A BRIT IN SPAIN

Chemtrails over Blanca

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:52:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon while we were outside having a cup of coffee, became aware of a jet flying around overhead, when we looked up there was a pattern of vapour/chemtrails over the sky above us, the jet was flying backwards and forwards weaving a pattern across the sky, the lines in the sky did not disperse as jet vapour trails normally do but just hung there and spread.

So we think these were chemtrails, chemtrails are a method of cloud seeding and geoengineering from military jets flying at 30-35000feet.

Misty

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:44:00 +0000

FROM OUR TERRACE
Do you ever find there seems to be a theme running through your day or week? You know you keep hearing the same song, reading or seeing something connected. If there's a theme running through this week it has to be "misty". To start with we heard the Johnny Mathis 1959 version of the song "Misty" on the radio the other day. Serves us right I suppose for having radio 2 on. Brought back a few memories for John of the days before he was a heavy metal fan. His first record player, some of you must remember what they are, Johns was a portable and modern enough to be electric! I remember the girl next door to my childhood home having a wind up one, OK so none of you remember those!!
Anyway from the mists of time so to speak came a memory of his mother bringing home a Regentone Record player, bought from a work colleague. The seller had included some records as well, one of which was the Johnny Mathis song. Oh the nostalgia of it all. Well we must have heard the same song a couple more times since. Enough misty for anyone you might well think and you'd be right, even though we find ourselves singing along.
The theme though continues because this morning we woke to find it was very very MISTY indeed. Cue the music and more memories of just such beginning of days in Cornwall and Scotland, only difference is by lunch time here we were sitting outside in the sun. Lovely.

one more thing, you know your getting old when you find your memories are museum pieces.

http://www.museumoftechnology.org.uk/domestic.php?cab=gramophones

Fevered thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:54:00 +0000

SOME OF OUR LEMONS
Is it feed a fever starve a cold or vice versa? I expect there are endless answers to that question on the Web. Whichever I just hate having a cold, its worse in the summer, at least in the winter you can eat comforting food and whatever the adage, I am going with feed this cold.
I dont get them very often thank goodness, I always take great care of myself when I do. Well quiet apart for the fact that going out and about sneezing and coughing, breathing my sore throat germs around is very anti social I know it can agravate my Fibromyalgia rheumatica if "I try to work through" the bug.
so its coddling for me.( what a strange word but you know what I mean)
Honey and lemon, and not the stuff you buy at the Famacia, real honey and fresh lemons from the tree in our garden. We are amazed at the number of lemons on our tree despite the ill treatment it received from the guys who dug out the pool last summer.

Natural remedies involving lemons are very popular here especially with those who lived through the harsh times not so many years ago.Although its hard to imagine the harsh and cruel years under Franco the way things are going these homemade treatments may well have a revival.
You find a Salud, Health Centre; in every town these days but it was very different within living memory. In the Vega Baja where we used to live there was one Doctor for the whole area, the poorer people quiet literally had to look after themselves and their families. Abuelo would have a store of folklore and knowledge gained through experience and nessecity that was the first line against sickness. Joaquin stilll remembers many of the remedies his own grandmother used to try to keep them well.
So, as I pick my lemons and mix the honey and hot water and will be counting myself very lucky indeed that all have is this rotten cold!

A little foot note that echos a warning through history: Richard Nixon said when Franco died "General Franco was a loyal friend and ally of the United States." The United States established a diplomatic and trade alliance with Spain ignoring the fact that Franco maintained his control in Spain through the implementation of austere measures: the systematic suppression of dissident views through censorship and fear along with the imprisonment of ideologically opposed enemies . Those who opposed him were put in concentration camps throughout the country. There was forced labour in prisons and the use of the death penalty and heavy prison sentences as deterrents for his ideological enemies. Long Live America indeed.

