Hola Bloggers,
Did you know that the black tipped shark has to continually swim around because if it stops then it will drown and die? Did you know that, in the relevant season, Cuttle fish mate and mate and mate until they are so exhausted that they die? Interesting hey! Guess who went to the acquarium today? Yes, me. Stood around and stared and sharks and weird fish for a few hours.............then sat in the sun and read the English version of OK! I have to have some sort of English escapism!
S xxx
Friday, April 29, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Culture club
Hola Bloggers,
We didn´t manage to get tickets to the Catalan version of A Midsummer Nights Dream but instead we went to the National Theatre to see a performance of Fuente Ovejuna (in Castellano - yeah!). I can´t remember who wrote it which is really naughty because he is apparently the Shakespeare of Spain (Every country reckons it has a Shakespeare doesn´t it - well what I want to know is how come we have never heard of their´s but they all know who Shakespeare is? Hmm. Different League. Thats what I say to that). I am pleased to say that I understood enough to enjoy it - because it was in old poetic Castellano (I suppose like Shakespearean language - not that I am drawing any comparisons).
Its the first time I have seen bare female breasts in a serious production ! Two pairs! The Continent is oh so free..............
It was a joy to visit the National Theatre not only for the performance but also because it allowed me to see some of Jose´s work. He is an architect and the theatre itself is one of his projects. ......and very impressive it is too. It is also virtually oppposite the new tower in BCN which is very much like the Norman Foster Egg in Liverpool Street, London. The BCN one is also Jose´s work. He doesn´t actually design the cosmetic look of buildings. Once that has been done, by architects on the more artictic side of things, he works out how the hell it can be done technically - and whether or not it can be done. So, basically, if it falls down its his fault!
I have also attended an Andalucian festival since my last correspondence. Yes I know I am in Catalunya but at this time of year in all the big cities there are Andalucian festivals for all the Andalucians that live there. The festival consisted of far too many marquees to count which were each set up with bars and dance floors and packed with flamenco dancing revellers. Many were in full costume, they were of all ages and of various stages of drunkardness. I did my bit and danced as well as I could with rose in mouth, silly hat on head and aided by mucho traditional Andalucian wine (drunk from shot glasses for some reason). Two of our gang are children of parents of Andalucia so they have each grown up dancing the traditional dances in their homes. The rest of us were therefore able to (try and) copy those two - much to their amusement. It seems that Andalucian dancing involves lots of stamping of one´s feet. I found that bit quite easy and couldn´t work out whether I was remembering the days when I spent a month in Seville on a Spanish school exchange at the age of 14 ...............or whether I was just remembering being 14!
Most of this week has been spent on the sofa because I have had a really bad cold and sore throat. Although it is never nice to be ill, its nice to be able to be ill without worrying about what is going on at work and constantly fretting about when you should go back.
Well done Liverpool last night. I know there was no score but at least they held Chelsea off. We can´t let Chelsea take the League and the European Cup! I have got more friends who are Chelsea fans than who are Liverpool fans and they are probably cursing me now, but listen:
1. I have always had a soft spot for Liverpool ever since my Dad got me Ian Rush´s autograph when I was about 5 years old, 2. I went to Uni in Liverpool, 3. Chelsea knocked Barcelona out, 4. Liverpool is up North and Chelsea is down south - say no more.
S xxx
We didn´t manage to get tickets to the Catalan version of A Midsummer Nights Dream but instead we went to the National Theatre to see a performance of Fuente Ovejuna (in Castellano - yeah!). I can´t remember who wrote it which is really naughty because he is apparently the Shakespeare of Spain (Every country reckons it has a Shakespeare doesn´t it - well what I want to know is how come we have never heard of their´s but they all know who Shakespeare is? Hmm. Different League. Thats what I say to that). I am pleased to say that I understood enough to enjoy it - because it was in old poetic Castellano (I suppose like Shakespearean language - not that I am drawing any comparisons).
Its the first time I have seen bare female breasts in a serious production ! Two pairs! The Continent is oh so free..............
It was a joy to visit the National Theatre not only for the performance but also because it allowed me to see some of Jose´s work. He is an architect and the theatre itself is one of his projects. ......and very impressive it is too. It is also virtually oppposite the new tower in BCN which is very much like the Norman Foster Egg in Liverpool Street, London. The BCN one is also Jose´s work. He doesn´t actually design the cosmetic look of buildings. Once that has been done, by architects on the more artictic side of things, he works out how the hell it can be done technically - and whether or not it can be done. So, basically, if it falls down its his fault!
