Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Olivia Uxue





Well here she is! And here I am - finally getting round to blogging! Olivia was born on 16 / 11 /07 - so she is going to be four weeks old this Friday.


She was born by emergency cesarian after 7 hours of labour. They induced me because the placenta and amniotic fluid were both starting to run out - so this menat that she wasn't actually ready to come out and so hadn't dropped down and engaged far enough. We tried to get her out naturally - I dilated fully and actually found contractions to be no big deal. Ididn't need the epidural or indeed any kind of pain relief - to the complete surprise of the medical team who said I must have a ridiculously high pain threshold. I was chatting and cracking jokes and never even said "ow" (which ll bodes well for future births). Anyway, despite that, Olivia was not coming down at the right angle and with every contraction her heart rate was soaring and the doctors didn't want her being frustrated / stressed any longer so they did a C- section.




She weighed 3 kilos 100 grams abd was 51.5 cm long (for a week 39 baby girl that is very long). She now weighs about 4 kilos and we haven't actually measured her in length but she is stupidly long with fingers that could play next door's piano never mind her own. Her feet are enormous too. Everything is pointing towards her being very tall.




She has blue eyes but jet black hair so if she stays that way she will be a distinctive mix of her spanish and english genes.




As for Jose and I - we are doing great and loving being parents. She is a really good baby who never cries unconsolably or anything like that. My mum was here for 2 weeks after the birth to look after us (ie do all the cooking and cleaning!) and I though I would find it hard after she went, but it has been great. I've managed to make sushi and all sorts while she has bene sleeping.




I was doing the controversial Gin Ford routine for feeding and naps but, since going to the farm this weekend with my extended spanish family, the routine has gone out the window and I am letting Olivia lead the way. She seems to be in a routine herself now (I think aided by the way I inplemented one over the first few weeks) so we are doing fine with her being boss - generally feeding every 3 hours in the day and every four at night.




She has ogt her Spanish passport and the english one is in the post from the mebassy in Madrid - so we will be going to Yorkshire for xmas. The poor thing will freeze because it has been has high as 24 degrees some days here, with the lowest being about 17. Mum has already bought her some woollen gloves and hat.

The only thing that is bugging me is that I want to go the hairdressers to get highlights in my hair and its just not going to happen. It takes about three hours and so she is bound to wake up and need feeding at some point during that time .....and its not a very good place for a bbay to be with the smell of the chemicals and hair flying all over the place. So not only is fashion being sacrificed (need easy acces to the old milk machine and trousers won't quite fasten due to belly) but now hair is going to have to wait too. I can't complain really. My trousers won't fasten yet but they are all size 8 and 10 and I am nearly there and its only three weeks on. More photos will follow .....as we are taking plenty all the time.
Merry Xmas and a happy new year to you all. I won't get round to Xmas cards - I know that much already!
S xxx

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Greedy Guts is coming early

Hola,

We went to the doctors this week for a scan (at 36 weeks) and he says he is going to induce me before my due date. The reason being that he can see that the placenta is starting to get used up and won't last until the date (which is 4 weeks away). He says this is because Olivia has been taking a lot from it all along and thats why its wearing out quick. So we are going to see him next friday (when I will be at 37 weeks and 2 days) and he will arrange a date to induce me. Yesterday she weighed 3 kilos 229 grams - or so says the guestimator computer says (which is 7 pounds and 1 oz). I read in a book last night that that is the exact average weight of a full term baby - so she is a greedy guts as she has reached that weight at 36 weeks!

Up until yesterday we were thinking she would be coming in about 4 to 6 weeks. Now it looks like in about 2 weeks - which is very different! I have been told to stop swimming and pack my hospital bag because if my body cottons on to the placenta issue then it may well kick start labour before next week. Arghhh!!!

I went and bought the car seat yet on Friday - so we can get her home from the hospital. There are loads of other things that I haven't sorted out yet .....as I thought I had at least a month. Not everything is essential though so I'm not too fussed. All she really needs is clothes, nappies, food and a place to sleep - and thats all sorted.