My Home Town

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:19:00 +0000

Very spring like today so Johns been working outside. The outside oven has a newly painted shiny black door, the barbecue has been spruced up, so too the metal work around the door into the laundry, outside shower room and workshop/tool-shed. We have decided to paint the door to all of the afore mentioned a nice green, the same colour we used when we renovated the pagoda in front of them.
There is also an awful lot of metalwork crying out for a fresh coat of black. Although we do go along to the large multi stores near Murcia for some things, mostly ones we cannot find near by, we will get our paint down in Blanca. There are one or two good little ferreteria and as the saying goes "if you don't us it you loose it".
Years back when we lived in Cornwall we saw shop after shop in the middle of the town of Penzance close down, it really took the heart out of the place as business shifted to edge of town multi national chain stores. In fact I do recall it happened even before that in my home town Wigston Magna with the advent of the "supermarket". Sadly yes I am old enough to remember the shopping experience which involved the shopkeeper weighing out and wrapping also most everything from butter to biscuit as well as sugar tea flour, well just anything you could mention .
Here in Blanca you can get just about everything you need in the small shops, the indoor and street market. The world may be a global village but if you dont support your own home village it will soon become a ghost town.

Kelly put the Kettle on

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

The Kelly Kettle
In our house we are much divided, when it comes to radio stations that is. I am a radio 4 fan, have been for as long as I can remember. Radio 4 came along around the time I was 15 but I was listening to Aunty BBC long before. Listen with Mother began the year before I was born and I can recall sitting on the floor next to a huge "radiogram" enthralled, that was the beginning of my lifelong love of talk radio. I was more than pleased to find that I could hear my favourite programmes via the PC here in Spain. John on the other hand is a music radio fan, radio one and the like. Which could make life difficult if we let it. Since moving to Blanca we have access to all the radio stations you could want or need via the satellite dish that came with the house. So what to do when we are both in the house and want a little radio. The answer comes in the shape of radio 2. Some talk some music. so thats what we "tune" in to as we used to put it.
We were both busy around the house the other day and being entertained by the afore mention radio 2 and a snippet of interesting information caught our attention. Someone mentioned a twig kettle, only in passing it was not the subject of the item. Intrigued I checked it out later on the PC. Dont you just love modern technology.
Loads of info to be found. A twig kettle it appeared is a wonderful invention that allows you to boil water using very little fuel, a few twigs in fact. We found a manufacturer in Ireland. So the next day John order a "Kelly Kettle" . We did expect to wait a few weeks, I told you about the post here didn't I! Much to our surprise and delight the parcel arrived with in the week, wonder of wonders. Its is just brilliant, works a treat and as described on the box.
We have ours ready to go outside with a bag of twigs and pine- cones at the ready, it will be great for picnics or camping, in power cuts too. These kettles are also excellent in situations where there is fuel poverty or disasters have cut off power sources. You know there are some very clever people around aren't there.

SMS message scam

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:51:00 +0000

We were in Blanca town picking up the mail, and decided to give Bec a call to see if she wanted to meet us for coffee, I got a recorded message on the mobile to say I had run out of credit. The thing was, I only topped it up a couple of weeks ago and had hardly used it. So when we got home I went on to my Vodaphone online billing to see where the credit had gone. It turns out that a company called Artiq mobile 795791 had billed me 1.20 euros everyday until my credit had gone, and as soon as I recharged the phone had started again, I then realised that everyday around 5 in the afternoon I had been getting a SMS with the title PUSH MESSAGE from 795791, needless to say I did not open any of these messages and thought nothing more of it.

This company had somehow got hold of my mobile and had subscribed me to something -i dont know what, and unless i did something about it, I would be charged 1.20 a day.

So I googled the name Artiq Mobile to find that they are a Dutch company who operate a ringtone scam and have been fined 1,190,000 euros by the Dutch consumer authority for for the large-scale provision of misleading SMS services to consumers, there are literally hundreds of forum postings on different forums of people complaining about being ripped off.

Anyway I got onto Vodaphone customer services explained what had been happening and was told they would stop the message being sent. So far I have not received any more messages.

So keep an eye on your mobile bills because this seemed to start with no request from me and could of gone on without me realising.

Peeing in the garden

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Recently we have been looking at various methods of being environmentally friendly, one issue is the waste of water, we already are careful, not leaving the tap running while showering and brushing teeth and reuseing what water we can for watering the garden. One big usage is flushing the toilet, each flush uses approximately 8 litres of water, this can be reduced by lowering the ball cock, but even more by less flushing, most people flush the loo after having a pee, using 8 liters of water to move something that is 95% water and 5% other elements.

