January 1st - 15th 2006
Written by Geoff Forster
A lovely day with blue skies and sunshine.
I put up one of the curtain poles!
We cooked a large piece of pork for dinner.
We watched a lot of TV.
An early night as we're off early tomorrow to meet Jane's sister Carol at Málaga airport.
We're up well before dawn. We set off for the airport at 08:30h. It is a fantastic day. The sky is blue and so clear. The clearest day for a long time.
We got to the Airport in good time.
We had a coffee. The airport is now non-smoking which is great.
The new law bans smoking in offices, shops, schools, hospitals, cultural centres and on public transport.
Businesses occupying more than 100sq m have eight months to set up a separate smoking area. Smaller premises have to indicate whether they are smoke-free.
The new law will also require 336,000 restaurants, bars and hotels to corral smokers into small, isolated spaces. Only the tiniest neighbourhood watering holes will have a choice: ban cigarettes or bar people under 18.
The government says the ban is necessary because smoking is the biggest killer in Spain, with 50,000 smoking-related deaths annually.
Carol's plane was early.It was good to see her again.
The drive back was good, not much traffic on the roads.
Gibraltar and Africa we're visible from East of Marbella.
We stopped at Venta la Molina for a break on the way home.
We got back to Benarrabá at around 13:00h.
Carmen and Cristóbal came out to welcome Carol.
We took her cases in then went out for tapas.
We went to Bar Andrés Sánchez, Pub Bar Dami and Café Bar Guayacán.
We had a good time, there was a good atmosphere in the bars and the tapas as usual was excellent..
We cooked a lovely roast dinner and watched some TV.
Another beautiful day here in Andalucía.
Jane, Esther, Carol and Bob have gone for a walk around the shops.
Later we're planning a trip to Ronda to do some shopping and to see the lights. The Spanish exchange gifts on January 5th/6th (Three Kings night / Reyes Magos) so the high street in Ronda should be busy. The atmosphere is wonderful. Everyone looks relaxed, happy and to be enjoying the experience. A contrast to the stressful shopping in town centres and malls in he UK.
I was putting up the second curtain pole when disaster struck. The drill went into a water pipe. I wasn't expecting a water pipe to be here (lounge near ceiling level!) as it is a long way from the kitchen and bathroom. Luckily it just nicked the pipe and only a fine spray was coming out. I've had to turn the water off and chisel out some concrete around the pipe. I'll get a compression joint in Ronda.
We called into Algatocín and Benadalid on the way to Ronda.
In Ronda we did some shopping in Hypersol and Plus.
We then parked the car at the top of Ronda and walked down to the bridge. We called into a plumbing shop and got a solder less compression joint.
We got to the Puente Nuevo just as the Chough's came back from eating olives in the campo. They are wonderful birds to watch.
We went to McDonalds for a quick snack. Da Vinci's is closed on Tuesdays and it was too early to eat out .. excuses ... I had three hamburgers!
Next Jane Esther and Carol went shopping. Bob and I were dragged along and stood outside the shops watching the busy shoppers. We were unexpectedly entertained by an exploding Christmas decoration hanging above the street. It self destructed in a series of loud bangs and a shower of sparks that fell to the pavement a few feet from where we were standing.
Safely home we watched 'Sweeney Todd' starring Ray Winstone on TV.
Jane and I drove to the ferretería in Gaucín to by another compression joint and some copper pipe. The pipe distorted as it burst so I'm going to have to cut out a few inches more to get to good round tubing.
We got changed. Jane, Carol and myself are off to Torre-Alháquime to Marilyn and Michael's house for a New Years get together. They are here for a few days with Michael's brother Terry and Terry's wife Margaret.
We drove to Ronda. Then took the Campillos road turning off to Arriate, Through Setenil de las Bodegas to Torre Alháquime.
It was good to see Marilyn and Michael again.
It was a lovely sunny day. This is the view from Marilyn's terrace balcony.
We had a lovely meal. Michael cooked a Spanish chicken dish and Margaret a curried chicken dish, both were excellent.
Here I am with a crown on that came with the special doughnut shaped cake.
The special Spanish Reyes Magos cake called 'Rosca de Reyes'. There are two gifts in the cake. One a figure the other a dried bean.
We think the person who gets the figure is allowed to where the crown and has good luck. The person who gets the bean buys the cake next year.
Marilyn got the figure a strange Orville like chicken.
Jane got the bean.
Here's Queen Marilyn. Rightful wearer of the crown.
Here's Jane and Carol.
We had a wonderful afternoon. Thanks to Marilyn and Michael for a lovely party.
We got back to Benarrabá at around 19:00h.
I lit the wood burning stove then I repaired the punctured pipe.
As a reward I got to watch 'My Best Friends Wedding' starring Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz one of Jane's favourite films.
Bob's up early to go to the pandería for bread.
