Hola Blogers,
Well last friday´s birthday fondue night was a success. It nearly didn´t happen - as I realised at five minutes to closing time of the supermarkets that I didn´t have any fondue oil to burn in the damn thing. Well of course I didn´t have any. Who does? Anyway all was saved by my clever boyfriend who went to the 24 hour chemist and came back with some form of alcohol that he assured me would burn well. I dread to think how he knows these things but thats by the way. So, I´m now well versed in fondue preparation and serving and am in the game to host fondue parties galore. Heather and Pablo are first up but we are struggling with dates (and there is always the possibility that they won´t be a couple when the as yet not arranged date comes around. This is a feature of their relationship rather than any specific one off problem they are facing right now). Maybe a fondue night is just what they need.
I am loving teaching. I now have three sisters from the same family under my care. All of which are charming, beautiful, clever, polite ......just how I hoper my brood will be one day. Speaking of which, my sister is due to give birth to the first of the next generation in our family. She ahs booked in for a compulsory C section due tot he little blighter being upside down (breached I think is the medical term). So, thats happening next Tuesday ....unless baby decides to do anything exciting beforehand.
My excitment for the day (other than the usual thrills of waking up and remembering that I live in Barcelona, I don´t work, really, I have the best boyfriend in the world and that I am, well, me!) has been Batuka! This has all started due to my recent addiction to Operacion Trionfo - which was teh spanish equivalent of Fame Acadamey. Thats over now (yes I did predict the winner right from the start) but I am left with Batuka. Batuka was a new form of exercise that was developed during the show in roder to get the students into shape but still keep some ties with their musical inclinations. So, its a work out, a bloody good one too, but its more like a dance class. You follow routines executed perfectly by your leader as best you can (questionable in parts as to whether I could be said to be following but I´m sure I´ll get the hang of it). You basically do a couple of songs of one type of music and then move on to another. The styles used are: salsa, hip hop, samba, reggeaton, flamenco, pop, merengue and a few others that I didn´t catch the name of. Its a gas (as my Irish friend Nena would say). You sweat like heck but feel like you been clubbing rather than pumping iron. I love it! I am going to try and go twice a week -Tuesdays and Thursdays. Watch out for it in the UK or whereever you are. Here there are videos to buy and do at home and classes in soem fo teh big chain gyms. I thoroughly recommend it.
Batuka!
S xx
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Friday, November 18, 2005
Gainfully Employed
Hola Blogers,
Its Jose´s birthday today so I ahve just been marching around looking for a suitable cake. Mission accomplished - I have a chocolate Hedgehog in a box under my chair as I write. Why the hedgehog you ask. Why not? No, actually I often call him a hedgehog if he has put too much wax on his hair so its kind of a lovey dovey in joke kind of thing. He´d better be anyway because it cost 15 euros and its not very big if you ask me.
I´m giving my new fondue set a test drive tonight - for the old birthday meal. So if you don´t here from me again, chances are I will have set the flat a light with a combination of incorrectly lit fondue sets and candle adorning hedgehogs.
From the title of this blog entry you would not be wrong to suspect that I have got off my arse and got a little job. Correcto - but not exactly thanks to me getting off my arse. More thanks to something falling right into my sofa sitting lap. Through a friend I have been recommended to a family with five children seeking English language assistance. Starting from Monday I shall be tutoring the youngest one three times a week on an intense programme aiming at getting her into English boarding school next september. No easy task as entrance xams involve Latin, chemistry, biology, physics (none of which she has studied before!) as well as english , maths, history, religion, geography and modern languages. Two days of exams for the little lamb and she´s only 12. I am trying to get though to the registrar of the school to tease some past papers out of them or better still some text books. Then we´ll be well on our way (I hope).
The family have also enlisted me to tutor the second youngest daughter (aged 16) on a more general conversation basis. That will be twice a week. So, all in all I will be up at their house every day of the working week. I remeber putting something in this blog about my life being like that of Little House on the Praire without the kids. Well I spoke too soon - here come the kids! All good practice for the future (God willing!)
There is the added angle that the father of this family is a lawyer here in BCN and he has already had me in his office for some business talks. So, lets get the bambino packed off to boarding school and then you never know I might take him up on his offers of legal or legal related work. Nothing too strenuous of course - as I am rather used to the lady of leisure thing.
I recommend Woody Allen´s new film Match Point if any one is considering a trip to the cinema. Although, It might not have the same appeal for those of you still on the island. Maybe I just enjoyed the sight of the black taxis and country estates due to my current residence.
The cultural highlight of Spanish life this weekend is the Barcelona v Real Madrid match taking place on Saturday night. Of course I will be keeping my eyes for Beckham, Raul and other such Madrid beauties firmly under my sombrero as it wouldn´t be proper to be anything than the most ardent of Barcelona fans considering my romantic attachments.
Right, I shall carrying on tearing out interesting articles from English papers and magazines for my older student. You know its surprising how little there is of interest in a paper for a sixteen year old, well for all of us really, but we just read out of obligation don´t we, or out of some deep rooted fear of looking stupid in the wrong company.
Wish me luck with the fondue and hedgehog!
S xx
Its Jose´s birthday today so I ahve just been marching around looking for a suitable cake. Mission accomplished - I have a chocolate Hedgehog in a box under my chair as I write. Why the hedgehog you ask. Why not? No, actually I often call him a hedgehog if he has put too much wax on his hair so its kind of a lovey dovey in joke kind of thing. He´d better be anyway because it cost 15 euros and its not very big if you ask me.
I´m giving my new fondue set a test drive tonight - for the old birthday meal. So if you don´t here from me again, chances are I will have set the flat a light with a combination of incorrectly lit fondue sets and candle adorning hedgehogs.
From the title of this blog entry you would not be wrong to suspect that I have got off my arse and got a little job. Correcto - but not exactly thanks to me getting off my arse. More thanks to something falling right into my sofa sitting lap. Through a friend I have been recommended to a family with five children seeking English language assistance. Starting from Monday I shall be tutoring the youngest one three times a week on an intense programme aiming at getting her into English boarding school next september. No easy task as entrance xams involve Latin, chemistry, biology, physics (none of which she has studied before!) as well as english , maths, history, religion, geography and modern languages. Two days of exams for the little lamb and she´s only 12. I am trying to get though to the registrar of the school to tease some past papers out of them or better still some text books. Then we´ll be well on our way (I hope).
The family have also enlisted me to tutor the second youngest daughter (aged 16) on a more general conversation basis. That will be twice a week. So, all in all I will be up at their house every day of the working week. I remeber putting something in this blog about my life being like that of Little House on the Praire without the kids. Well I spoke too soon - here come the kids! All good practice for the future (God willing!)
There is the added angle that the father of this family is a lawyer here in BCN and he has already had me in his office for some business talks. So, lets get the bambino packed off to boarding school and then you never know I might take him up on his offers of legal or legal related work. Nothing too strenuous of course - as I am rather used to the lady of leisure thing.
I recommend Woody Allen´s new film Match Point if any one is considering a trip to the cinema. Although, It might not have the same appeal for those of you still on the island. Maybe I just enjoyed the sight of the black taxis and country estates due to my current residence.
The cultural highlight of Spanish life this weekend is the Barcelona v Real Madrid match taking place on Saturday night. Of course I will be keeping my eyes for Beckham, Raul and other such Madrid beauties firmly under my sombrero as it wouldn´t be proper to be anything than the most ardent of Barcelona fans considering my romantic attachments.
Right, I shall carrying on tearing out interesting articles from English papers and magazines for my older student. You know its surprising how little there is of interest in a paper for a sixteen year old, well for all of us really, but we just read out of obligation don´t we, or out of some deep rooted fear of looking stupid in the wrong company.
Wish me luck with the fondue and hedgehog!
S xx
Monday, November 14, 2005
Business as Usual
Hola Blogers,
Well its business as usual for me this week - which involves a theme of generally pleasing myself. I am in cooking mode, as I was all last week too, as a trip to the farm was enjoyed the other weekend for the purpose of mushroom picking (more on this later).
Looking back through my now very sporadic blogs I can see that I last communicated back in early October, when I was being visited by Juanita Banana (Jo to those of you not familiar with her new name). Well she is now happily esconced in sunny San Francisco driving the male population crazy with her no stop dating action. It seems very much the done thing over there - to date and be dated for the sheer hell of it. These "dates" can involve anything from a coffee in the afternoon to a full on bender of a session - well it seems to be that way with Jo. Its fun listening to her tales anyway.