So our urine is a valuable resource, it is an extremely good garden fertiliser, containing among other elements, nitrogen, sodium, potassium and magnesium, it can be applied diluted or undiluted to the soil around your vegetables, shrubs and potted plants, and is a tried and tested method of fertilising.

It has been proven that vegetables and plants fertilised with human urine grow bigger and are healthier than compared to untreated greenery.

It will surprise many to know that urine has actually been used as a crop fertiliser for thousands of years, particularly in Asia, but also widespread around the world, it is only because of our hygiene obsessed culture that we have stopped using it as a fertiliser and even view its use as uncomfortable or disgusting. Urine from a healthy person is actually nearly completely sterile. and only starts to turn to ammonia after around 24 hours of standing and therefore should be used before then.

Even after 24 hours it can be put onto your compost heap as an excellent accelerater.

Our garden in Blanca is very sandy with very little humous so we create as much compost as we can with garden clippings, leaves and kitchen vegetable waste, to dig into the garden to help it, but from now on, I shall also be useing my pee to fertilise the garden and also get the compost heap going. So we may be saving between 50 and 80 litres of water a day (and the water bill! ) at the same time.

Some like it hot

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:24:00 +0000

BLANCA WINTERSCAPE

Its a lovely bright day today, yesterday was a little different with low cloud hanging around for most of it. I love the more obvious changes we get here, John would like sun, sun, sun, but for me these "winter" days bring all sorts of bonuses. Though I might feel different, if I did not know we will have a hot summer for sure.
Summer for me is a time to relax in the shade and swim as much as possible and I am quiet happy to spend most of the long summer days right here. Not so everyone, its surprising how many Brits take themselves off to UK during July and August to escape the heat. One advantage of that of course is the good deals you can get from UK to other parts of Spain, Spain is a land of contrast which we are slowing getting to know but driving long ways in the heat and holiday traffic is not always fun. Then there are the many islands that are also part of Spain, now I could be tempted to take one of the cheap flights to Lanzarote for example which is cooler, even in summer, due to the Atlantic breezes, average temperature is around 29 degrees compared to being up in the high 30s and more here.

Meanwhile its a pleasant winter here, and as I say it gives you the chance to enjoy the wintery thing. Last night we had an enjoyable family supper, homemade chicken, mushroom and sweetcorn pie with mash and veg followed by a traditional rice pudding, arroz con leche, is a really traditional pudding both here and in UK. All this and the opportunity to chat in front of the log fire. Just great, and now the sun is shining and the birds are singing, so any ideas of flights to the Spanish islands will be on my holiday list for the coming summer whilst I enjoy the Blanca winter.

Top 10 Tips For Moving To Spain

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:05:00 +0000

British families who move to Spain with school-age or pre-school children should register at their town hall, who will advise about schools.
Spanish families place high priority on giving their children a good education; consequently places at private schools are filled well in advance, and there are waiting lists.
Upon successfully completion of four years of secondary education they are awarded their ESO (certificate of secondary education, Educación Secundaria Obligatoria). This may take more than four years since failure to make satisfactory progress can mean repeating the year.
Some fiestas are location-specific, based on a local legend or a real historical event. A good example of this is San Sebastian, in the Basque country, which holds a festival each January to celebrate their liberation from French rule by Lord Wellington in 1812.
Many aspects of the Spanish lifestyle are extremely easy to get used to: the sunshine, the wine and the sangria, the paella, the tortilla and the tapas, and the uplifting rhythms of the bossa nova and the flamenco as the sun goes down and nightlife begins.
Spectacular fireworks are a popular feature at fiestas, and probably the most spectacular of all are the ones that light up the skies at the Summer Solstice, when bonfires are lit to celebrate the longest day. This tradition is especially strong in the south of Spain
The Spanish healthcare system works well, and it is often even possible to find English speaking medical staff. However, before moving to Spain you need to be sure that the costs of future medical treatment will be covered.
Spanish healthcare is not free, but individuals who are covered by the State system pay only a small contribution towards the cost, depending on their personal circumstances.
For those looking to embrace a traditional Spanish lifestyle, inland Spain has plenty of attractive villages where life is not seasonal, property prices are lower, and you will be able to join in local community life.
A common pattern is for people to move from the UK initially to their Spanish holiday home, and to relocate to a different part of Spain a few years later after exploring the country in greater depth. There is probably a richer variation in regional cultures in Spain than in any other European country. Each region has its own history and its own traditions, and regions such as Galicia, the Basque country and Catalunya still retain their own languages alongside Spanish.