I keep meaning to pack the hospital bag every day but I never get round to it. I think I have some sort of mental block on that one - don't know why. I am gonna try and get things ready this afternoon - well at least put them on top of the bed in Olivia's room ...even if they don't make it into an actual bag. I have realised that I haven't got any adequate pyjamas to pack into this ere bag. All mine are like cheerleader outfits - little shorts and vest tops. I don't have anything suitable for breastfeeding or for being visited. I'll go tomorrow to the shops and see what I encounter. I went on Friday but didn't see anything suitable in the shop where I went. I did manage to buy a breastfeeding bra though. Have you seen what they are like? Obviously you mothers out there will have seen them but most of you reading this won't have. Well, they are pornographic if you ask me. I felt like a dominatrix. This flap thing comes down and leaves you with a bra on through which most of your boob and your nipple sticks out. Totally S&M if you ask me.

S xx

Monday, October 22, 2007

more from the mountains




In the mountains with Leire






Hola,


We have had a really good weekend this weekend. We went up to the farm on Friday night with Xabi and Jessi and baby Leire. The idea was to go mushroom picking on saturday in the new 4x4 that Jose's Dad has bought for the farm. We got up early (7am), made omlette baguettes, packed our bags and off we went. Well we didn't find any mushrooms at all but ended up having a great day out in a wonderful setting.


Jose and Xabi took us up to the area where their great grandparents are from and it was really spectacular. Totally cut off and in accesible without a 4x4 - perfect. While the boys kept wandering off into the forests to look for mushrooms, Jessi and I sat in the sun taking in the views and looking after Leire (who behaved wonderfully by the way and seems to be a natural in the countryside).


We saw a deserted mansion in the distance and walked up to that to set up camp for lunch. Jose's idea - and I must say a very good one. We felt like the Famous Five (except with a baby instead of a dog). You'll see from the photos that Jose and Xabi encountered a snake - a very poisonous one! Jessi and I didn't dare go near the area once they told us that a bit from it would defintely kill Leire and my unborn child .......but that they might survive if they got to the hospital in time. We don't know how lucky we are in the British isles - there 's nothing so dangerous lurking underfoot is there. The dangers in the UK come in people form.


The track had been so bumpy in the 4x4 that on the way back I decided to walk a few kilometres instead of getting back in. Jessi came with me with Leire in a sling on her front - breast feeding at the same time. If anyone had seen us - me mahusively pregnant and her breast feeding in the middle of nowhere - they'd have thought we were indiginous or something. There was no one about to see us though so we didn't get to notice any reactions.


S xx

Monday, October 15, 2007

Fish and chips by the sea




This weekend my Dad was at our apartment in La Zenia, so Jose and I went down there for three days to spend some time with him. On the saturday we went to a village called Bolnuevo in Murcia. An old fishing village that has now been invaded by the English and turned into a holiday spot - like many of the coastal resorts in southern spain.
We went there because it is going to be the nearest beach resort to Dad's new golf apartment (that will be built in the next 18 months). Its developed a lot over the last few years but its still small and got a sleepy feel to it. Salvador - the fisherman in the pictures was telling us all about his life there and how its changed over the years. He was a great character. I asked him what types of fish he caught in the waters off that beach and he had us there for about 20 minutes telling us his life story. Bolnuevo used to have just 60 houses in a line along the front and each housed a fishing family - of which his family was one. He was the oldest son and started fishing with his father at the age of 8. He's now 74. He says there are only four of those original families left now and they just fish for fun these days - as they are all his age or there abouts. He manages to sell some of the fish he catches when the tourists are here - because the restaurants want a lot. In those times he can get about 6 euros per kilo for his catch ......but then in the quiet months he can only get 1 euro per kilo - so he just eats it all himself.
Salvador was a true fisherman - he says he wants to die on that beach and that he has got that beach and those waters in his blood. He doesn't know anything else. He only learnt to read and write when he was 19 and had to go into the army for a year. Before then he could only write his name.
We had fish an dchips and mushy peas in one of the "english pubs" on the front. Not because we are uncultured brits but because it was the only thing open at the time we were looking for something to eat. The fish was amazing though - the biggest I've ever had, totally fresh and freshly battered.
So, if you ever happen to be in Bolnuevo (south of Cartagena) get yourself some fish and chips at the anchor Inn and say hello to Salvador - who is sure to be fiddling with his little boat on the beach.
S xx

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

6 weeks to go!