I went to Seville in mid October for Jose´s brother´s wedding. He lives up here in Tarragona with his wife but, as in most places, it is tradition to have the wedding in the home town of the girl. So, off we all went. Things always go wrong at weddings don´t they. Our list goes as follows- Javier, the groom, forget to bring his wedding suit, Jose and I missed the plane down there from BCN and then whoever was supposed to bring the wedding rings to the venue forgot to do so! Nothing that couldn´t be resolved though - luckily Javier was down in Seville a few days before the wedding and realised in time about the suit. This was resolved by a friend somehopw getting into Javier´s flat in tarragona and flying down with the suit the next day (he was comuing to the wedding anyway). Jose and I managed to get on a flight the next morning and didn´t miss anything of the wedding and Grandma and some other lucky person got to donate their wedding rings for the day to the happy couple.
The wedding ceremony involved some dude singing sevilianas and lots of flamenco style dancing by Jesse (the bride) and her entourage of friends. In the early hours and I´m talking 6am!) Jesse´s dad got up to the microphone to sing some flamenco songs too - complete with pretend guitar noises because no one had a guitar. Most amusing.
The weekend after the wedding was the weekend of my birthday. I am now the ripe old age of 31. I had a fantastic time on the saturday night because Jose and Susana (a good friend of ours here) organised a surprise party for me in Tarragona! I turned up to the restaurant with Jose and two friends (Heather and Sylvia), expecting to just meet one other friend .................but I was hit by a surprise turn out of 19 people complete with silly hats and presents and cards. It was amazing - they made me feel so special and part of the group here. Needless to say lots of drinking and dancing ensued and I finally got to bed at 8am after watching the sun come up over the ocean with Jose.
The Sunday of my birthday weekend (my actual birthday) I crawled out of bed at Jose´s parents house at about 2pm to be greeted by his whole family singing happy birthday as best they could in English (some coming out with things such as happy baby??). Jose´s Mum had cooked a big paella and baked me a cake and his Dad cracked open some champagne and once again I was showered with presents. Fantastic!
It was nice to see some of you in England the other week. I was annoyed that I couldn´t see everyone and annoyed that I came down with a temperature and a horrible cold as soon as I got off the plane and so didn´t really feel up to London in many ways. I think it was something telling me to stay in Spain. I´m staying alright - it needn´t worry. I was most impressed by the new improved Waitrose on Holloway Road and sadened by the fact that I can´t frequent it every day as in my previous life. Still, there´s always a trade off when facing life decisions!
Jose joined me in Yorkshire and we shivered and froze together and enjoyed home cooked soup. My Dad took us to a Barnsley football fixture and we ate fish and chips from the paper in the park before hand. He is obviously putting Jose through some sort of northern manlyness test.......which I think he is passing (his mother is from Pamplona - they run with bulls you know).
This weekend Jose and I celebrated our one year anniversary. Can you believe it??? We took ourselves off to Rome to stay in a fancy hotel, dress up, wine and dine ourselves, gawk at pretty fountains and do all the other things that lovers do.
Its now a running joke in Jose´s family that we miss planes (due to the Seville affair). Neither of us have ever missed a plane before in our lives - and I have certainly flown a lot so a good study has been carried out. Something is going on between us though because we nearly missed the one back from Rome. I think we are too busy staring at each other and being all dreamy to realise what time it is and shake a leg. Anyway, thanks to the kind heart of a certain Alitalia operator, our lateness managed to get us flying back in business class this time. Result! I am now torn between being super early to avoid problems or being one minute late to provoke favours such as experienced last night. Hmm.
Right, enough is enough. All that remains to say is Hello Mr Simon ..........I´m told you have been reading this site avidly over the last year. All the best to you, your lovely wife and little baby son. L´Haim!
Un beso a todos
S xxx
n
Well its business as usual for me this week - which involves a theme of generally pleasing myself. I am in cooking mode, as I was all last week too, as a trip to the farm was enjoyed the other weekend for the purpose of mushroom picking (more on this later).
Looking back through my now very sporadic blogs I can see that I last communicated back in early October, when I was being visited by Juanita Banana (Jo to those of you not familiar with her new name). Well she is now happily esconced in sunny San Francisco driving the male population crazy with her no stop dating action. It seems very much the done thing over there - to date and be dated for the sheer hell of it. These "dates" can involve anything from a coffee in the afternoon to a full on bender of a session - well it seems to be that way with Jo. Its fun listening to her tales anyway.
I went to Seville in mid October for Jose´s brother´s wedding. He lives up here in Tarragona with his wife but, as in most places, it is tradition to have the wedding in the home town of the girl. So, off we all went. Things always go wrong at weddings don´t they. Our list goes as follows- Javier, the groom, forget to bring his wedding suit, Jose and I missed the plane down there from BCN and then whoever was supposed to bring the wedding rings to the venue forgot to do so! Nothing that couldn´t be resolved though - luckily Javier was down in Seville a few days before the wedding and realised in time about the suit. This was resolved by a friend somehopw getting into Javier´s flat in tarragona and flying down with the suit the next day (he was comuing to the wedding anyway). Jose and I managed to get on a flight the next morning and didn´t miss anything of the wedding and Grandma and some other lucky person got to donate their wedding rings for the day to the happy couple.
The wedding ceremony involved some dude singing sevilianas and lots of flamenco style dancing by Jesse (the bride) and her entourage of friends. In the early hours and I´m talking 6am!) Jesse´s dad got up to the microphone to sing some flamenco songs too - complete with pretend guitar noises because no one had a guitar. Most amusing.
The weekend after the wedding was the weekend of my birthday. I am now the ripe old age of 31. I had a fantastic time on the saturday night because Jose and Susana (a good friend of ours here) organised a surprise party for me in Tarragona! I turned up to the restaurant with Jose and two friends (Heather and Sylvia), expecting to just meet one other friend .................but I was hit by a surprise turn out of 19 people complete with silly hats and presents and cards. It was amazing - they made me feel so special and part of the group here. Needless to say lots of drinking and dancing ensued and I finally got to bed at 8am after watching the sun come up over the ocean with Jose.
The Sunday of my birthday weekend (my actual birthday) I crawled out of bed at Jose´s parents house at about 2pm to be greeted by his whole family singing happy birthday as best they could in English (some coming out with things such as happy baby??). Jose´s Mum had cooked a big paella and baked me a cake and his Dad cracked open some champagne and once again I was showered with presents. Fantastic!
It was nice to see some of you in England the other week. I was annoyed that I couldn´t see everyone and annoyed that I came down with a temperature and a horrible cold as soon as I got off the plane and so didn´t really feel up to London in many ways. I think it was something telling me to stay in Spain. I´m staying alright - it needn´t worry. I was most impressed by the new improved Waitrose on Holloway Road and sadened by the fact that I can´t frequent it every day as in my previous life. Still, there´s always a trade off when facing life decisions!
Jose joined me in Yorkshire and we shivered and froze together and enjoyed home cooked soup. My Dad took us to a Barnsley football fixture and we ate fish and chips from the paper in the park before hand. He is obviously putting Jose through some sort of northern manlyness test.......which I think he is passing (his mother is from Pamplona - they run with bulls you know).
This weekend Jose and I celebrated our one year anniversary. Can you believe it??? We took ourselves off to Rome to stay in a fancy hotel, dress up, wine and dine ourselves, gawk at pretty fountains and do all the other things that lovers do.
Its now a running joke in Jose´s family that we miss planes (due to the Seville affair). Neither of us have ever missed a plane before in our lives - and I have certainly flown a lot so a good study has been carried out. Something is going on between us though because we nearly missed the one back from Rome. I think we are too busy staring at each other and being all dreamy to realise what time it is and shake a leg. Anyway, thanks to the kind heart of a certain Alitalia operator, our lateness managed to get us flying back in business class this time. Result! I am now torn between being super early to avoid problems or being one minute late to provoke favours such as experienced last night. Hmm.
Right, enough is enough. All that remains to say is Hello Mr Simon ..........I´m told you have been reading this site avidly over the last year. All the best to you, your lovely wife and little baby son. L´Haim!
Un beso a todos
S xxx
n
Friday, October 07, 2005
Farmer Giles
Hola,
Me again! ow´s life ? Mine is still like little house on the prarie minus the kids. I spent a week cooking and freezing - because we spent a weekend at the farm (José´s family´s) and we filled the car boot with organic vegetables ......and so then I had to cook them before they went off. I´ll be doing much the same next week as well because we are going to the farm again tonight. This time I have Jo with me - the friend who was with me when all this blogging started (all those moons ago). Jo has been named Juanita Banana by Jose so if I lapse into using that name - you´ve been told.