Armishaws are one of the leading removal companies in the UK. They frequently do moves to and from Spain.

Crown Jewels - Guest post from Cathryn Glennon

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:20:00 +0000

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cathryn and I am the owner of a company called Crown Jewels. I supply high quality costume jewellery, clutch bags, and many more hand made items and accessories at the lowest possible prices. I pride myself on my prices and my professionalism, and I insist on giving the best service possible.
I started out at the beginning of October this year with my first party being held at home on the 6th. I asked all the ladies to “Dress to Impress” so we could all see how fabulous they would look with their new 'Bling'! which they all did and we had lots of fun. I set up my display and supplied drinks and nibbles and my guests were able to peruse the goods at their leisure. There was background music playing which prompted my Spanish neighbours to start dancing! Overall the evening was a total success and there was lots of great feedback as regards the beautiful displays, the service given, the presentation of the goods when they had been purchased (I like to present everything in a pretty bag so that it is all ready to give as a gift) but perhaps most importantly, the super low prices.
I understand that everyone is feeling `The Crisis' and cannot always afford something different but because I run my business from home and online, I have no overheads which means that I can really keep my products at absolute rock bottom prices which in the current climate is essential.
November and December have been exceptionally busy in the run up to Christmas and I have worked incredibly hard to make sure that all the parties have been as successful as possible.
I am also involved in several “Ladies Lunch Clubs” in the local area such as Catral, Dolores and Quesada to name but a few. It is important to me to ensure that I have plenty of goods for the ladies to look as there may well be 40 – 70 ladies at any one time in these groups so that involves lots of motorway travel to see my Spanish supplier for the ‘blingy’ items and the satin clutch bags, and using most of, if not all of my spare time sitting at my dining table with my husband, Chris Holmes with our little factory production line!! So far we have made beaded necklace/bracelet sets as well as earrings, bookmarks, cufflinks, bag charms etc. We are busy now preparing Valentines Day gifts!
Currently, I have regular presentations in my local area which is Catral but also in Villa Martin and further afield too and I am looking to expand wherever possible so I am always happy to travel to parties.
I will be presenting my display at Marjal Camping at Guardamar, as well as the new site at Crevillente and I am always looking for new organisations to get involved with.
I will be at the ‘This Is Spain Exhibition’ on 24th 25th and 26th of February at the beautiful La Zenia Hotel.
For parties in bars/restaurants. I supply everything myself and require a space of 4 meters in length. There is no cost to the bar owners and my posters are available on the website so it can be well advertised.
For private parties at home, I need the same space but the home owner will be expected to supply tea/coffee and a few nibbles and of course, their lady friends! In return, they will receive commission on all goods sold which I will be happy to discuss.
My contact details and website are as follows
Website : http://www.facebook.com/l/KAQHck-SUAQHOks4prkb8fIKXNQ2FsHPKiFAPWKvU7JuA7g/www.crownjewelsspain.webs.com:-
Email : www.crownjewelsspain@yahoo.co.uk
Alternatively I can be contacted on +34 647 149 849.
Lastly, I look forward to hearing from you with any suggestions, bookings, ideas etc.

On the Roof

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:29:00 +0000

The talented Joaquin is putting our roof to rights. We knew it would have to be done buts its not a summer job, its dangerously hot up there when the sun is blazing. Anyway having waited to see how much it leaked, like a sieve, we knew a lot of work needed doing. In fact Joaquin found some of the tiles where held in place by mud! John would have liked to have a go at doing the job but he has no head for heights, plus it really calls for someone a little nimble, the tiles are so easy to break. To be honest its calls for a lot of Spanish know how too, most especially on an old roof like ours. So it will soon be sound rather than like a sieve above our heads. Tiles have been checked one by one, ridge re-concreted and the chimney will be rebuilt, told you he was talented.