Here we are! I really do feel like 2 people now. Put on 2 stone so far - but it is all there in the tummy really. Legs and bum a bit heavier but nothing to worry about for the old recouperation stage.
I spent a day with Jessi (my sister in law) on the farm yesterday and I must say that it made me feel really lreaxed about this whole process. I swear she looks thiner than she did before pregnancy - and baby leire is only 5 weeks old. Jessi and I seemed to put the same weight on at every stage and we are teh exact same height - so hopefully by xmas time I'll be looking as good as she does now.
Leire was a pleasure to have all day. I was doing lots of the tending to her - think Jessi was holding back and letting me have a practice on purpose. Its just like playing at dolls when you put her clothes on. Not that I ever played with dolls much as a child. I was more into anything that involved running around. Maybe I was saving the dolls bit for now - when its necessary.
Leire stops crying imeadiately if Xabi sings the Barcelona football club anthem. Its hilarious! It works every time. He says he used to sing it to Jessi's tummy to make sure Leire would be a barca fan but it has had the effect of calming her because its something melodic that she recognises. Lets see what taste in music Olivia has! I put all sorts of different things on when I'm in the house - from Flamenco right through to full on gun toting Hip Hop.
We are in the process of making olives. Well obviously not "making" them. We have picked about 10 kilos from the trees at the farm and now Jose wants to try different ways of treating them. You have to leave them for a bout a month I think - in all sorts of different herbs and concoctions. His late grandma used to make them and since she has passed away (a year and a half ago) Jose's dad has taken the baton. However, we are not overly impressed with his results and so Jose is going for it early in the taking over of traditions time line and wanting to give it a try. I'm all for it but a bit worried that this batch will turn out rubbish because we have got to do them tomorrow night in a bit of a rush as we are going to La Zenia on Friday morning and they can't really be left until we get back. I would ahve prefered to have not had to have done it all in a rush, pero bueno, we'll see what happens. Its not like there is a shortage of olives to try again with. They have got about 80 olive trees.
A man in marroco told us to put orange peel in with the olives - so we are going to try that one out. See Jose was investigating the olive business back in June in Marroco - he's been thinking about this for a while.......which is a shame that we are now going to actually do it all in a bit of rush. I'll keep you posted.
S xx

Friday, September 28, 2007

8 weeks and counting

Hola,

Just 8 weeks to go now until my due date (well 7 and a half really). We went to the doctors on wednesday for a scan and Olivia weighs 4lbs 13 oz already (2 kilos 200 grams). I've just looked on the internet and the average for this stage is 4 lbs. She is 44 cm long (avergae aabout 41 at this stage). So, she is still coming out bigger than average.

All the baby bedroom furniture has arrived and so we both keep going in there and looking around. Jose keeps opening the wardrobe and looking at the little dresses. He loves them. He can't wait anymore and keeps asking me to just push her out now. He's so excited. So am I ! I've been buying a few more clothes for her this week. I have to search everywhere for babygrows that fasten down the front though. Here in Spain most seem to fasten down the back - which is just annoying, and presumably uncomfortable for the baby.

Next week I have got a shipment arriving from the UK with the last of all my belongings on it. We were sick of carrying random objects everytime we came back (and paying for extra weight). So, the last remaining things have been put on a boat. My wedding dress is even coming over. Its all being delivered to the farm, where I suspet some of it will stay for years as it will just cluter up our flat and although I don't want to throw some of the things, that doesn't mean that I actually want them here in my flat. I've got my old school uniform and all sorts of things coming - I imagine my school uniform will go into Olivia's dressing up box, once she gets one.

At the time of writing its 8pm and its 22 degrees, but everyone here is in autumn mode. The jackets and cardigans are out and everyone is talking about how sad it is that summer is over. I've got my jeans and boots on rather than short skirt and flip flops - which is hilarious really considering the temperature. I am truly a spaniard now.

