August has been very hot with temperatures in the mid to high 30s, to some this would be unbearable but I enjoy it.

Penny went off again to Yorkshire at the beginning of the month to have blood tests (nothing special, just routine) and I was left alone for two weeks doing very little. Penny’s results were fine albeit taking 10 days to get them (here we get results the next day)! This to-ing and fro-ing has caused us to decide to leave the NHS in the UK and to join the Spanish Health service so we are awaiting the forms from the UK.

We were going to change our private medical insurance company to one which allowed us to visit an English speaking GP, and I put the steps in motion by cancelling our existing contract. However, when we enquired about the new company, we were told we would have to undergo a new health screening and any existing problems would be excluded. It was explained that as I have diabetes, it is likely that a whole range of things would be excluded as future problems such as heart, eyesight, feet etc. etc. I quickly contacted our existing insurer and cancelled the cancellation!!

August is the month of many “fiestas” throughout the Costa Blanca (if not Spain as a whole) and almost every night there is a firework display going off in the many local villages. Denia celebrated a week long “fiesta” and culminated in the parade of Moors and Christians but I have no pictures as you have most likely seen them before. I did however go to see the Paella competition, this is where the local businesses and groups compete in making paella on the main street of the town and then these are judged in order of merit. As a sideshow, there is a giant “arroz abanda” which literally means a “band of rice) and this is essentially a paella without meat but with a seafood stock base. If you can access the Internet, I have put a short video of the competition and the making of the arroz abanda on the weblog. Otherwise this is the best I can do




Within our community (La Sella) there is also a small but entertaining fiesta held each year. We have a band playing and then some traditional Valencian folk dancing provided by members of the nearby town of Pedreguer. This year there was also paella provided (at a small charge). The night was capped off with dancing in the street, and great fun was had by all.



The Ramblings are short this month (bet you’re glad), Until next month….