We will have 13 people for dinner at the farm on saturday night. Well I say dinner - that sounds a bit civillised doesn´t it. It will be more like a bbq party with lots of drinking, dancing and tom foolery under the stars. I´ve just been buying dodgy bunting with flags from around the world, massive stick in the ground candles and water bombs! Juanita and I couldn´t resist the water bombs. We discussed the fact that maybe we would come off worse and so should forget the idea but we are going to fill them up and hide them somewhere so that no one else can get us - clever hey! I´m sure someone will catch us out and we´ll be attacked. We´ll see.
I hope to see you Londoners for a drink on Tuesday 25th October. Keep well. Congratulations to all the millions of people that have just had babies, got engaged or annouced there wedding dates - you know who you are!
S xx
Me again! ow´s life ? Mine is still like little house on the prarie minus the kids. I spent a week cooking and freezing - because we spent a weekend at the farm (José´s family´s) and we filled the car boot with organic vegetables ......and so then I had to cook them before they went off. I´ll be doing much the same next week as well because we are going to the farm again tonight. This time I have Jo with me - the friend who was with me when all this blogging started (all those moons ago). Jo has been named Juanita Banana by Jose so if I lapse into using that name - you´ve been told.
We will have 13 people for dinner at the farm on saturday night. Well I say dinner - that sounds a bit civillised doesn´t it. It will be more like a bbq party with lots of drinking, dancing and tom foolery under the stars. I´ve just been buying dodgy bunting with flags from around the world, massive stick in the ground candles and water bombs! Juanita and I couldn´t resist the water bombs. We discussed the fact that maybe we would come off worse and so should forget the idea but we are going to fill them up and hide them somewhere so that no one else can get us - clever hey! I´m sure someone will catch us out and we´ll be attacked. We´ll see.
I hope to see you Londoners for a drink on Tuesday 25th October. Keep well. Congratulations to all the millions of people that have just had babies, got engaged or annouced there wedding dates - you know who you are!
S xx
Friday, September 02, 2005
Clowns
Hola Bloggers!
Been a while hey! I´ve been busy with life as I am sure you all are too. I´ve been inspired to write today as I have just been helping a clown apply for a job in Aberdeen, which is obviously a little out of the ordinary. The experience reminded me that its nice to note down your experiences in black and white .......as otherwise they can sometimes be forgotten.
I know this rather weakens the story, but unfortunately the clown was not in costume. Said clown actually came in the form of a jolly little girl called Laura who overheard me speaking english on my mobile in the net cafe. When I´d stopped speaking she tentatively siddled up to ask me if I could possibly help her with some translation of a few words from spanish to english. One thing lead to another and we both sat down and wrote her letter of application, in english, to a hospitol in Aberdeen. She was applying for a position as a Clowndoctor. I´ve met a few doctors in my time who could be termed clown doctors (such as the woman at the surgery on Holloway Road who just seems to laugh at any complaint you may have regardless of severity). However, it turns out that a "Clowndoctor" is actually not a doctor at all but a clown who cheers up sick children in hospitols.
Interestingly my new clown friend was actually in hospital herself some time back due to a motocycle accident and was cheered up no end by a nurse who was always making her laugh. Since this time she has dedicated herself to cheering up other such sufferers ........which brings her to be applying for the post as the clown doctor in Aberdeen. The Aberdeen bit comes in due to her having a boyfriend from scotland (there is always a man involved !).
So, we have swapped numbers and I now have one more clown for a friend!
S xx
Been a while hey! I´ve been busy with life as I am sure you all are too. I´ve been inspired to write today as I have just been helping a clown apply for a job in Aberdeen, which is obviously a little out of the ordinary. The experience reminded me that its nice to note down your experiences in black and white .......as otherwise they can sometimes be forgotten.
I know this rather weakens the story, but unfortunately the clown was not in costume. Said clown actually came in the form of a jolly little girl called Laura who overheard me speaking english on my mobile in the net cafe. When I´d stopped speaking she tentatively siddled up to ask me if I could possibly help her with some translation of a few words from spanish to english. One thing lead to another and we both sat down and wrote her letter of application, in english, to a hospitol in Aberdeen. She was applying for a position as a Clowndoctor. I´ve met a few doctors in my time who could be termed clown doctors (such as the woman at the surgery on Holloway Road who just seems to laugh at any complaint you may have regardless of severity). However, it turns out that a "Clowndoctor" is actually not a doctor at all but a clown who cheers up sick children in hospitols.
Interestingly my new clown friend was actually in hospital herself some time back due to a motocycle accident and was cheered up no end by a nurse who was always making her laugh. Since this time she has dedicated herself to cheering up other such sufferers ........which brings her to be applying for the post as the clown doctor in Aberdeen. The Aberdeen bit comes in due to her having a boyfriend from scotland (there is always a man involved !).
So, we have swapped numbers and I now have one more clown for a friend!
S xx
Monday, July 11, 2005
Bombs and Bulls!
Hola faithful followers!
I´m back! So many of you have been complaining about the lack of blogpostings that I have finally got my act together. Sorry for the delay but being a lady of leisure is very time consuming.
First things first - I sincerely hope that none of you have been seriously affected by the senseless bombs in London. It has been horrible to watch on the news and read about. I was crying when I first saw it. Crying for all of you, for London, for all of those people just like us whose lives have been stolen or ruined for nothing. When will all this war and violence end?
A part of me wishes that I was in London now - to be able to do something, heaven knows what, maybe just carry on in defiance - like the rest of you are doing. Its weird to think that if I had come back to work as planned, last week would have been my first week back at work and I am almost 99 percent certain that I would have been on the piccadilly line around Kings Cross at ten to nine. Jose is my angel in more ways than one!
On a happier note, I am settled in quiet nicely now in Barcelona. Its now official that I am staying here forever and not goign abck to my job in London. I know you can never know if something is forever. Everything ends some day .......but for now, I am here for good.
To answer the question that I am asked most often in emails - no I am not working, and no I am not looking for work. Fortunately I don´t need to (at the moment) so I am enjoying that freedom. I must say, its amazing how busy you can feel even though you don´t work. There is always a mission to be completed everyday. Today´s has been to empadronate myself in the area and sign up to get my NHS (or equivalent) card. This has involved going to three different buildings in Barcelona. Add to that, taking the car to the garage for a service, food shopping, coming here to the net cafe and washing clothes .....and the day is over. Its always like that so I´m rarely bored. If the day comes when I want (or need) to work then the plan is to give english lessons or get invoved with transaltions. English is big buiness here so I doubt I will have a problem ( I will perhaps have to remember how to hide my Yorkshire accent though - it seems to be difficult for them to understand for some reason ? I am sure I can do that though - I had to do it with all of you southerners at some point in our realtionships before I slowly introduced you to the finer points of my accent and got you ready for the full force of it).
We went to Sant Fermine this weekend. Thats the festival in Pamplona where the bulls run through the streets. Jose´s Mum is from there so we stayed with his family and went out in a big group with all his cousins. There was a 15 of us in total and boy did we have some fun. You HAVE TO stay out all night in the bars and street parties and drink colimocho (wine and coke in a pint galss) until 8am when the bulls come (well thats what I was told anyway). I didn´t do any bull running - instead we bought tickets for the bull ring and watched them come running in - chasing the nutters who had run through the streets with them. Spectacular!
God knows when I last put an entry on this thing - so god knows what I have been doing that you have all mised out on hearing about. I have probably been drinking lots of amazing wine, eating in fantastic restaurants, swimming at midnight in swimming pools, going to the beach to wander about and eat paella, playing tennis, laying in in the mornings .......enough already? Ok I´ll give it a rest.
I had actually better go and cook my own spanish bull some dinner now.
Lots of love to you all. Stay vigilant and safe in scary England.
By the way I am sat next to a very well turned out transvestite in this net cafe. It is just the voice that has given him´her away (the phone just rang).
Un beso
S xxxx
I´m back! So many of you have been complaining about the lack of blogpostings that I have finally got my act together. Sorry for the delay but being a lady of leisure is very time consuming.
First things first - I sincerely hope that none of you have been seriously affected by the senseless bombs in London. It has been horrible to watch on the news and read about. I was crying when I first saw it. Crying for all of you, for London, for all of those people just like us whose lives have been stolen or ruined for nothing. When will all this war and violence end?
A part of me wishes that I was in London now - to be able to do something, heaven knows what, maybe just carry on in defiance - like the rest of you are doing. Its weird to think that if I had come back to work as planned, last week would have been my first week back at work and I am almost 99 percent certain that I would have been on the piccadilly line around Kings Cross at ten to nine. Jose is my angel in more ways than one!
On a happier note, I am settled in quiet nicely now in Barcelona. Its now official that I am staying here forever and not goign abck to my job in London. I know you can never know if something is forever. Everything ends some day .......but for now, I am here for good.