It's fantastic warm day, sunshine and blue skies. We all went to the Alcornocales for a drive.
We saw lots of birds on the drive to Estación Gaucín.
This is a White Wagtail.
Through the forest we saw deer, cows and horses. Strangely we didn't see any goats which are usually quite common. Perhaps they've been rounded up. I think it is around this time that they give birth to their kids.
We got back to Benarrabá and prepared for the big event tonight the Reyes Magos.
This is the big night of the Spanish Christmas when the children receive their gifts from the three kings in the church.
In Benarrabá a special effort is made. A splendid nativity play is acted out at various locations around the village.
We were all ready to head over to Carmen and Cristóbal to give them their gifts. When they beat us to it and knocked on our door.
We exchanged our gifts. I got a scarf and Jane got a pottery duck which contains egg whisks, ideal for making tortillas.
We walked to the plaza and followed the nativity story around Benarrabá. Here are a few of the photo's I took. A full Reyes Magos 2006 webpage will be done asap.
Here we follow the women singing and playing percussion.
In the stable.
Here are los Reyes Magos
The three Kings then head to the church they call each child to the front and give them their gifts.
The church was soon buzzing with remote control toys which seemed the most popular present. It was a great night. A lovely end to the Christmas period.
Nothing much is happening today after last nights festivities.
The streets are quiet.
We cooked a large turkey which we bought in Gibraltar.
I managed to watch a movie without Julia Roberts in it!
Bob and Carol hadn't seen Star Wars III 'Revenge of the Sith'.
Great stuff. May the force be with you.
We are all tired. We've left Bob, Esther and Carol to watch a sad program about soap stars singing? I can't stand soaps. This sounds especially terrible. Jane's tired and having an early night. I'm starting to go through last night photographs of the Three Kings.
Jane, Carol, Esther and Bob have gone shopping in Ronda.
I've got a fire going downstairs and I'm tidying up.
We had a ten minute hailstorm. It didn't seem that cold?
I listened to the Newcastle United v Mansfield Town FA Cup tie. We won 1-0 Sheeeeearer!
We had a good dinner and watched TV.
Jane, Carol, Esther and Bob have gone to the Domingo Rastro in San Luis de Sabinillas. This is a large open market. It has a mix of new and flea market stalls.
It's a beautiful sunny day. Unfortunately I have to stay in and print some business cards, then make a start on the Reyes Magos web page.
Jane, Carol & Co. had enjoyed the market.
They met Jim Nitchen, Louise from Estación Cortes and Caroline from Cortes de la Frontera with her husband and their beautiful Border Collie, who looks very like our Jake. Taken by Jane Forster.
This is a fountain in the market area at Sabinillas. It was full of foam, we don't know whether this was intentional or if someone's put some Fairy Liquid in there for a laugh. Taken by Jane Forster.
I listened and watched a couple of FA Cup ties. Then we watched a kidnapping drama on ITV.
A beautiful sunny day.
I've just completed the English version of Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings) webpage.
Jane & Co. have gone to Gaucín and Algatocín.
This is Cortes de la Frontera from Gaucín. Taken by Carol Anderson.
Esther, Bob and Jane.
Benarrabá.
Across the Valle del Genal to Jubrique and Genalguacil.
Benarrabá and Mount Porón.
Cortes de la Frontera again.
Poncho girl. She's soooo cooool ...
Across the Valle del Guadiaro.
Thanks to Carol Anderson for all today's photographs.
We had a good last evening cooking a huge steak fry up and drinking a last bottle of Cava.
Cristóbal and Carmen came over to say goodbye to Esther, Bob and Carol.
Up really early. It's pitch black outside, were off to Málaga Airport to say a sad farewell to Esther, Bob and Carol.
The sky was black at Málaga there was a storm brewing just off the coast. Parking is now nearly impossible at the airport. There is a huge new construction being built which has limited the number of parking spaces available.
We dropped off Bob, Esther and Carol. We couldn't park, so drove off leaving them outside the departures terminal. It did also mean that there was no time for tears.
We beat the storm along the coast. It cleared as we turned inland near Manilva.
We sat on the sun terrace for a while it was a beautiful day.
We decided to go for a walk. We called into Bar El Porón to see Pepa. We hadn't seen her over Christmas and New Year.
Then we went to Bar Andrés Sánchez for tapas.
We'd just eaten when a lot of 'suits' walked in. They were developers from the coast. They'd been to the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) about building 80 new houses/apartments on the old wood yard that has recently closed.
They will be sold to the 'English market'.
I guess it will be at least 4-5 years before these are completed if they get permission.
Fortunately we won't be affected by any construction noise or sights as we are on the other side of the hill. Plus our views are better!
Looking on the bright side of this ... perhaps we'll get a lot of visitors staying in the apartment when people come to view their plots/houses.
No doubt we will make lots of new friends.