We are having a DIY day here in Valencia tomorrow (pictures putting up and that sort of thing). Then we are going to the farm for a few days on Sunday. Jose is working out of BCN and Tarragona on Monday and Tuesday and I will visit Jessi and Leire in Tarragona and await my shipment on Wednesday .......oh and obviously collect a million thousand vegetables. I'd better watch it actually on the veggie front as I can not fit one more thing in my freezer - not even a pea. I have cooked and frozen so much stuff that it is ram packed. So, what ever I pick this week will have to be cooked and eaten rather than cooked and frozen. Hmm will I be able to control myself once I get those secatares (spelling??) in my hand?

S xx

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Baby Leire



Hola Bloggers,
This is my spanish niece - the daughter of Jose's brother Xabi and his wife Jessi. She is called Leire. She weighed 3 kilos 600 grams (which at my calculations puts her at about 7 pounds 9). Thats quite an average, if not small weight for UK standards, I think, but the child is enormous! She looks about one month old. Don't you think?
I have had quite an education this weekend and I now have more fear of the whole commotion surrounding the birth of my child than I do of the birth! The spaniards really do have a different way of doing things than my family do, and I think my family is quite an average english family. I am of the opinion, as taught by my mum, that new borns should be given a little respect and left in peace as much as possible. They have just been through the trauma of birth and need lots of rest and quiet. Well, no chance of that over here!
Everyone, and I mean everyone comes to the hospital. And they don't come in twos - they come in crowds and all expect to hold the baby. It gets passed round like a toy admidst lots of noise and comotion and general fuss. There's no let up - or so it seems. You have to stay in the hospital for two nights but you don't really get any help you just get gatecrashed wile you are laying there in one small room and can't get away! I'm dreading it and I'm thinking of not letting on that the baby has actually been born for at least 24 hours -to buy time before they can all arrive from Catalunya. They'll think thats awful though. So, the other option is tell them straight that I don't want all that going on and that I'd rather they come in twos and if possible once we are at home.
The other thing is the earrings! have you noticed on the second photo that leire has got earrings already? They pierce all girl's ears just before they leave the hospital. I brought this up at lunch once with my spanish family and they thought I was cruel for leaving it to be done once the child will know about it. This is twisted logic to me! I have spet months watching babies go past in the street and every damn one has earrings. There is no getting round it here it seems. Its a cultural standard. I came round to the ide for a month or two (I must have been spanishises, or whatever the verb is) but I have come to my senses once again after seeing Leire with hers in. Its just plain wrong! I have spent a few hours today on the internet finding articles by spanish doctors advising against it (to back me up). The only advise putting it off till they are 3 or 6 months though! But anyway, my mother in law is just going to have to accept it, medical reasons or not, its not happening because its just awful (in my culture). I mean, how could I bring the poor child to England with earrings in? Its one thing no one thinking anything about here in spain but this child is half english and has to be able to travel to the UK with some dignity!
Don't get me started on the outfit that my mother in law bought for Leire. Talk about trying to look like Franco's daughter. I can't even bring myself to put a picture on the blog of it because poor Leire has no choice in the matter and shouldn't be papped in a Heat magazine "what were you thinking?!" type reportage at such a young age.
As my friend Maren said (who is german and married ot a New Yorker), " bringing the 2 cultures together for the wedding was nothing compared to what awaits with birth of a child".
So, you have been warned, if you see anything untoward on or near my child then please give me some slack because certain things I may be forced to concede.
S xx

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Figs

Just thought you'd like to know that I have been making good use of all the figs I got from the farm. I have done some amazing things! The figs we have are called Mission figs - they are dark red inside and purple outside and they are just divine. Here are few of the ways we have been eating them :

Cut in halves and marinated for 2 hours in desert wine, cinamon and sugar, then baked in the oven and served with mascarpone.

Cut in hakves and baked in the oven with goats cheese on top and a sprinkling of balsamic vinegar.

Cooked in a pan in balsamic vinegar and sugar then served on ciabatta toast and drizzled with yoghurt and honey.

I think Olivia has been liking them too! Went for a scan today and the doc said we are definitely dealing with a bigger than average baby. She already weighs 1 and a half kilos ( about 3 pounds 3) and I have just read on the internet that at this stage the normal is 1 kilo (2 pounds 2). So she's a big one. The doc measured the length of her foot and it was just over 6 cms - which is actually quite big when you consider she has another 12 weeks inside of me to do.