To answer the question that I am asked most often in emails - no I am not working, and no I am not looking for work. Fortunately I don´t need to (at the moment) so I am enjoying that freedom. I must say, its amazing how busy you can feel even though you don´t work. There is always a mission to be completed everyday. Today´s has been to empadronate myself in the area and sign up to get my NHS (or equivalent) card. This has involved going to three different buildings in Barcelona. Add to that, taking the car to the garage for a service, food shopping, coming here to the net cafe and washing clothes .....and the day is over. Its always like that so I´m rarely bored. If the day comes when I want (or need) to work then the plan is to give english lessons or get invoved with transaltions. English is big buiness here so I doubt I will have a problem ( I will perhaps have to remember how to hide my Yorkshire accent though - it seems to be difficult for them to understand for some reason ? I am sure I can do that though - I had to do it with all of you southerners at some point in our realtionships before I slowly introduced you to the finer points of my accent and got you ready for the full force of it).
We went to Sant Fermine this weekend. Thats the festival in Pamplona where the bulls run through the streets. Jose´s Mum is from there so we stayed with his family and went out in a big group with all his cousins. There was a 15 of us in total and boy did we have some fun. You HAVE TO stay out all night in the bars and street parties and drink colimocho (wine and coke in a pint galss) until 8am when the bulls come (well thats what I was told anyway). I didn´t do any bull running - instead we bought tickets for the bull ring and watched them come running in - chasing the nutters who had run through the streets with them. Spectacular!
God knows when I last put an entry on this thing - so god knows what I have been doing that you have all mised out on hearing about. I have probably been drinking lots of amazing wine, eating in fantastic restaurants, swimming at midnight in swimming pools, going to the beach to wander about and eat paella, playing tennis, laying in in the mornings .......enough already? Ok I´ll give it a rest.
I had actually better go and cook my own spanish bull some dinner now.
Lots of love to you all. Stay vigilant and safe in scary England.
By the way I am sat next to a very well turned out transvestite in this net cafe. It is just the voice that has given him´her away (the phone just rang).
Un beso
S xxxx
Thursday, May 12, 2005
The hills are alive
Hola,
I spent the weekend just gone in the Pyranees. I am sorry if that is not how you spell it in English. I know how to spell it in Spanish but I am loosing it in English. I have noticed that sometimes when I talk to my friend in English I say really daft sounding things - because I am saying what you would say in Spanish - but in English. Its really quite amusing sometimes.
Anyway, the mountains.................... are incredible! So beautiful. We drove up there on Friday afternoon (it takes 4 hours from Barcelona) and arrived in time for a lovely meal in the evening in the hotel. The hotel stood alone in the wonderful landscape, not in a village or nearby to anything. Just there, amidst it all. We stayed in a Parador - for those of you who know anything about Spain. From our room we could see nothing but snow capped mountains (Monte Perdido to be precise) and cascading waterfalls.
Saturday´s excursion was a seven hour event. I´d say we were walking for about five hours and nibbling cheese, gluging back wine and taking in the sun for the other two hours. The route was pretty treacherous actually and half way round we decided to turn back rather than go on as we encountered a glacier that looked a bit risky to cross. We reckoned there was only a slight chance that we would slip in the snow, but as the land was at a serious gradient and very high up, the consequences of slipping would have been fatal. So, we turned back (with Jose cursing the cold winter that Spain has suffered and mumbling about it being incredible that there was still snow at this time of year at this height).
It was an altogether fantastic day. 30 degrees heat yet snow in view (and often under foot). Fantastic views to all sides. I loved sitting on big rocks sticking up from the lagoons beneath the waterfalls and drinking wine and eating cheese with my feet in the cold fresh running water. Amazing. Another favourite was the sight of the wild horse that we came across. It really was like something out of a film (I did my best to maintain a look fit for a film with my Pradas firmly glued to my head and my Lancome juicy tubes lip gloss to hand at all times).
Jose usually sleeps in a tent when he goes to the mountains with his friends, and he has even slept in the streets once. Apparently this was because they decided to go down to a village to get a room for the night but then found that there weren´t any hotels or guest houses ...........and so slept in the street! He reckons he woke in the middle of the night to find about ten stray cats cuddling up to him and decided to let them stay there to keep him warm. Anyway, he suggested that I might prefer a nice hotel - and I didn´t disagree. I think he had concerns about my appetite for the wilderness when we set off walking on Saturday morning ..........but I am confident that he was suitably impressed with my performance by the end of the day (despite the lip gloss).
Saturday night involved hot baths and foot massages followed by another great meal in the hotel. On Sunday we walked for about 2 and a half hours - again with wine and cheese in rucksack (of course!). We then drove off in the direction of Barcelona but stopped of in Ainsa for lunch. Ainsa is a 12 century village and if you are ever passing by I recommend you pop in. Its beautiful.
I´ve actually done some work this week! Well kind of. My English friend here is a translator and she had to translate some power point slides for a business contact. She did all the translation from Spanish to English but then she wasn´t happy with the English version. This was because the slides were for a seminar to be given on selling methods in the advertising industry and she didn´t feel that she understood enough about advertising or business terms in general to be able to correct the literal transaltion into English that an English person would use. So thats where I came in. It was a good two hours of marking up and amending - just what we lawyers love to do! I enjoyed it. Glad I don´t HAVE to do it all day long though (hee hee hee).
I am flying into Yorkshire tomorrow night. My Mum has just told me that it is only 12 degrees centigrade - I will have to break that news to Jose tonight. He will be shocked I am sure. I have got his gloves out of the drawer for him in preparation!
I hope to see some of you in London on Wednesday 18th - Keston Lodge, Upper Street, Islington.
Nos vemos!
S xxx
I spent the weekend just gone in the Pyranees. I am sorry if that is not how you spell it in English. I know how to spell it in Spanish but I am loosing it in English. I have noticed that sometimes when I talk to my friend in English I say really daft sounding things - because I am saying what you would say in Spanish - but in English. Its really quite amusing sometimes.
Anyway, the mountains.................... are incredible! So beautiful. We drove up there on Friday afternoon (it takes 4 hours from Barcelona) and arrived in time for a lovely meal in the evening in the hotel. The hotel stood alone in the wonderful landscape, not in a village or nearby to anything. Just there, amidst it all. We stayed in a Parador - for those of you who know anything about Spain. From our room we could see nothing but snow capped mountains (Monte Perdido to be precise) and cascading waterfalls.
Saturday´s excursion was a seven hour event. I´d say we were walking for about five hours and nibbling cheese, gluging back wine and taking in the sun for the other two hours. The route was pretty treacherous actually and half way round we decided to turn back rather than go on as we encountered a glacier that looked a bit risky to cross. We reckoned there was only a slight chance that we would slip in the snow, but as the land was at a serious gradient and very high up, the consequences of slipping would have been fatal. So, we turned back (with Jose cursing the cold winter that Spain has suffered and mumbling about it being incredible that there was still snow at this time of year at this height).
It was an altogether fantastic day. 30 degrees heat yet snow in view (and often under foot). Fantastic views to all sides. I loved sitting on big rocks sticking up from the lagoons beneath the waterfalls and drinking wine and eating cheese with my feet in the cold fresh running water. Amazing. Another favourite was the sight of the wild horse that we came across. It really was like something out of a film (I did my best to maintain a look fit for a film with my Pradas firmly glued to my head and my Lancome juicy tubes lip gloss to hand at all times).
Jose usually sleeps in a tent when he goes to the mountains with his friends, and he has even slept in the streets once. Apparently this was because they decided to go down to a village to get a room for the night but then found that there weren´t any hotels or guest houses ...........and so slept in the street! He reckons he woke in the middle of the night to find about ten stray cats cuddling up to him and decided to let them stay there to keep him warm. Anyway, he suggested that I might prefer a nice hotel - and I didn´t disagree. I think he had concerns about my appetite for the wilderness when we set off walking on Saturday morning ..........but I am confident that he was suitably impressed with my performance by the end of the day (despite the lip gloss).
Saturday night involved hot baths and foot massages followed by another great meal in the hotel. On Sunday we walked for about 2 and a half hours - again with wine and cheese in rucksack (of course!). We then drove off in the direction of Barcelona but stopped of in Ainsa for lunch. Ainsa is a 12 century village and if you are ever passing by I recommend you pop in. Its beautiful.