One worrying thing, for me anyway! Yesterday Joaquin found a full snake skin up there. He said its OK because there wont be snakes in the winter only the summer.. Oh well that’s OK then I feel SO much better now.

Calasparra and Sanctuary

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:05:00 +0000

On Thursday we had a drive over to Calasparra, it is a pleasant town with a nice square where you can get a good cup of coffee and a pastry or cake, there is meant to be a cheesecake factory in Calasparra but we can never find it, however we did find the Sanctuary of the Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza, our lady of hope - the patron saint of Calasparra, it is several kilometres from Calasparra in a gorge with the Rio Segura running through it, The sanctuary dates back to the 17^th century, it is a place of pilgrimage and many people travel here from all over Spain and beyond. The church which is beautiful is set into the cliffs and a mass is held on Sundays and bank holidays at 12:00. There is a gift shop, childrens play area and large restaurant with a varied menu that is very reasonably priced, There are several waymarked walks and a barbeque area down by the river. Entry is free but donations are accepted. On the way from the sanctuary there is a viewpoint where you can look across breathtaking views of the mountains, river and the rice paddy fields that Calaparra is also famous for.

The Rain in Spain

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:17:00 +0000

It is all or nothing, right now its all. What to do on a raining winters day, the roads are awash, the roof of our house is not behaving itself so we are on leak watch. Well then, its light the fire, get the log burner warmed up and cook something warming for a family dinner tonight. The beef cassorole is in, found some wonderful shin of beef in the butchery department of Mercadonna today, with fresh herbs from the garden, loads of vino tinto (red wine) and local vegetables, its smelling wonderful. I always used shin of beef for stews when we were first married, it a cheap cut still, and slow cooking, the wood burner oven is perfect, produce a melt in the mouth result.
We have now tried out the oven at the top of the woodburner for a number of different dishes, roast chicken comes out moist and delicious, pizza is ready in a very short time and rice pudding turns out like the good old fashion ones of childhood. Now eager to try out baking and breadmaking in it. What a good idea to put an oven on top a wood burner, really get full fuel value out of it. We only got our winter supply of logs delivered this week, just in time it would seem, this weather is forecast for the rest of the week. Somehow it doesnt seem like a hardship to us, rather nice in fact.

UK shopping in Spain

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:09:00 +0000

I happened to notice the other day that now it is possible to buy from several large UK stores online and get courier delivery to your Spanish address, Argos-Spain have around 8000 products, any amount delivered for 9.95 euros, Next, has a delivery charge of 5 euros, John Lewis delivery charge 7.50euros Theres also Marks and Spencers with international shopping. There is also the "UK shopping in Spain" company based in Mazarron where you can order from over a dozen different UK stores and they will deliver the whole order to you, you pay for delivery by weight and this one seems to work out quite expensive in my opinion.
To buy a new laptop or PC from Marks and Spencers or Argos could be ideal as the operating systems are English where as it is not easy to get an English version on a laptop from a Spanish store.

Branching Out and Exploring Costa Calida

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:38:00 +0000

There’s no denying that the Murcia region is something special. From brilliant beaches which remain free from the wildfire of mass tourism, to enchanting countryside primed for exploration, you’ll never tire of things to do in the captivating city of Murcia.

It’s worth branching out a bit further though, because the 250km expanse of the Costa Calida coastline is calling and it starts practically on your doorstep. It stretches from El Mojon near Alicante, all the way down to Aguilas on the border of Almeria. Arrange Murcia Airport car hire and start exploring further afield; aside from picture perfect views, you’ll find plenty more to enjoy.

The ex-fishing village of El Mojon pinpoints the start of the trail. It still retains its original charm but it has now been transformed into a modern resort. There isn’t a huge amount to do per-se, but the secluded sandy shore can answer all your prayers if you’re a beach lover.