I have also attended an Andalucian festival since my last correspondence. Yes I know I am in Catalunya but at this time of year in all the big cities there are Andalucian festivals for all the Andalucians that live there. The festival consisted of far too many marquees to count which were each set up with bars and dance floors and packed with flamenco dancing revellers. Many were in full costume, they were of all ages and of various stages of drunkardness. I did my bit and danced as well as I could with rose in mouth, silly hat on head and aided by mucho traditional Andalucian wine (drunk from shot glasses for some reason). Two of our gang are children of parents of Andalucia so they have each grown up dancing the traditional dances in their homes. The rest of us were therefore able to (try and) copy those two - much to their amusement. It seems that Andalucian dancing involves lots of stamping of one´s feet. I found that bit quite easy and couldn´t work out whether I was remembering the days when I spent a month in Seville on a Spanish school exchange at the age of 14 ...............or whether I was just remembering being 14!
Most of this week has been spent on the sofa because I have had a really bad cold and sore throat. Although it is never nice to be ill, its nice to be able to be ill without worrying about what is going on at work and constantly fretting about when you should go back.
Well done Liverpool last night. I know there was no score but at least they held Chelsea off. We can´t let Chelsea take the League and the European Cup! I have got more friends who are Chelsea fans than who are Liverpool fans and they are probably cursing me now, but listen:
1. I have always had a soft spot for Liverpool ever since my Dad got me Ian Rush´s autograph when I was about 5 years old, 2. I went to Uni in Liverpool, 3. Chelsea knocked Barcelona out, 4. Liverpool is up North and Chelsea is down south - say no more.
S xxx
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Missing my neighbours
Hola Bloggers,
I am very good friends with my neighbours in London. However, somehow I don´t think I have made any friends with the neighbours here. Due to several Caprihinis and a Fugees CD at approximiately 5am Sunday morning I was singing my head off - much to the amusment of Jose and our friends but unfortunately not to the pleasure or the man above. He banged on the door as thought he was hoping to knock it down and very maturely we all just burst out laughing and didn´t answer it. I would have felt guilty and perhaps gone up and apologised the next day but the stupid imbecile decided to spend approximately an hour later that morning runing up and down his corridor above our bedroom with as much force as he could - in an obvious attempt to annoy us and wake us up. We were not annoyed at all. We were pissing ourselves at how ridiculous it was for a grown man to resort to this. So no apology and no feelings of guilt. I was actually dying to wait all day and listen for his door going and then run outside and pretend that we were coming in as he was going out and talk amongst ourselves (so that he could hear) and say something along the lines of how I regret that we are only just coming in and that I regret leaving at 6am with our friends - thereby making him think that we weren´t even there when he was acting such a goat. However, I had better things to do than wait around for revenge - we went for a lovely walk and ate fantastic ice creams whilst walking around. Yes it is warm enough!
Some of you may be pleased to know (some of you may make yourelves scarce) that I have booked flights to come to England. I am taking Jose to Yorkshire to introduce him to the rest of the clan, fish and chips, drizzle, fog and indeciphable dialects. After he has endured a weekend of that and legges it back to the safety of spanish omlettes and vino tinto, I am going to come down to London for a few days.
I am planning on plonking myself in a bar in Islington on Wednesday 18th May so anyone who is around (no squares) can come and join me for a drink or two. I am flying down to the south of Spain to my apartment on the Thursday to be joined by Jose and spend the weekend there with my sister and her husband. Speaking of which - anyone fancy renting it for a week or two. Forgive me for shamelessly mentioning it but I am, after all, unemployed.
I am going to the Mountains in two weekends time - Jose normally sleeps rough in the open air with nothing but a bottle of wine - or so he tells me! But he is allowing a hotel for my first visit because he is not conviced that I could put up with that as he thinks I´m a bit too "pija"! I´ll show him I´m a tough northern lass in time. For now, I´ll settle for the hotel.
Oh just a point of interest - I got a massive cardboard tray full of strawberries for one euro today. I have to tell you because I am very pleased with it and with myself. I reckon you would be looking at about 8 or 9 pounds in Waitrose.
We are trying to get tickets for an opera version of A Midsummer Night´s Dream this weekend in Catalan. Hmm - can´t understand a god damn word of Catalan and never been to the opera. I can follow A Midsummer Night´s Dream though so all should be well. Doubt there will be tickets though as its at the best opera house in BCN and its always booked up. Proabably end up falling out with more neighbours instead.