I´ve actually done some work this week! Well kind of. My English friend here is a translator and she had to translate some power point slides for a business contact. She did all the translation from Spanish to English but then she wasn´t happy with the English version. This was because the slides were for a seminar to be given on selling methods in the advertising industry and she didn´t feel that she understood enough about advertising or business terms in general to be able to correct the literal transaltion into English that an English person would use. So thats where I came in. It was a good two hours of marking up and amending - just what we lawyers love to do! I enjoyed it. Glad I don´t HAVE to do it all day long though (hee hee hee).
I am flying into Yorkshire tomorrow night. My Mum has just told me that it is only 12 degrees centigrade - I will have to break that news to Jose tonight. He will be shocked I am sure. I have got his gloves out of the drawer for him in preparation!
I hope to see some of you in London on Wednesday 18th - Keston Lodge, Upper Street, Islington.
Nos vemos!
S xxx
Friday, April 29, 2005
Very fishy
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
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
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
Monday, March 28, 2005
Gucci darling!
Hola bloggers,
Well I am in Europe but I am not in Barcelona!
I went to the airport in Buenos Aires without a reservation but armed with the knowledge that there would be two Iberia flights leaving for Madrid and also an Aerolineas Argentina flight and of course armed with the old credit card. I already knew that there weren't any flights to Barcelona direct from Buenos Aires. I tried to get on all three flights to Madrid (not all at the same time as that would obviously be impossible .......and not physically - I have not lost it that much - I just tried to purchase a ticket for said flights in a very polite and calm manner). However, all flights were full. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH.
I told them that I knew about the row of seats that they always save back for air stewards and begged for one of those ...............................but they told me all those had gone too. I calmy asked for a seat on the next flight to Madrid in the morning but was informed that there aren't flights every day to Madrid. For example the next iberia one would be next sunday! Hmmm. There was a moment when one of those things that you count time with when you play piano started to swing around in my head - it was swinging between a decision between tears and rage. However, it only lasted about three seconds before good old Initiative (the superhero) swooped in on the situation and blurted out to the ticket office attendant " give me any ticket to anywhere in Europe that is leaving tonight!". The ticket man looked a little startled - "I thought you wanted to go to Spain" said he. "Yes I do want to go to Spain but you can't get me there can you so I want to go to Europe - anywhere in Europe - and I will work out how to get to Spain from wherever you send me." Aha - now the man understood! Thanks Initiative.
So, I am in Rome!
I was hoping to get a connection to Barcelona as soon as I landed in Rome but was again faced with the no room at the inn routine (Its Easter isn't it not Christmas).
I am booked on to a flight tomorrow evening at 6.50 pm which should get me to BCN at about 9pm. As I landed in Rome at 5pm today - I have approximately 24 hours. Shame I've been here before because I am now wishing that I was stranded in a new place that I could explore for a day. Not to worry. I am currently residing in the Hilton at the airport where thanks to all the points accumulated at the Leicester Hilton (thanks Alliance & Leicester) I am being treated very well and have been upgraded to a suite which has a library in it of all things - as well as the lounge, bedroom, bathroom and dressing room. The pool has been christened, I have steamed myself in the turkish bath, dined in the restaurant and I am all geared up to buy some Gucci sunglasses tomorrow in Rome. Quite good this being stranded lark!
Spirits wise - I am reasonably calm about my dash across the world. My biggest worry at the moment is that I need more clothes bringing over from England. Hmmm - Dad?
S xxx
Well I am in Europe but I am not in Barcelona!
I went to the airport in Buenos Aires without a reservation but armed with the knowledge that there would be two Iberia flights leaving for Madrid and also an Aerolineas Argentina flight and of course armed with the old credit card. I already knew that there weren't any flights to Barcelona direct from Buenos Aires. I tried to get on all three flights to Madrid (not all at the same time as that would obviously be impossible .......and not physically - I have not lost it that much - I just tried to purchase a ticket for said flights in a very polite and calm manner). However, all flights were full. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH.
I told them that I knew about the row of seats that they always save back for air stewards and begged for one of those ...............................but they told me all those had gone too. I calmy asked for a seat on the next flight to Madrid in the morning but was informed that there aren't flights every day to Madrid. For example the next iberia one would be next sunday! Hmmm. There was a moment when one of those things that you count time with when you play piano started to swing around in my head - it was swinging between a decision between tears and rage. However, it only lasted about three seconds before good old Initiative (the superhero) swooped in on the situation and blurted out to the ticket office attendant " give me any ticket to anywhere in Europe that is leaving tonight!". The ticket man looked a little startled - "I thought you wanted to go to Spain" said he. "Yes I do want to go to Spain but you can't get me there can you so I want to go to Europe - anywhere in Europe - and I will work out how to get to Spain from wherever you send me." Aha - now the man understood! Thanks Initiative.
So, I am in Rome!
I was hoping to get a connection to Barcelona as soon as I landed in Rome but was again faced with the no room at the inn routine (Its Easter isn't it not Christmas).
I am booked on to a flight tomorrow evening at 6.50 pm which should get me to BCN at about 9pm. As I landed in Rome at 5pm today - I have approximately 24 hours. Shame I've been here before because I am now wishing that I was stranded in a new place that I could explore for a day. Not to worry. I am currently residing in the Hilton at the airport where thanks to all the points accumulated at the Leicester Hilton (thanks Alliance & Leicester) I am being treated very well and have been upgraded to a suite which has a library in it of all things - as well as the lounge, bedroom, bathroom and dressing room. The pool has been christened, I have steamed myself in the turkish bath, dined in the restaurant and I am all geared up to buy some Gucci sunglasses tomorrow in Rome. Quite good this being stranded lark!
Spirits wise - I am reasonably calm about my dash across the world. My biggest worry at the moment is that I need more clothes bringing over from England. Hmmm - Dad?
S xxx
Sunday, March 27, 2005
England 4 Northern Ireland 0
Hola Bloggers,
Just to say - well done England!
Oh and what´s up with Rio Ferninad´s hair?
They call Rooney "Baby Rooney" here when they are commentating. Very amusing - I know he´s young but he is more like a bull than a baby.
S xxxxxx
Just to say - well done England!
Oh and what´s up with Rio Ferninad´s hair?
They call Rooney "Baby Rooney" here when they are commentating. Very amusing - I know he´s young but he is more like a bull than a baby.
S xxxxxx
moving on
Hola Bloggers,
Get ready for this one ..................I am going to the airport in about three hours to try and get on a flight to Spain. I don´t have a flight but I am sure that I can buy one at the airport.
No I am not through with South America and no I am not sure about what I am doing - but South America will be here forever and Jose Ramon will not be! I think you all know that Jose came out here for a week. Well he left yesterday and for various reasons I am going to follow him and give life with him a shot for a while. Some of you know the story, most of you don´t but cut a long story short - I broke his heart with something that I told him last week and we more or less ended our relationship. Anyhow, I have realised that men like him don´t come along very often. Men come along very often - I have never had a problem in that department but I know that Jose is very special and I want to give it shot with him. He is still in the mood to continue a relationship with me at the moment but if I stay here and let him be alone for very long then he is going to slowly change how he feels about me - due to the dramas of last week. Its only natural that that will happen. So, I think that its now or never.
It might not work out and I might be back here in a week or too. If that happens then thats cool but at least I will know I gave it a shot. I am not travelling on a shoe string - I can afford to fly backwards and forwards so there´s no big deal there.
I have thought about what I am doing and the objective of my trip was to try and obtain fluent Spanish, to live life in a totally different way to how life is as a lawyer in London and basically to stop working for a while. So, my objectives can all still be achieved in Barcelona. There is lots to see in Spain and there is no reason why I can´t travel there rather than here for a while. Also, there is no reason why I can´t return to South America. Its been here a long time and I don´t think it is going anywhere. In fact my Dad is all geared up to do Machu Pichu with me - so if I end up staying in Barcelona a while then I am sure that Dad and I will fly out to Peru in a few months time.
Don´t worry about me. Everything is cool - I just need to do this or else I will forever wonder what life could have been like with Jose and I feel that I will loose my chance at finding out if I don´t go now. Thats all. I don´t want to regret not taking a chance on him.
I don´t know if I will come to England at all while I am in Spain (I might only be there a week!). I don´t want to come to England mainly because I am not ready to go back to England and it might feel like my trip is over if I come to England - and I don´t want that. We´ll see though. There are lots of people who I would love to see - maybe you can come to Barcelona (babies and all)! I need to concentrate on working out things with Jose Ramon first though - as nice as you all are!
Stay tuned for the next installment - maybe I´ll be flying to another continent!
S xxxxx
Get ready for this one ..................I am going to the airport in about three hours to try and get on a flight to Spain. I don´t have a flight but I am sure that I can buy one at the airport.