Not far from El Mojon are a couple of local towns which you may not have heard of, but will prove to be a valued visit. The first is the larger town of San Pedro, just over 1 mile away from the beach. Brimming with character, the old harbour has a certain charm to it and there’s a market on Mondays that’s worth a wander, packed with fresh local produce. Also worth a look is the town of Pillar De La Horadada where you can find some fantastic local restaurants and authentic tapas bars, plus a host of shops to peruse.

If you branch off from the AP-7 after a visit to the Mar Menor and opt for the smaller scenic roads, you’ll be acquainted with Mazarron Bay which is sheltered by its impressive backdrop of peaks. With its own port, filled with brightly coloured fishing boats, a hive of activity scents the air. You will need to travel around 7km inland to reach the town itself and it certainly has some delights up its sleeve from the 15th century Castillo de los Velez to a collection of 16^th and 17^th century churches. In addition, you can climb the Torre de los Caballos watch tower which dates to the 16^th century. Sample the delectable selection of fresh fish and tapas during your visit and simply soak up the sunshine.

Just a few kilometres away from Mazarron Bay lays the tiny medieval village of Bolnuevo. Referred to as the “enchanted city”, the rocks here have been eroded by the elements over many years and Mother Nature has crafted a series of sandstone shapes and creations. They are an impressive natural sight which appears to defy the laws of gravity. Some of the rock and clay even contains micro fossils which date to around 4.5 million years ago. There are a multitude of tiny snug coves and sandy secludes to choose from, perfect to enjoy the mini microclimate which brings 300 plus days of sunshine every year.

Before you move on from the area, take a trip inland to explore the beckoning backdrop of the Sierra Espuna Mountain Range. The journey will take approximately 45 minutes, but it’s a small price to pay for the beauty that awaits you. The regional park offers a wealth of enjoyment amongst its 25,000 hectares with the option to traverse some of it on foot via the spider web of walking trails or by a scenic drive along the well-kept mountain road. Pack a picnic and stop off at one of the many viewing points; it will transport you to tranquillity. The village of Aledo clings to the side of the mountain and is one of many worthy stops during your time in the park. Climb the 11^th century tower for further dramatic and inspiring views.

From here, head back to Mazarron and embark on what can only be described as a fascinating journey south towards Aguilas. You will see some fantastic and varied sights encompassing desert and mountain scenery, broken with colourful bursts of mineral stained mounds and slate hills. Upon arrival at Aguilas, close to the border of Almeria, you will soon classify it as a charming port town. Spend some time at the Plaza de Espana Gardens, see the city hall and step back in time at the 16^th century San Juan de Aguilas Fortress. Below this, you’ll spy the port and the black and white striped lighthouse. The 34km stretch of coastline boasts rocky coves aplenty and beaches with crystal clear water. Some of the best scuba diving in the area can be found close to the rock of Cape Cope, so it’s the perfect opportunity to slide on your wet suit and meet the fishy underworld.

This simply scratches the surface of the Costa Calida; there are a huge array of other towns, villages and places of interest that are worthy of your time up and down the coast. The point of this post is to encourage you to stretch your imagination…branch out from the Mar Menor and Murcia and discover what the rest of the region can offer you. You won’t be disappointed.

Guest post by Kerri Ware (Economy Car Hire Ltd )

Jet2 At Corvera

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:16:00 +0000

The first of the budget airlines has registered its intent to fly to the new Corvera airport. They plan to operate from November 2012, their 50 plus staff at San Javier will be transferred to Corvera, to supply the support required as they also will be providing inclusive holidays at the La Manga Club resort via Jet2holidays.com

Pool closed

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:14:00 +0000

Well, thats it for this year, we have put the winter cover on the pool. we are not emptying the pool as some people do but have thoroughly cleaned it and made sure the balance of chlorine and PH are correct in the water and hopefully when we take the cover off next year there will not be too much work to make the pool useable.
as the water is at the normal depth we shall run the filter pump for a short while each week to keep everything functioning.

