Ramblings in Retirement

March 2008

After about a week or so on my own Penny got the all clear from the doctor and returned home. The new pills she has been given seem to be working fine with no obvious side effects (like swollen ankles and headaches). I was lucky to have good friends who again took pity on me whilst Penny was still in the UK and they provided me with evening meals and good company, but I still missed her a lot. It is great to have her back again.

The weather has been very good (although I read in the paper that there was concern over the lack of rainfall since December)! The garden has started to come on very quickly and there is a lot to do. Having removed the gigantic hedge from the rear of the house earlier in the year I needed to saw up all the trunks and stack them for drying out. I laid black plastic and stone chips down the border, which, previously occupied by the hedge, now gives the area a sense of space. Weeds seem to be the first thing that grows in spring so there has been a lot of weeding and cutting back of ivy and stuff. I’ve removed a couple of orange trees from the high level (non-producers have to go!) and made good the patch with some gramma grass which in a month or two will blend in with the rest of the lawn.

Penny wanted me to plant a small palm tree at the corner of the border where I had removed the hedge so I started to dig a hole for it. I came across what I thought was a rock and set about it with my trusty pickaxe only to find that it was a concrete cover for the mail electric cable. I discovered this when there was a bang and smoke appeared under my pick!! An emergency call out and €122 later all was well again, needless to say I planted the palm elsewhere.

The new garage door has at last been replaced with the correct colour and model and now some minor painting of the new façade needs to be done. I painted the interior of the lift shaft (well the bits of wall one can see whilst going up and down) and then fixed about eight of Penny’s paintings so it is more of a “gallery” than a lift shaft now!

My sister Edie and her husband Calum came for their annual visit much earlier this year, as I wanted them to experience the “Fallas” of Denia. They had seen some video of the sights but to see them in real life is quite remarkable. Unfortunately, Calum was violently sick on the night they arrived and the following day was “out of it all” however on the Tuesday we took advantage of the guided tour of the “Fallas” and this proved to be very interesting as not only was the tradition explained but also the costs of each “fallas” and the quirky comments laid out on display. Small communities can spend in excess of €120,000 on their exhibition which lasts only a few days and then is burned to a crisp on the evening of the 19^th. I took pity on the young Spanish girl who was the interpreter for the English speaking group, the maximum number was supposed to be 30 and had to be pre-booked, however many more turned up and I estimate at one stage she had a group of about 100 in tow!

On the day of the “Fallas” there is a parade in honour of St. Joseph (patron saint of carpenters) and the 11 district communities of Denia parade their “Fallas Queen” and an entourage of children, youth and elderly all to the accompaniment of various musical bands.

Now it was my turn to feel unwell and on returning home I too made friends with the china bowl!

Edie and Calum did however go out on the evening to see the “Crema” where the “Fallas” are set on fire, they had first hand experience of Spanish timekeeping as they did not get back till well after 3am despite being told the start would be earlier. Nonetheless, I believe they enjoyed it. I’m sure that the memory of this spectacle will remain with them. The days that followed led us to Easter weekend where everything grinds to a halt (unless you are a religious person) so relaxation was the order and we finished their holiday with a special meal at a fine restaurant.

Anyway, there are wall to be painted, weeds to pull up and innumerable small jobs still needing my attention so, until next month……………………………..

Hasta Luego.