Un beso
S xxxxxxxxxxxx
Lots of love
I am very good friends with my neighbours in London. However, somehow I don´t think I have made any friends with the neighbours here. Due to several Caprihinis and a Fugees CD at approximiately 5am Sunday morning I was singing my head off - much to the amusment of Jose and our friends but unfortunately not to the pleasure or the man above. He banged on the door as thought he was hoping to knock it down and very maturely we all just burst out laughing and didn´t answer it. I would have felt guilty and perhaps gone up and apologised the next day but the stupid imbecile decided to spend approximately an hour later that morning runing up and down his corridor above our bedroom with as much force as he could - in an obvious attempt to annoy us and wake us up. We were not annoyed at all. We were pissing ourselves at how ridiculous it was for a grown man to resort to this. So no apology and no feelings of guilt. I was actually dying to wait all day and listen for his door going and then run outside and pretend that we were coming in as he was going out and talk amongst ourselves (so that he could hear) and say something along the lines of how I regret that we are only just coming in and that I regret leaving at 6am with our friends - thereby making him think that we weren´t even there when he was acting such a goat. However, I had better things to do than wait around for revenge - we went for a lovely walk and ate fantastic ice creams whilst walking around. Yes it is warm enough!
Some of you may be pleased to know (some of you may make yourelves scarce) that I have booked flights to come to England. I am taking Jose to Yorkshire to introduce him to the rest of the clan, fish and chips, drizzle, fog and indeciphable dialects. After he has endured a weekend of that and legges it back to the safety of spanish omlettes and vino tinto, I am going to come down to London for a few days.
I am planning on plonking myself in a bar in Islington on Wednesday 18th May so anyone who is around (no squares) can come and join me for a drink or two. I am flying down to the south of Spain to my apartment on the Thursday to be joined by Jose and spend the weekend there with my sister and her husband. Speaking of which - anyone fancy renting it for a week or two. Forgive me for shamelessly mentioning it but I am, after all, unemployed.
I am going to the Mountains in two weekends time - Jose normally sleeps rough in the open air with nothing but a bottle of wine - or so he tells me! But he is allowing a hotel for my first visit because he is not conviced that I could put up with that as he thinks I´m a bit too "pija"! I´ll show him I´m a tough northern lass in time. For now, I´ll settle for the hotel.
Oh just a point of interest - I got a massive cardboard tray full of strawberries for one euro today. I have to tell you because I am very pleased with it and with myself. I reckon you would be looking at about 8 or 9 pounds in Waitrose.
We are trying to get tickets for an opera version of A Midsummer Night´s Dream this weekend in Catalan. Hmm - can´t understand a god damn word of Catalan and never been to the opera. I can follow A Midsummer Night´s Dream though so all should be well. Doubt there will be tickets though as its at the best opera house in BCN and its always booked up. Proabably end up falling out with more neighbours instead.
Un beso
S xxxxxxxxxxxx
Lots of love
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Final Destination?
Hola Bloggers,
Well I´m here. I made it.
Rome wasn´t built in a day - thats for sure! Peeped at the Colleseum and Trevi Fountain for a few minutes (been to Rome before so just wanted to see my favourites before hiting the shops). Didn´t get any Gucci sunglasses - opted for Prada instead. Bought a few warmer clothes and then hit the runway once again for Spain.
Jose met me at the airport - both of us obviously a little overwhelmed by the whole concept of me being here!
My first few days were a little strange, but I knew that would be the case so I just got on with it.
I´ve settled in quite nicely since though. I am playing house and doing all the stuff that housewives do every day including cooking proper meals every night (aided by the supply of fresh veggies from Jose´s family´s farm). I´ve joined the gym and I intend to go every day - but it doesn´t always happen. Far too busy some days - wandering around looking for things like potato mashers and various other housewife armoury that I develop a need for.
The first weekend was spent in Tarragona, which is the old Roman town where Jose comes from and where his family all live. Its about an hour south of BCN. It was his youngest brother´s birthday (27) so there was a family meal at his parent´s house. This meant that I had to meet the parents, two brothers, girlfriends, uncle, cousins and grandma all in one day. Very enjoyable though and I managed to understand most of what was said to me and get through without any major accidents. The most amusing part of the day was when middle brother told his Mum to say what he had taught her in English. It started with "F" and ended with "Off"! His poor Mum didn´t know what she had said but once everyone was given a spanish translation - it became the joke of the day and his mother continued to use her new phrase on a frequent basis.
Sunday´s higlight was a walk on the beach. The weather is still quite cold but it was lovely to walk on the empty 15 km long beach. Just what the doctor ordered.
My Dad visited me last week for two days and brought me the previously requested supply of clothes. It was good to see a family face after 3 and a half months and we spent two days walking around the city and catching up. We also went up to the Barca ground and watched the players train and did the tour of the ground. I can now say that I have been in the visiting team´s changing room and then run on to the ground from the dug out!
Jose can speak more English than I realised - he had to manage to speak to my Dad over dinner in English. We stuck to subjects he would understand - like football and his work - and we tried not to speak with yorkshire accents!