I am obviously very proud that she is growing so well - but this does not bode well for the birth!!

I start my pre birth swimming class next week (exercises under water at a physiotherapy centre) - lets hope these classes keep her trim rather than building up her muscles as well as mine!

S xx

Monday, August 27, 2007

Summer time




Hola Bloggers,

We have been back in Valencia for a week now, after our two week holiday in England. It felt like we had gone to a different continent, or travelled through time to winter! It was abismal in Yorkshire. Some days were passable but most seemed like November! I must admit that it was nice to be able to sleep all night without waking up sweating, and to be able to dry your hair with a hair dryer and not pass out due to the heat ......but other than those two luxuries, I won't be swapping Spain for Yorkshire in the near future.

I really miss my niece Isabella now as we spent so much time with her during the two weeks. She is so funny now that she is into everything and says so many words. Its actually quite impressive the vocabulary that she has. She taught Jose a few words! We obviously all talk like her now and copy her funny ways. Its the end of a very long era actually because in my family everyone always copied the things I said as a toddler - as I was the youngest. We've all been saying mazageen for magazine (and many many other silly things) for 30 years! But now my slip ups are been taken over by Isabella's. I guess seeing as I am now carrying my own baby, I am going to have to accept that I am no longer "the baby". Speaking of which - look at my bump on the photo with the veg (or should I say - look at my melons!). All coming along nicely. I've put on a stone and a half so far (about 8 kilos) and I'm 28 weeks on in a few days (7 months). All as it should be so far.
The other photo is Jose hiding amongst the sculptures and the highly recommendable Yorkshire Sculpture park. My Mum suggested that we go there as my Aunty Mary always raves about it (apparently). So we went the day I had to drive to Barnsley to collect my lost camera from a lovely coupld who had found it and contacted me. The Sculpture park was very close to where we were going so we made the most of the journey. Its a great place. You can walk outside amongst the sheep in the more rural part and spot various sculpture here and there, or you can walk through the more manicured gardens (again, sculptures here there and everywhere) or you can mooch through the indoor galleries and see the ever changing exhibitions. We were blown away by the current exhibits in the galleries. There was a series of massive undertakings that, whether you liked them or not, you had to admit had taken some real balls to put together and construct.
We managed a jaunt down to London whilst we were in the UK - mainly to catch up with all my old pals down there. We slotted in a bit of tourism as well though and went to see Billy Elliot the musical. Wow ! Its a "must see". Hysterically funny, true to the film and to the region (lots if humour and swearing) and with the most phenomenal dancing - much more than in the film.
This weekend (our first weekend back) we went to the farm (hence the melons!). So, I've been cooking all morning in order to get through the ridiculous amount of produce I have - I need to cok and freeze whilst its at its best. I just did Jose a three course lunch of which the starter and pudding were the star features. Gazpacho to start (best he's ever had !) and a desert of baked figs with mascarpone. The figs were marinated in desert wine, cinamon and sugar for two hours before they were baked. They were literally to die for!
All week I will be cooking so if any one has any extra special receipes for things involving the following, please let me know : figs, grapes, melons, aubergines, tomatoes, onions, pepers, cucumbers, courgettes, lemons, cabages. They are all the things that I have taken from the farm. I'm about to look on the net for a baked figs with goats cheese receipe as I'm sure I've had that in a restaurant once.
S xx

Monday, July 30, 2007

Ever seen a shire horse on a beach?




Hmm, shire horses don't normally frequent beaches. I know donkeys do, well they do in Blackpool anyway, and I suppose that is weird enough, but shire horses!