We always knew that we couldn't put Benarrabá in a time capsule and put it on hold ... it is the next 'big thing'.
The first ten days of January have seen record numbers of visitors to the website .. thank you!
We were averaging just over 300 visits a day during October, November and December. This has now leapt up to average over 380 visits a day.
Just over 700 pages a day are downloaded.
Friends Onno and Marion who run a painting holiday course in the village asked us to design their website last year.
We're pleased to say it is now ranked on the first page of Google out of 5,540,000! If you search on 'Painting Holidays'.
They are even higher on the first page of Google for 'Painting Holiday' out of 10,500,000.
We wish Onno and Marion all the best for the new holiday season.
If you wish to join their painting course you can stay in our apartment and pay 150 euros per week for tuition (just over £100). This includes tuition, guidance, help with techniques, exploring new mediums and use of a large studio.
Courses run from Monday to Friday during the following weeks. Sunday is a good day for flights and the roads are quieter.
April | Sunday | 16 - 23 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
May | Sunday | 7 - 14 | 14 - 21 | |
June | Sunday | 4 - 11 | 11 - 18 | 25 - 2 July |
July | Sunday | 2 - 9 | ||
September | Sunday | 3 - 10 | 10 - 17 | 24 - 1 October |
October | Sunday | 1 - 8 | 15 - 22 | 22 - 29 |
November | Sunday | 5 - 12 | 12 - 19 |
Bob, Esther and Carol phoned to say that they'd arrived home safely.
We had an early night after a long and hectic day.
I'm up early. Well before 6am! I'm making an early start on the website. I have a few projects that I'm working on.
Jane and I are starting a detox regime after over indulging during Christmas and New Year. Lots more walking, eating fresh fruit & veg and drinking spring water which we get free! Although there is a packet of steak in the fridge which we must use tonight and a nice bottle of Rioja ... we'll start tomorrow.
The sun is up and it's a lovely day. Lots of big cumulus floating across but the sun is getting through.
An e-mail from weather girl Marilyn. She arrived home safely from Torre-Alháquime.
She kindly sent this photograph.
This is Marilyn, Terry and Margaret O'Loughlin taken by Michael O'Loughlin.
Our weather girl is predicting that we're in for a good soaking ... hopefully at night!
No rain yet, but the mountains of the Sierra Bermeja are covered with black clouds. However there are patches of blue sky above Benarrabá.
Jane took this one just as two shafts of light broke through and hit Jubrique and Genalguacil.
Genalguacil is illuminated on the far side of the Genal valley.
It's a very dramatic sky. Very beautiful.
A beautiful blossom on the bank near the apartment.
The Almond tree next to the apartment is about to burst into flower, it is covered in buds. The Olive grove on the hillside was full of birds singing and chirping away. There must of been hundreds if not thousands of them.
We drove to just passed Algatocín to a post box on the Ronda road. Mail seems to get delivered faster if we post it here.
Just passed Algatocín near the college, the road was being widened and resurfaced. This lad from Benarrabá has got himself a job up there, directing traffic around the rollers.
We called into the Super Genal to buy some supplies.
Later we went for a walk. We called into Café Bar Guayacán to have tapas.
We had a very light shower just before dawn. A similar day to yesterday. Very mild with a gentle breeze.
A grey morning but it has really brightened and we're having a lovely sunny late afternoon.
We've been to Gaucín to buy paint and rollers. I'm going to give the lounge ceiling in the apartment a coat of emulsion before our next guests arrive.
We're going to cook a chicken curry tonight.
We watched a couple of DVD's 'The Hours' starring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. Then later 'The Saint' starring Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue.
We're still painting upstairs ... once you start you could go on for ever and it feels like we are ...
Newcastle United play Fulham today so I'll be finished by then.
We heard a strange noise a click then followed by a crunch. We went into the lounge to investigate.
Our little Spanish cat 'Mota de Oro' was sitting in the basket flicking almonds out onto the floor, where Jake our Border Collie was crunching them open and eating the kernels ... teamwork or what!
I listened to Newcastle United lose again.
Later we watched 'Closer' starring Julia Roberts ... Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Clive Owen. We also watched a couple of episodes of 'Invasion' a new series on C4 about aliens with so far, no aliens in it! Hopefully some green monsters with machine guns will appear in tonight's episode.
We sat and watched part of 'Army of Darkness' a zombie/comedy ...
The sun is shining, the sky is blue ... the Genal Valley is as always stunningly beautiful.
A light shower mid afternoon but otherwise another good mild day.
I finished painting the lounge in the apartment.
Jane washed and ironed ... exciting stuff.
Later we watched 'Apollo 13' starring Tom Hanks. An excellent film.
It poured down during the late evening and most of the night.
We really need this rain, good that it came when we were inside in front of a roaring fire!
We watched the rest of 'Army of Darkness' a zombie/comedy.