Bedrock

If I had to get out of bed and travel to the office I’d be unhappy but as we’re not doing that, we’re making the best of the sun and yesterday visited one of very few open lakes. The locals must be spooked as there were only two other couples anywhere in view in the morning and ultimately there were just the four of us with a large lake all to ourselves. We got some relaxing swimming in. I even thought it might be good drone weather – that’s what I get for thinking – first attempt I lost a bolt – that’ll be fun to replace.

Still, we had a very nice morning followed by a light lunch at a nearby hotel – sitting outside, naturally. This water is unbelievably nice – still very low compared to a few short years ago. We can only hope it gets replenished over the winter. In the meantime, it is refreshingly cool instead of just plain cold.

The land I’m standing on, no more than a couple of years ago was under water. As for our friend’s dogs, they loved it. Should have taken our cats but it was a bit hot in the car for them. I can see a return trip in my future, armed with our blow-up boat.

And wonderful it is, after a miserable winter back in the UK, extended by months thanks to Covid – or rather thanks to those who choose to ignore government guidelines and hence who have helped to keep the disease running. Overall, things are great now we’re back in Galera – it is certainly great to be here, we’ve not had a chance to meet up with friends yet (with a small number of nearby exceptions) as we have so very much to do – but even here the “we’re all in it together” mantra seems to have fallen on deaf ears in some cases.

Only days or weeks before we returned to our corner of Galera, some bastard took the time to steal one of our better solar lights – the replacement is on it’s way and will be armed. To our many friends here, I hope you are all well – to the person who stole our property – I hope you die a violent death, alone, coughing your guts up.

How well I remember the last of the Spanish sunsets of 2019, before we headed off back to the British rain in October.  The weather prospects for the Northeast of England in October were as usual, not good and have remained poor since. That Spanish summer (aside from the odd flood and scorching hot August) was special for us. When we first came to Galera many years ago, who could have thought we’d come to think of the area as home.

In all that time, many have come and gone but we’ve stayed and made friends along the way. In our absence we have great neighbours and trustworthy cameras, so the place should be in great shape for our return  – somewhat delayed thanks to Covid-19.  Now, if I could just say something nice about the reliability of our electric supply, I would, but I can’t.

On our last full day in 2019 our friends and neighbours Karen and Dave along with Maureen and I took our cats Simba, Ruffy and Percy (their dog) for a nice walk to one of the “seats”up at the higher local peaks. It all seemed quite normal at the time, I can’t believe how much we miss that now.

The pool in Orce is pretty much shot – just as well it is end of season – I hope the fish are ok. All the pathways are covered in baked mud – and in most case the original tiles have lifted. Galera had it’s share of damage too with some people’s houses flooded.

Most years we get away without such problems but when floods like this come, the perils of cheap-ass construction become all too clear.

Even at the very top of our area on the edge of Galera where I took the kitties this morning, the pathway has massive chunks missing,

Maureen and I have had our cave in Spain for 11 years now and we still keep learning something new. Tonight I learned from my pal Kenneth OE Sundin (founder of SMEBOX and friend who lives in Uppsala in Sweden) all about Pintxos (Pinchos) which are popular in the Basque region. Here’s https://www.euskoguide.com/food-drink-basque-country/pintxos-pinchos/

Bearing a marked resemblance to some of the TAPAS we enjoy here in Southern Spain…. they are a small snack eaten in bars in Northern Spain. Main ingredients sliced bread with a topping. Maybe on our trip to Bilbao at the end of the month? It isn’t that long ago that I learned about NDUJA from my pal Antonio in Italy… does it ever end?

Not something you’d expect in the South of Spain in summer, but here’s our local river in Galera after the floods, just as the sun was re-appearing… the weather was bad enough to have me wake up in the early hours – hence the photo taken early evening once the sun re-emerged…