No I am not through with South America and no I am not sure about what I am doing - but South America will be here forever and Jose Ramon will not be! I think you all know that Jose came out here for a week. Well he left yesterday and for various reasons I am going to follow him and give life with him a shot for a while. Some of you know the story, most of you don´t but cut a long story short - I broke his heart with something that I told him last week and we more or less ended our relationship. Anyhow, I have realised that men like him don´t come along very often. Men come along very often - I have never had a problem in that department but I know that Jose is very special and I want to give it shot with him. He is still in the mood to continue a relationship with me at the moment but if I stay here and let him be alone for very long then he is going to slowly change how he feels about me - due to the dramas of last week. Its only natural that that will happen. So, I think that its now or never.
It might not work out and I might be back here in a week or too. If that happens then thats cool but at least I will know I gave it a shot. I am not travelling on a shoe string - I can afford to fly backwards and forwards so there´s no big deal there.
I have thought about what I am doing and the objective of my trip was to try and obtain fluent Spanish, to live life in a totally different way to how life is as a lawyer in London and basically to stop working for a while. So, my objectives can all still be achieved in Barcelona. There is lots to see in Spain and there is no reason why I can´t travel there rather than here for a while. Also, there is no reason why I can´t return to South America. Its been here a long time and I don´t think it is going anywhere. In fact my Dad is all geared up to do Machu Pichu with me - so if I end up staying in Barcelona a while then I am sure that Dad and I will fly out to Peru in a few months time.
Don´t worry about me. Everything is cool - I just need to do this or else I will forever wonder what life could have been like with Jose and I feel that I will loose my chance at finding out if I don´t go now. Thats all. I don´t want to regret not taking a chance on him.
I don´t know if I will come to England at all while I am in Spain (I might only be there a week!). I don´t want to come to England mainly because I am not ready to go back to England and it might feel like my trip is over if I come to England - and I don´t want that. We´ll see though. There are lots of people who I would love to see - maybe you can come to Barcelona (babies and all)! I need to concentrate on working out things with Jose Ramon first though - as nice as you all are!
Stay tuned for the next installment - maybe I´ll be flying to another continent!
S xxxxx
Friday, March 18, 2005
Mi casa es ............bloody ace!
Hola Bloggers,
Just moved into the new house in San Telmo and it is sooooooooooooo amazing. I have been running round it taking photos. Its so nice. You go through the gate from the street into a courtyard where various´ doors open on to and where there are big plants and trees (as its open air. There is a series of three sets of french doors to my house - all with shutters. The downstairs floor is the lounge, dining kitchen area and it is so inviting. The Kitchen is all very white and chrome and modern and as kitchens and bathrooms should be in my book (have you read my book?). The walls are exposed brick, the window frames are exposed original pine and the floor is stone - throught the whole house. Amazing.
Upstairs is a very large double bedroom and mosaic shower room. You reach upstairs via a turet, again with exposed brick and original pine and massive windows. Go up another floor and you reach the main bedroom and study and bathroom. The shower is mosaic and big enough to fit about 8 people in (I might see just how many I can fit in after Jose has left .......joke!).
The best bit of all is the top floor. Its open air and has lantern lights all around it, its private - with wicker walls and plants and has a bar, bbq, fridge and BATH! It is indeed a bath - its not a modern fancy jacuuzi .... its like a stone bath (maybe a horse´s feeding thing originally) but tiled and all made wonderful with both hot and cold taps. It really is something else. I´m so happy. I don´t want to sleep for the next week - so that I have more time here. I can´t wait to show it to Jose - who arrives at 6.45 tomorrow morning. I want to show it to all of you. You are all cordially invited over any time this week - if you can make it.
The girl who rented it to me is really sweet as well. Its her boyfrined´s house and when he gets a tenant he goes and lives with her. She is very cool looking and studies design of parks and sells pure honey (She has offered to brig some round for me - there is a whole list of different types that I can choose from apparantly) .
San Telmo was originally an individual republic. I think its kind of where Buenos Aires started. Its very different to Palermo (where I lived before). Its much more south american here - its poorer and more bohemian and more real. Less European. Not sure what is going on across the street at the moment - I suspect it is some sort of giving out of food to the less fortunate among us. You wouldn´t see that in Palermo.
Oh a strange thing has happened. Well a theft has happened and there isn´t really anything strange about that ......its how it has managed to happen that is strange. I left 810 pesos on the table in my old flat last saturday afternoon (for Brad, my flat mate, to pay the rent). I then left the place and went to the country side. Anna our other flat mate came in later that day and added her money to it and then left the place on Sunday. Anna returned on Tuesday and the money was not there anymore, nor the long letter I had written to Brad. Anna was not surprised because Brad should have arrrived back from Columbia on the Sunday and taken the money. Except he didn´t. Anna left on Wednesday to go back to Sweeden. I got back later that day and, on realising that Brad had not returned from Columbia, assumed that Anna had put the money in a cupboard somewhere safe. So, I wasn´t worried - about the money - rather suspected that Brad had been gunned down in Columbia but that is another preocupation of my mind that we don´t need to get into.
I have finally got in touch with Anna by email to ask where she put the money .............and we have realised that it has vamooshed! Who could have taken it? The keys had been downstairs with the porter but it is more than his job is worth to enter a flat so I really don´t think he is to blame. I grilled him as to who rang our buzzer on the days in question and on perusal of the log book we have deduced that a woman (I have the name but won´t disclose it) went up to the door at 11.30 and left at 11.35. Maybe she had keys - maybe she nipped in and took the money? But who is this mysterious woman? I suspect that when I tell Brad the name it will be one of his chicks - and that avenue will be closed off. Hmmm. Very strange. I am just waiting to see what Brad is going to say about this and whether he is going to make me pay twice! If so I might offer to split the difference and say I´ll pay half again. Afterall if he had arrived back when arranged then the mystery might not have occured. Hmmm very strange.
Right I am going to go back over the road and prance around my new house and play joss Stone very loudly and I might even try out the roof top open air bath. So there.
S xxxxx
Just moved into the new house in San Telmo and it is sooooooooooooo amazing. I have been running round it taking photos. Its so nice. You go through the gate from the street into a courtyard where various´ doors open on to and where there are big plants and trees (as its open air. There is a series of three sets of french doors to my house - all with shutters. The downstairs floor is the lounge, dining kitchen area and it is so inviting. The Kitchen is all very white and chrome and modern and as kitchens and bathrooms should be in my book (have you read my book?). The walls are exposed brick, the window frames are exposed original pine and the floor is stone - throught the whole house. Amazing.
Upstairs is a very large double bedroom and mosaic shower room. You reach upstairs via a turet, again with exposed brick and original pine and massive windows. Go up another floor and you reach the main bedroom and study and bathroom. The shower is mosaic and big enough to fit about 8 people in (I might see just how many I can fit in after Jose has left .......joke!).
The best bit of all is the top floor. Its open air and has lantern lights all around it, its private - with wicker walls and plants and has a bar, bbq, fridge and BATH! It is indeed a bath - its not a modern fancy jacuuzi .... its like a stone bath (maybe a horse´s feeding thing originally) but tiled and all made wonderful with both hot and cold taps. It really is something else. I´m so happy. I don´t want to sleep for the next week - so that I have more time here. I can´t wait to show it to Jose - who arrives at 6.45 tomorrow morning. I want to show it to all of you. You are all cordially invited over any time this week - if you can make it.
The girl who rented it to me is really sweet as well. Its her boyfrined´s house and when he gets a tenant he goes and lives with her. She is very cool looking and studies design of parks and sells pure honey (She has offered to brig some round for me - there is a whole list of different types that I can choose from apparantly) .
San Telmo was originally an individual republic. I think its kind of where Buenos Aires started. Its very different to Palermo (where I lived before). Its much more south american here - its poorer and more bohemian and more real. Less European. Not sure what is going on across the street at the moment - I suspect it is some sort of giving out of food to the less fortunate among us. You wouldn´t see that in Palermo.
Oh a strange thing has happened. Well a theft has happened and there isn´t really anything strange about that ......its how it has managed to happen that is strange. I left 810 pesos on the table in my old flat last saturday afternoon (for Brad, my flat mate, to pay the rent). I then left the place and went to the country side. Anna our other flat mate came in later that day and added her money to it and then left the place on Sunday. Anna returned on Tuesday and the money was not there anymore, nor the long letter I had written to Brad. Anna was not surprised because Brad should have arrrived back from Columbia on the Sunday and taken the money. Except he didn´t. Anna left on Wednesday to go back to Sweeden. I got back later that day and, on realising that Brad had not returned from Columbia, assumed that Anna had put the money in a cupboard somewhere safe. So, I wasn´t worried - about the money - rather suspected that Brad had been gunned down in Columbia but that is another preocupation of my mind that we don´t need to get into.