We went to the beach near the farm yesterday and came across a farmer beach game which involved seeing how many bags of sand your shire horse could pull. Very odd.
Oh and a special mention for little Bruna - the dog at the farm. Unfortunately she has died in circumstances that are difficult to understand as the tale was relayed to us by the crazy old guy who still lives there. Something to do with a blow to the head ......which I sadly suspect could probably have been dealt with by a vet - but the old guy wouldn't get involved which such things I'm sure. He certainly never goes to the doctor and wanders around with all sorts of injuries. RIP Bruna.
S xx

60th birthday party






Hello bloggers,


Last friday we were up in Tarragona at my in laws house to celebrate my father in law's 60th birthday. I managed to escape dancing with any oldies but Jose was comically harrassed by a slightly drunken woman all night, who eventually got him to dance with her. She really was obsessed with him! As he looks exactly like his father did 30 years ago, we were all joking that she must have fancied Ramon 30 years ago and with a little too much alcohol thought she'd found his younger self all over again.


S xx

Thursday, July 26, 2007

she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes




Last weekend my cousin Angie got married........on top of a bloody mountain! I'm not sure if the non conventional and highly personal service was because its her second time round or merely because she's non conventional. Anyway, whatever the driving force behind the idea, it was brilliant. A complete success. It has been raining and flooding like no one's business all summer in England but someone was watching over her that day (perhaps my Uncle John, her late Dad) and the sun shone perfectly and we all had a jolly old time.
The "hymns" were hilarious. We firstly sang, led by a scout leader friend, "she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes". Then later in the "service" we all got very into singing "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands". That was just hysterical - 80 poeple on the top of a mountain in wedding outfits clapping hands, stamping feet, turning around and shouting "we are" ......as the verses go ( as I know now). We were all laughing our heads off - it was such fun.
Later, after some hilarious speeches by my dad (who gave her away in the absence of my late Uncle), the crackers groom and his bestman, a whole pig was spit roasted and the country dancing started! So, a proper country wedding. I am only sorry that my spanish husband wasn't able to witness this british crazyness - he got stuck in an important meeting and couldn't make it. He'd have been lost on the "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands" but he would have given us a laugh!
S xx


Friday, July 13, 2007

All things green


I just looked through my old blogs and saw this first picture from when I planted my little herbs. Well take a look at the second photo - the basil is going for it! I wonder if its anything to do with being pregnant that I am having such a good effect on the herbs - fertility and growing skills and all that.
Not sure if you can overdose on basil. I suspect not. But should it be a possibility then I'd say me and Jose are at risk. Every night I find a wayy of building tomatoes, basil, red onion and lashings of olive oil into the menu.
The mint is still looking a bit straggly there in the middle but its actually all falling over the edge towards the street - so there is more than you think. It makes a nice yogurt raita anyway.
S xx

Olivia


Ok here she is - well still inside her home - that is me! Its official now by the way that she is called Olivia. Her middle name will be Uxue (pronounced ooshoey) which is a Basque name (Jose's maternal side are Basque). The first two photos where I am wearing a green top and black leggins are in Marroco where I was 19 weeks on.


The last two photos are taken today at 21 and a half weeks on - taken in out spare bedroom (where I spend a lot of time because thats where the computer is). Its looking a bit bare because we still haven't put the curtains or the pictures up. This is apparently (so says Jose) going to happen this weekend - our first weekend at home with no social plans for ages. Wish us luck with Jose's first time with a drill!
S xx

Marrakesh


Hello! I have always wanted to go to Marrakesh but have never seemed to have managed it - for some reason. So, we took ourselves off there as a last taste of luxury before the baby comes. The baby is not going to stop us travelling but I'm sure she will influence our choice of hotel, so, I enjoyed going for something grown up and stylish for one last time. The hotel was truly amazing. Its called caravan serai - look it up if you fancy an exotic getaway thats actually not too far away.
The suite was enormous and very traditional and had a really big private terrace ......where I shall own up to a little nude sunbathing!

As for Marrakesh itself, other than the bazar, it was somewhat if a let down actually. It doesn't really have any striking architecture or charm. The main square that everyone raves about is nothing to write home about - so I won't!

I love the food but was rather disappointed to find that set menus were the only thing offered. Therefor not really allowing you to pick and choose some of the not so obvious dishes. All they seemed to be pushing was couscous and tagines ......which you can get on your local high street (if you live in London anyway).

Another let down was the fact that the poeple are absolutelyt money obsessed! They really were using every opportunity to blatantly rip you off......which kind of turned you against them. I have travelled to far poorer and less developed places but never experienced a money grabbing cheek quite like that of the Marrocans. Sorry if anyone Marrocan is reading this but it is an honest criticism based wholly on experience.