Feast on the Best Seafood in Spain

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:57:00 +0000

When a native English speaker hears terms like seafood and fish, he or she usually conjures up images of a fish and chips stand on the corner. We have become so used to beer-battered, deep-fried, and tartar sauce soaked seafood that it is the norm for most of us to think about heart disease being a part of any pescatarian dish.
If you want to get a glimpse and see how seafood is meant to be prepared and enjoyed, taking a trip to Spain is the most effective method. You won't find any Red Lobster, Long John Silvers, or Captain D's locations in this Mediterranean country because fast food is generally frowned upon. You will however find a traditional atmosphere of people actually enjoying freshly prepared seafood dishes in fine and casual dining establishments.
Because of their unique proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Spain has been gifted with some of the best seafood variety in the entire world. Whether you are staying across the way at Club Méditerranée or discovering the country Don Quixote style, here are some of the best seafood dishes Spain has to offer:
Paella
What started as the city of Valencia's signature dish, this blend of delicate ingredients has become a staple in Latin America and is starting to gain positive reception around the world. Paella starts off with a broth made from shrimp heads, garlic, and bay leaves. Rice is added as a base and then comes an array of shrimp, cuttlefish, lobster, and mussels. After that, the dish is topped off with one of the rarest and most fragrant herbs on earth, saffron.
Canned Seafood
When thinking about canned seafood, it is easy to limit your purchasing decisions to tuna. The Spanish have been known to take great pride in preparing, preserving, and canning their seafood for many years now. As seen on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, Spanish know what they are doing when it comes to canning their fish.
Instead of being limited to traditionally salty and fatty fare, Spanish canned seafood is a little more expensive but consists of delicacies like mussels, scallops, baby eels, and octopus. Those who would never eat a sardine or anchovy should try them the Spanish way to get the authentic texture and flavor from the commonly derided food.
Calamares Fritos
Perhaps best known to English speaking people as Calamari, this entry is the closet to fish and chips you will be able to order in Spain. This is a simple, yet delicious piece of culinary ingenuity which takes thinly slivered pieces of squid in a light batter, flash fries them, and serves it up with red sauce and a squirt of lemon. While not enough to serve as an entree, it can certainly warm up an appetite for what is up ahead.
Suquet
Suquet is a seafood stew which gained traction through the Catalan regions of the country. Most common recipes call for clams and other shellfish to be prepared in a combination of garlic and olive oil while a seafood stock is prepared along with almonds, tomatoes, parsley, and other non shellfish. The kicker to this dish is the addition of a Spanish sparkling white wine called Cava, which gives the dish a light fizz.
English misconceptions about the different ways seafood can be prepared are easily shattered by the Spanish culinary creations. Living a healthier and more active life is possible because of such things like fresh produce and healthy fish fats that the Spanish rely on for most of their diet. Even if you enjoy the usual preparation of seafood, make sure to get a different perspective when in Spain.
(Guest post)

Picking The Olives

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:17:00 +0000

We only have one tree but it has quite a big spread , when we arrived back yesterday Bec, Quin and Jude had already starting work on picking the olives, as the tree needed cutting back quite a bit we chopped branches off that needed it and picked some of the olives like that, we were surprised to pick 3 crates full, which took untill mid afternoon today. Our next door neighbour will take them to be processed and then we will have some of our own Olive oil.

Safely back home again

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:34:00 +0000

Anglet to Naverrete del Rio

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:54:00 +0000

Wet again this morning, but as we approach the mountains it looks brighter and by the time we are over the Spanish border the sun is shining, and its a lot warmer. Its surprising how much quieter the roads are after the UK and France. we stop at Longares, a small village off the A23 and have a picnic lunch and a walk round the village then set off and arrive at Naverette del Rio at 15.30. the hotel - Rincon de Naverrete is amazing, it is full of antique furniture and very comfortable. The owner, Bernard showed us the bar and told us to help ourselves to drinks and write down in the book what we had. After dinner at the restaurant we were having a drink in the bar and Bernard asked us if we would like to look at his house, we entered into a large arched courtyard with old carriages and a fountain then we had a guided tour of the house which was set out like a museum, the house originated from the 16th century and the furniture, paintings and decor were amazing, in every room from the wine cellar to the bedrooms everything was antique and set out as if being lived in. Bernard told us he had been creating the place for twenty years. and he actually lived in modern rooms adjoining but occasionally used the old part.