I have finally got in touch with Anna by email to ask where she put the money .............and we have realised that it has vamooshed! Who could have taken it? The keys had been downstairs with the porter but it is more than his job is worth to enter a flat so I really don´t think he is to blame. I grilled him as to who rang our buzzer on the days in question and on perusal of the log book we have deduced that a woman (I have the name but won´t disclose it) went up to the door at 11.30 and left at 11.35. Maybe she had keys - maybe she nipped in and took the money? But who is this mysterious woman? I suspect that when I tell Brad the name it will be one of his chicks - and that avenue will be closed off. Hmmm. Very strange. I am just waiting to see what Brad is going to say about this and whether he is going to make me pay twice! If so I might offer to split the difference and say I´ll pay half again. Afterall if he had arrived back when arranged then the mystery might not have occured. Hmmm very strange.
Right I am going to go back over the road and prance around my new house and play joss Stone very loudly and I might even try out the roof top open air bath. So there.
S xxxxx
Thursday, March 17, 2005
thoughts from the city
Hola Bloggers,
Back in the city now. I was thinking today about what has stuck in my mind about the villages in the country that I saw ...... and I kept thinking about the school uniforms. They were very strange. They are quite strange here in the city but not as strange as they are in the villages. Here in the city the girls all seem to wear quilts. Some are most definitely quilts (am I spelling that right? I don´t mean duvets - I mean scottish jobbies). Anyway, I´ll go on. If they are not adorned with massive safety pins and wrap over kind of things then they at least have a chequered pattern. There must be some reason for this (but I don´t know it). In the country, well, in Chascomus and another place called Almes (I don´t think I am qualified to speak for all uniforms in the whole of Argentina), they wear Van Gogh style smocks. Very odd. Invariably about six sizes too big - we all know what the mothers will be saying each morning (you´ll grow into it!).
Another thing - there was no such thing as diet coke in the villages I visited. Did I mention this in the last posting? Its not that I can´t live without diet coke .....but I can´t believe there isn´t any anywhere in a whole village when there is plenty of fat coke. Surely if you are getting a delivery from coca cola you get diet too. Its a no brainer. Maybe they think its fancy modern towny stuff. I don´t know. I missed it. I´m getting fat enough with all the dulce de leche I didn´t need fat coke on top (but obviously drank it instead of water!).
It sounds like I am moaning today, or picking fault, I´m not .......................but it might interest you to know that it is absolutely impossible to purchase any foreign currency when armed with a visa and passport in Buenos Aires. Can you believe that? I need $1500 by 11am tomorrow morning in cash and you wouldn´t think that this would be so difficult ........but my head is a few hairs thiner today. Its just impossible. Only cash works. You have to take out Argentinian pesos from the bank machine and then change local cash for foreign currency. No credit allowed. That would be easy enough if the daily limit you could take out of the hole in the wall was sufficient! Its not! I have had to use two different cards and max them up and then I will have to do the same tomorrow and then change the cash into dollars. Farse! Due to crisis in 2001 when everything nose dived here. Bit over the top though!
By the way, I am not funding some massive drugs export. I know I live in Holloway but honestly I need the money for a rental of a fancy house in San Telmo (where they dance Tango in the streets - hopefully not under my window!) .
By the way, can you all have a minute of silence for my little car please. It has left my life forever more. Weep weep. My Dad has sold it for me. It served me well and will always be remembered. Bye bye brum brum.
Un beso
S xxx
Back in the city now. I was thinking today about what has stuck in my mind about the villages in the country that I saw ...... and I kept thinking about the school uniforms. They were very strange. They are quite strange here in the city but not as strange as they are in the villages. Here in the city the girls all seem to wear quilts. Some are most definitely quilts (am I spelling that right? I don´t mean duvets - I mean scottish jobbies). Anyway, I´ll go on. If they are not adorned with massive safety pins and wrap over kind of things then they at least have a chequered pattern. There must be some reason for this (but I don´t know it). In the country, well, in Chascomus and another place called Almes (I don´t think I am qualified to speak for all uniforms in the whole of Argentina), they wear Van Gogh style smocks. Very odd. Invariably about six sizes too big - we all know what the mothers will be saying each morning (you´ll grow into it!).
Another thing - there was no such thing as diet coke in the villages I visited. Did I mention this in the last posting? Its not that I can´t live without diet coke .....but I can´t believe there isn´t any anywhere in a whole village when there is plenty of fat coke. Surely if you are getting a delivery from coca cola you get diet too. Its a no brainer. Maybe they think its fancy modern towny stuff. I don´t know. I missed it. I´m getting fat enough with all the dulce de leche I didn´t need fat coke on top (but obviously drank it instead of water!).
It sounds like I am moaning today, or picking fault, I´m not .......................but it might interest you to know that it is absolutely impossible to purchase any foreign currency when armed with a visa and passport in Buenos Aires. Can you believe that? I need $1500 by 11am tomorrow morning in cash and you wouldn´t think that this would be so difficult ........but my head is a few hairs thiner today. Its just impossible. Only cash works. You have to take out Argentinian pesos from the bank machine and then change local cash for foreign currency. No credit allowed. That would be easy enough if the daily limit you could take out of the hole in the wall was sufficient! Its not! I have had to use two different cards and max them up and then I will have to do the same tomorrow and then change the cash into dollars. Farse! Due to crisis in 2001 when everything nose dived here. Bit over the top though!
By the way, I am not funding some massive drugs export. I know I live in Holloway but honestly I need the money for a rental of a fancy house in San Telmo (where they dance Tango in the streets - hopefully not under my window!) .
By the way, can you all have a minute of silence for my little car please. It has left my life forever more. Weep weep. My Dad has sold it for me. It served me well and will always be remembered. Bye bye brum brum.
Un beso
S xxx
Friday, March 11, 2005
End of Term
Hola Bloggers,
I am writing from the computers in my language school ....probably for the last time! I have finished all classes now, received my little certificate, had a goodbye lunch and made a little speech (in Spanish of course). So, that's it. No more structure to my life out here. From here on its a case of play it by ear. There is the slight possibility that I may take some classes in the sister school in Santiago Chile ....if I go there ......but nothing is planned. It would be nice to carry on studying - because I certainly don´t speak as well as I want to yet - but also I am looking forward to laying in bed and having a break from gramatical exercises every day. I think I need some physical exercise! I am forever eating chocolate, cakes, ice creams and dulce de leche and I never do any exercise. I do feel a bit lethargic and lazy and I can feel a few pounds creeping on.
I am planning on going to see some Gaucho action over the next few days. I am going to look on the internet later tonight and find out a but mnore about it and then take off into the countryside and go and stay on an estancia for a few days. I am not sure how well equiped these type of places will be internet acces so I may have to tell you all about it when I get back rather than as I go along.
Ok, have a good weekend everbody
Lots of love
S xxx
I am writing from the computers in my language school ....probably for the last time! I have finished all classes now, received my little certificate, had a goodbye lunch and made a little speech (in Spanish of course). So, that's it. No more structure to my life out here. From here on its a case of play it by ear. There is the slight possibility that I may take some classes in the sister school in Santiago Chile ....if I go there ......but nothing is planned. It would be nice to carry on studying - because I certainly don´t speak as well as I want to yet - but also I am looking forward to laying in bed and having a break from gramatical exercises every day. I think I need some physical exercise! I am forever eating chocolate, cakes, ice creams and dulce de leche and I never do any exercise. I do feel a bit lethargic and lazy and I can feel a few pounds creeping on.
I am planning on going to see some Gaucho action over the next few days. I am going to look on the internet later tonight and find out a but mnore about it and then take off into the countryside and go and stay on an estancia for a few days. I am not sure how well equiped these type of places will be internet acces so I may have to tell you all about it when I get back rather than as I go along.
Ok, have a good weekend everbody
Lots of love
S xxx
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Animal Magic
Hola bloggers,
I have just been to a big market in Montevideo and I actually had to leave because I couldn´t stand the cruelty to animals anymore. It was unbelieveable! It was a pretty standard city market where you could buy anything and everything .....but with the addition of pets. But all the animals were squashed up so much it was heartbreaking ........ and of course they were being poked and proded by every passer by. I hated it. There were snakes and frogs and lizards in empty coke bottles with the lid on - god knows how they were breathing because I couldn´t see any holes. There were turtles, rats, fish, cats, dogs, chickens, mice, parrots, canaries, rabbits and even scorpions. The problem was that everything was sharing a space only just really adequate for itself ....with about six others. They were all piled on top of each other and constantly being picked up and messed about with by children and adults alike. It was horrible. I really didn´t like it.