We did meet one lovely Marrocan boy who had a French girlfriend in Valencia and so got me on the phone to her and begged me to be her friend! I must ring her now that we are back actually. It may come to nothing but then again we may strike up a friendship - stranger things have happened.
I seemed to grow (pregnancy tummy wise) masses whilst I was out there. I'm going to do a separate blog with some tummy pictures after this one. I was happy to get myself nice and brown though - being enormous is all the more acceptable when you are brown for some reason.

S xx

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

You know you've lived in spain when.....

1) You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is perfectly acceptable. Especially at lunch time.2) You can't get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they're shutting just as you should be going out?3) You aren't just surprised that the plumber/decorator has turned up on time, you're surprised he turned up at all.4) You've been part of a botellon.5) You think it's fine to comment on everyone's appearance.6) Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.7) You're shocked by people getting their legs out at the first hint of sun - surely they should wait until at least late June?8) On msn you sometimes type 'jajaja' instead of 'hahaha' 9) You think the precious aceite is a vital part of every meal. And don't understand how anyone could think olive oil on toast is weird.10) You're amazed when TV ad breaks last less than half an hour, especially right before the end of films. 11) You forget to say please when asking for things - you implied it in your tone of voice, right?12) You love the phenomenon of giving 'toques' - but hate explaining it in English14) You don't see sunflower seeds as a healthy snack - they're just what all the cool kids eat.15) You know what a pijo is and how to spot one.16) Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: 'bueno,' 'coño,' 'vale,' 'venga,' 'pues nada'...17) You know what 'resaca' means. And you had one at least once a week when you lived in Spain.18) You know how to eat boquerones.19) A bull's head on the wall of a bar isn't a talking point for you, it's just a part of the decor.20) You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.21) You know that after 2pm there's no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.22) If anyone insults your mother, they better watch out...23) You know how to change a bombona. And if you don't, you were either lazy or lucky enough to live somewhere nice.24) You're either a Los Serrano person or an Aqui no hay quien viva person.25) You don't accept beer that's anything less than ice-cold.26) The fact that all the male (or female) members of a family have the same first name doesn't surprise you.27) The sound of mopeds in the background is the soundtrack to your life.28) You know that the mullet didn't just happen in the 80s. It is alive and well in Spain.29) You know the differenc between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!30) On a Sunday morning, you have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up. 31) You don't see anything wrong with having a couple of beers in the morning if you feel like it.32) Floors in bars are an ideal dumping ground for your colillas, servilletas etc. Why use a bin?!33) You see clapping as an art form, not just a way to express approval.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

size doesn't matter




Remember Silvia? Our spanish friend who translated Dad's speech into Spanish at the wedding. Well here is a photo of her dogs. She has the smallest dog in the world (called Leo) and the largest dog in the world (called Yeti). They are hilarious together! Look at Leo in the bath. What a laugh!
S xx

Bill and Ben the flower pot men





Hola Bloggers,
I've been busy all morning doing these window boxes. I've got geraniums in the lounge windo and a little herb garden going on in the dining room window. The straggly thing in the herb garden is mint .....they were the only two left in the shop. I should ahve left them really and waited until I saw some better ones but I am hopefully they will thicken out in their nice new little bed.
I've also taken a photo of my light fitting as I just adore it. There is one in the lounge and one in the hall way. I was searching for ages for a perfect mix of old and new - as that was our house is like really. This seemed to do the trick. Classic chandelier style but in modern glass tubing and chrome. I've got an amazing light fitting for the dining room but it hasn't been put up yet so you'll have to wait to see that one.
Oh I am now sporting a fetching pregnancy support belt. My doc recommended that I wear one every day from now on. I think Spanish worry about regaining their figures more than English women and so these things are more every day here. I've never heard of anyone being recommended to wear one in England. It says on the packet that it protects the baby and supports your back so maybe its nothing to do with regaining your figure afterwards. I'm giving it a try anyway. It actually feels quite cosy and comfy. Its hardly a fashion accessory though so your not getting any photos of it!
S xx