what to do and whether a replacement of the batteries is necessary.
Will try and post a bit more while the sun is shining and giving me enough juice to run the internet connection.
Wiring is being disconnected Thursday & Friday so will be offline and without phone until they are reconnected (hopefully, that will be Saturday); normal service will resume thereafter.
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