Ruffec to Anglet

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:36:00 +0000

Biarritz seafront

We woke up to another dreary rainy morning and after breakfast set off along fast motorway type roads which is the trend for most of the day, most of the time lorrys are not allowed to overtake and have to stay in lane so you dont have the problem of them blocking the whole carraigeway, but instead you get continual streams of lorries nose to tail. The N10 is also busy route for heavy transport to and from Portugal, most of the aires in this part of the journey are terrible, dirty, smelly and untidy.maybe they are not being maintained because of the bad financial situation in France that the French will not admit to.
We arrived in Anglet around 15.00 and went down to the sea front at Biarritz 6 kms away, the sea was full of logs, trees and other rubbish as there has been torrential rain and flooding in this area in the past couple of days. there is enough driftwood to keep the log fires burning for years.Even though there was still a couple of dozen surfers trying to ride the big swells, There are some great walkways and cafes and restaurants along the seafront and in better weather it will be really nice here.
Tomorrow across the border and back into Spain and hopefully some sunshine.

Senonches to Ruffec

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:58:00 +0000

We started off on another dreary morning, driving through flat countryside on narrow country lanes, The grass verges are very soft so if there is an oncoming vehicle you have to be carefull as the wheels sink in. we pass through some nice villages with amazing architecture and chateaus. For a Sunday morning we see more people around than usual, most have been or are off to the bakery for their baquettes. later although we are on a minor road, it is so straight that at one point we can see for 5 kilometres along it. The weather cleared a bit and we arrive at the bed and breakfast accommodation mid afternoon, there are four other guests so our evening meal is enjoyed with plenty of wine and good company.
today we travel from Ruffec to Anglet near the Spain/france Border.

Calais to Senonches

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:31:00 +0000

And still it rained, in triplicate! Dark and very wet as we left Callias but we left with a very different impression of the town to the one we gained on the way. Lots of nice looking restaurants and the best meal we have ever had in France. Thank you Calais.
Our first destination for the day was the little village of Harponville on the Somme. My great Uncle, my mothers uncle, Crp. William Taylor was killed there in the final months of WW1. It was a moving experience for both of us. Despite never having known great Uncle William it really brought home the loss of a generation of young men, who stepped forward to when called to arms. It also left us wondering at the futility of war.
The British war graves commission is responsible for the care of the graves and the Harponville cementery is a credit to their work. As we drove through the Somme many fields had had there autumn ploughing giving an eerie reminder of the mud covered battlefields and heightening, for us, an echo of the horror of the historic events that touched our family as it did so many others.

The cemetery at Harponville

The River Seine near Vernon

We head of towards Senonches in thoughtful mood stopping for lunch by the side of the river Seine. A busy river for for work and leisure with huge barges, they often carry a car for use ashore, and fishermen drifting in the rain. The countryside was quiet as we took the more scenic route, the only people around seemed to be "La Chase" in pursuit of their supper.

Eastwood to Calais

noreply@blogger.com (John and Mary Middleton) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 06:35:00 +0000

The Calais Hotel de Ville -Town hall

It was a horrible morning to start out, rainy and dull, the motorways as usual was crowded with thick spray flying we got stuck for twenty minutes in a tailback in Bedfordshire, but then the weather brightened up, we tried to visit Dover castle but it was closed , only open weekends...then on the ferry across to Calais, staying at the Bonsai Hotel that has just under gone renovation, as we were taking our bags out the car a police car screeched to a halt in the car park and this blokesprinted past us, when he saw the police had him cornered he put his hands in the air and surrendered, the police appeared to jump on him, handcuff him and march him away to the police car and away they went. We found a really good restaurant opposite the hotel "The buffet de Gare"where we had a really excellent meal, delicious home made cream of vegetable soup, beef in gravy, which was thick chunks of beef. included was bread, a quarter carafe of wine each, and coffee. ---11.50 euros each, the hotel was next to the railway but we didnt hear any trains, but from our window an amazing view of the Hotel de Ville.