This weekend was spent in Tarragona once again - this time because we had a wedding to go to. This was a good oppportunity to meet lots of Jose´s friends. It was very funny to see the Spaniards doing the YMCA!
After the wedding we drove to Jose´s family´s farm. Its where his grandparents used to live but now, although the farm is still in action, the farm house is just kept as a holiday retreat for the family and the work is done by people they employ.
I didn´t know where I was when I woke up because we had arrived in darkness. So it was lovely to wake up and take a tour of the farm. The main thing that is produced is Palm Trees! There are fields and fields of them - as far as you can see. They grow them for about ten years and then sell them. There are veggies everywhere but they are just to supply all the extended family and not for sale..................but the poor bulls that I made friends with are unfortunately for sale (and we all know what for). They were lovely. Apparently there are lots of different types of bulls and the ones one the farm are not the fierce species used in the bull ring. They are very timid ones. They came over to the fence and stared and me and let me stroke them if I bobed down and made myself small.
It was a great day on the farm. All 3 brothers together with their girlfriends and grandma watching over. We hand picked veggies and roasted everything on a very rustic bbq (a fire in the drive!). Jose proved to be multitalented and earned himself the name of Farmer Giles. His years spent on the farm as a child were evident - surprising for a city architect to have such earthy skills!
Hope you are all well
Lots of love
S xx
Well I´m here. I made it.
Rome wasn´t built in a day - thats for sure! Peeped at the Colleseum and Trevi Fountain for a few minutes (been to Rome before so just wanted to see my favourites before hiting the shops). Didn´t get any Gucci sunglasses - opted for Prada instead. Bought a few warmer clothes and then hit the runway once again for Spain.
Jose met me at the airport - both of us obviously a little overwhelmed by the whole concept of me being here!
My first few days were a little strange, but I knew that would be the case so I just got on with it.
I´ve settled in quite nicely since though. I am playing house and doing all the stuff that housewives do every day including cooking proper meals every night (aided by the supply of fresh veggies from Jose´s family´s farm). I´ve joined the gym and I intend to go every day - but it doesn´t always happen. Far too busy some days - wandering around looking for things like potato mashers and various other housewife armoury that I develop a need for.
The first weekend was spent in Tarragona, which is the old Roman town where Jose comes from and where his family all live. Its about an hour south of BCN. It was his youngest brother´s birthday (27) so there was a family meal at his parent´s house. This meant that I had to meet the parents, two brothers, girlfriends, uncle, cousins and grandma all in one day. Very enjoyable though and I managed to understand most of what was said to me and get through without any major accidents. The most amusing part of the day was when middle brother told his Mum to say what he had taught her in English. It started with "F" and ended with "Off"! His poor Mum didn´t know what she had said but once everyone was given a spanish translation - it became the joke of the day and his mother continued to use her new phrase on a frequent basis.
Sunday´s higlight was a walk on the beach. The weather is still quite cold but it was lovely to walk on the empty 15 km long beach. Just what the doctor ordered.
My Dad visited me last week for two days and brought me the previously requested supply of clothes. It was good to see a family face after 3 and a half months and we spent two days walking around the city and catching up. We also went up to the Barca ground and watched the players train and did the tour of the ground. I can now say that I have been in the visiting team´s changing room and then run on to the ground from the dug out!
Jose can speak more English than I realised - he had to manage to speak to my Dad over dinner in English. We stuck to subjects he would understand - like football and his work - and we tried not to speak with yorkshire accents!
This weekend was spent in Tarragona once again - this time because we had a wedding to go to. This was a good oppportunity to meet lots of Jose´s friends. It was very funny to see the Spaniards doing the YMCA!
After the wedding we drove to Jose´s family´s farm. Its where his grandparents used to live but now, although the farm is still in action, the farm house is just kept as a holiday retreat for the family and the work is done by people they employ.
I didn´t know where I was when I woke up because we had arrived in darkness. So it was lovely to wake up and take a tour of the farm. The main thing that is produced is Palm Trees! There are fields and fields of them - as far as you can see. They grow them for about ten years and then sell them. There are veggies everywhere but they are just to supply all the extended family and not for sale..................but the poor bulls that I made friends with are unfortunately for sale (and we all know what for). They were lovely. Apparently there are lots of different types of bulls and the ones one the farm are not the fierce species used in the bull ring. They are very timid ones. They came over to the fence and stared and me and let me stroke them if I bobed down and made myself small.
It was a great day on the farm. All 3 brothers together with their girlfriends and grandma watching over. We hand picked veggies and roasted everything on a very rustic bbq (a fire in the drive!). Jose proved to be multitalented and earned himself the name of Farmer Giles. His years spent on the farm as a child were evident - surprising for a city architect to have such earthy skills!
Hope you are all well
Lots of love
S xx
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