Well thats all I really have to say today. I´m going to the airport now to catch a flight back to Buenos Aires.
I hope the weather is not depressing you all too much. I hear its not very good at the moment. Its 80 degrees here - but then you knew that didn´t you. Sorry !
Besos mi amigos and happy mother´s day to all the mothers out there
S xxxx
I have just been to a big market in Montevideo and I actually had to leave because I couldn´t stand the cruelty to animals anymore. It was unbelieveable! It was a pretty standard city market where you could buy anything and everything .....but with the addition of pets. But all the animals were squashed up so much it was heartbreaking ........ and of course they were being poked and proded by every passer by. I hated it. There were snakes and frogs and lizards in empty coke bottles with the lid on - god knows how they were breathing because I couldn´t see any holes. There were turtles, rats, fish, cats, dogs, chickens, mice, parrots, canaries, rabbits and even scorpions. The problem was that everything was sharing a space only just really adequate for itself ....with about six others. They were all piled on top of each other and constantly being picked up and messed about with by children and adults alike. It was horrible. I really didn´t like it.
Well thats all I really have to say today. I´m going to the airport now to catch a flight back to Buenos Aires.
I hope the weather is not depressing you all too much. I hear its not very good at the moment. Its 80 degrees here - but then you knew that didn´t you. Sorry !
Besos mi amigos and happy mother´s day to all the mothers out there
S xxxx
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Montevideo
Hola Bloggers,
I am writing from a HOSTEL - yes a HOSTEL - in Montevideo. I bet you can´t belive that I am slumming it can you. Well, I am and actually its not that bad afterall. I couldn´t manage it for a long stretch because I just couldn´t deal with the no wardrobe, hairdryer, fancy bathroom etc etc. However for two nights its fine. Its been recently renovated and its got nice clean beds and towels and warm water and stuff .....and I only have my small bag with me with three outfits so the lack of wardrobe can be endured. My clothes are important to me - I have learnt that on this trip (I knew it anyway but now I know it for sure). I don´t like things being creased, dog haired or dirty. God knows how I would ever cope with a baby puking on me! Nena - please train your new son to provide some kind of signal prior to puking in time for my return.
My mind is doing the usual business calculations while I am here. I can´t help it! I´m lying on the bed working out how many beds you can fit in a hostel and how much you can charge and how much the mortgage would be on that size of house. I can´t stop trying to work out easy ways of making a living!
Montevideo seems really nice. A lot smaller and slower paced than Buenos Aires. The air seems a lot fresher too (not that its really bad in BA - its just fresher here). Its small enough to walk around and see all the important buildings and visit all the interesting markets in one weekend - which is handy seeing as I only have a weekend here. The people seem really friendly - in fact I just got a taxi back to the hostel with a rather too friendly driver. He took me home safely and quickly and I paid .... and then as I was leaving he asked me if I would like to go to his bedroom with him. When I declined the kind offer he suggested that we take a trip to the beach together instead. Friendly chap - don´t you think?
I am about to go out on the town again. Last night we ate and drank in a restaurant in an area of the old town where there are loads of restaurants with street side tables. It was a really nice night. We (the 3 of us that have come from Buenos Aires) ate with 2 Sweedish girls that are staying in our room in the hostel and we all got along really well and had a good time. Later we were joined by five middle aged Argentinians who were harmless enough I suppose - its all good spanish practice! They told me that Buenos Aires is not Argentinian at all and until I go to the countryside and ride with the horses and see some of the scenery then I don´t know Argentina. I am sure this is true and I do plan to do a bit of horse back travelling through Argentina - but perhaps not staying at their ranch as was suggested late last night.
After eating and drinking, we went to a club in Montevideo (minus the middle aged Gauchos). We were looking forward to this because the clubs have been closed in Buenos Aires due to the incident that happened around new year when 190 poeple were killed in a club due to the fire doors not being operational and a firework being set off. However the club in Montevideo did not satisfy my desire to dance at all. I couldn´t stand to listen to the terrible music and I left after about half an hour. They were playing a really terrible kind of euro pop electronic rubbish. It wasn´t european it was music from here but describing it as euro pop might help some of you understand what it was like. Uruguayans trying to swing you round to it in a Tango style was just not working or helping my liking for the place! I think I am a bit of a music snob. I can´t just dance to any old rubbish for the sake of it. I know what I like and I know what I don´t like and I am very definite about this in relation to all manner of things. If something is not quite right I am not happy. I think I am hard to please in a lot of ways - another thing that has been confirmed on this trip. I dont know how you go about changing that though .....and to be honest I quite like having high standards - at least I am blessed with the determination and skills to seek out the standard I want.
The Beach is currently being shown on the tv behind me - how travellery is that!
The money here is quite funny. 50 Uruguayan pesos is roughly a pound so I am walking round with thousands in my pocket but actualy only have about 80 quid.
Oh I think I forgot to gloat again. I know I told you thatI got 83% in the lat exam but I later found out that once again I came top in the group. Whoo hoo (another small personal victory). Not that I am competitive or anything ..........
Until the next time
S xxxxx
I am writing from a HOSTEL - yes a HOSTEL - in Montevideo. I bet you can´t belive that I am slumming it can you. Well, I am and actually its not that bad afterall. I couldn´t manage it for a long stretch because I just couldn´t deal with the no wardrobe, hairdryer, fancy bathroom etc etc. However for two nights its fine. Its been recently renovated and its got nice clean beds and towels and warm water and stuff .....and I only have my small bag with me with three outfits so the lack of wardrobe can be endured. My clothes are important to me - I have learnt that on this trip (I knew it anyway but now I know it for sure). I don´t like things being creased, dog haired or dirty. God knows how I would ever cope with a baby puking on me! Nena - please train your new son to provide some kind of signal prior to puking in time for my return.
My mind is doing the usual business calculations while I am here. I can´t help it! I´m lying on the bed working out how many beds you can fit in a hostel and how much you can charge and how much the mortgage would be on that size of house. I can´t stop trying to work out easy ways of making a living!
Montevideo seems really nice. A lot smaller and slower paced than Buenos Aires. The air seems a lot fresher too (not that its really bad in BA - its just fresher here). Its small enough to walk around and see all the important buildings and visit all the interesting markets in one weekend - which is handy seeing as I only have a weekend here. The people seem really friendly - in fact I just got a taxi back to the hostel with a rather too friendly driver. He took me home safely and quickly and I paid .... and then as I was leaving he asked me if I would like to go to his bedroom with him. When I declined the kind offer he suggested that we take a trip to the beach together instead. Friendly chap - don´t you think?
I am about to go out on the town again. Last night we ate and drank in a restaurant in an area of the old town where there are loads of restaurants with street side tables. It was a really nice night. We (the 3 of us that have come from Buenos Aires) ate with 2 Sweedish girls that are staying in our room in the hostel and we all got along really well and had a good time. Later we were joined by five middle aged Argentinians who were harmless enough I suppose - its all good spanish practice! They told me that Buenos Aires is not Argentinian at all and until I go to the countryside and ride with the horses and see some of the scenery then I don´t know Argentina. I am sure this is true and I do plan to do a bit of horse back travelling through Argentina - but perhaps not staying at their ranch as was suggested late last night.
After eating and drinking, we went to a club in Montevideo (minus the middle aged Gauchos). We were looking forward to this because the clubs have been closed in Buenos Aires due to the incident that happened around new year when 190 poeple were killed in a club due to the fire doors not being operational and a firework being set off. However the club in Montevideo did not satisfy my desire to dance at all. I couldn´t stand to listen to the terrible music and I left after about half an hour. They were playing a really terrible kind of euro pop electronic rubbish. It wasn´t european it was music from here but describing it as euro pop might help some of you understand what it was like. Uruguayans trying to swing you round to it in a Tango style was just not working or helping my liking for the place! I think I am a bit of a music snob. I can´t just dance to any old rubbish for the sake of it. I know what I like and I know what I don´t like and I am very definite about this in relation to all manner of things. If something is not quite right I am not happy. I think I am hard to please in a lot of ways - another thing that has been confirmed on this trip. I dont know how you go about changing that though .....and to be honest I quite like having high standards - at least I am blessed with the determination and skills to seek out the standard I want.
The Beach is currently being shown on the tv behind me - how travellery is that!
The money here is quite funny. 50 Uruguayan pesos is roughly a pound so I am walking round with thousands in my pocket but actualy only have about 80 quid.
Oh I think I forgot to gloat again. I know I told you thatI got 83% in the lat exam but I later found out that once again I came top in the group. Whoo hoo (another small personal victory). Not that I am competitive or anything ..........
Until the next time
S xxxxx
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